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National Forecasting Program
Population and housing forecast for Toowoomba
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Toowoomba, which covers the urban and eastern parts of the Toowoomba council area, including the city of Toowoomba and Highfields, and the western part of Lockyer Valley, including Gatton and Helidon.
- Region
- Toowoomba · SA4 317
- Councils
- Lockyer Valley (part), Toowoomba (part)
- Built on
- 2025 national forecast (2021.2024.3)
- Released
- 11/09/2025
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Toowoomba City
- Rangeville
- Newtown
- Harristown
- Darling Heights
- Drayton
- Glenvale
- Highfields
- Westbrook
- Cambooya
- Helidon
- Gatton
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateQueensland+2.17m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- You are here: RegionToowoomba+45,4232.1% of Queensland's growth2021.2024.3.1.1 · Sep 2025
- Below the region15 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
Queensland's share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of Queensland is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
164,082
Population, 2021
209,505
Population, 2046
+45,423
Total growth to 2046
+23,620
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 164,082 | — | 67,975 | — | 19.9 | 62.0 | 18.0 |
| 2026 | 178,602 | +14,520 | 72,157 | +4,182 | 18.2 | 62.3 | 19.5 |
| 2031 | 188,574 | +9,972 | 76,979 | +4,822 | 17.5 | 61.7 | 20.8 |
| 2036 | 197,620 | +9,046 | 81,895 | +4,916 | 17.7 | 60.5 | 21.8 |
| 2041 | 204,369 | +6,749 | 86,785 | +4,890 | 17.9 | 59.6 | 22.4 |
| 2046 | 209,505 | +5,136 | 91,595 | +4,810 | 17.8 | 59.5 | 22.6 |
What we assess, and where
Different things drive population change at different scales. We form a view at each level, and each level constrains the one below it.
- Nation
- Overseas migration
- Fertility and life expectancy
- Housing completions
- State
- Share of overseas migration
- Interstate migration
- State housing policy
- Region (this page)
- Intrastate migration
- Development pipeline
- Capacity and limiting factors
- Ageing in place
- Suburb and site
- Site-by-site development assessment
- Dwelling type and density
Housing capacity, by area
| Sub-area (SA3) | Area character | Capacity used by 2046 |
|---|---|---|
| Toowoomba | 48.9% | |
| Toowoomba total | 48.9% |
How to read this
Capacity used is the share of an area's assessed dwelling capacity that the forecast draws down by 2046. Assessed capacity is post-census capacity across 371 tracked residential development sites, so it counts what those sites can hold, not every theoretical dwelling a planning control would permit.
The major sites that shape this forecast
| Site | Location | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darling Heights Low-Medium Density Residential Potential Development | Darling Heights | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| The Willows - Harlaxton | 213-369 Goombungee Road, 6-14 Bacon Street, and 65-103 Griffiths Street, Harlaxton | Greenfield | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
| Ingenia Communities - Retirement Village | 127 Highfields Road | Greenfield | Approved |
| Fernleigh Estate - Westbrook | 119 E Drews Road WESTBROOK | Greenfield | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
| Fernleigh Estate - Westbrook | 40 Shoesmith Road Westbrook | Greenfield | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 99 suburbs and localities in this region. Every one of them is forecast at small-area level, and any combination can be built into a custom catchment through Placemaker.
- Highfields
- Kearneys Spring
- Newtown (Toowoomba - Qld)
- Harristown
- Glenvale
- Rangeville
- Gatton
- Middle Ridge
- Centenary Heights
- East Toowoomba
- Wilsonton
- South Toowoomba
- Darling Heights
- Westbrook
- Mount Lofty
- North Toowoomba
- Meringandan West
- Rockville
- Harlaxton
- Wilsonton Heights
- + 79 more
Plus 79 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Toowoomba
A credible, independent forecast
Independent of government
Our forecasts are not commissioned by any government, so they give an independent view.
Granular forecasts for custom catchments
Forecast at small-area level, so they can be built up into any catchment you need, such as a school catchment, a retail trade area or a utility service area.
Every region, on one basis
A single national model, not a collection of unconnected local studies.
Assessed site by site
Built on a national development sites layer maintained by our own forecasters. 371 development sites assessed in this region alone.
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Questions about a forecast go to the team who prepared it.
See the forecast for your exact area
Placemaker gives you the population, housing and development forecast for any catchment you draw inside this region, by single year, with the development pipeline behind it.