📈 Suburbs With the Fastest-Growing Incomes in Queensland
Incomes across Australia rose sharply between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 financial years, driven by wage growth, inflation and a tight labour market. But the gains were far from even — some postcodes saw median taxable incomes climb by more than 40%, while others barely moved. This ranking lists the 25 postcodes in Queensland where median taxable income grew the fastest, using the ATO's Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (Individuals — Table 8).
Blackall leads with median taxable income rising 38.6% — from $40,874 in 2019-20 to $56,651 in 2023-24. Across the top 25, the midpoint suburb still grew 30.1%. Fast growth tends to cluster in sea-change and tree-change areas that attracted higher earners over the period, resource-town postcodes riding a commodities cycle, and outer-metro suburbs where new higher-income households moved in.
ATO figures are reported by postcode and cover every individual who lodged a tax return, so they describe the whole postcode rather than a single suburb. Only postcodes with a representative suburb of at least 200 residents are included, and the ATO suppresses any postcode with fewer than 200 lodgments. Taxable income differs from ABS Census household and personal income, which can rank areas differently.
Blackall QLD 4472
Blackall is a small outback town in south-western Queensland, located approximately 960 kilometres west of Brisbane on the Mitchell grass plains within the Blackall-Tambo Regional Council area. Situated at an elevation of 305 metres near the Barcoo River, the town serves as a regional service centre for the vast surrounding sheep and cattle stations. With a population of 1,365 and a median age of 49, Blackall is a predominantly older, Australian-born community with deep pastoral roots and a median household income of $1,143 per week.
Brandon QLD 4808
Brandon is a small rural town in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, located 6.4 kilometres west-northwest of Ayr and approximately 82 kilometres east-southeast of Townsville. The locality covers a large 110.5 square kilometre area of flat, low-lying agricultural land on the coastal plain of the Burdekin River delta. At the 2021 census, Brandon had a population of 1,088 residents, with the community closely tied to the region's sugar cane farming industry. The town was surveyed in 1882 and takes its name from an early Queensland official.
Mirani QLD 4754
Mirani is a rural town and locality in the Mackay Region of Queensland, situated approximately 37 kilometres west of Mackay along the Pioneer Valley. The town has a population of around 1,806 people and sits at an elevation of 120 metres amid some of Queensland's most productive sugar cane country. Mirani serves as the western gateway to the Pioneer Valley and has a long history tied to the sugar industry, with cane farming dominating the surrounding landscape. The Mirani railway station historically served the region as part of the North Coast network.
St George QLD 4487
St George is a rural town in far south-western Queensland, serving as the administrative centre of the Balonne Shire approximately 500 kilometres south-west of Brisbane. Situated on the banks of the Balonne River at an elevation of 204 metres, the town has a population of 3,130 spread across an enormous local government area of more than 11,000 square kilometres of agricultural and pastoral land. The community has a significant First Nations population — around 702 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents representing approximately 22% of the total population — and a median household income of $1,399 per week.
Clifton QLD 4361
Clifton is a small rural town on the Darling Downs in Queensland, located approximately 35 kilometres south of Toowoomba and around 160 kilometres west of Brisbane. With a population of about 1,490 and a median age of 49, Clifton is a tight-knit agricultural community within the Toowoomba Regional Council area. The town sits at an elevation of 453 metres and is surrounded by rich farming country known for grain, cotton, and cattle production.
Tallebudgera QLD 4228
Tallebudgera is a relaxed hinterland suburb on the southern Gold Coast, situated within the Gold Coast City Council area approximately 15 kilometres south of Surfers Paradise. With a population of 3,826, the suburb has grown steadily from 3,667 in 2016 and draws predominantly Anglo-Australian families and established residents seeking space away from the coastal strip. The median household income of $2,372 per week sits above national averages, and housing is characterised by larger residential blocks, acreage properties, and low-density housing typical of the Gold Coast hinterland fringe.
Eudlo QLD 4554
Eudlo is a charming rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, approximately 95 km north of Brisbane. With a population of 1,192 at the 2021 census spread across 20.2 km², it maintains a low density, semi-rural character. The town sits in the Sunshine Coast hinterland near Nambour, surrounded by lush countryside and Eudlo Creek.
Jandowae QLD 4410
Jandowae is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region of Queensland, situated approximately 262 kilometres west-northwest of Brisbane and 51 kilometres north of Dalby. The town had a population of 1,004 people at the 2021 census, spread across a locality area of 254 square kilometres. Sitting at an elevation of 391 metres on the Darling Downs, Jandowae serves as a quiet agricultural service centre for the surrounding farming districts. The median age of residents is 53, reflecting an older demographic typical of many rural Queensland towns.
Allora QLD 4362
Allora is a small rural town on the Darling Downs in south-east Queensland, located approximately 70 kilometres south of Toowoomba and around 190 kilometres west of Brisbane, within the Southern Downs Regional Council area. With a population of 1,205 across a large 96.5 square kilometre area, Allora serves as a quiet agricultural service centre for the surrounding Darling Downs farming district, sitting at an elevation of 489 metres on the fertile plateau. The median age of 52 and modest median household income of around $1,042 per week reflect a predominantly established, older community, with a strong agricultural heritage and a tight-knit small-town character. Most residents are of Anglo-Australian descent, with long roots in the area.
Pittsworth QLD 4356
Pittsworth is a charming rural town of approximately 3,300 residents located 40 kilometres southwest of Toowoomba on the Gore Highway in Queensland's Darling Downs. The area boasts some of Australia's richest farming land, with cotton, grain cropping, dairy and poultry production forming the backbone of the local economy. This well-established agricultural service centre offers a genuine country town atmosphere while maintaining excellent amenities.
Cooloola Cove QLD 4580
Cooloola Cove is a coastal locality in the Gympie Region, located 228 km north of Brisbane and 52 km northeast of Gympie in the Wide Bay-Burnett region. With a population of around 2,900 and a median age of 60+, it is popular with retirees and sea-changers seeking an affordable coastal lifestyle. Owner-occupancy is high at 77%, with predominantly detached houses and a family/single household mix.
Palmview QLD 4553
Palmview is a rapidly growing locality in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, situated approximately 21.7 kilometres north-west of Caloundra, 21.9 kilometres south-east of Nambour and 108 kilometres north of Brisbane in the hinterland between the coast and the Sunshine Coast's service towns. The locality covers 18.6 square kilometres and recorded a population of 5,236 at the 2021 census, reflecting significant residential growth as the historically rural area transitions to a major suburban development corridor. Palmview is home to Aussie World, a well-known Sunshine Coast family amusement park and entertainment venue that has been a regional landmark for decades. The locality straddles the Buderim and Caloundra state electorates and the Fisher federal division, reflecting its central position in the Sunshine Coast's urban growth area.
Marian QLD 4753
Marian is a rural locality in Queensland's Mackay Region, situated approximately 22 kilometres south-west of Mackay's CBD within the Mackay Regional Council area. Spanning 82.8 square kilometres at a low inland elevation, Marian has a population of 4,224 with a notably young median age of 32 — a profile shaped by the agricultural and mining industries that drive the regional economy. The median household income of $2,392 per week is well above the national average, reflecting strong wages from Pioneer Valley's sugar cane operations and the nearby Bowen Basin coal mining sector.
Woodford QLD 4514
Woodford is a charming rural town located approximately 73 kilometres north-northwest of Brisbane CBD in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland. With a population of 4,022 (2021 Census) spread across a large 90.3 km² area, it retains a peaceful country-town atmosphere. Situated in the hinterland foothills at an elevation of 147 metres, Woodford has a rich history dating back to 1841 and serves as a local hub for surrounding rural communities. The town is best known as the home of the iconic Woodford Folk Festival, held annually over the New Year period.
Coolangatta QLD 4225
Coolangatta is a vibrant beachside suburb located at the very southern tip of the Gold Coast, straddling the Queensland–New South Wales border within the Gold Coast City Council area. With a population of 6,491 spread across just 1.9 square kilometres, it is one of Australia's most compact and iconic coastal communities. The suburb attracts a mix of retirees, long-term residents, and holidaymakers, with a median age of 50 and small average household sizes of 1.9 reflecting its couple and lifestyle-focused demographic.
Douglas (Townsville - Qld) QLD 4354
Douglas is a locality in South East Queensland situated in the Darling Downs region, approximately 20 kilometres north-east of Toowoomba's city centre. With a population of 7,780 at the 2021 census spread across 8.8 square kilometres, it supports a sizable community in a semi-rural setting. Median individual taxable income sits below state averages, reflecting a mix of working households characteristic of regional Queensland localities.
Rosewood QLD 4340
Rosewood is a historic rural town in the City of Ipswich, nestled in the picturesque Bremer Valley 61 kilometres southwest of Brisbane and 20 kilometres west of Ipswich CBD. With a population of around 3,300, this country town has maintained its charming character while offering easy rail access to the city. The surrounding landscape features rolling hills including Perrys Knob at 292 metres.
Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
Currumbin Waters is a suburb on the southern Gold Coast, 24 kilometres south of Surfers Paradise and just 96 kilometres from Brisbane. With a population of around 9,800, this 9.9 km² suburb features a mix of residential areas, canal estates, and some light industrial zones. Located on the NSW border, it's bisected by Currumbin Creek which flows from Currumbin Valley to the ocean.
Miles QLD 4415
Miles is a rural service town in the Western Downs region of Queensland, located approximately 350 kilometres west of Brisbane along the Warrego Highway. Sitting at an elevation of 306 metres on the Condamine River, the town serves as a commercial hub for surrounding agricultural and pastoral properties across a vast 431 square kilometre area. With a population of around 1,874 residents as of 2021, Miles is the largest town in the Murilla district and plays a central role in the Western Downs Regional Council local government area. The town has a proud history tied to early Queensland exploration and the Leichhardt Highway, which passes through it.
Chinchilla QLD 4413
Chinchilla is a regional town in Queensland's Western Downs, situated approximately 300 kilometres west of Brisbane at an elevation of 311 metres on the Darling Downs. Within the Western Downs Regional Council area, it serves as a service hub for the surrounding agricultural and resource-sector communities, with a population of 7,068. The median household income of around ,549 per week reflects the mix of farming families and workers tied to the nearby gas and energy industries, with a median age of 33 suggesting a relatively young working population.
Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Surfers Paradise is Australia's most famous beach resort, the glittering heart of the Gold Coast with over 26,000 permanent residents among its high-rise towers. The light rail connects to Broadbeach and the emerging health precinct, while the beach and nightlife draw millions of visitors annually. The skyline of apartment towers is instantly recognisable.
Northgate QLD 4013
Northgate is a well-established residential suburb within Brisbane City Council, situated approximately 10 kilometres north-east of the Brisbane CBD in the city's northern corridor. Home to around 4,876 residents with a median age of 35, the suburb attracts young families and professionals drawn by solid household incomes and convenient city access. The community is predominantly Anglo-Celtic in background, with a growing international presence — particularly from Nepal, New Zealand, and India — reflecting broader inner-north demographic trends.
Coombabah QLD 4216
Coombabah is a central Gold Coast suburb adjacent to the Coombabah Wetlands conservation area. The suburb offers family living with nature access 65 kilometres south of Brisbane.
Buderim QLD 4556
Buderim is the Sunshine Coast's elevated gem, a leafy suburb of 31,500 perched on an extinct volcanic plateau 90 metres above sea level, offering cooling breezes and distant ocean views. Located just 7 kilometres from Maroochydore's beaches, it maintains a village atmosphere with heritage character. The tree-lined streets and ginger factory heritage reflect its agricultural past.
Maleny QLD 4552
Maleny is a charming hinterland town perched at 450 metres elevation on the Blackall Range, 90 kilometres north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast Region. With a population of nearly 4,000, this former timber and dairy town has reinvented itself as a vibrant arts and food destination. The subtropical climate delivers around 2,000mm of annual rainfall, creating lush green landscapes, rolling hills, and spectacular views across to the Glass House Mountains.
📊 Methodology
Rankings use the growth in median taxable income between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 financial years, from the ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (Individuals — Table 8, median and average taxable income by postcode). ATO income is reported by postcode, so figures are de-duplicated to one entry per postcode, using the highest-population suburb in Queensland as the representative (linked above). Only postcodes with a representative suburb of at least 200 residents are included, and the ATO suppresses any postcode with fewer than 200 lodgments. Ties are broken by population (larger first). Taxable income differs from ABS Census household and personal income.