Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Emerald suburb profile
Emerald, QLD · Postcode 4720
This Emerald suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Emerald, QLD (postcode 4720). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Emerald with nearby suburbs.
Emerald at a glance
Population
14,904
Median rent
$300/wk
Household income
$2,202/wk
Median age
32
Emerald trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+7.3% over 10 years
Population
14,904
was 14,356 in 2016
+548 · +3.8%
Median rent
$300/wk
was $230/wk in 2016
+$70 · +30.4%
Household income
$2,202/wk
was $1,893/wk in 2016
+$309 · +16.3%
Median age
32
was 31 in 2016
+1 · +3.2%
Dig deeper: Emerald population growth · Emerald then and now
Emerald vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Emerald, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-18.9% vs area
- Emerald$300/wk
- Nearby$220/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
+28.1% vs area
- Emerald$2,202/wk
- Nearby$1,812.5/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
-17.9% vs area
- Emerald32
- Nearby36
- QLD39
Personal income
+30.8% vs area
- Emerald$1,035/wk
- Nearby$951/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Emerald compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Emerald sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 61,017.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 5979
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 51,019.6
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3927.4
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Emerald on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Emerald, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Emerald people
- Population
- 14,904
- Median age
- 32
- Born overseas
- 14.6%
- Average household size
- 2.7
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Emerald income
- Median household income
- $2,202/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,035/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Emerald housing
- Median rent
- $300/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,647/mo
- Separate houses
- 67.4%
- Flats & apartments
- 6.7%
- Owned outright
- 13.6%
- Mortgaged
- 31%
- Rented
- 36.1%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 16.3%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Emerald work
- Employment to population
- 71.4%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 53.7%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4720)
Compare Emerald with nearby suburbs
Emerald in numbers
Emerald had 14,904 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 45th most populous suburb or locality in QLD out of 3,110. The median age is 32, 20% below the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 2.7 people. 14.6% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 13.6% own their home outright, 31% are paying a mortgage, 36.1% rent. Separate houses make up 67.4% of dwellings, with 6.7% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $300/wk, 14% below the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $2,202/wk, 30% above the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.2%. 53.7% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 6 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 3.8% (from 14,356 to 14,904). Median rent moved from $230/wk to $300/wk (+30.4%).
Emerald suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Emerald, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Emerald was $300/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Emerald, QLD?
- Emerald had 14,904 residents at the 2021 Census, up 3.8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Emerald?
- Median household income in Emerald was $2,202/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Emerald?
- 36.1% of occupied homes in Emerald were rented, 13.6% were owned outright and 31% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Emerald suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Emerald (Qld). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology