Queensland · Suburb Profile

Emerald QLD — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Emerald, Queensland. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Emerald QLD is 14,904 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Emerald is $1,035 per week ($53,820 per year). Median rent in Emerald is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Emerald has a median age of 32 years, younger than the national median of 38. Emerald has a population density of 17.9 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Emerald is England. The most common religion is No Religion (40% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Emerald is $1,647.

There were 2,373 recorded offences in Emerald in 2025-26, a rate of 159 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (549 offences).

Emerald Map

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Emerald Population

residents (Census 2021)

Emerald Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,035/wk

$53,820 per year

#1007 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$300/wk

$1,300 per month

#4529 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

32years

6 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,647/mo

Avg household size: 2.7 · 0.8 per bedroom

Emerald Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.1% (7,621) Female 48.9% (7,280)

Population Density

17.9

people per km²

14,904 people · 833.5 km²

Households

2.7

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$2,519

Family income/wk

Emerald Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Emerald Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

30.5% 805 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

69.5% 1,835 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Emerald Country of Birth

Australia

96.8%

England

1.4%

India

0.8%

China

0.3%

Fiji

0.2%

Canada

0.1%

Indonesia

0.1%

Greece

0.1%

Bangladesh

0.1%

France

0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Emerald Religion

No Religion

39.8%

Catholic

23.5%

Anglican

11.4%

Not stated

10.9%

Christian (other)

5.4%

Uniting Church

5.0%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.2%

Pentecostal

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Emerald Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

62.0%

Year 10 or equivalent

25.3%

Year 11 or equivalent

8.9%

Year 9 or equivalent

3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Emerald Languages Spoken at Home

Other

36.4%

SAL Tot

19.7%

Afrikaans

13.7%

SAL Tagalog

8.3%

SAL Filipin

6.6%

Mandarin

6.6%

IAL Punjabi

4.7%

Hindi

3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Emerald Employment

💼

Employed full-time

55.2% 5,285 people

⏰

Employed part-time

22.9% 2,187 people

🔍

Unemployed

2.8% 264 people

🏠

Not in labour force

19.2% 1,833 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Emerald Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

51.4%

Bachelor Degree

21.4%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

14.5%

Certificate I/II

4.6%

Postgraduate Degree

4.5%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Emerald Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers

22.9%

Professionals

20.8%

Managers

12.2%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

12.1%

Clerical & Administrative

10.3%

Community & Personal Service

9.2%

Labourers

6.8%

Sales Workers

5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Emerald Field of Study

Engineering

31.5%

Management & Commerce

17.2%

Education

11.8%

Health

9.1%

Society & Culture

9.0%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

6.9%

Architecture & Building

5.4%

Agriculture & Environment

4.8%

Natural & Physical Sciences

1.8%

Information Technology

1.2%

Creative Arts

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Emerald Dwelling Types

Separate house

88.7%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

6.8%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Emerald Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.4%

$1-$149/wk

0.3%

$150-$299/wk

0.8%

$300-$399/wk

1.2%

$400-$499/wk

2.8%

$500-$649/wk

2.7%

$650-$799/wk

4.3%

$800-$999/wk

4.6%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

6.7%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

6.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.4%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.1%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

15.0%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

9.6%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

9.2%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

6.2%

$4,000+/wk

16.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Emerald Marital Status

💍

Married

47.8% 5,327

↔️

Separated

3.6% 405

📋

Divorced

7.3% 815

🕊️

Widowed

2.5% 284

👤

Never married

38.7% 4,314

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Emerald Ancestry

Australian

31.0%

English

29.7%

Irish

8.9%

Scottish

8.6%

Other

5.7%

German

5.1%

Aboriginal Australianralian

3.8%

Maori

1.7%

Filipino

1.6%

Italian

1.6%

New Zealander

1.3%

Dutch

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Emerald School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

26.7%

Secondary — Government

20.9%

Primary — Catholic

18.5%

Secondary — Catholic

10.8%

Vocational Education

9.1%

Pre-school

8.7%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

2.8%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Emerald Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

3.7% 1,011

✅

No need for assistance

96.3% 26,081

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Emerald Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

19.4% 1,936

—

Not a volunteer

80.6% 8,056

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Emerald Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

3.3%

$300-$449/mo

2.3%

$450-$599/mo

1.8%

$600-$799/mo

3.8%

$800-$999/mo

6.7%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

21.3%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

21.7%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

23.8%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

8.7%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Emerald How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

70.5%

Did not go to work

11.6%

Car (passenger)

6.9%

Bus

5.0%

Walked only

3.2%

Truck

0.8%

Bicycle

0.7%

Other

0.5%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.4%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Emerald Car Ownership

0 vehicles

3.3%

1 vehicle

31.6%

2 vehicles

40.2%

3 vehicles

16.0%

4+ vehicles

8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Emerald Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

2.6%

2 bedrooms

11.1%

3 bedrooms

35.1%

4 bedrooms

42.5%

5 bedrooms

7.0%

6+ bedrooms

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Emerald Population Mobility

21.8%

moved in the last year

54.3%

moved in the last 5 years

3.2%

unemployment rate (Census)

73.8%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Emerald Indigenous Population

5.5%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

1,491

Indigenous residents

25,841

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Emerald Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

1,091

Asthma

525

Arthritis

274

Diabetes

251

Heart disease

212

Lung condition

174

Cancer

119

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Emerald Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

9.4%

$1-$149/wk

4.2%

$150-$299/wk

4.2%

$300-$399/wk

2.0%

$400-$499/wk

1.9%

$500-$649/wk

2.2%

$650-$799/wk

8.4%

$800-$999/wk

10.0%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

11.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.2%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

8.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.2%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

13.4%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.2%

$3,500+/wk

5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Emerald Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

54.7%

Couple — no children

22.4%

Couple — no children under 15

10.4%

One parent — children under 15

9.2%

One parent — no children under 15

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Emerald Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.1% 11

🏅

Previously served

2.3% 235

👤

Never served

97.5% 9,789

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Emerald Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

9.0% 895

—

Did not provide

91.0% 9,083

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Emerald Children Ever Born

No children

29.9%

1 child

12.1%

2 children

27.4%

3 children

19.5%

4 children

8.5%

5+ children

2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Emerald When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

128

1981–1990

143

1991–2000

172

2001–2010

619

2011–2015

414

2016

2017

2018

2019

143

2020

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Emerald Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

22.4%

5–14 hours

30.3%

15–29 hours

12.0%

30+ hours

10.0%

Did not do domestic work

25.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Emerald Household Size

1 person

23.0%

2 persons

31.4%

3 persons

15.2%

4 persons

17.5%

5 persons

8.8%

6+ persons

4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Emerald Where Residents Moved From

Same address

10,489

Moved — same area (SA2)

1,511

Moved from QLD

1,018

Moved from overseas

159

Moved from NSW

102

Moved from VIC

Moved from WA

Moved from NT

Moved from SA

Moved from TAS

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Emerald Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

79.0%

Step family — no other children

14.0%

Blended family — no other children

5.3%

Intact family — other children present

0.9%

Other couple — children only

0.5%

Step family — other children present

0.2%

Blended family — other children present

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Emerald Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 2,373 total

Theft

549

Drug Offences

544

Assault

350

Domestic Violence

223

Traffic

207

Break & Enter

153

Property Damage

121

Fraud

114

Weapons

Sexual Offences

Offence trend by year:

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: QLD Police Service — data.qld.gov.au

Emerald Schools

schools nearby

government

974

avg ICSEA score

6,847

total students

Marist College Catholic

Secondary · 7-12 · 697 students

999

ICSEA

St Brigid's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · Prep-6 · 323 students

990

ICSEA

Capricornia School of Distance Education Government

Combined · Prep-12 · 5,463 students

960

ICSEA

Denison State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 364 students

948

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Emerald with map →

Emerald Rent Prices & Affordability

14%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $2,202/wk

Median Rent $300/wk

Rent-to-Income 13.6%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Emerald

Your weekly income

≈ $9,542/month

Median rent $300/wk

Left after rent $1,902/wk

Rent share 13.6%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Townview

Income: $1,075/wk Rent: $253/wk Save: $47/wk

Winston

Income: $1,190/wk Rent: $261/wk Save: $39/wk

Arriga

Income: $924/wk Rent: $266/wk Save: $34/wk

Cambooya

Income: $839/wk Rent: $290/wk Save: $10/wk

Thursday Island

Income: $902/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $100/wk

Moura

Income: $882/wk Rent: $225/wk Save: $75/wk

Etna Creek

Income: $956/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $100/wk

Mornington (Qld)

Income: $1,100/wk Rent: $245/wk Save: $55/wk

Emerald vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in QLD

Acacia Ridge

Pop: 7,486 Income: $628/wk Rent: $335/wk

Newstead (Qld)

Pop: 7,496 Income: $1,536/wk Rent: $490/wk

Rothwell

Pop: 7,538 Income: $647/wk Rent: $380/wk

Caboolture South

Pop: 7,539 Income: $595/wk Rent: $320/wk

Margate (Qld)

Pop: 7,575 Income: $687/wk Rent: $320/wk

Middle Ridge

Pop: 7,595 Income: $907/wk Rent: $420/wk

Compare Emerald (Qld)

Emerald (Qld) vs Acacia Ridge →Emerald (Qld) vs Newstead (Qld) →Emerald (Qld) vs Rothwell →Emerald (Qld) vs Caboolture South →

Frequently Asked Questions About Emerald

What is the population of Emerald QLD?

The population of Emerald QLD is 14,904 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 17.9 people per km².Emerald is ranked #284 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Emerald?

The median personal income in Emerald QLD is $1,035 per week, or $53,820 per year.The median household income is $2,202 per week.Family income is $2,519 per week.Emerald is ranked #1,007 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Emerald?

Median rent in Emerald QLD is $300 per week ($1,300 per month).Rent represents 13.6% of household income, which is considered affordable.Emerald ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Emerald?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Emerald QLD is $1,647. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Emerald?

The median age in Emerald QLD is 32 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Emerald a good suburb to live in?

Emerald is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 14,904.The median income is $1,035/wk, which is above the QLD average of $759/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (13.6% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30973. All dollar figures in AUD.