Suburb report · QLD 4815
Kelso
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
10,909
Kelso suburb profile
Who lives in Kelso
At 1,104km from central Brisbane, Kelso runs as its own regional market. Kelso is one of the most populous suburbs in Queensland, with 10,909 residents, more than 85% of the state's suburbs. Among the 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, it ranks 47 by population. A median age of 35 places Kelso at the 23rd percentile of Queensland suburbs, on the younger side. Of the 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, 75 have a younger median age.
Income and home ownership
At $96,300, household income here sits in the middle band for Queensland. On household income it ranks 211 of 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD. An ownership share of 67.3% sits in the middle of the Queensland range, above 45% of suburbs. On ownership it ranks 301 of 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 3,474 occupied private dwellings in Kelso, one of the larger housing stocks in Queensland. Families with children are the largest household type at 52%, ahead of couples without children at 26.6% and people living alone at 18.3%. Of the 526 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, 88 have a higher share of families with children and 434 a lower one. The 52% share of families with children runs above most of Queensland, at the 75th percentile. The 26.6% share of couples without children is typical for Queensland.
Housing supply
Approvals have fallen sharply: 13 new dwellings were approved across the Kelso statistical area in the year to June 2025, against its 2020 to 2024 average of 25 a year. Supply figures here are for the Kelso statistical area, home to 11,180 residents in 2025, which closely matches Kelso. Per head of population the pipeline is thin: 1.2 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area against 3.2 for the median Queensland area. Over the 6 years to June 2025, annual approvals ranged from 11 in 2024 to 44 in 2021.
Population trend
The population of the Kelso statistical area grew 3% from 2020 to 2025, slower than most of Queensland, against 9.7% for Queensland as a whole. The median Queensland statistical area grew 6.3% over the same 5 years, 3.3 points faster than this one. It ranks at the 23rd percentile of Queensland statistical areas for population growth over the period. Year by year, the change ran from 0% in 2021 to 1% in 2024.
Against its neighbours
Of the suburbs profiled in the region listed below, Bowen differs most on the share of families with children: 35.4% there against 52% in Kelso. Edmonton is the closest match on the share of families with children, at 52.1% against 52%. At 11km, Kirwan counts 20,616 residents against 10,909 in Kelso.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Kelso data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Kelso statistical area, whose boundary differs from Kelso's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.