Economy, jobs and prices in Toowoomba, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the Toowoomba Region who had income was $55,551 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 8th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the Toowoomba Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Toowoomba?
The median employee income in the Toowoomba Region was $59,137 for the year 2022-23, 8th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Toowoomba?
The median equivalised household income in the Toowoomba Region was $938 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 3rd lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Toowoomba?
The unemployment rate in the Toowoomba Region was 5.0% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 16th highest of 31 areas, below the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Toowoomba?
60.1% of residents of the Toowoomba Region aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 8th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Toowoomba?
Of the 79,508 employed residents of the Toowoomba Region at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (18.4%; 14.5% nationally), education and training (10.8%) and retail trade (9.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Toowoomba?
17,994 businesses were registered in the Toowoomba Region at 30 June 2025, which is 97 for every 1,000 residents (11th highest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 65% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Toowoomba in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the Toowoomba Region in 2024-25 covered 889 new dwellings (4.8 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $859 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Toowoomba?
The median price of an established house sold in the Toowoomba Region in 2023-24 was $600,000, 5th lowest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $410,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Toowoomba?
3.7% of occupied homes in the Toowoomba Region were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 31.8% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Toowoomba do not own a car?
5.4% of households in the Toowoomba Region had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 7th lowest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Toowoomba in 2024?
2,568 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the Toowoomba Region in 2024, 14.0 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Toowoomba compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Toowoomba ranks 17 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Greater Sydney | 5.1% |
| 15 | Townsville | 5.1% |
| 16 | Brisbane | 5.0% |
| 17 | Toowoomba | 5.0% |
| 18 | Wollongong | 4.9% |
| 19 | Newcastle | 4.9% |
| 20 | Newcastle-Maitland | 4.8% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Toowoomba ranks 19 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Greater Hobart | $56,852 |
| 17 | Perth | $56,520 |
| 18 | Ballarat | $55,825 |
| 19 | Toowoomba | $55,551 |
| 20 | Cairns | $55,547 |
| 21 | Central Coast | $55,035 |
| 22 | Bendigo | $55,007 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Toowoomba ranks 11 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Greater Melbourne | 110 |
| 9 | Brisbane | 106 |
| 10 | Sunshine Coast | 103 |
| 11 | Toowoomba | 97 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 91 |
| 13 | Darwin | 90 |
| 14 | Greater Perth | 87 |
More on Toowoomba: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.