Alligator Creek
An owner-occupier, detached-house profile shapes Alligator Creek more than its small population of 897 suggests. Separate houses account for 92.7% of homes, while only 10.4% of households rent and 53.0% hold a mortgage. Household income reaches the 88.5th percentile nationally, yet the suburb is ageing, with a median age of 37 and a regional shift labelled Aging. Compared with nearby Sarina and Hay Point, its 78.03 sq km footprint and density of 11.5 people per sq km point to a more dispersed setting, with 83.4% driving to work. Growth is slow at 0.39% annually, so its appeal is stability and space rather than rapid turnover.
Population
897
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,321/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
For buyers, the clearest signal is a low-density, family-sized housing pattern rather than a standardised unit market. Separate houses make up 92.7%, with 48.1% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms and another 37.5% containing 3 bedrooms. Mortgage holders account for 53.0% of households, and the monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, while mortgage payments equal 21.6% of household income. That sits below levels commonly associated with acute repayment pressure, but affordability worsened from 12.2 in 2011 to 14.5 in 2021. Compared with denser parts of Mackay, buyers should prioritise commute, land upkeep and service checks. A current median house price is unavailable, so recent comparable sales matter more than a single suburb headline.
For Buyers
For buyers, the clearest signal is a low-density, family-sized housing pattern rather than a standardised unit market. Separate houses make up 92.7%, with 48.1% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms and another 37.5% containing 3 bedrooms. Mortgage holders account for 53.0% of households, and the monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, while mortgage payments equal 21.6% of household income. That sits below levels commonly associated with acute repayment pressure, but affordability worsened from 12.2 in 2011 to 14.5 in 2021. Compared with denser parts of Mackay, buyers should prioritise commute, land upkeep and service checks. A current median house price is unavailable, so recent comparable sales matter more than a single suburb headline.
For Investors
Alligator Creek suits investors seeking a low-rental, house-led market, but the entry price and gross yield need property-level checking because no median house price is available. Only 10.4% of households rent, the weekly rent figure is $200, and vacancy is 6.3%, so tenant demand may be more uneven than in higher-rental suburbs. The 92.7% separate-house share supports family-oriented leasing, while 25 development matters recorded over 12 months could add competing supply or improve local amenity, depending on delivery. Migration is labelled Balanced and annual growth is 0.39%, pointing to measured rather than speculative expansion. Compared with fast-growth corridors, investors should favour durable access, maintenance condition and realistic rents over short-term capital-growth assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
28
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Alligator Creek
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Alligator Creek State School
Demographics
Alligator Creek has a predominantly Australian-born, Anglo-leaning profile with stable household ties. The median age is 37, which is 3 years below the national comparison, while the forecast trajectory is Aging because the senior share has increased by 11.3 percentage points and the young share has fallen 3.9 points. University attainment is 14.7%, or 15.4 points below the national comparison, and only 6.7% of residents were born overseas, 14.9 points below nationally. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 300, 103 and 97; Christianity counts 444 people and no religion 342. Couples with children represent 55.4% of families, while 85.3% stayed at the same address, a higher stability signal than the 14.7% turnover rate. Compared with more mobile urban communities, the profile is more settled and family-based.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.7%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached and mortgage-backed. Separate houses account for 92.7% of dwellings, while 4-plus-bedroom homes make up 48.1% and 3-bedroom homes 37.5%, giving families a more house-oriented choice set than apartment-led markets. Tenure is split between 35.5% owned outright, 53.0% with a mortgage and 10.4% renting. Mortgage costs equal 21.6% of household income, compared with rent at 8.6%, so current occupants appear more exposed to interest-rate changes than to rental stress. Vacancy is 6.3%, and the weekly rent figure is $200. With no current median house price, buyers and owners should compare recent sales by land size and dwelling condition rather than rely on a broad suburb estimate. Sarina and Hay Point provide useful nearby benchmarks, but Alligator Creek's 11.5 people per sq km indicates a more spacious pattern.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $200.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $650 · units $500
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$951
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
19
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
8.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.4%
Couples with children
38.4%
Couples, no children
6.2%
Single parent
242
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is tied most strongly to Mining at 18.9%, or 57 workers, followed by Healthcare at 13.0% and 39 workers, Transport at 10.6% and 32, Construction at 9.3% and 28, and Education at 7.3% and 22. Trades lead occupations with 94 workers, ahead of Machinery/Drivers at 70 and Professionals at 60, which helps explain why 63.5% of workers are full-time and car commuting reaches 83.4%. Household income sits at the 88.5th percentile, above the national midpoint, yet area disadvantage measures are mixed: IEO is decile 3, IER decile 1, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 2. The gap suggests strong household earnings coexist with lower education and economic-resource scores than higher-ranked areas. Unemployment is 4.7% and participation is 67.4%, supporting a working, but industry-sensitive, base.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
468
Unemployed
22
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.5%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
67.4%
Employed
446
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.7%
Postgraduate
0.7%
Born Overseas
6.7%
Dwellings
287
Transport to Work
Daily life is built around driving. Car drivers account for 83.4% of journeys to work, compared with 3.0% using public transport, while 2.5% walk or cycle and 8.3% work from home. That pattern follows the low density of 11.5 people per sq km across 78.03 sq km, making a private vehicle more practical than frequent local transit. Alligator Creek State School is the local government school; families should check catchment boundaries and transport options against the exact address. The suburb's IRSAD decile is 2, below higher-ranked areas, so access to services and household costs deserve practical scrutiny. A current suburb crime rate is not available; compare the latest Queensland Police figures across 12 months and check street-level conditions before renting or buying.
Drive
83.4%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
8.3%
Growth Outlook
Growth is steady rather than rapid: the forecast annual trend is 0.39%, migration is labelled Balanced, and population change across the wider area is 0.1% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 11.3 points and the working share down 5.3 points, so demand may increasingly reflect established households and retirement needs rather than a young renter wave. Affordability worsened from 12.2 in 2011 to 14.5 in 2021, while rents grew 33.3%, creating pressure even without strong population expansion. The gentrification picture is mixed: shift signals show a score of 24 and Early signs, while the current score is 0 and stage Not gentrifying. Compared with faster-growing Mackay corridors, Alligator Creek is better read as a slow-growth, ageing market.
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Alligator Creek compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alligator Creek a good suburb to live in?
It can suit households seeking detached space, lower rental competition and a settled setting. Separate houses account for 92.7% of dwellings and 85.3% of residents stayed at the same address, but 83.4% drive to work, so it is less convenient than areas with stronger public transport.
What is the median house price in Alligator Creek?
A current median house price is unavailable for Alligator Creek. Compared with relying on a suburb-wide figure, buyers should review recent sales for similar land sizes and homes, noting that 92.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 48.1% have 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Alligator Creek?
Alligator Creek State School is the local government school. School access is address-specific, so compare the exact catchment and transport route before buying or renting. The suburb's low density of 11.5 people per sq km can make school travel more car-dependent than in denser areas.
Is Alligator Creek safe?
Safety should be checked using the latest Queensland Police Service figures and local street conditions, as a current suburb crime rate is not available. Compare incidents across a 12-month period and inspect lighting, roads and surrounding activity before making a housing decision.
Is Alligator Creek good for property investment?
It may suit a long-term, house-focused strategy, but investors should be selective. Only 10.4% of households rent, vacancy is 6.3% and 25 development matters were recorded over 12 months. Compared with faster-growth markets, rental and capital-growth assumptions should be tested carefully.
How is Alligator Creek's population changing?
The suburb has 897 residents today, while population change across the wider area is forecast at 0.1% over 10 years. Annual growth is 0.39% and the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 11.3 points. Compared with high-growth corridors, change is gradual and more settled.
What development is occurring in Alligator Creek?
There were 25 development matters over 12 months, including earthworks, subdivision activity and a lot creation proposal. Compared with a stable established area, these projects may gradually affect access, services and housing supply, so buyers should check the status and location of nearby applications.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
Explore Alligator Creek on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map