Allora
With a median age of 52, Allora sits 12 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest resident communities in the Southern Downs region. Household income lands in the 14.5th percentile nationally, yet the community shows strong financial stability: 48.9% of residents own their homes outright, well above the national rate, and mortgage stress is absent with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%. The 1,205-person town covers 96.5 square kilometres at a density of just 12.5 people per km2, offering a distinctly rural lifestyle compared to the state average.
Local council: Southern Downs
Population
1,205
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,042/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Separate houses dominate at 94.8% of the dwelling stock, so purchasers have little apartment competition to navigate. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.7% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes following at 29.3%, giving families practical options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold. First-home buyers and downsizers both benefit from the tenure structure: 48.9% of homes are owned outright, indicating long-held, stable ownership rather than a market driven by speculative churn.
For Buyers
Separate houses dominate at 94.8% of the dwelling stock, so purchasers have little apartment competition to navigate. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.7% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes following at 29.3%, giving families practical options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold. First-home buyers and downsizers both benefit from the tenure structure: 48.9% of homes are owned outright, indicating long-held, stable ownership rather than a market driven by speculative churn.
For Investors
Allora's investment profile is shaped by low yield pressure and limited tenant demand. The 15.3% vacancy rate is higher than the Queensland average, reflecting a small and stable renter base of just 21.0% of households. Only 6 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, far below what would signal active growth momentum. The participation rate is 43.8%, constrained by the older demographic, so tenant demand growth is unlikely to accelerate. Returns are likely to depend on long-term capital stability rather than rental income growth or population-driven demand spikes.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
18
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 Allora
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Patrick's School (Allora)
Allora P-10 State School
Demographics
Allora's population skews heavily older, with a median age of 52 that sits 12 years above the national figure, pointing to an aging-in-place pattern rather than a family attraction story. Overseas-born residents account for just 7.5%, which is 14.1 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is firmly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (561 residents), Irish (168) and Scottish (128). University qualifications reach only 17.6%, which is 12.5 points below national, consistent with a regional workforce oriented toward trades and services. Average household size is 2.3, fractionally below national, and 37.6% of families are couples with no children. The volunteering rate of 26.1% is notably high, suggesting strong civic participation relative to the national norm.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
4.1%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.8%, with semi-detached dwellings at 4.1% and negligible apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 47.7% and 4-plus bedrooms 29.3%, so larger family homes dominate the market. Tenure breakdown shows 48.9% owning outright, 30.1% on mortgage and 21.0% renting, with the outright ownership share above the national average by a considerable margin. Rent-to-income sits at 24.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress level, and mortgage-to-income at 28.8% is similarly manageable. The 15.3% vacancy rate is notably elevated compared to tighter regional Queensland markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$569
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.3%
Unoccupied
85
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.9%
Couples with children
50.5%
Couples, no children
16.8%
Single parent
321
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Allora's employment base at 21.1% of workers (56 people), followed by Education at 15.8% (42 people), Construction at 10.9% (29) and Agriculture at 9.4% (25). These four sectors together reflect the town's function as a local service hub for surrounding farming land rather than a commuter or professional hub. Managers are the most common occupation (73 workers), followed by Professionals and Community/Personal Service Workers (64 each) and Labourers (51). The unemployment rate is 3.2%, in line with the national rate, but the participation rate of 43.8% is well below national, driven by the large share of retired residents: 445 people are not in the labour force. Household income in the 14.5th percentile nationally reflects the preponderance of lower-paid regional service roles and the high retiree proportion.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
472
Unemployed
14
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
47.2%
Employed
458
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.6%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
7.5%
Dwellings
466
Transport to Work
Daily life in Allora is structured around car ownership: 85.2% of residents drive to work, and only 0.9% use public transport, reflecting the rural scale of 96.5 square kilometres with minimal transit infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 7.7% of commutes, a reasonable share for a small town. No schools are recorded in the suburb data, so families rely on facilities in nearby townships, which is typical for rural Queensland communities. The need-assistance rate of 11.6% (129 people) is above the national average, consistent with the older population profile. Mortgage-to-income at 28.8% and rent-to-income at 24.0% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are not a financial pressure for most residents, an advantage compared to larger QLD centres.
Drive
74.4%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
12.7%
Growth Outlook
Allora shows limited indicators of near-term population or price growth. The high median age of 52, which is 12 years above the national figure, points to a demographic trajectory where natural attrition could outpace new arrivals over the medium term. With only 6 development applications in the past 12 months and no notable infrastructure investment signals, new housing supply is minimal. The 22.5% residential turnover rate and 77.5% resident stability suggest a core long-term population that changes slowly. Growth prospects are modest, more consistent with value preservation than capital appreciation.
Population trend: Southern Downs council area
Allora sits in the Southern Downs council area. These are the council area's residents, not Allora's.
Residents 2025
38,064
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Allora compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Allora a good suburb to live in?
Allora suits those prioritising affordable rural living and financial stability. With 48.9% of residents owning their homes outright and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, housing costs are manageable compared to most QLD markets. The median age of 52 reflects a settled, older community. Limited public transport and employment diversity mean it suits retirees and remote workers more than young families.
What is the median house price in Allora?
Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,300, keeping the mortgage-to-income ratio at 28.8%. This places Allora well below the Queensland state median, offering value compared to regional centres.
What schools are in Allora?
No schools are recorded inside the Allora suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schooling in nearby Southern Downs townships. The local university qualification rate is 17.6%, which is 12.5 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a workforce more oriented toward trades and regional services.
Is Allora safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Allora are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 26.1% of residents volunteer in the community, a rate above the national average, reflecting strong civic engagement. The town has a stable resident base, with 77.5% of residents having lived there continuously, which tends to correlate with community cohesion.
Is Allora good for property investment?
Allora's investment fundamentals are modest. Only 6 development applications were lodged in 12 months, and the aging population (median age 52) limits tenant demand growth. It suits investors seeking stable, low-maintenance holdings rather than capital growth.
How is Allora's population changing?
Allora's population of 1,205 reflects a slow-changing, older community. The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, suggesting natural population attrition may outpace new arrivals over time. The residential turnover rate of 22.5% is moderate, with 77.5% of residents staying long-term. No significant development pipeline exists to drive near-term population growth.
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).
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