Andergrove
Andergrove's estimated $448,000 median sits in Queensland's affordable tier, but real incomes declined 2.7% over the past decade, the only negative income trajectory in this batch. Mining employs 11.9% of workers, creating a resource-economy dependency where household incomes ($1,735/week, 60.8th percentile) are propped up by high-paying shift work rather than professional careers. University qualifications at 17.0% fall 13.1 points below the national average, the second-widest negative gap in this cohort. The senior share expanded 6.3 percentage points over the decade, the steepest aging trajectory in the dataset, while the working-age share contracted 2.2 points.
Population
9,924
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,735/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$448K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $448,000 estimated (rent-derived), Andergrove offers entry-level pricing in the Mackay region. Detached houses dominate at 83.0%, with three-bedroom (46.6%) and four-bedroom (37.5%) homes providing family-sized options. Mortgage-to-income at 21.9% is very comfortable, well below the stress threshold. The suburb hosts 3 schools: MacKillop Catholic Primary (ICSEA 990) sits near the benchmark, while Andergrove State School (887) and Pioneer State High (875) fall below. Buyers should note the aging trajectory (senior share +6.3 points over the decade) and flat real income growth, which may limit future capital appreciation compared to growth corridors.
For Buyers
At $448,000 estimated (rent-derived), Andergrove offers entry-level pricing in the Mackay region. Detached houses dominate at 83.0%, with three-bedroom (46.6%) and four-bedroom (37.5%) homes providing family-sized options. Mortgage-to-income at 21.9% is very comfortable, well below the stress threshold. The suburb hosts 3 schools: MacKillop Catholic Primary (ICSEA 990) sits near the benchmark, while Andergrove State School (887) and Pioneer State High (875) fall below. Buyers should note the aging trajectory (senior share +6.3 points over the decade) and flat real income growth, which may limit future capital appreciation compared to growth corridors.
For Investors
Renters at 32.7% are close to the national average, and median weekly rent of $350 against a $448,000 estimated median produces a gross yield around 4.1%, strong by national standards. Mortgage-to-income at 21.9% and rent-to-income at 20.2% are both well below stress levels, suggesting sustainable tenancy. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is moderate. However, rent grew 0.0% over the decade, meaning rental income has been flat in nominal terms and declining in real terms. Only 5 DAs in 12 months indicates minimal new supply. Population growth of 0.99% (170/year) is modest, with balanced migration at +110 internal and +62 overseas.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
6
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 Andergrove iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
MacKillop Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 149 students
Andergrove State School
Prep-6 · 270 students
Pioneer State High School
7-12 · 536 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 sits 4 years below national, but the 6.3 percentage point expansion in the senior share over the decade, the largest in this cohort, signals rapid aging. English ancestry dominates (3,922), with Irish (1,031) and Scottish (997) forming a strong Anglo-Celtic base. Only 12.0% were born overseas, 9.6 points below the national average, making Andergrove one of the most Australian-born suburbs in this dataset. University qualifications at 17.0% are 13.1 points below national. Machinery/Drivers (593) rank third among occupations, reflecting the mining-adjacent blue-collar economy. Afrikaans (32 speakers) leads non-English languages, an unusual profile suggesting South African immigration.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.0%
Houses
9.6%
Townhouse
4.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Mortgage holders (42.1%) lead tenure, with 25.2% owning outright and 32.7% renting. Detached houses at 83.0% dominate, with semi-detached (9.6%) and apartments (4.3%) as minor alternatives. Three-bedroom homes (46.6%) and four-bedroom (37.5%) make up 84.1% of all stock. The $448,000 estimated median provides entry well below capital-city benchmarks. Mortgage-to-income at 21.9% and rent-to-income at 20.2% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds. Affordability actually improved over the decade (from 50.7% to 42.4%), bucking the national trend, likely because flat rents and modest price growth kept housing costs in check while wages held steady.
Mortgage / mo
$1,647
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$835
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
277
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.6%
Couples, no children
7,529
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 19.0% (547 workers), with Mining second at 11.9% (342), reflecting Mackay's position as a gateway to the Bowen Basin coal fields. Education (10.7%), Construction (9.5%) and Retail (6.8%) follow. The Mining dependency explains the unusual income profile: household incomes sit at the 60.8th percentile despite university rates 13.1 points below national, because mining wages are high regardless of formal education. Community/Personal (600) and Machinery/Drivers (593) rank among the top occupations. The IEO decile 2 confirms low education levels, while the IER decile 4 reflects moderate economic resources, a split driven by mining income lifting earnings above what education alone would predict.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
9,290
Unemployed
299
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
26.1%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
4,550
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.0%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
12.0%
Dwellings
3,615
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 89.3%, with public transport at 1.5% and walking/cycling at 1.7%, reflecting regional Mackay's limited transit infrastructure. Schools sit below or near the benchmark: MacKillop Catholic (ICSEA 990, 149 students) is closest to the national average, while Andergrove State School (887, 270) and Pioneer State High (875, 536) fall below. The IRSAD decile 3 and IRSD decile 4 indicate below-average socio-economic conditions. The need-for-assistance rate of 5.9% is slightly above average. Affordability is a strength, with both mortgage and rent ratios well below stress thresholds.
Drive
89.3%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.99%/yr
(+170 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 0.99% per year (170 persons), with the 9.9% gain over the decade well below the national average. Migration is balanced at +110 internal and +62 overseas per year. Medium projections forecast 17,972 by 2031, up from 17,169 in 2025. Real income declined 2.7% over the decade, the only negative growth in this batch, suggesting mining wage stagnation or compositional shift. The gentrification score of 34 with early signs may reflect not classic gentrification but rather demographic churn as retirees replace departing younger workers. The aging trajectory is the sharpest in this cohort (+6.3 points senior share).
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+62
Net Internal / yr
+110
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +16% since 2011, Net internal migration +110/yr, Accelerating: 3% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Andergrove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Andergrove a good suburb to live in?
Andergrove suits budget-conscious buyers in the Mackay region, with a $448,000 estimated median and mortgage-to-income of just 21.9%. The trade-off is IRSAD decile 3, schools below the ICSEA benchmark, and extreme car dependency (89.3%). Mining employment (11.9%) provides high wages without requiring university qualifications (17.0% rate).
What is the median house price in Andergrove?
The estimated median is $448,000 (rent-derived for 2025). Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,647 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 21.9%, well below stress levels. Median weekly rent is $350 with rent-to-income at 20.2%. Rent growth was flat (0.0%) over the decade.
What schools are in Andergrove?
Andergrove has 3 schools. MacKillop Catholic Primary (ICSEA 990, 149 students) sits near the national benchmark, while Andergrove State School (887, 270) and Pioneer State High School (875, 536) fall below the 1,000 standard. Families seeking higher-scoring schools must look to neighbouring Mackay suburbs.
Is Andergrove safe?
Crime data is not available for Andergrove in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 4 indicates moderate disadvantage. Unemployment at 4.4% is slightly above average. The 73.1% residency stability rate and 67.3% owner-occupier share (combined outright and mortgage) are factors typically associated with moderate safety profiles.
Is Andergrove good for property investment?
Gross yield of roughly 4.1% ($350/week on $448,000) is strong nationally, and both rent and mortgage stress ratios are well below thresholds. However, rent grew 0.0% over the decade, meaning flat income returns. Population growth is modest at 0.99% (170/year). Only 5 DAs in 12 months indicates minimal new supply. The mining-dependent economy creates cyclical risk.
How is Andergrove's population changing?
Population grew 9.9% over the decade, averaging 0.99% (170 people) per year, below the national average. The senior share expanded 6.3 points, the steepest aging in this batch, while real income declined 2.7%. Medium projections forecast 17,972 by 2031. The median age of 36 is 4 years below national.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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