Babinda
With a median age of 48, Babinda sits 8 years above the national figure, making it one of Far North Queensland's more noticeably older communities. The suburb's 1,287 residents are spread across 39.91 square kilometres at a density of just 32 people per km2, compared to most QLD coastal towns. Household income lands in the 14.9th percentile nationally, placing Babinda firmly in the lower-income tier, yet mortgage-to-income at 24.4% and rent-to-income at 21.9% both stay below stress thresholds. The IRSAD decile of 3 confirms relative disadvantage, while a 12.5% vacancy rate signals softer housing demand than regional averages.
Population
1,287
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,048/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$298K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $298,000 positions Babinda well below the QLD regional average, making entry costs comparatively modest for buyers priced out of larger centres. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,108, and mortgage-to-income sits at 24.4%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. Detached houses dominate at 93.6% of dwellings, with semi-detached at just 4.2%, so buyers get genuine land and structure at this price point. The bedroom mix skews mid-range: 49.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 22.6% have 4 or more. Outright owners represent 37.3% of households, a higher share than mortgage holders at 31.4%, pointing to long-established residents rather than active buyer turnover.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $298,000 positions Babinda well below the QLD regional average, making entry costs comparatively modest for buyers priced out of larger centres. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,108, and mortgage-to-income sits at 24.4%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. Detached houses dominate at 93.6% of dwellings, with semi-detached at just 4.2%, so buyers get genuine land and structure at this price point. The bedroom mix skews mid-range: 49.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 22.6% have 4 or more. Outright owners represent 37.3% of households, a higher share than mortgage holders at 31.4%, pointing to long-established residents rather than active buyer turnover.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $230 against a $298,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, higher than most coastal QLD towns but offset by a 12.5% vacancy rate that signals soft tenant demand. Renting households account for 31.2% of the suburb, providing a reasonable tenant pool. Annual population growth runs at 0.61%, adding roughly 29 persons per year, with net internal migration contributing 28 residents annually. Development activity is minimal with only 5 applications in the past 12 months, all operational works rather than new dwellings, so rental supply is not increasing. The IRSAD decile of 3 and household income in the 14.9th percentile nationally suggest that rent affordability constraints will cap upward rent movement.
Development Activity
Total DAs
22
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Babinda iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Babinda State School
Prep-12 · 280 students
St Rita's School
1-6 · 27 students
Demographics
Babinda's median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is clear: the senior share rose 6.6 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.0 points. Overseas-born residents account for 14.8% of the population, which is 6.8 points below the national rate, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. English (462), Irish (168), Italian (152) and Scottish (125) ancestries lead, and Italian speakers (14 residents) are the only recorded non-English language group, consistent with historical cane-farming settlement patterns in the Innisfail district. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below the national figure. Couples with children (320 families) outnumber couples without children (296), despite the older median age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.6%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split gives 37.3% outright owners, 31.4% with a mortgage, and 31.2% renting, a roughly even three-way distribution. Outright ownership running above the mortgage share suggests established, long-held properties rather than a market driven by new buyers. Separate houses make up 93.6% of the stock, which is high even by Queensland standards, with semi-detached at 4.2%. The 3-bedroom home is most common at 49.9%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 22.6% and 2-bedroom at 21.8%. Estimated median house price of $298,000 and weekly rent of $230 sit below state medians. The 12.5% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter regional markets, indicating more available stock than active demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,108
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$548
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.5%
Unoccupied
71
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.1%
Couples, no children
922
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment base at 22.9% (69 workers), followed by Education at 19.6% (59 workers), together accounting for over 40% of jobs, a profile typical of service-dependent rural towns. Construction employs 9.3% and Public Administration 8.3%. By occupation, Community and Personal service workers (73), Labourers (71) and Professionals (68) are the top three groups. The unemployment rate of 10.0% is higher than state and national averages, with participation at just 45.0% because 448 residents are not in the labour force. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 4 and IRSAD decile of 3 place Babinda in the lower-disadvantage tiers nationally, and weekly household income of $1,048 sits in the 14.9th percentile.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
2,510
Unemployed
112
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
26.6%
Participation
45.0%
Employed
434
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
14.8%
Dwellings
499
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 81.1% driving to work, while 11.8% walk or cycle, which is notable for a rural town and likely reflects short commute distances in a small community. Public transport use is minimal at 2.8%. No schools are recorded within Babinda's boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring areas, including Innisfail. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The IRSAD decile of 3 flags relative disadvantage nationally, and 8.5% of residents (100 people) need daily assistance, a rate above typical low-disadvantage suburbs. Volunteering is active at 22.3% of residents, above average for a town of this size, suggesting strong community participation that compensates for limited service infrastructure.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
11.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+29 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth of 0.61% adds approximately 29 persons per year, and the 10-year change is 11.0%, which is moderate growth for a rural community. Net internal migration contributes 28 residents a year on average, with overseas migration adding 7 more, a balanced driver pattern rather than reliance on either domestic or international flows. Medium-scenario forecasts project the broader SA2 population reaching 4,876 by 2031 from 4,765 in 2025. The gentrification score of 19 places Babinda in the not-gentrifying stage, consistent with its IRSAD decile 3 position. Rent growth of 33.3% over the period reflects broader regional rental pressures, even as real income growth came in at 11.4%, widening the affordability gap for renters.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+7
Net Internal / yr
+28
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011, Accelerating: 2% → 11%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Babinda compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Babinda a good suburb to live in?
Babinda suits residents who value affordable housing and low commute stress. The median house price is $298,000 and mortgage-to-income sits at 24.4%, both well below stress thresholds. The IRSAD decile of 3 signals some relative disadvantage nationally, and the 10.0% unemployment rate is elevated, but housing costs keep daily living affordable for established residents.
What is the median house price in Babinda?
The estimated median house price is $298,000 (based on 2025 rent data), significantly lower than most Queensland regional centres. Weekly rent averages $230 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,108. A gross rental yield near 4.0% is higher than tighter coastal markets, though a 12.5% vacancy rate tempers the investment case.
What schools are in Babinda?
No schools are recorded inside Babinda's boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Innisfail, approximately 18 km south. The suburb's university qualification rate is 15.4%, which is 14.7 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a regional community where fewer residents complete tertiary education.
Is Babinda safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Babinda. As an indirect indicator, the IRSD decile of 4 places the suburb in the lower-mid disadvantage tier nationally, and 8.5% of residents (100 people) need daily assistance. The volunteering rate of 22.3% suggests an engaged community, though the 10.0% unemployment rate is a socioeconomic stressor above state averages.
Is Babinda good for property investment?
At $298,000 median with $230 weekly rent, the gross yield is near 4.0%, above many coastal QLD markets. However, a 12.5% vacancy rate and household income in the 14.9th percentile nationally cap rent growth potential. Population growth of 0.61% per year is modest but positive, and only 5 development applications in 12 months means rental supply is stable.
How is Babinda's population changing?
The population grew 11.0% over the past decade and is currently around 1,287 residents, with annual growth of 0.61% adding about 29 persons per year. Net internal migration averages 28 people annually and overseas migration adds 7 more. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 6.6 points and working-age share down 4.0 points over the decade.
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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