Barcaldine
A 20.1% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Barcaldine's housing profile, alongside a population of 1,540 spread across 10,793.76 square kilometres. The median age is 43, which is 3.0 years above the national figure, and 95.8% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with Longreach's broader regional-service role, Barcaldine has a more compact small-town setting, with 64.9% of residents driving to work and 14.0% walking or cycling. The combination of low density, detached housing and an aging trajectory suits buyers who value space and local scale more than rapid population growth.
Local council: Barcaldine
Population
1,540
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,487/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers should use recent comparable sales and an address-specific valuation because a single suburb-wide median price is not available. The physical stock is clear: 95.8% separate houses, 3.0% apartments, 41.0% three-bedroom dwellings and 30.7% with four or more bedrooms. Ownership is more common outright than with a mortgage, at 41.6% versus 21.8%, while mortgage costs average $1,213 monthly. Mortgage repayments take 18.8% of household income, a below-stress result, because debt exposure is contained for many owners. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, Barcaldine suits buyers seeking detached homes and a lower-density housing environment.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should use recent comparable sales and an address-specific valuation because a single suburb-wide median price is not available. The physical stock is clear: 95.8% separate houses, 3.0% apartments, 41.0% three-bedroom dwellings and 30.7% with four or more bedrooms. Ownership is more common outright than with a mortgage, at 41.6% versus 21.8%, while mortgage costs average $1,213 monthly. Mortgage repayments take 18.8% of household income, a below-stress result, because debt exposure is contained for many owners. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, Barcaldine suits buyers seeking detached homes and a lower-density housing environment.
For Investors
Investor conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $200 and 29.4% of households rent, but the 20.1% vacancy rate is higher than would suit a tightly contested rental market, so advertised returns may not translate into reliable occupancy. There were 0 recorded developments in the past 12 months, limiting the immediate risk of a large new supply wave but also signalling little construction momentum. The forecast migration driver is Balanced and the annual trend is -0.71%, which can restrain tenant growth because population demand is not expanding quickly. Rent growth of 30.8% has improved the income story, yet vacancy should be tested street by street before purchase.
Schools in Barcaldine
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Barcaldine)
Barcaldine Prep-12 State School
Demographics
Barcaldine has a settled, older profile: the median age is 43, or 3.0 years above the national comparison, while 77.8% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 22.2%. University attainment is 21.0%, 9.1 percentage points below the national level, and overseas-born residents account for 6.4%, 15.2 points below nationally. English ancestry is recorded for 599 people, followed by Irish 162, Scottish 161 and German 68; Christianity counts 863 and no religion 446. Smaller households average 2.2 people, 0.3 below national, helping explain why couples without children represent 47.9% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.8%
Houses
0.5%
Townhouse
3.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Barcaldine's housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 95.8% separate houses compared with 3.0% apartments and 0.5% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes form 41.0% of stock and four-plus-bedroom homes 30.7%, so larger formats are more common than compact 0-1 bedroom dwellings at 6.8%. Tenure is weighted toward outright ownership at 41.6%, ahead of mortgages at 21.8% and renting at 29.4%. Rent takes 13.4% of household income and mortgage costs 18.8%, both below-stress measures, because debt and rent burdens are modest for many households. Buyers should compare recent sales by condition, land size and access to services rather than rely on one median figure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,213
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$200
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$869
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.1%
Unoccupied
147
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.3%
Couples with children
47.9%
Couples, no children
14.7%
Single parent
374
Total families
Economy & Employment
Barcaldine's employment base is led by healthcare at 17.7% or 80 workers, followed by public administration at 12.6% or 57, agriculture at 11.9% or 54, construction at 10.8% or 49, and education at 9.7% or 44. This spread supports resilience because care, government, rural production and trades do not rely on one industry alone. Participation is 62.5%, unemployment 2.1%, with 500 full-time workers compared with 210 part-time. Household income sits at the 46.4th percentile; IEO is decile 3, while IER, IRSD and IRSAD are each decile 4, below higher-ranked areas. University attainment is 21.0%, 9.1 points below national, helping explain why low unemployment does not equal high area-wide advantage.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
777
Unemployed
16
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
27.6%
Participation
62.5%
Employed
761
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.0%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
6.4%
Dwellings
571
Transport to Work
Liveability in Barcaldine is shaped by distance and local access. Across 10,793.76 square kilometres, 64.9% of workers drive, 14.0% walk or cycle and 13.6% work from home, so private vehicles matter for regional trips even when some daily errands are active. Two local schools cover government and Catholic sectors: Barcaldine Prep-12 State School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. Families should check enrolment zones and year levels at the exact address. IRSAD and IRSD are both decile 4, below the highest deciles, while volunteering is 33.8% and need for assistance is 5.7%. Review current local safety information and visit streets at different times before choosing a home.
Drive
64.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
14.0%
Work from Home
13.6%
Growth Outlook
Barcaldine's growth outlook is subdued: the annual trend is -0.71%, with migration described as Balanced. Population change across the wider area is -12.3% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging. The senior share rose 6.9 percentage points, the young share fell 2.9 points and the working share fell 3.1 points, because the resident base is moving toward older age groups. The gentrification measures are mixed: the current indicator is score 0, labelled Not gentrifying, while another measure records score 26 and Early signs. That contrast suggests any renewal is nascent rather than broad-based. Affordability improved from 22.2% in 2011 to 19.4% in 2021, while real income growth was 21.4%, supporting established households more than rapid expansion.
Population trend: Barcaldine council area
Barcaldine sits in the Barcaldine council area. These are the council area's residents, not Barcaldine's.
Residents 2025
2,937
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.5%/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 Barcaldine compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barcaldine a good suburb to live in?
Barcaldine suits buyers seeking a small regional town, detached housing and low reported housing stress. It has 1,540 residents, a median age of 43 and 2 local schools, but the 20.1% vacancy rate and car dependence deserve consideration.
What is the median house price in Barcaldine?
A current median house price cannot be stated as a reliable suburb benchmark. Compare recent comparable sales and obtain an address-specific valuation. Housing is 95.8% separate houses, with 41.0% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms.
What schools are in Barcaldine?
Barcaldine has 2 schools: Barcaldine Prep-12 State School, a government school, and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic non-state school. Check enrolment zones and year-level availability for the exact address.
Is Barcaldine safe?
A suburb-level crime rate should be checked through current Queensland Police information and a street-level visit. Other liveability indicators include 64.9% of workers driving and an IRSAD decile of 4, so local conditions should be assessed at the address level.
Is Barcaldine good for property investment?
Barcaldine may suit investors seeking a low weekly entry rent, with rent at $200 and 29.4% renting. However, the 20.1% vacancy rate and 0 developments recorded in 12 months can limit rent competition and near-term growth, so due diligence is essential.
How is Barcaldine's population changing?
Population change is subdued and ageing: the annual trend is -0.71%, the wider area's 10-year change is -12.3%, and the trajectory is Aging. The senior share has risen 6.9 percentage points, while the young share fell 2.9 points.
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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