Bayview Heights
With 41.2% of dwellings owned outright and a vacancy rate of 4.9%, Bayview Heights signals a suburb where long-term owner-occupiers dominate and the rental pool is tight. The population of 4,175 sits on 4.32 square kilometres in Far North Queensland, with a median age of 43 that is 3.0 years above the national average. Household income ranks at the 71.1st percentile nationally, yet the median house price is estimated at $475,000, which is affordable relative to many coastal QLD markets. Nearly all dwellings (99.3%) are separate houses, and almost half have four or more bedrooms, pointing to a family and semi-rural lifestyle rather than apartment living.
Population
4,175
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,906/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$475K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $475,000 makes Bayview Heights accessible compared to Southeast QLD coastal markets, and mortgage stress is absent: the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly repayments average $1,625. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, with a near-even split between three-bedroom (49.4%) and four-plus-bedroom (47.0%) homes, so buyers seeking space and a backyard will find plentiful options. Outright owners at 41.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 42.3%, a sign of a stable, established community rather than speculative turnover. The average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national figure, consistent with families drawn to large floor plans on generous blocks.
For Buyers
The median house price of $475,000 makes Bayview Heights accessible compared to Southeast QLD coastal markets, and mortgage stress is absent: the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly repayments average $1,625. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, with a near-even split between three-bedroom (49.4%) and four-plus-bedroom (47.0%) homes, so buyers seeking space and a backyard will find plentiful options. Outright owners at 41.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 42.3%, a sign of a stable, established community rather than speculative turnover. The average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national figure, consistent with families drawn to large floor plans on generous blocks.
For Investors
The rental pool is thin but consistent: only 16.5% of dwellings are rented and weekly rent averages $390, producing a rough gross yield around 4.3% against the $475,000 median, competitive by regional QLD standards. The vacancy rate of 4.9% is a caution signal, sitting above the general 3% equilibrium benchmark, which means landlords should expect some void periods. Net overseas migration averages 50 residents per year while internal migration runs negative at minus 8, so overseas-born demand is the primary growth driver. Development activity is modest at 5 applications in the past 12 months, limiting new supply pressure. The population grew 4.8% over the decade, below fast-growth corridors, so this is a yield-oriented investment rather than a capital growth story.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
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
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 6.5 points while the working-age share fell 3.3 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 17.2%, which is 4.4 percentage points below the national average, giving the suburb a predominantly Australian-born character. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,589 residents), Irish (577), and Scottish (487), with Italian ancestry (314) the main European addition. University qualifications reach 27.7%, which is 2.4 points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce concentrated in practical and service roles. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national. Volunteering at 18.7% is solid, and 5.5% of residents require daily assistance, slightly above what the age profile alone would predict.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.3%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split almost evenly between outright owners (41.2%) and mortgage holders (42.3%), with renters at just 16.5%, well below state and national averages. That low renter share, combined with a 4.9% vacancy rate, suggests renters face a limited but not absent supply. Separate houses make up 99.3% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings accounting for the remaining 0.7% and apartments absent. The bedroom profile skews large: 49.4% are three-bedroom homes and 47.0% have four or more bedrooms, while only 3.0% have two bedrooms. This reflects the family-oriented, suburban lot character of the area. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% means current buyers are not financially stretched, unlike higher-cost coastal QLD suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$895
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.0%
Couples, no children
3,385
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 20.5% of the local workforce (309 workers), well above most regional averages, followed by Education at 12.4% (187), Construction at 9.2% (139), Public Administration at 8.3% (125), and Professional/Tech services at 7.7% (116). By occupation, Professionals lead (463), then Clerical/Admin (305), Managers (277), Community/Personal service workers (257), and Sales (213). The full-time employment rate is 64.2%, and unemployment sits at 4.7%, slightly above the capital city average. Household income ranks at the 71.1st percentile nationally, above the median despite the below-average university qualification rate of 27.7%, indicating that trade and healthcare employment supports solid incomes. SEIFA IRSD and IRSAD deciles are both 5, placing the suburb in the middle of the national distribution on disadvantage measures.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
4,646
Unemployed
223
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
31.1%
Participation
62.8%
Employed
2,026
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.7%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
17.2%
Dwellings
1,538
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 91.3% of commuters travelling as drivers, compared to national averages around 65-70%, because the suburb's low density and Far North Queensland location provide limited public transport alternatives, with only 1.3% using transit. Walked or cycled commutes account for 1.1%. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions. SEIFA IRSAD at decile 5 and IEO at decile 5 place Bayview Heights at the national midpoint on both advantage and educational opportunity measures. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 20.5% and mortgage-to-income at 19.7% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The 18.7% volunteering rate is above the national average, and the suburb has 77.3% residential stability, with fewer than 23% of residents having moved in the reference period.
Drive
91.3%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.3%/yr
(+26 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 4.8% over the decade, modest relative to high-growth QLD corridors, and the annual rate is 0.3% (26 persons per year). Historical figures show the broader SA2 at around 8,700 residents with near-flat movement from 2023 to 2025. The medium-scenario forecast holds population growth steady through 2031, reaching approximately 8,832. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 50 arrivals per year, while internal migration runs negative at minus 8. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is not gentrifying, which aligns with a SEIFA IRSD decile of 5 and an affordability trend rated as stable. Rent growth of 30.8% over the observed period outpaced real income growth of 3.5%, a signal that rental demand has tightened even as population growth has been slow.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+50
Net Internal / yr
-8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bayview Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bayview Heights a good suburb to live in?
Bayview Heights scores decile 5 on IRSAD and IRSD, placing it at the national midpoint on advantage and disadvantage measures. Household incomes rank at the 71.1st percentile nationally, housing stress is absent (mortgage-to-income 19.7%), and 77.3% of residents have stayed put, signalling a stable community. The main practical trade-off is near-total car dependency at 91.3% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Bayview Heights?
The median house price is estimated at $475,000, based on rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $390 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% is well below the 30% stress threshold, making current pricing accessible for households at or above the 71.1st percentile income bracket.
What schools are in Bayview Heights?
No schools are recorded inside the Bayview Heights boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Cairns region. The local university qualification rate is 27.7%, which is 2.4 points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce concentrated in healthcare and trade occupations.
Is Bayview Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bayview Heights in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb sits at SEIFA IRSD decile 5 (national midpoint on disadvantage), the unemployment rate is 4.7%, and 77.3% of residents have stable long-term tenure, all consistent with a typical mid-range regional QLD suburb rather than a high-disadvantage area.
Is Bayview Heights good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $390 against a $475,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 4.3%, above many Southeast QLD coastal markets. However, the vacancy rate is 4.9%, above the 3% equilibrium level, and population growth is modest at 0.3% annually. Rent grew 30.8% over the observed period, suggesting rental demand has tightened despite slow population growth. Suitable for yield-focused investors accepting some vacancy risk.
How is Bayview Heights's population changing?
The population of 4,175 grew 4.8% over the decade, with annual growth of approximately 0.3% or 26 persons per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 50 arrivals annually, while internal migration runs at minus 8 per year. Medium-scenario forecasts project gradual growth through 2031, reaching around 8,832 for the broader SA2 area.
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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