Benaraby
Household income in the 91.3rd percentile nationally is the standout figure for Benaraby, a 105.68 square kilometre rural locality near Gladstone with only 1,166 residents. Despite that high income rank, the median house price sits at an estimated $451,000, which is well below most Queensland coastal markets, creating an unusual gap between earning capacity and property cost. The suburb is overwhelmingly owner-occupied, with just 8.4% of households renting, compared to national rental rates typically above 30%. Manufacturing (23.6% of employed residents) drives the local economy, reflecting proximity to the industrial corridor serving the Gladstone region.
Population
1,166
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,435/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$451K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $451,000 median house price, Benaraby sits at an accessible entry point compared to Queensland metropolitan and coastal medians. The monthly mortgage repayment averages $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.0% is well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the typical buyer here carries a manageable debt load relative to earnings. Separate houses dominate at 86.0% of dwellings, and the bedroom mix leans large: 61.0% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, with 3-bedroom homes at 27.2%. Only 57.5% of households carry a mortgage, and 34.1% own outright, suggesting a stable, established ownership base. Apartments represent just 0.8% of stock, so buyers seeking detached family homes will find an abundant supply in a low-density setting.
For Buyers
At an estimated $451,000 median house price, Benaraby sits at an accessible entry point compared to Queensland metropolitan and coastal medians. The monthly mortgage repayment averages $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.0% is well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the typical buyer here carries a manageable debt load relative to earnings. Separate houses dominate at 86.0% of dwellings, and the bedroom mix leans large: 61.0% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, with 3-bedroom homes at 27.2%. Only 57.5% of households carry a mortgage, and 34.1% own outright, suggesting a stable, established ownership base. Apartments represent just 0.8% of stock, so buyers seeking detached family homes will find an abundant supply in a low-density setting.
For Investors
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent averages $300 against a $451,000 median, implying a gross yield near 3.5%, modest but higher than many capital city markets. The 14.2% vacancy rate is a concern, running well above the typical 3% threshold that signals a balanced market, and the rental market is thin at just 8.4% of households renting. With no recorded development applications in the past 12 months, new supply pressure is absent, but so is infrastructure-driven demand. The high income base (91.3rd percentile nationally) supports tenant affordability, as rent-to-income at 12.3% is low. Investors should weigh the yield opportunity against the structural low-rental-demand profile of this owner-dominated area.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
Schools in Benaraby iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Benaraby State School
Prep-6 · 52 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is approximately 1 year above the national figure, indicating a mature but not rapidly aging population. The overseas-born share sits at 10.2%, which is 11.4 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (489 residents), Scottish (124), Irish (113) and German (96) are the top four groups. Afrikaans is the only non-English language with notable presence at 17 speakers, consistent with the low overseas-born proportion. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 persons above the national average, and 50.2% of families are couples with children, pointing to a family-oriented residential profile. University qualifications reach only 14.7%, which is 15.4 percentage points below the national rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.0%
Houses
9.3%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Benaraby's tenure profile contrasts with the national pattern: 34.1% of households own outright and 57.5% hold a mortgage, while renters at 8.4% sit far below the national renter share. This ownership dominance means the market is driven by owner-occupiers rather than investors or tenants. Separate houses make up 86.0% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 9.3% and apartments at a minimal 0.8%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 61.0% of the stock, well above typical suburban distributions, because the large lots in this rural locality naturally favour larger builds. The estimated $451,000 median and $2,000 monthly mortgage keep housing costs within reach for a household earning at the 91.3rd income percentile. Rent at $300 per week represents just 12.3% of household income, below any stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$875
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.2%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.4%
Couples, no children
1,012
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manufacturing employs 23.6% of the local workforce (90 residents), the largest single sector, linked to the Gladstone industrial base that includes aluminium smelting, LNG processing and port operations nearby. Construction is second at 16.5% (63 workers), Healthcare third at 12.9% (49) and Education fourth at 8.9% (34). Mining accounts for 5.8% (22 workers), consistent with resource-sector exposure common to regional QLD. By occupation, Professionals (71), Machinery and Drivers (70), Managers (64) and Clerical/Admin (64) are roughly equal in size, suggesting a workforce spanning both trade and white-collar roles. The unemployment rate of 4.6% is moderate, full-time employment runs at 70.8% of those employed, and the household income sitting at the 91.3rd percentile nationally reflects the premium wages common in industrial and resource-adjacent locations.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.8%
Part-time
24.6%
Participation
61.4%
Employed
535
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.7%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
10.2%
Dwellings
365
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 93.1% of residents drive to work, and walking or cycling accounts for just 1.2%, reflecting the low-density rural setting across 105.68 square kilometres where destinations are dispersed. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on Gladstone or nearby towns for education. The volunteering rate of 17.7% indicates active community participation, higher than many comparable regional areas. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 19.0% and rent-to-income at 12.3% are both well below stress thresholds, and the 91.3rd-percentile household income provides a financial buffer. Only 4.3% of residents (48 people) need daily assistance, a low rate. The large 105.68 square kilometre area means the suburb offers space and privacy that denser locations cannot match.
Drive
93.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Benaraby compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benaraby a good suburb to live in?
Benaraby suits households who prioritise space, affordability and income. Household income sits in the 91.3rd percentile nationally, the median house price is an estimated $451,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.0% is well below stress levels. The trade-off is minimal amenity within the 105.68 square kilometre area, with no recorded schools and near-total car dependency at 93.1% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Benaraby?
The median house price is an estimated $451,000, based on 2025 data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and weekly rent averages $300. With household income in the 91.3rd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at a manageable 19.0%.
What schools are in Benaraby?
No schools are recorded within the Benaraby suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers 105.68 square kilometres with only 1,166 residents, so families travel to Gladstone or surrounding townships for schooling. University qualifications among residents reach 14.7%, which is 15.4 percentage points below the national average.
Is Benaraby safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Benaraby at the suburb level in this dataset. As indirect indicators, housing stress is absent (mortgage-to-income 19.0%, rent-to-income 12.3%), only 4.3% of residents need daily assistance, and the community is highly stable with 81.5% of households at the same address for 5 or more years.
Is Benaraby good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $300 against an estimated $451,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.5%, higher than most capital city markets. However, the 14.2% vacancy rate is well above the 3% balanced-market benchmark, and renters make up only 8.4% of households. Zero development applications in 12 months removes supply risk but also signals limited growth activity.
How is Benaraby's population changing?
Benaraby's population of 1,166 is spread across 105.68 square kilometres at just 11.0 residents per square kilometre. Community stability is high, with 81.5% of residents remaining at the same address over 5 years, among the higher retention rates for regional QLD. No development applications in the past 12 months suggest minimal 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 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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