Boonah
With a median house price around $367,000 and household income sitting in just the 14.3rd percentile nationally, Boonah stands out as one of Queensland's most affordable owner-occupier towns. Nearly half of all dwellings (46.6%) are owned outright, a figure well above the national average, pointing to a long-settled population rather than recent buyers. The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, the senior share has risen 5.7 points over a decade, and the suburb is aging steadily while still drawing internal migrants at 118 net arrivals per year.
Population
2,557
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,040/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$367K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $367,000, estimated from 2025 rental data, places Boonah well below Queensland metro markets. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 88.9% of dwellings, and three-bedroom homes account for 48.2% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,261. At 46.6% outright ownership, above the national average, much of the stock is debt-free and long held, which limits forced selling and supports price stability.
For Buyers
The median house price of $367,000, estimated from 2025 rental data, places Boonah well below Queensland metro markets. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 88.9% of dwellings, and three-bedroom homes account for 48.2% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,261. At 46.6% outright ownership, above the national average, much of the stock is debt-free and long held, which limits forced selling and supports price stability.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $300 against a $367,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 4.2%, higher than most Brisbane suburban markets. However, the vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated compared to Queensland averages, signalling that available rental stock outpaces current tenant demand. Net internal migration averages 118 arrivals per year, providing a steady but modest demand floor. The renter share is 26.0%, lower than many comparable regional towns, because owner-occupiers dominate this market. With population growing at 1.15% annually and forecast to reach around 14,391 by 2031, long-term demand should firm, but the current vacancy rate requires careful stock selection before committing capital.
Schools in Boonah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
All Saints' School
Prep-6 · 137 students
Boonah State High School
7-12 · 599 students
Boonah State School
Prep-6 · 104 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, with the senior share rising 5.7 points over the decade. University qualifications at 21.4% are 8.7 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting a trade and agriculture workforce. Only 13.2% of residents were born overseas, 8.4 points below the national figure, with English (1,100), German (390) and Irish (289) as the top ancestries. Couples without children make up 36.4% of families, consistent with the older age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.9%
Houses
8.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by owners: 46.6% own outright and 27.4% hold a mortgage, with only 26.0% renting. Detached houses make up 88.9% of all dwellings, so the market is overwhelmingly land-and-house with minimal apartment stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.2% of stock and 4-plus bedroom properties add 27.9%. Rent-to-income of 28.8% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, though notable given household income ranks in only the 14.3rd percentile nationally. The 8.2% vacancy rate signals rental supply currently exceeds demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,261
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$560
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
89
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.4%
Couples, no children
1,836
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 16.7% of workers (88), followed by Education at 13.7% (72) and Agriculture at 10.6% (56), a structure typical of a regional service town supporting surrounding farmland. Labourers are the largest occupational group at 198 workers, ahead of Professionals (147). The unemployment rate is 5.3%, above the national average, because the participation rate of 40.2% is depressed by 1,046 residents not in the labour force, a direct result of the older age profile. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 places Boonah below the national median for advantage.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
7,180
Unemployed
163
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.4%
Part-time
36.3%
Participation
40.2%
Employed
829
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.4%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
13.2%
Dwellings
991
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high: 82.0% of residents drive to work, with only 0.4% using public transport and 6.7% walking or cycling, a pattern typical of regional Queensland. Volunteering at 20.7% is above national norms. Some 9.4% of residents (226 people) need daily assistance, above the national average, consistent with a median age of 50 that is 10 years above the national figure. The SEIFA IER decile of 7 is notably higher than the IRSAD decile of 4, because the 46.6% outright-ownership rate lifts asset wealth measures even as income ranks low.
Drive
82.0%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.15%/yr
(+155 people/yr)
EstablishedThe broader area grew 15.3% over the decade and is forecast to add roughly 155 residents per year, reaching 14,391 by 2031 in the medium scenario. Growth sits above many comparable regional Queensland towns. Internal migration leads at 118 net arrivals per year, supplemented by 42 net overseas arrivals. Early gentrification signals are present: population rose over 20% since 2011 and net internal migration is consistently positive. Rent grew 28.3% while real incomes rose 11.3%, compressing affordability, though the ratio improved from 47.9% in 2011 to 44.9% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+42
Net Internal / yr
+118
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +20% since 2011, Net internal migration +118/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Boonah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boonah a good suburb to live in?
Boonah suits buyers seeking affordable, low-density living with strong community ties. The median house price is around $367,000, well below Queensland metro markets, and 46.6% of homes are owned outright. Car travel is essential as only 0.4% of residents use public transport, and amenities are typical of a regional Queensland town of 2,557 residents.
What is the median house price in Boonah?
The median house price in Boonah is approximately $367,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,261, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.0% sits below the 30% stress threshold, making it one of the more affordable entry points in Queensland.
What schools are in Boonah?
No schools are recorded inside the Boonah suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area rely on educational facilities in surrounding communities. The local university qualification rate is 21.4%, which is 8.7 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the trade and agriculture focus of the local economy.
Is Boonah safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Boonah in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, close to the national median. The volunteering rate of 20.7% and the high proportion of long-term owner-occupiers (46.6% own outright) point to a stable, established community.
Is Boonah good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $300 against a $367,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 4.2%, higher than most Brisbane markets. The main risk is a vacancy rate of 8.2%, which is elevated and signals current rental supply exceeds demand. Net internal migration of 118 arrivals per year supports long-term demand, and the population is forecast to grow to around 14,391 by 2031.
How is Boonah's population changing?
The broader area grew 15.3% over the past decade and is forecast to add roughly 155 residents per year, reaching approximately 14,391 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary driver at 118 net arrivals annually. The population is aging: the senior share rose 5.7 points and the working-age share fell 1.8 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.
Explore Boonah on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map