Burdell
Few Townsville suburbs have grown faster than Burdell, where the population climbed 87.4% over the past decade and continues at 3.53% per year, well above typical Australian growth rates. This is a new-build estate suburb in postcode 4818: 97.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 61.6% have four or more bedrooms, the largest-home profile by far. The median age of 28 sits 12 years below the national median, and household income reaches the 84.5th percentile nationally despite university qualifications at 27.4% running 2.7 points below the national average. The growth is driven almost entirely by internal migration, averaging 252 net arrivals a year against just 71 from overseas, which is why overseas-born residents at 12.9% sit 8.7 points below national.
Population
7,171
Median Age
28.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,232/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$460K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $460,000 makes Burdell one of the more affordable family markets in the dataset, well below capital-city medians, and that affordability is the core appeal. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,682 against strong household incomes produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 17.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Buyers get space: 61.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms and another 34.1% have three, with separate houses at 97.2% of all stock. Only 8.6% of residents own outright while 44.8% carry a mortgage, a tenure split typical of a young estate where most owners are still paying down recent purchases. With a median age of 28, 12 years below national, the buyer base skews toward first-home families rather than downsizers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $460,000 makes Burdell one of the more affordable family markets in the dataset, well below capital-city medians, and that affordability is the core appeal. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,682 against strong household incomes produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 17.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Buyers get space: 61.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms and another 34.1% have three, with separate houses at 97.2% of all stock. Only 8.6% of residents own outright while 44.8% carry a mortgage, a tenure split typical of a young estate where most owners are still paying down recent purchases. With a median age of 28, 12 years below national, the buyer base skews toward first-home families rather than downsizers.
For Investors
Renters make up 46.6% of households, a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $360 against a $460,000 median produces a gross yield of roughly 4.1%, materially higher than the sub-2% yields seen in premium capital-city suburbs. The vacancy rate of 6.6% is the main caution, sitting above a balanced market and signalling that new supply is keeping pace with demand. Population growth of 3.53% per year, the second metric supporting demand, is led by internal migration at 252 net arrivals annually rather than the 71 from overseas, so tenant demand tracks domestic relocation into Townsville. Development activity is light at 7 applications in 12 months, mostly minor building work like patios and sheds, which limits near-term oversupply risk but also signals the estate is largely built out.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Burdell iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Clare's Catholic School
Prep-6 · 714 students
North Shore State School
Prep-6 · 672 students
Bohlevale State School
Prep-6 · 474 students
Demographics
The median age of 28 is 12 years below the national median, marking Burdell as a young-family suburb rather than a settled one. Average household size of 2.8 sits 0.3 above national, consistent with couples raising children, who at 3,403 families far outnumber couples without children at 1,299. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 2,928, followed by Scottish at 718 and Irish at 703, with overseas-born residents at just 12.9%, fully 8.7 points below the national figure. University qualifications at 27.4% run 2.7 points below national, reflecting a workforce weighted toward service and trade roles rather than knowledge work. Volunteering at 11.2% and a residential turnover of 35.2% point to an estate still settling into its community rhythms.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.2%
Houses
2.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Burdell's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached and large: separate houses account for 97.2% of dwellings, with four-or-more-bedroom homes at 61.6% and three-bedroom homes at 34.1%, leaving smaller formats almost absent. Tenure splits 46.6% renting, 44.8% with a mortgage and only 8.6% owned outright, a profile that confirms a recently built estate where few residents have cleared their loans. The median house price of $460,000 keeps repayment burdens low: mortgage-to-income runs at 17.4% and rent-to-income at 16.1%, both well under the 30% stress line. The IER decile of 8 sits above the IRSAD decile of 6, which means relative advantage is driven more by income and assets than by education, consistent with university attainment below the national average.
Mortgage / mo
$1,682
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,120
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
168
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.2%
Couples, no children
5,858
Total families
Economy & Employment
Burdell's workforce is anchored by public-facing sectors: Healthcare leads at 21.9% (568 workers), Public Admin at 21.1% (547) and Education at 12.1% (313) together make up more than half of local employment, reflecting Townsville's role as a regional services and defence hub. Occupations tilt toward Community and Personal Service workers (781) and Professionals (771), consistent with that healthcare and public-sector concentration. The labour market is healthy: full-time employment at 72.2% and unemployment at 3.5% sit below the national jobless rate, while participation of 71.7% is above average. The IEO decile of 5 sits mid-range, lower than the IER decile of 8, because education levels lag while incomes hold up.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
12,087
Unemployed
251
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.2%
Part-time
24.3%
Participation
71.7%
Employed
3,605
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.4%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
12.9%
Dwellings
2,394
Transport to Work
Burdell is car-dependent by design: 92.8% of commuters drive, while public transport accounts for just 1.0% and walking or cycling 1.5%, far below the rates in inner-city areas and a direct consequence of its low-density estate layout at 384.3 people per square kilometre. The trade-off is space and affordability, with four-bedroom-plus homes at 61.6% and rent-to-income at a comfortable 16.1%, well below the stress threshold. Relative advantage is solid: the IRSD decile of 8 indicates low disadvantage and the IER decile of 8 reflects strong household economic resources, both well above the midpoint. With a median age of 28, 12 years below national, the suburb caters most strongly to young families seeking room to grow rather than to commuters or downsizers.
Drive
92.8%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.53%/yr
(+784 people/yr)
High GrowthPopulation growth of 3.53% per year, roughly 784 residents annually, places Burdell firmly in the high-growth tier, and the 10-year change of 87.4% confirms it has nearly doubled in size. The primary driver is internal migration, averaging 252 net arrivals a year compared with just 71 from overseas, so growth reflects domestic relocation into the Townsville region rather than international intake. Despite the influx, the trajectory is classified as aging: the senior share rose 3.1 points while the young share fell 1.7 points, a sign that early families are maturing in place. Affordability improved over the decade, with the housing cost burden easing from 43.2% in 2011 to 34.9% in 2021, and the gentrification score of 2 confirms the suburb is not gentrifying but expanding as new development.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+71
Net Internal / yr
+252
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burdell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burdell a good suburb to live in?
Burdell suits young families seeking affordable space, with a median house price of $460,000 and four-bedroom-plus homes at 61.6%. Relative advantage is solid: the IER decile of 8 indicates strong economic resources and the IRSD decile of 8 shows low disadvantage. The main trade-off is car dependence, with 92.8% driving to work and only 1.0% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Burdell?
The median house price in Burdell is approximately $460,000 (estimated from 2025 rents), well below most capital-city medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,682, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 17.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold given strong household incomes at the 84.5th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Burdell?
No individual schools are listed in the suburb dataset for Burdell. Education is a major local employer, accounting for 12.1% of the workforce (313 workers), and families relying on nearby Townsville-area schools fit the profile, given a median age of 28 and average household size of 2.8.
Is Burdell safe?
Crime statistics are not available in the dataset for Burdell. Indirect indicators are reassuring: the IRSD decile of 8 signals low socioeconomic disadvantage and the IER decile of 8 shows strong economic resources, both well above the midpoint, and the need-for-assistance rate is a contained 4.5%.
Is Burdell good for property investment?
Burdell offers a gross rental yield of roughly 4.1% ($360 weekly rent on a $460,000 median), far above sub-2% capital-city yields, with a renter share of 46.6% providing a deep tenant pool. The caution is a 6.6% vacancy rate, above a balanced market, as new supply keeps pace with the 3.53% annual population growth.
How is Burdell's population changing?
Burdell is growing at 3.53% per year, about 784 residents annually, with a 10-year increase of 87.4%, placing it in the high-growth tier. Growth is led by internal migration at 252 net arrivals a year versus 71 from overseas. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.1 points and the young share down 1.7 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 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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