Caboolture South
Unemployment at 12.6% is the highest in this batch, more than double the national average. The estimated $409,000 median house price sits among the lowest in the Moreton Bay region, yet household incomes at the 25th percentile nationally make even this entry point a stretch. The 10.7% need-assistance rate is the second highest in this group, and labourers (555) are the largest occupation group, ahead of professionals. At 34.6% residential turnover, Caboolture South churns faster than any other suburb in this batch, a hallmark of transient, disadvantaged communities where short tenures dominate.
Population
7,539
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,191/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Median House
$409K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $409,000 median is accessible in absolute terms, but the 29.1% mortgage-to-income ratio is near the stress line because household incomes ($1,191/week) sit at the 25th percentile. Separate houses at 88.1% dominate, with 47.8% being 3-bedroom and 37.5% at 4+ bedrooms. No schools are located within the suburb boundary, meaning families rely on neighbouring Caboolture or Morayfield for schooling. The 12.6% unemployment rate and low 46.2% participation rate reflect structural disadvantage. Only 28.9% own outright, with 30.5% carrying mortgages and 40.6% renting.
For Buyers
The estimated $409,000 median is accessible in absolute terms, but the 29.1% mortgage-to-income ratio is near the stress line because household incomes ($1,191/week) sit at the 25th percentile. Separate houses at 88.1% dominate, with 47.8% being 3-bedroom and 37.5% at 4+ bedrooms. No schools are located within the suburb boundary, meaning families rely on neighbouring Caboolture or Morayfield for schooling. The 12.6% unemployment rate and low 46.2% participation rate reflect structural disadvantage. Only 28.9% own outright, with 30.5% carrying mortgages and 40.6% renting.
For Investors
Renters at 40.6% provide a large tenant pool. Weekly rent of $320 against $409,000 gives a gross yield of approximately 4.1%, among the highest in this batch. Vacancy at 8.3% is elevated, however. Development activity at 20 DAs in 12 months is modest. The 34.6% turnover rate is the highest in this batch, meaning frequent tenant changes and re-letting costs. The 10.7% need-assistance rate, well above the national average, and 12.6% unemployment create significant tenant-quality risk. SEIFA data is unavailable, but the income and employment profile suggests bottom-quintile socioeconomic positioning. Rent-to-income at 26.9% is near stress levels for tenants.
Development Activity
Total DAs
59
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-30.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4 years below national. University qualifications at 16.3% are 13.8 points below the national average, the lowest in this batch. Overseas-born at 21.9% is near the national average: English (3,097), Scottish (733) and Irish (731) form a strongly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile. Mandarin (55), Korean (26) and Samoan (25) are the top non-English languages, though numbers are small. The 12.6% unemployment rate is more than double the national average. Labourers (555) are the most common occupation, above Professionals (280), an inversion of the typical national pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.1%
Houses
11.3%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters (40.6%) outnumber mortgage holders (30.5%) and outright owners (28.9%). Detached houses at 88.1% dominate with nearly zero apartments (0.6%). Three-bedroom at 47.8% and 4+ bedroom at 37.5% form the bulk. No price history series is available. Mortgage stress at 29.1% is just below the 30% threshold, indicating households are stretched. Rent stress at 26.9% is elevated. The 34.6% turnover rate is the highest in this batch, reflecting housing instability. The 65.4% residential stability is the lowest in this group. The absence of apartments and semi-detached stock limits affordable entry points for lower-income buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$595
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.3%
Unoccupied
252
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
5,665
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 23.5% (381 workers), followed by Retail (9.6%, 155), Construction (8.9%, 145), Education (8.0%, 130) and Public Admin (6.5%, 106). Labourers (555) top occupations, a rare inversion of the national pattern where professionals typically lead. Community/Personal (418) and Clerical/Admin (291) follow. The 12.6% unemployment rate is more than double the national average. Participation at 46.2% is very low, with 2,607 people not in the labour force out of a population of 7,539. Full-time employment at 61.5% is moderate among those employed. The 10.7% volunteering rate is below average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.5%
Part-time
25.9%
Participation
46.2%
Employed
2,447
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.3%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
21.9%
Dwellings
2,776
Transport to Work
Car driving at 84.0% dominates, with public transport at 3.2% and walking/cycling at 2.2%. No schools are located within the suburb boundary, a notable gap for families. The 10.7% need-assistance rate is well above the national average of approximately 5.5%. Rent stress at 26.9% and mortgage stress at 29.1% indicate widespread financial pressure. The 12.6% unemployment rate is the highest in this batch. The suburb lacks the service density and amenity concentration typical of established communities. Positive indicators are limited: the affordable median of $409,000 and 88.1% detached-house share appeal to buyers prioritising space over location.
Drive
84.0%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Caboolture South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caboolture South a good suburb to live in?
Caboolture South is affordable at an estimated $409,000 median, with 88.1% detached housing. However, unemployment at 12.6% is more than double the national average, and no schools are within the suburb boundary. The 10.7% need-assistance rate is well above the national figure of approximately 5.5%. Mortgage stress at 29.1% is near the threshold.
What is the median house price in Caboolture South?
The estimated median is $409,000 (2025). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500 and weekly rent is $320. Gross yield is approximately 4.1%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.1% is near the 30% stress threshold, as household incomes rank at just the 25th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Caboolture South?
No schools are located within the suburb boundary. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Caboolture and Morayfield. This is a practical consideration for families with young children, as commuting to school adds to daily transport requirements in a car-dependent suburb (84.0% drive to work).
Is Caboolture South safe?
Suburb-specific crime data is not available. The 12.6% unemployment rate (double the national average), 10.7% need-assistance rate, and 25th-percentile household incomes are demographic factors generally associated with higher crime rates in comparable QLD suburbs.
Is Caboolture South good for property investment?
Gross yield of 4.1% ($320/week on $409,000) is among the highest in this batch. Renters at 40.6% provide a large pool. However, vacancy at 8.3% is high, turnover at 34.6% is the highest in this group, and the 12.6% unemployment rate creates significant tenant-quality risk. Just 20 DAs in 12 months indicate modest supply growth.
How is Caboolture South's population changing?
Detailed forecasts are not available. The suburb has a young median age of 36 (4 years below national) and a high 34.6% turnover rate, the fastest churn in this batch. The 21.9% overseas-born share is near the national average. University qualifications at 16.3% are 13.8 points below national, defining a younger working-class demographic.
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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