Calliope
Sprawling across 183.39 km2 yet home to only 5,263 people, Calliope is a low-density mortgage belt where the median age of 32 runs a full 8 years below the national figure. That youth shows up in the housing: 64.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and the average household holds 2.9 people, 0.4 above national, signalling a population of young families rather than downsizers. Detached houses dominate at 94.6%, apartments are almost absent at 0.2%, and 45.6% of households carry a mortgage. Household income sits in the 70.3rd percentile nationally at $1,884 a week, comfortable rather than affluent, while university qualifications reach just 13.1%, around 17 points below the national rate, reflecting an industrial workforce in manufacturing, construction and transport.
Population
5,263
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,884/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$421K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $421,000 makes Calliope notably affordable, well below most metropolitan markets, and the stock is built for families. Separate houses account for 94.6% of dwellings while apartments make up just 0.2%, so buyers are almost always purchasing a standalone home on a large block in this 28.7 person per km2 setting. Four-plus bedroom homes are the norm at 64.1%, with three-bedroom dwellings at 30.3%, leaving little small-format supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 70.3rd percentile. That low repayment burden, combined with the 45.6% mortgage share, explains why the suburb attracts first and second home buyers priced out of nearby Gladstone proper.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $421,000 makes Calliope notably affordable, well below most metropolitan markets, and the stock is built for families. Separate houses account for 94.6% of dwellings while apartments make up just 0.2%, so buyers are almost always purchasing a standalone home on a large block in this 28.7 person per km2 setting. Four-plus bedroom homes are the norm at 64.1%, with three-bedroom dwellings at 30.3%, leaving little small-format supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 70.3rd percentile. That low repayment burden, combined with the 45.6% mortgage share, explains why the suburb attracts first and second home buyers priced out of nearby Gladstone proper.
For Investors
Renters make up 30.6% of households and weekly rent averages $300, which against the $421,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, materially higher than the sub-2% yields typical of capital city markets. The 7.8% vacancy rate is the main caution, sitting above a balanced market and pointing to periods of softer tenant demand tied to the cyclical Gladstone industrial economy. The tenant base skews toward the manufacturing, construction and transport workforce, so occupancy tracks regional project activity. Development activity is negligible with 0 applications recorded in the past 12 months, meaning no new supply is pressuring the market but also little growth momentum. With rent-to-income at just 15.9%, tenants have headroom to absorb rent rises, which supports income returns more than the capital growth case in this established detached market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
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 Calliope iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Calliope State High School
7-12 · 437 students
Calliope State School
Prep-6 · 477 students
Demographics
The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, one of the clearest signals of Calliope's young-family character, reinforced by an average household size of 2.9 that runs 0.4 above national. Couples with children number 2,347 against 961 couples without, so child-rearing households clearly outweigh empty-nesters. The population is heavily Anglo: English ancestry leads at 2,120, followed by Scottish at 557 and Irish at 478, and only 8.6% of residents were born overseas, around 13 points below the national rate. That low migrant share shows in language, with Afrikaans (12 speakers) the largest non-English group recorded. University qualifications reach just 13.1%, roughly 17 points below national, consistent with a trades and operator workforce rather than a professional one. Christianity dominates religious affiliation at 2,262 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.6%
Houses
3.2%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans firmly toward mortgaged ownership: 45.6% of households carry a mortgage, 23.8% own outright and 30.6% rent, a profile typical of a younger suburb still building equity rather than holding debt-free wealth. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 94.6%, with semi-detached at 3.2% and apartments at just 0.2%, so dwelling choice is narrow. Large homes dominate, with 64.1% offering 4 or more bedrooms and 30.3% three bedrooms, matched to the 2.9 average household size. Against the $421,000 estimated median, household income of $1,884 a week gives a price-to-income ratio near 4.3, low by Australian standards and well below the stretched ratios of capital city markets. Mortgage-to-income at 21.2% and rent-to-income at 15.9% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress line, confirming the affordability that defines the area.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$800
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
144
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.8%
Couples, no children
4,409
Total families
Economy & Employment
Calliope's workforce is industrial, anchored by the Gladstone region's processing and energy base. Manufacturing leads employment at 14.8% (203 workers), followed by Construction at 13.4% (184), Healthcare at 12.0% (164), Education at 9.3% (127) and Transport at 8.3% (114). By occupation, Machinery Operators and Drivers are the single largest group at 359, with Labourers at 287 ahead of Professionals at 231, the reverse of the order seen in professional suburbs. The full-time employment rate is a high 70.4%, reflecting shift-based industrial roles, but unemployment runs at 7.2%, above national, and participation is moderate at 61.2% with 1,082 residents not in the labour force. SEIFA deciles are not available for Calliope in this dataset, so the income percentile of 70.3 is the clearest standing-relative-to-national measure on hand.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.4%
Part-time
22.4%
Participation
61.2%
Employed
2,126
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.1%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
8.6%
Dwellings
1,704
Transport to Work
Calliope is built around the car: 92.0% of residents drive to work while public transport carries just 0.2% and 2.4% walk or cycle, reflecting the dispersed 28.7 person per km2 density across 183.39 km2. That car dependence is the practical trade-off for the space and the $421,000 affordability. Community connection is solid, with a volunteering rate of 16.8% and only 4.9% of residents (241 people) needing daily assistance, a low share consistent with the young median age of 32. Detailed crime statistics and SEIFA disadvantage deciles are not available for Calliope in this dataset, so safety cannot be quantified here. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so the many young families, evident in the 2,347 couples with children, rely on schools in neighbouring Gladstone localities.
Drive
92.0%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Calliope compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calliope a good suburb to live in?
Calliope suits young families seeking space and affordability, with a median age of 32, 8 years below national, and a $421,000 median house price. Household income sits in the 70.3rd percentile and 94.6% of dwellings are detached houses, though it is car-dependent with 92.0% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Calliope?
The estimated median house price is $421,000, well below most metropolitan markets. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,733, giving a low mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Calliope?
No schools are recorded inside the Calliope boundary in this dataset, so the many young families, reflected in 2,347 couples with children, rely on schools in neighbouring Gladstone localities. The local university qualification rate is 13.1%, about 17 points below national.
Is Calliope safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Calliope in this dataset, so safety cannot be quantified directly. As an indirect signal, only 4.9% of the 5,263 residents need daily assistance and residential stability is high, with 75.8% of residents having stayed put rather than moved.
Is Calliope good for property investment?
Rent of $300 a week against the $421,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than the sub-2% typical of capital cities. The 7.8% vacancy rate is the main caution, and with 0 development applications in 12 months there is no new supply pressure but limited growth momentum.
How is Calliope's population changing?
Calliope shows a family-formation profile rather than decline, with a median age of 32, 8 years below national, and 2,347 couples with children. Turnover is moderate at 24.2% while 75.8% of residents stayed put, and 0 development applications in 12 months mean housing supply is nearly flat.
What industries do people in Calliope work in?
Calliope's workforce is industrial, led by Manufacturing at 14.8% (203 workers), Construction at 13.4% and Healthcare at 12.0%. Machinery Operators and Drivers are the largest occupation group at 359, ahead of Professionals at 231, the reverse of professional suburbs.
Is Calliope affordable to live in?
Calliope is affordable by Australian standards, with a $421,000 median house price and household income near $1,884 a week, a price-to-income ratio around 4.3. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.2% and rent-to-income at 15.9%, both well below the 30% housing stress threshold.
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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