Canungra
A 10.5% vacancy rate and a median house price of $535,000 define Canungra's current housing dynamic more than its size does. With only 1,436 residents spread across 30 square kilometres, population density sits at 47.7 per km2, far below typical suburban averages. Household income ranks in the 70.3rd percentile nationally, above average but not premium. The suburb scores decile 7 on both IRSAD and IRSD, placing it in the upper-middle advantage tier. Ownership rates are high: 80.5% of households either own outright or are paying off a mortgage, compared to a lower renting share of 19.5%. The age profile mirrors the national median at 41, though the trajectory is aging.
Population
1,436
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,883/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$535K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $535,000 sits well below the Brisbane metropolitan median, making Canungra accessible relative to most of South East Queensland. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, and larger homes are common: 47.6% have four or more bedrooms and 38.9% have three bedrooms, so buyers get more space than most comparable price points deliver. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the 50.9% of households carrying a mortgage. Affordability improved from 64.0% in 2011 to 57.6% in 2021 per the trend data, suggesting the market has become more accessible in real terms. Outright ownership at 29.6% points to a stable base of long-term residents.
For Buyers
The median house price of $535,000 sits well below the Brisbane metropolitan median, making Canungra accessible relative to most of South East Queensland. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, and larger homes are common: 47.6% have four or more bedrooms and 38.9% have three bedrooms, so buyers get more space than most comparable price points deliver. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the 50.9% of households carrying a mortgage. Affordability improved from 64.0% in 2011 to 57.6% in 2021 per the trend data, suggesting the market has become more accessible in real terms. Outright ownership at 29.6% points to a stable base of long-term residents.
For Investors
The 10.5% vacancy rate is the headline concern for investors. Against a weekly rent of $420 and a $535,000 median, the gross yield sits near 4.1%, reasonable on paper, but the vacancy rate signals that demand is thin relative to available stock. Only 19.5% of households rent, lower than state and national averages, which narrows the tenant pool. On the demand side, annual population growth runs at 1.42% and net overseas migration contributes 131 new residents per year, both positive signals. The 10-year population change of 19.4% shows Canungra is growing, just slowly. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a short-term pressure. The gentrification score of 32 indicates early-stage momentum that could support medium-term capital growth.
Schools in Canungra iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Canungra State School
Prep-6 · 384 students
Demographics
Canungra's median age of 41 matches the national figure exactly, though the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.2 points and the working-age share fell 2.9 points over the decade. At 19.8% overseas-born, the suburb sits 1.8 points below the national average, making it more locally-born than most Australian suburbs. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (656 residents), Irish (181) and Scottish (174), consistent with the anglo-leaning identity signal. University qualifications reach 18.3%, which is 11.8 points below the national figure, reflecting the area's trade and services employment base rather than knowledge-sector concentration. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, and couples with children (522) outnumber couples without children (308).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.1%
Houses
3.2%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupation dominates at 80.5% combined (29.6% outright, 50.9% mortgage), well above national averages, while only 19.5% rent. Separate houses account for 93.1% of dwellings, one of the highest detached rates you will find in Queensland, with apartments at just 1.6% and semi-detached at 3.2%. Bedroom distribution skews large: 47.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 38.9% have three, meaning the typical Canungra dwelling is a family-sized detached house. Mortgage stress is low at 23.9% of income, and rent-to-income sits at 22.3%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The high vacancy rate of 10.5% suggests some investment properties are sitting empty rather than stress affecting owner-occupiers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
57
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
1,178
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 18.4% of workers (85 people), followed by Construction at 14.5% (67), Education at 11.7% (54) and Public Administration at 9.7% (45). This mix reflects a service-oriented economy typical of a regional centre rather than a commuter suburb. By occupation, Managers (104) and Professionals (100) rank highest, followed by Community and Personal services (100) and Clerical and Admin (89). The unemployment rate is low at 2.7%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate reaches 64.6%. The SEIFA IER score sits at decile 9, above the IRSD and IRSAD deciles of 7 and 6 respectively, because household income in the 70.3rd percentile reflects economic resources that outperform relative disadvantage measures.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
8,995
Unemployed
315
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
55.7%
Employed
616
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.3%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
19.8%
Dwellings
496
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total at 89.7% of commuters driving, with public transport used by just 0.6%, well below the national average. This reflects Canungra's rural setting with limited transit infrastructure. Volunteering runs at 14.9%, and only 4.7% of residents (63 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a relatively healthy population. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring towns. Housing stress is low: both mortgage-to-income (23.9%) and rent-to-income (22.3%) sit below the 30% threshold. The suburb ranks in IRSAD decile 6, placing it in the upper half nationally on the combined advantage and disadvantage index, and decile 7 on IRSD for relative disadvantage.
Drive
89.7%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.42%/yr
(+239 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 19.4% over 10 years, above many comparable regional Queensland towns. The annual growth rate of 1.42% translates to roughly 239 additional people per year, with medium forecasts projecting the broader SA2 population reaching 18,291 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging 131 net arrivals per year compared to net internal migration of 73. Rent growth of 23.5% over the period and real income growth of 11.6% point to a market that has tightened modestly. The gentrification score of 32 with accelerating signals (university-educated share rising from 8% to 15%) suggests early gentrification is underway, driven partly by the tree-change appeal of a low-density rural fringe location within reach of the Gold Coast.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+131
Net Internal / yr
+73
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal migration +73/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Canungra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canungra a good suburb to live in?
Canungra suits buyers who prioritise space and lower density over urban convenience. With 93.1% detached houses, a median age of 41 and household income in the 70.3rd percentile nationally, it offers affordable family living on large lots. The trade-off is near-total car dependency, with public transport used by only 0.6% of commuters and no schools recorded in the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Canungra?
The median house price is approximately $535,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. This makes Canungra more affordable than most South East Queensland markets.
What schools are in Canungra?
No schools are recorded inside the Canungra suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring towns. The local university qualification rate is 18.3%, which is 11.8 points below the national average, reflecting the area's trade and services employment base.
Is Canungra safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Canungra in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on IRSD, placing it in the upper-middle tier for low disadvantage nationally. Only 4.7% of residents (63 people) need daily assistance, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 23.9%.
Is Canungra good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is near 4.1% based on $420 weekly rent against a $535,000 median, but the 10.5% vacancy rate signals limited rental demand. Only 19.5% of households rent. On the positive side, population grew 19.4% over 10 years and annual growth runs at 1.42%, with overseas migration adding 131 net residents per year supporting longer-term demand.
How is Canungra's population changing?
The population of 1,436 grew 19.4% over the past 10 years, with annual growth of 1.42% adding roughly 239 people per year to the broader area. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 131 net arrivals annually, supplemented by net internal migration of 73. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 5.2 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.
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