Cardwell
A median age of 60 stands out as the most defining number in Cardwell, sitting 20 years above the national figure and shaping almost every other characteristic in the suburb. With 1,320 residents spread across 31.6 square kilometres on the Cassowary Coast, population density is thin at 41.8 people per km2. Household income falls in the 5.8th percentile nationally, one of the lowest rankings in Queensland, and only 34.2% of working-age residents participate in the labour force, because the majority are retired. Despite low incomes, 45.1% of dwellings are owned outright, higher than most suburbs, which reflects long-term ownership rather than recent buying activity.
Population
1,320
Median Age
60.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$846/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$332K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $332,000 sits well below the national median for detached houses, making entry costs lower than in most coastal Queensland towns. Separate houses dominate the stock at 71.6% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 45.9% and 2-bedroom homes at 27.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,278, but mortgage-to-income reaches 34.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are in the 5.8th percentile nationally. Only 14.5% of households carry a mortgage, compared to national norms closer to 35%, because most residents are retired outright owners. Buyers looking for affordable detached housing on the far north Queensland coast will find fewer competing purchasers than in southeast Queensland markets.
For Buyers
The median house price of $332,000 sits well below the national median for detached houses, making entry costs lower than in most coastal Queensland towns. Separate houses dominate the stock at 71.6% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 45.9% and 2-bedroom homes at 27.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,278, but mortgage-to-income reaches 34.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are in the 5.8th percentile nationally. Only 14.5% of households carry a mortgage, compared to national norms closer to 35%, because most residents are retired outright owners. Buyers looking for affordable detached housing on the far north Queensland coast will find fewer competing purchasers than in southeast Queensland markets.
For Investors
A 40.4% renter share sits above the national average and creates a real tenant pool against the $332,000 median, but the 25.4% vacancy rate is a significant risk flag. That vacancy level is high compared to healthy rental markets, which typically sit below 3-5%, and suggests persistent oversupply relative to tenant demand in a small, low-income town of 1,320 people. Weekly rent of $250 implies a gross yield near 3.9% against the median price, reasonable by rural Queensland standards, but the vacancy risk compresses achievable income. Development activity is low at 13 applications in 12 months, mostly re-roofing and sheds, indicating minimal new supply but also limited growth momentum. Investors need to price in extended vacancy periods.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
18
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 Cardwell iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cardwell State School
Prep-6 · 76 students
Demographics
The median age of 60 is 20 years higher than the national figure, placing Cardwell among Australia's most aged communities. The working-age population is thin, with a 34.2% participation rate compared to national norms near 65%, because most residents are retired. Overseas-born residents are 18.1%, which is 3.5 points below the national figure, consistent with an Anglo-leaning ancestry profile dominated by English (534), Scottish (155) and Irish (141) backgrounds. Average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below national, and 49.4% of families are couples without children, reflecting the retirement demographic. University qualifications at 13.9% run 16.2 points below national, typical of regional coastal towns reliant on trade and service industries.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.6%
Houses
14.3%
Townhouse
9.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Cardwell is heavily weighted toward outright ownership: 45.1% own without a mortgage, compared to a national rate closer to 30%, while only 14.5% carry mortgage debt. This structure reflects long-term residents who purchased decades ago rather than active buyer turnover. The 40.4% renter share is substantial, partly because the low-income base makes buying difficult for newcomers. Separate houses account for 71.6% of the stock, with 3-bedroom homes at 45.9% the most common configuration. The vacancy rate of 25.4% is elevated and signals more available rentals than active tenants, which keeps rent low at $250 per week. Mortgage stress affects those who do borrow, with mortgage-to-income at 34.9% above the 30% threshold due to incomes ranking in the 5.8th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,278
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$508
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
25.4%
Unoccupied
199
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.4%
Couples, no children
795
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 20.8% of local workers (52 people), followed by Agriculture at 12.0% (30) and Retail at 9.2% (23), with Construction and Hospitality each at 8.4%. These sectors reflect a small service economy supporting an aged population and the local tourism trade on the Cassowary Coast. The unemployment rate is 8.9% and only 56.2% of employed residents work full time, with 161 part-time workers versus 207 full-time. The participation rate of just 34.2% means 618 residents are not in the labour force, primarily retirees. Weekly personal income of $508 is low, and household income at $846 per week places households in the 5.8th percentile nationally. The economy is structurally constrained by the aging demographic rather than cyclical factors.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
34.9%
Participation
34.2%
Employed
368
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.9%
Postgraduate
1.4%
Born Overseas
18.1%
Dwellings
573
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced, with 77.0% of residents driving to work, above the national average. However, 16.2% walked or cycled, which is high for a town of this size and consistent with a compact, low-traffic environment. No schools are recorded inside Cardwell's boundaries in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in surrounding towns, a consideration that limits the suburb's appeal to families with school-age children. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. The 14.2% of residents who need daily assistance (169 people) is above average nationally, consistent with the median age of 60. Volunteering at 16.8% is a positive indicator, suggesting community engagement is active relative to the population size of 1,320.
Drive
77.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
16.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cardwell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cardwell a good suburb to live in?
Cardwell suits retirees and sea-changers seeking affordable coastal living. The median house price of $332,000 is low compared to most Queensland coastal towns, 45.1% of homes are owned outright, and car use covers most daily needs at 77%. The 25.4% rental vacancy rate and household income in the 5.8th percentile nationally indicate a quiet, low-activity market rather than a growing one.
What is the median house price in Cardwell?
The median house price in Cardwell is $332,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,278. Despite the low price, mortgage-to-income reaches 34.9% because household incomes average only $846 per week, placing Cardwell in the 5.8th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Cardwell?
No schools are recorded inside Cardwell's boundaries in this dataset. The suburb's population of 1,320 has a median age of 60 and a household size of 1.9, so demand for local schooling is limited. Families with school-age children would need to travel to nearby towns. University qualifications locally run at 13.9%, which is 16.2 points below the national figure.
Is Cardwell safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cardwell in this dataset. As context, the suburb has a population of 1,320 with a median age of 60, a small, predominantly retired community. The volunteering rate of 16.8% suggests reasonable community cohesion, and 73.9% of residents have lived at the same address for 5 or more years, indicating stability.
Is Cardwell good for property investment?
The 25.4% vacancy rate is the key risk, well above healthy rental market thresholds and indicating more available rentals than active tenants. Weekly rent of $250 against a $332,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, competitive compared to coastal southeast Queensland markets, but achievable income is compressed by vacancy. The low development activity of 13 applications in 12 months signals no near-term supply pressure.
How is Cardwell's population changing?
Forecast data is not available for Cardwell in this dataset. The current snapshot of 1,320 residents shows a median age of 60, which is 20 years above the national figure, and a labour force participation rate of only 34.2%, both pointing to a stable retirement community with limited natural population growth. Resident turnover is low at 26.1%, with 73.9% having stayed at the same address for 5 or more years.
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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