Charleville
At 2,992 residents across 613.63 square kilometres, Charleville functions as a low-density western Queensland service centre rather than a compact town. Its 4.9 people per square kilometre and 20.6% vacancy rate point to abundant physical space but softer demand. The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national comparison, while 93.0% of homes are separate houses. For buyers comparing Charleville with nearby Augathella, the practical distinction is Charleville's service-centre role, reflected in its concentration of healthcare, education and public administration jobs. Those 3 industries account for 53.7% of listed employment. Population direction is slower, with a forecast trend of -1.2% annually and an aging trajectory.
Local council: Murweh
Population
2,992
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,325/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Charleville suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable holding costs over a high-rise or tightly priced market. Separate houses make up 93.0% of dwellings, with 49.7% containing 3 bedrooms and 25.8% having 4 or more, so the stock leans toward conventional family layouts. A current median house price is not available, but the monthly mortgage figure is $867 and mortgage costs equal 15.1% of household income. Rent is $178 per week and rent takes 13.4% of income. Compared with a denser regional market, the 3.8% apartment share is low because the 613.63 square kilometre footprint and 4.9 density favour detached homes. Ownership is split between 34.7% outright and 27.7% with a mortgage, while 35.4% rent.
For Buyers
Charleville suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable holding costs over a high-rise or tightly priced market. Separate houses make up 93.0% of dwellings, with 49.7% containing 3 bedrooms and 25.8% having 4 or more, so the stock leans toward conventional family layouts. A current median house price is not available, but the monthly mortgage figure is $867 and mortgage costs equal 15.1% of household income. Rent is $178 per week and rent takes 13.4% of income. Compared with a denser regional market, the 3.8% apartment share is low because the 613.63 square kilometre footprint and 4.9 density favour detached homes. Ownership is split between 34.7% outright and 27.7% with a mortgage, while 35.4% rent.
For Investors
Charleville's investment case is income-led but vacancy-sensitive. Renting accounts for 35.4% of occupied tenure, and the weekly rent is $178, creating an accessible entry point compared with higher-cost markets. The 20.6% vacancy rate is the central risk because a large pool of empty dwellings can weaken letting competition and rental growth. Even so, rent growth is recorded at 13.3%, while no developments were counted in the past 12 months, limiting near-term new-supply pressure. Compared with a tight rental market, vacancy is higher and tenant demand may be less predictable. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, but the wider forecast remains declining at -1.2% a year, so investors should favour conservative debt and local service demand over speculative appreciation.
Schools in Charleville
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Mary's School (Charleville)
Charleville School of Distance Education
Charleville State High School
Charleville State School
Demographics
Charleville has an older and less university-qualified profile than Australia overall. Median age is 42, or 2.0 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 20.5%, 9.6 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 11.4%, 10.2 points below national, and average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below national. English ancestry is reported by 919 residents, followed by Irish at 331 and Scottish at 240; Christianity counts 1,688 people versus 814 reporting no religion. With 78.4% staying at the same address and turnover at 21.6%, local demand is relatively settled. Compared with nearby Augathella, these figures point to a service town where family, older-household and long-term resident needs shape daily life.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.0%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
3.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Charleville's housing is overwhelmingly detached and comparatively low cost to hold, although the absence of a current median sale price makes direct price benchmarking difficult. Separate houses represent 93.0% of dwellings, while apartments are 3.8% and semi-detached homes 2.5%. Tenure is mixed for a small regional centre: 34.7% own outright, 27.7% have a mortgage and 35.4% rent. Outright ownership is higher than mortgage ownership, but renting is also higher than either financed ownership share. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.7% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 25.8%, supporting family use. Mortgage costs equal 15.1% of household income and rent 13.4%, with neither flagged as housing stress, while vacancy at 20.6% signals softer demand than a tight market. For comparisons with nearby Augathella, focus on exact property condition and tenure rather than headline suburb averages.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$178
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$822
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.6%
Unoccupied
298
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.4%
Couples with children
47.5%
Couples, no children
18.0%
Single parent
706
Total families
Economy & Employment
Charleville's labour market is anchored by social infrastructure and public services. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 25.2% or 199 workers, followed by education at 17.0% or 134 and public administration at 11.5% or 91; construction adds 7.1% or 56 and retail 6.7% or 53. Together, the first 3 sectors represent 53.7%, helping explain why healthcare, education and government activity matter more than a single private industry. Unemployment is 3.3% and participation 57.4%, while 66.6% of employed residents work full time. Household income sits at the 33.1st percentile, below the middle of the national distribution. SEIFA places education and occupation at decile 3, economic resources at decile 2, and IRSAD at decile 3, signalling disadvantage below national median conditions. Occupations span 230 professionals, 226 labourers and 179 trades, so the employment base is broader than the industry list alone suggests.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
1,419
Unemployed
47
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.6%
Part-time
25.4%
Participation
57.4%
Employed
1,372
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.5%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
11.4%
Dwellings
1,149
Transport to Work
Daily life is shaped by distance, car access and a compact set of local services. The suburb covers 613.63 square kilometres at 4.9 people per square kilometre, and 80.0% of commuters drive a car, compared with 8.9% who walk or cycle and 3.9% who work from home. Four schools provide a practical mix of 3 government options, including primary, high and distance education, plus 1 Catholic non-state school. Sparse settlement makes private transport important. Enrolment zones can differ by address, so check the exact catchment before choosing a home. IRSAD is in decile 3 and IRSD is also decile 3, below middle national conditions, so access to services and household resources should be considered alongside housing costs. For current safety decisions, check Queensland Police information for the exact street and recent period. Compared with denser suburbs, Charleville trades walkability for space and regional service access.
Drive
80.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.9%
Work from Home
3.9%
Growth Outlook
Charleville is on a declining and aging trajectory rather than a growth-corridor path. The forecast annual trend is -1.2%, and population change across the wider area is -14.0% over 10 years. The shift profile records young-share change of -4.7% and senior-share change of 5.0%, which helps explain pressure on workforce replacement and service planning. Overseas migration is named as the primary migration driver, but it has not offset the broader decline. The COVID shock was -4.8%, with recovery still at -0.5%, reinforcing the slower direction. Gentrification is not active: the score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, compared with areas where rising prices and redevelopment are reshaping demand. Affordability improved from 26.4% in 2011 to 21.3% in 2021, which may support retention even as growth remains below zero.
Population trend: Murweh council area
Charleville sits in the Murweh council area. These are the council area's residents, not Charleville's.
Residents 2025
4,004
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.4%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Charleville compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleville a good suburb to live in?
Charleville can suit households seeking detached housing, space and local services rather than dense urban living. The population is 2,992, median age is 42, and 80.0% of commuters drive. Check the exact address for school catchments, services and current Queensland Police information before deciding.
What is the median house price in Charleville?
A current median house price is not available for Charleville. Useful cost markers are a $178 weekly rent and an $867 monthly mortgage measure. Mortgage costs equal 15.1% of household income and rent equals 13.4%, with neither flagged as housing stress.
What schools are in Charleville?
Charleville has 4 listed schools: 3 government options covering state primary, state high and distance education, plus 1 Catholic non-state school. Catchments can vary by street, so confirm enrolment eligibility for the exact address before signing a contract.
Is Charleville safe?
Safety should be checked using current Queensland Police information for the exact street and recent period, because conditions can vary across a 613.63 square kilometre suburb. Consider lighting, travel routes and nearby services as well as incident records before choosing a property.
Is Charleville good for property investment?
Property investment is income-led but vacancy-sensitive. Rent is $178 a week, 35.4% of households rent, and vacancy is 20.6%, which is higher than a tight rental market. Rent growth is 13.3%, while the annual forecast trend is -1.2%, so conservative assumptions are important.
How is Charleville's population changing?
Population direction is declining and aging. The wider-area forecast trend is -1.2% annually, with population change of -14.0% over 10 years. The young share has shifted -4.7% while the senior share has risen 5.0%, and overseas migration is the primary driver.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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