Charleville
A 20.6% vacancy rate and a $231,000 median house price put Charleville well outside the pattern of coastal Queensland towns. With 2,992 residents spread across 613 square kilometres, the township functions as a regional services hub anchored by healthcare (25.2% of employment) and education (17.0%), not by residential growth. Household income sits at the 33.1st percentile nationally, and SEIFA IRSAD decile 3 confirms meaningful disadvantage relative to the state average. The population has trended downward at 1.2% per year, losing roughly 48 people annually, which explains why one in five dwellings sits empty.
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
Median House
$231K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $231,000, the median house price is sharply below the national median and makes outright purchase achievable for buyers willing to accept a remote Queensland location. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 93.0% of stock, and the bedroom split leans toward three-bedroom dwellings at 49.7% and four-plus at 25.8%, giving families practical options without competing for scarce supply. Outright owners account for 35.5% of households, reflecting long-term residents who purchased before prices fell, while 28.3% carry mortgages. The main risk for buyers is that the 20.6% vacancy rate and declining population signal limited short-term capital growth.
For Buyers
At $231,000, the median house price is sharply below the national median and makes outright purchase achievable for buyers willing to accept a remote Queensland location. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 93.0% of stock, and the bedroom split leans toward three-bedroom dwellings at 49.7% and four-plus at 25.8%, giving families practical options without competing for scarce supply. Outright owners account for 35.5% of households, reflecting long-term residents who purchased before prices fell, while 28.3% carry mortgages. The main risk for buyers is that the 20.6% vacancy rate and declining population signal limited short-term capital growth.
For Investors
A 36.2% renter share and weekly rent of $178 place Charleville's gross yield significantly higher than coastal markets, though the 20.6% vacancy rate is one of the highest in Queensland and directly compresses net returns. Against the $231,000 median, $178 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 4.0%, which is above average, but with one in five dwellings empty, finding and retaining tenants requires effort. Net internal migration runs at minus 37 people per year on average, offset partially by 18 overseas arrivals annually, leaving a net negative demand trend. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so new supply is not the cause of vacancy. The investment case depends on yield rather than capital growth, with the declining population trajectory of minus 1.2% per year making price appreciation unlikely in the medium term.
Schools in Charleville iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's School
Prep-6 · 157 students
Charleville School of Distance Education
Prep-10 · 172 students
Charleville State High School
7-12 · 216 students
Charleville State School
Prep-6 · 126 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits 2.0 years above the national figure, and the demographic trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.0 points while the young-adult share fell 4.7 points over the decade. English ancestry leads with 919 residents, followed by Irish (331) and Scottish (240), making the community more Anglo-Celtic than average and less diverse than state or national comparisons. Overseas-born residents reach 11.4%, which is 10.2 points below the national figure, reflecting the inland location and limited migration pathways. University qualifications at 20.5% run 9.6 points below the national average, consistent with a labour market centred on trades, community services, and public administration rather than knowledge industries. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, and 34.1% of families are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.0%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
3.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The market is dominated by detached housing at 93.0% of dwellings, with apartments and semi-detached homes each representing under 4.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.7% and four-plus bedroom dwellings for 25.8%, so the stock suits families rather than downsizers or investors seeking compact units. Tenure is split between renters (36.2%), outright owners (35.5%), and mortgage holders (28.3%). Rent-to-income at 13.4% and mortgage-to-income at 15.1% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds, meaning housing affordability is not the constraint here. The 20.6% vacancy rate is the defining structural feature, substantially higher than the national average, pointing to population loss outpacing any absorption of empty dwellings. The median house price of $231,000 sits well below the national median, reflecting the combination of remote location and oversupply.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wk
$178
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
34.1%
Couples, no children
1,890
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 25.2% of workers (199 people), followed by Education at 17.0% (134) and Public Administration at 11.5% (91). This service-sector concentration is typical of a regional centre that provides health and government functions to a wide outback catchment. By occupation, Professionals (230) and Labourers (226) are nearly equal in number, reflecting the split between service-sector graduates and trade or pastoral workers. The unemployment rate is low at 3.6%, with 72.4% of employed residents working full time, but the participation rate of 53.0% indicates a large share of the working-age population is outside the labour force entirely. The SEIFA IEO decile of 3 confirms below-average education and occupational status nationally, and the IER decile of 2 signals limited economic resources, the second-lowest tier.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
2,175
Unemployed
60
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.4%
Part-time
24.0%
Participation
53.0%
Employed
1,262
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.5%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
11.4%
Dwellings
1,149
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 83.2% of residents commuting by car, above the national average for regional towns, and 9.2% walking or cycling, which reflects the low-density layout of a remote outback town. Crime statistics are not available in the current dataset, so no rate comparison can be drawn. The IRSAD decile of 3 places Charleville in the lower tier of relative socioeconomic advantage nationally, and the IEO decile of 3 confirms below-average access to education and employment opportunities. The volunteering rate of 20.3% is noteworthy, indicating active community participation that typically correlates with social cohesion in smaller regional centres. No schools are recorded in this dataset for the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions within the broader Charleville township area. Housing stress is minimal, with rent-to-income at 13.4% and mortgage-to-income at 15.1%, both well below stress thresholds.
Drive
83.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
9.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-1.2%/yr
(-48 people/yr)
DecliningPopulation has declined at 1.2% per year, losing approximately 48 residents annually. The 10-year change is minus 14.0%, placing Charleville firmly in the declining category compared to growth seen across coastal Queensland. The forecast for the broader area (medium scenario) projects continued falls from around 3,874 in 2026 to 3,635 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary pressure, with a net outflow of 37 people per year, partially offset by 18 overseas arrivals annually. The gentrification score is zero and the stage reads not gentrifying, consistent with falling rather than rising demand. Rent growth of 13.3% and real income growth of 14.2% over the decade show some economic improvement, but neither is enough to reverse the structural outflow driven by limited local employment diversity.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
-37
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
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 suits residents who value affordable housing and a strong service-sector employment base in an outback setting. The median house price of $231,000 is well below the national median, and housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 13.4%. The trade-off is a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3, indicating below-average socioeconomic advantage nationally, and a 20.6% vacancy rate that reflects a population declining at 1.2% per year.
What is the median house price in Charleville?
The median house price is $231,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867 and weekly rent sits at $178, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.1% and a rent-to-income ratio of 13.4%, both below stress thresholds. The vast majority of dwellings (93.0%) are separate houses.
What schools are in Charleville?
No schools are recorded within the Charleville suburb boundary in this dataset. University qualification rates are 20.5%, which is 9.6 points below the national average, reflecting a labour market centred on healthcare, education services, and public administration rather than knowledge-intensive sectors.
Is Charleville safe?
Crime statistics by rate are not available for Charleville in the current dataset. As a contextual indicator, the SEIFA IRSD decile is 3, placing it in the lower-advantage tier nationally, which can correlate with higher social stress. The volunteering rate of 20.3% suggests active community networks that often support safety outcomes in remote towns.
Is Charleville good for property investment?
The $231,000 median house price and $178 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 4.0%, above average compared to coastal Queensland markets. However, the 20.6% vacancy rate is very high, net internal migration runs at minus 37 people per year, and population has fallen 14.0% over 10 years. Investment returns depend on sustained rental income rather than capital growth, and vacancy management is the primary risk.
How is Charleville's population changing?
Population is declining at 1.2% per year, equating to roughly 48 fewer residents annually. The 10-year change is minus 14.0%, and the medium forecast projects the broader area falling from around 3,874 in 2026 to 3,635 by 2031. The aging trajectory is accelerating, with the senior share up 5.0 points and the young-adult share down 4.7 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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