Charters Towers City
A 17.5% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Charters Towers City, pointing to a market with more available dwellings than tightly held regional centres. The suburb has 2,219 residents across 2.87 sq km, with density of 771.9 people per sq km and 86.0% separate houses. Median age is 41, 1.0 year above the national comparison, while household income sits at the 16.6th percentile. Compared with nearby Richmond Hill and Queenton, buyers should weigh a compact city setting against a strongly car-based regional lifestyle, with 70.3% driving to work.
Local council: Charters Towers
Population
2,219
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,078/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers face a practical affordability picture, although no current median house price is available for a reliable purchase benchmark. Weekly rent is $220 and the typical mortgage repayment is $1,009 a month; mortgage costs equal 21.6% of household income, while rent equals 20.4%. The housing mix is suited to buyers seeking detached stock: 86.0% are separate houses, including 43.0% with 3 bedrooms and 22.1% with 4 or more. Household income is at the 16.6th percentile, below the national midpoint, so borrowing capacity may be more constrained than the low rent suggests. Compared with nearby Richmond Hill and Queenton, inspect each address for condition, flood exposure and services rather than assuming suburb-wide averages apply.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a practical affordability picture, although no current median house price is available for a reliable purchase benchmark. Weekly rent is $220 and the typical mortgage repayment is $1,009 a month; mortgage costs equal 21.6% of household income, while rent equals 20.4%. The housing mix is suited to buyers seeking detached stock: 86.0% are separate houses, including 43.0% with 3 bedrooms and 22.1% with 4 or more. Household income is at the 16.6th percentile, below the national midpoint, so borrowing capacity may be more constrained than the low rent suggests. Compared with nearby Richmond Hill and Queenton, inspect each address for condition, flood exposure and services rather than assuming suburb-wide averages apply.
For Investors
Investors should treat Charters Towers City as a cash-flow and vacancy-management proposition rather than a straightforward growth play. Weekly rent is $220, 41.9% of occupied dwellings are rented, and vacancy is 17.5%, much higher than a tightly supplied market; that level can extend letting periods and increase tenant-acquisition risk. Rent growth is 12.8%, but the forecast migration driver is Balanced and the development count is 0 over 12 months, limiting evidence of a new supply pipeline. The 86.0% separate-house share may appeal to family tenants, yet 43.0% of homes have 3 bedrooms. Compared with lower-vacancy regional markets, verify insurance, maintenance and exit demand before buying.
Demographics
Charters Towers City has an older, more locally rooted profile than many Australian suburbs. Median age is 41, or 1.0 year above the national comparison, while university attainment is 17.8%, 12.3 percentage points below national and overseas-born residents account for 9.0%, 12.6 points below national. Average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below national, helping explain the strong share of couples without children at 46.9%. English ancestry is reported by 757 residents, followed by Irish at 258 and Scottish at 214; Christianity numbers 996 and no religion 794. With 73.8% staying at the same address, turnover is lower than the 26.2% who moved, reinforcing an established community pattern. Compared with nearby Richmond Hill and Queenton, consider the smaller-household, older-age profile when assessing local services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.0%
Houses
12.8%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates the built form: 86.0% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with only 0.6% apartments and 12.8% semi-detached homes. The most common size is 3 bedrooms at 43.0%, followed by 2 bedrooms at 30.7% and 4 or more at 22.1%. Tenure is split between 33.4% owned outright, 22.1% with a mortgage and 41.9% rented, so rental exposure is higher than outright ownership. Weekly rent is $220, while the mortgage repayment benchmark is $1,009 monthly. Household income of $1,078 per week sits at the 16.6th percentile, below the national midpoint, which helps explain why the 21.6% mortgage-to-income ratio matters despite improving affordability from 40.0% in 2011 to 34.3% in 2021. Compared with nearby Richmond Hill and Queenton, the city centre's detached stock may suit buyers prioritising land over apartment living.
Mortgage / mo
$1,009
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$220
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$601
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.5%
Unoccupied
182
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples with children
46.9%
Couples, no children
24.4%
Single parent
499
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education and healthcare are the leading employment engines, accounting for 22.5% with 97 workers and 21.1% with 91 respectively. Mining contributes 11.6% and 50 workers, followed by Public Administration at 8.1% and 35 and Hospitality at 6.5% and 28. The labour force totals 899, participation is 50.2% and unemployment is 8.1%, while 58.0% of employed residents work full time. Occupations span Professionals at 144, Labourers at 134, Community and Personal Service at 124, Trades at 109 and Machinery and Drivers at 85. Socioeconomic conditions rank below the national midpoint: IRSAD is in decile 1, IRSD decile 2, IEO decile 1 and IER decile 2. The low deciles alongside substantial education and healthcare employment suggest essential services are present, but lower incomes and labour-force participation constrain household capacity.
Unemployment
8.1%
Labour Force
899
Unemployed
73
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.0%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
50.2%
Employed
826
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.8%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
9.0%
Dwellings
857
Transport to Work
Daily life is shaped by a compact 2.87 sq km footprint and density of 771.9 people per sq km, but travel remains strongly car dependent. Some 70.3% of workers drive, compared with 2.9% using public transport, while 11.7% walk or cycle and 6.0% work from home. That pattern suits residents with reliable vehicles more than households seeking frequent transit, and the 86.0% separate-house share supports a low-rise feel. Family access should be checked across the wider Charters Towers area, with enrolment zones and service locations confirmed against the exact address. Social disadvantage is pronounced compared with the national midpoint, with IRSAD in decile 1, IRSD in decile 2, IEO in decile 1 and IER in decile 2. Compare services, healthcare access and evening travel times before choosing a home.
Drive
70.3%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
11.7%
Work from Home
6.0%
Growth Outlook
Growth is subdued and ageing-led. The annual trend is -0.2%, while population change across the wider area is forecast at -2.4% over 10 years. The migration driver is Balanced rather than strongly inward or outward, and the shift trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 5.1% and the young share down 2.6%. Affordability is improving, moving from 40.0% in 2011 to 34.3% in 2021, but that improvement has not translated into a growth signal. The gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 0, so redevelopment-driven uplift is not currently indicated. Compared with faster-growing regional centres, Charters Towers City is better suited to buyers who value established services and measured change than rapid population expansion.
Population trend: Charters Towers council area
Charters Towers City sits in the Charters Towers council area. These are the council area's residents, not Charters Towers City's.
Residents 2025
12,088
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.3%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.5%
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 Charters Towers City compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charters Towers City a good suburb to live in?
That depends on priorities. A compact 2.87 sq km setting, 11.7% walking or cycling and 70.3% driving suit residents wanting a practical regional centre, while an IRSAD decile of 1 signals significant disadvantage. Compare services, housing condition and travel needs before deciding.
What is the median house price in Charters Towers City?
A reliable median house price is not available for Charters Towers City. The main housing anchors are $220 weekly rent, a $1,009 monthly mortgage repayment and an 86.0% separate-house share, so buyers should obtain current comparable sales before setting a budget.
What schools are in Charters Towers City?
Charters Towers City has 0 schools identified within the suburb. Families should check education options across the wider Charters Towers area, confirm the relevant enrolment zone and compare sector choices before signing a lease or contract.
Is Charters Towers City safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not available, so a definitive safety rating cannot be given. Check recent Queensland Police updates and inspect the area at different times; the suburb has 2,219 residents and 70.3% of workers drive, factors that can shape day-to-day activity.
Is Charters Towers City good for property investment?
It can suit an investor seeking low entry rents, but the risk profile is mixed. Rent is $220 a week, vacancy is 17.5%, renting is 41.9% and rent growth is 12.8%. Balanced migration and 0 development projects over 12 months make careful tenant, insurance and resale checks more important than relying on growth alone.
How is Charters Towers City's population changing?
Population change is slow and ageing rather than expansionary. The suburb has 2,219 residents today, while the wider-area trend is -0.2% annually and -2.4% over 10 years. The shift is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 5.1% and young share down 2.6%, so demand may increasingly favour accessible housing and services.
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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