Chatsworth
At a median age of 43, Chatsworth sits 3.0 years above the national figure, and 98.3% of its dwellings are separate houses, one of the most detached-dominant profiles in Queensland. The 1,353-person suburb spreads across 31 square kilometres on the Gympie fringe, giving it a density of just 43.6 people per km2. Household income lands at the 43.7th percentile nationally, which is below average, yet mortgage costs consume only 24.6% of income and rent just 20.8%, meaning residents carry far less financial stress than the national mortgage belt. Owner-occupiers dominate: 44.2% own outright and 43.5% are still paying off mortgages, leaving renters at a very thin 12.3%.
Population
1,353
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,442/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$398K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $398,000 makes Chatsworth considerably more accessible than southeast Queensland coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,533, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, buyers remain below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable regional towns. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.3%, and 52.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so families seeking space get it here without the premium attached to larger metro markets. Outright owners at 44.2% outnumber mortgage holders slightly at 43.5%, a sign the suburb attracts long-term residents rather than transient buyers. Weekly rent of $300 offers a useful affordability cross-check: purchase versus rent costs both sit at comfortable levels compared to southeast Queensland averages.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $398,000 makes Chatsworth considerably more accessible than southeast Queensland coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,533, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, buyers remain below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable regional towns. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.3%, and 52.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so families seeking space get it here without the premium attached to larger metro markets. Outright owners at 44.2% outnumber mortgage holders slightly at 43.5%, a sign the suburb attracts long-term residents rather than transient buyers. Weekly rent of $300 offers a useful affordability cross-check: purchase versus rent costs both sit at comfortable levels compared to southeast Queensland averages.
For Investors
With only 12.3% of dwellings rented, Chatsworth has one of the lower renter shares in regional Queensland, which limits the tenant pool available to investors. The 6.3% vacancy rate is elevated and should be treated as a risk flag, suggesting existing rentals already compete for a thin demand base. Weekly rent of $300 against an estimated median price of $398,000 implies a gross yield near 3.9%, modest for a rural-fringe location. Development activity is negligible at just 4 applications in the past 12 months, which limits near-term supply pressure but also signals limited organic growth. The household income sits at the 43.7th percentile nationally, below average, so rental affordability caps and rent growth potential are constrained relative to stronger economic catchments.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
5
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 Chatsworth iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Chatsworth State School
Prep-6 · 221 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national median, making Chatsworth an aging suburb by national comparison. The overseas-born share of 12.7% is 8.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally born population. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English (642), Irish (163), Scottish (143) and German (107) account for the main ancestral groups, consistent with the suburb's rural Queensland character. University qualifications reach 17.1%, which is 13.0 percentage points below the national average, pointing to a trade and services workforce rather than a professional one. Average household size is 2.7, slightly above the national figure by 0.2 people, and 39.0% of families are couples with children, suggesting family households remain common despite the older median age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.3%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses make up 98.3% of dwellings, with apartments at just 0.9%, so the housing market here is almost exclusively detached residential. The tenure split favours owners: 44.2% own outright, 43.5% carry a mortgage, and only 12.3% rent. The dominance of outright owners points to an established, stable base rather than speculative churn. Bedrooms skew large: 52.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 37.6% have 3 bedrooms, so the typical home is a spacious family property. The estimated median house price of $398,000 combined with $1,533 monthly mortgage repayments produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, which is below the national stress benchmark of 30%. Rent at $300 per week gives a rent-to-income ratio of 20.8%, also below the stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,533
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$609
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
31
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.6%
Couples, no children
1,115
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 17.7% of workers (65 people), followed by Education at 15.3% (56) and Construction at 12.8% (47). The top two sectors, together at 33.0%, reflect the suburb's role as a residential catchment serving the Gympie regional economy rather than a commercial centre in its own right. By occupation, Clerical and Admin workers top the list (91), ahead of Labourers (79), Professionals (72) and Community and Personal workers (71). The unemployment rate of 6.6% is above average nationally, and the participation rate of 53.5% is low, partly because 423 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age and a portion of semi-retired households. Full-time employment runs at 55.9% of employed workers. Weekly household income of $1,442 sits at the 43.7th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
37.5%
Participation
53.5%
Employed
542
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.1%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
12.7%
Dwellings
459
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 92.6% of residents drive to work and only 0.9% use public transport, which is typical for a low-density rural-fringe suburb 31 square kilometres in area. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in the broader Gympie area. The volunteering rate of 18.1% is solid and reflects the community participation typical of rural Queensland towns. Specific crime statistics are not available for Chatsworth, so a direct safety ranking cannot be made. Need for daily assistance affects 9.0% of residents (117 people), which is above the national average and consistent with the older median age of 43. The rent-to-income ratio of 20.8% and mortgage-to-income of 24.6% both sit below national stress benchmarks, making housing costs manageable relative to incomes at the 43.7th percentile.
Drive
92.6%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Chatsworth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chatsworth a good suburb to live in?
Chatsworth suits buyers looking for space and affordability in a quiet rural setting near Gympie. The median house price is around $398,000, mortgage costs run at 24.6% of income (below the 30% stress threshold), and 98.3% of homes are separate houses. The trade-offs are near-total car dependency at 92.6% and no schools inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Chatsworth?
The estimated median house price is $398,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,533. Weekly rent is $300. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.6%, below the 30% stress benchmark, and the rent-to-income ratio is 20.8%, both indicating housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Chatsworth?
No schools are recorded within the Chatsworth suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers 31 square kilometres in the Gympie region, and families rely on schools in surrounding areas. University qualification rates locally are 17.1%, which is 13 percentage points below the national average.
Is Chatsworth safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Chatsworth in this dataset. As a context indicator, 9.0% of the 1,353 residents need daily assistance, above the national average, linked to the older median age of 43. The volunteering rate of 18.1% and the high owner-occupier rate of 87.7% (outright plus mortgage) are generally associated with stable, lower-crime communities.
Is Chatsworth good for property investment?
The investment case is cautious. Only 12.3% of dwellings are rented, limiting the tenant pool, and the 6.3% vacancy rate is elevated. Weekly rent of $300 against a $398,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%. Development activity is very low at 4 applications in 12 months, so new supply is minimal, but income at the 43.7th percentile nationally constrains rent growth potential.
How is Chatsworth's population changing?
Chatsworth has a population of 1,353 with a low turnover rate: 73.0% of residents stayed at the same address over the measured period. The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and 9.0% of residents need daily assistance, both pointing to a gradually aging community. Development activity at just 4 applications in 12 months suggests limited near-term population growth.
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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