Cherbourg
At a median age of 23, Cherbourg's resident population is 17 years younger than the national figure, making it one of Queensland's youngest communities by that measure. The 1,194 residents live in an entirely rental market, with 100% of dwellings occupied by renters at a median weekly rent of $100, far below state norms. Household income sits at the 4.6th percentile nationally, reflecting a labour market where just 27.9% of the working-age population participates. Healthcare, Public Administration and Education together account for over 85% of local employment, meaning the community's economic base depends almost entirely on government-funded services.
Population
1,194
Median Age
23.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$793/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$124K
Estimated from rent (2025)
With 100% of residents renting and no recorded mortgage holders, Cherbourg does not function as an owner-occupier market in the conventional sense. The estimated median house price of $124,000 is derived from rental data and sits far below Queensland state averages, reflecting the community's position at the 4.6th percentile of household income nationally. Separate houses dominate at 88.9% of the housing stock, with apartments at 8.5% and semi-detached at 2.6%. Larger homes are common: 44.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 31.8% have 3, consistent with the average household size of 3.4, which is 0.9 above the national average.
For Buyers
With 100% of residents renting and no recorded mortgage holders, Cherbourg does not function as an owner-occupier market in the conventional sense. The estimated median house price of $124,000 is derived from rental data and sits far below Queensland state averages, reflecting the community's position at the 4.6th percentile of household income nationally. Separate houses dominate at 88.9% of the housing stock, with apartments at 8.5% and semi-detached at 2.6%. Larger homes are common: 44.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 31.8% have 3, consistent with the average household size of 3.4, which is 0.9 above the national average.
For Investors
The rental market is the only active tenure in Cherbourg, with 100% of dwellings rented at a median weekly rent of $100. Vacancy sits at 3.8%, suggesting most available stock is occupied. However, the investment fundamentals are highly constrained: household income at the 4.6th percentile nationally means affordability for rent increases is very limited, and zero development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pipeline. Rent-to-income at 12.6% is low compared to metropolitan markets, reflecting both the low rent and low incomes. Investors considering this market should weigh thin yield potential against the government-service dependency of local employment.
Schools in Cherbourg iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cherbourg State School
Prep-6 · 174 students
Demographics
The median age of 23 places Cherbourg 17 years below the national figure, producing a markedly young age profile compared to most Australian communities. The average household size of 3.4 is 0.9 above the national average, driven by a high proportion of couples with children: 287 family units of this type versus just 61 couples without children. University qualifications reach only 3.4% of residents, which is 26.7 percentage points below the national rate. Christianity accounts for 580 residents, the dominant religion. Community stability is high: 92.1% of residents stayed in the same address in the year prior to census, a turnover rate of just 7.9%, lower than most regional Queensland suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.9%
Houses
2.6%
Townhouse
8.5%
Apartment
Tenure
All 1,194 residents rent their homes, an unusual characteristic compared to most Australian suburbs where owner-occupiers and mortgage holders make up the majority. The estimated median house price of $124,000 is low nationally and reflects the low income base, with household incomes at the 4.6th percentile. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 88.9%, with minimal apartment or semi-detached supply. Bedroom distribution skews large: 44.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 31.8% have 3, consistent with average household sizes of 3.4. Rent-to-income at 12.6% is not technically in stress territory, but the low absolute weekly rent of $100 leaves little room for increases without impacting household budgets at this income level.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wk
$100
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$375
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
12
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
6.1%
Couples, no children
1,000
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 35.8% of the local workforce, Public Administration 31.6% and Education 17.9%, together accounting for around 85% of jobs. This concentration in government-funded services means the local economy is heavily reliant on public sector budgets rather than private enterprise or trade-exposed industries. Unemployment sits at 21.3%, far above the national average, while the labour force participation rate of 27.9% is very low, with 518 residents recorded as not in the labour force. Of those employed, community and personal service workers are the largest occupation group at 63, followed by labourers at 35 and professionals at 29. Weekly personal income of $375 and household income of $803 place Cherbourg at the 4.6th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.1%
Part-time
11.6%
Participation
27.9%
Employed
170
Occupations
Top Industries
University
3.4%
Postgraduate
N/A
Born Overseas
N/A
Dwellings
305
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling account for 24.1% of journeys to work, a relatively high rate compared to most regional Queensland suburbs where car dependency typically exceeds 80%. Car driver mode share is 64.5%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. Volunteering sits at 3.9%, and 4.5% of residents, around 51 people, need daily assistance, a figure that must be read against the young median age of 23 where assistance needs are typically lower nationally. No crime rate data are available for Cherbourg in the dataset. Rent-to-income at 12.6% indicates that housing costs are not a primary stress factor at current rent levels, though the low income base means household budgets remain stretched across other essentials.
Drive
64.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
24.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cherbourg compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cherbourg a good suburb to live in?
Cherbourg is a small community of 1,194 people with a median age of 23, well below the national average. It offers affordable housing at estimated $124,000 median, low rent at $100 per week, and high residential stability with 92.1% of residents staying put year on year. The main challenges are a 21.3% unemployment rate and household incomes at the 4.6th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Cherbourg?
The estimated median house price is $124,000, derived from rental market data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $100, the lowest in the region, with rent-to-income at 12.6%. All 1,194 residents are renters; there are no recorded owner-occupier or mortgage-holder transactions in the suburb.
What schools are in Cherbourg?
No schools are recorded inside the Cherbourg suburb boundary in this dataset. Given the young median age of 23 and average household size of 3.4 people, families with children are a significant demographic and would rely on schooling options in nearby areas. University attainment locally is 3.4%, which is 26.7 percentage points below the national rate.
Is Cherbourg safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cherbourg in this dataset. Community stability is notably high, with 92.1% of residents remaining at the same address year on year, which can be an indirect indicator of settled community conditions. The area receives no SEIFA disadvantage decile data in this dataset, limiting comparative safety assessments.
Is Cherbourg good for property investment?
Investment fundamentals are constrained. Weekly rent is $100, and the estimated median house price is $124,000, implying a high gross yield on paper. However, household incomes are at the 4.6th percentile nationally, limiting rent growth potential. Zero development applications in the past 12 months show no new supply, and all employment is concentrated in government-funded Healthcare and Public Administration.
How is Cherbourg's population changing?
No population forecast data are available in the dataset for Cherbourg. The current population is 1,194 across 31.6 square kilometres. Residential stability is high at 92.1% of residents staying at the same address, suggesting low churn rather than active growth. With 0 development applications in the past 12 months, no new housing supply is entering the market.
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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