Clifton
At a median house price of $305,000, Clifton sits well below state and national medians, making it one of the more affordable rural centres on the Darling Downs. The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, signalling a significantly older resident base than most Australian communities. Household income ranks in the 7th percentile nationally, reflecting an economy dominated by labourers and community workers rather than professional jobs. Despite low incomes, only 42.2% of dwellings carry a mortgage or renting stress, because 42.2% of homes are owned outright, well above the national average.
Population
1,490
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$877/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$305K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $305,000 sits considerably below the national median, giving first-home buyers and downsizers an accessible entry point without stretching finances. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5% stays below the standard stress threshold of 30%. Separate houses dominate at 93.7% of dwellings, so buyers face an almost entirely detached-house market with minimal apartment competition. Three-bedroom homes account for 53.5% of stock, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.1%, giving families reasonable choice. Outright ownership at 42.2% is notably high compared to national norms, indicating an established, older owner base with little forced-sale pressure.
For Buyers
The median house price of $305,000 sits considerably below the national median, giving first-home buyers and downsizers an accessible entry point without stretching finances. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5% stays below the standard stress threshold of 30%. Separate houses dominate at 93.7% of dwellings, so buyers face an almost entirely detached-house market with minimal apartment competition. Three-bedroom homes account for 53.5% of stock, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.1%, giving families reasonable choice. Outright ownership at 42.2% is notably high compared to national norms, indicating an established, older owner base with little forced-sale pressure.
For Investors
Clifton presents a mixed investment picture. Weekly rent of $245 against a $305,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, higher than most capital city markets. However, the vacancy rate of 7.3% is elevated, suggesting tenant demand is soft relative to available stock. The renter share sits at 29.3%, providing a usable tenant pool. Development activity is thin at only 2 applications in 12 months, confirming this is a stable rather than growth-driven market. The household income percentile of 7 nationally means renter affordability is a real constraint on rent growth. Investors should factor in limited capital growth prospects given flat population dynamics and the very low income base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Clifton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Francis De Sales School
Prep-6 · 43 students
Clifton State High School
7-12 · 310 students
Clifton State School
Prep-6 · 86 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national median, making Clifton one of the older communities by age profile in Queensland. Overseas-born residents represent just 12.2% of the population, which is 9.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English (563), Irish (208), Scottish (156) and German (117) lead the count. University qualifications reach only 14.5%, which is 15.6 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a trade and agriculture-oriented workforce. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure, matching the older couples-without-children profile where couples with no children make up 34.8% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.7%
Houses
4.5%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Clifton's housing stock is almost entirely freestanding dwellings, with separate houses at 93.7% of all dwellings. Only 1.3% are apartments and 4.5% semi-detached, leaving very little strata-titled or shared-wall product. The tenure split leans toward ownership: 42.2% own outright, 28.5% are paying a mortgage and 29.3% rent, a more owner-dominant profile than the national average. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.5%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.1%. The $305,000 median price is estimated from rental data for 2025, so should be treated as indicative. Rent-to-income at 27.9% stays just under 30%, so renters face moderate but not severe housing costs relative to local wages.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$245
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$503
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
48
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.8%
Couples, no children
1,045
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employment sector at 24.5% of workers (72 people), followed by Education at 14.6% (43) and Agriculture at 12.9% (38), a distribution typical of a small regional service town surrounded by farming land. By occupation, Labourers (88) and Community/Personal workers (86) together account for the majority of employed residents, which aligns with the household income sitting in only the 7th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate of 8.5% is above average, and the labour force participation rate of 38.7% is low because 632 residents are outside the labour force. SEIFA IRSD and IRSAD scores sit at decile 4, indicating below-average advantage nationally. The IRSD decile of 4 means more disadvantage than roughly 60% of Australian communities.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.8%
Part-time
28.7%
Participation
38.7%
Employed
430
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.5%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
12.2%
Dwellings
605
Transport to Work
Clifton's rural location means car dependency is high: 87.4% of residents drive to work, consistent with limited public transport in small Darling Downs towns. Walking and cycling account for 6.0% of commutes, reasonable for a low-density 45.84 km2 area. No schools are recorded in this dataset for the suburb boundary, so families likely access schools in nearby Toowoomba or surrounding towns. Crime statistics are not available for Clifton. The IRSAD decile of 4 places the suburb in the below-average advantage tier nationally, meaning residents face more service access challenges than the majority of Australians. The volunteering rate of 20.2% is above average, suggesting a high degree of community participation relative to the population of 1,490.
Drive
87.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clifton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clifton a good suburb to live in?
Clifton suits those who prefer affordable rural living. The median house price of $305,000 is well below national medians, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5% stays below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-off is limited local employment, with an unemployment rate of 8.5% and household incomes in the 7th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Clifton?
The median house price in Clifton is approximately $305,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $245, and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,083. The price is considerably below typical Queensland regional medians, reflecting the town's smaller size and lower income base.
What schools are in Clifton?
No schools are recorded within the Clifton suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb spans 45.84 km2 and has a population of 1,490, so families typically access schools in nearby regional centres. University qualifications among residents are at 14.5%, which is 15.6 percentage points below the national average.
Is Clifton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Clifton in this dataset. As a proxy indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on IRSAD, indicating below-average socioeconomic advantage nationally, which can correlate with higher crime rates in some communities. The volunteering rate of 20.2% suggests active community engagement.
Is Clifton good for property investment?
Clifton offers a gross yield of around 4.2% based on $245 weekly rent against the $305,000 median, higher than most capital city markets. However, the 7.3% vacancy rate signals soft tenant demand, and the household income in the 7th percentile nationally limits rent growth potential. Development activity of only 2 applications in 12 months confirms a low-growth environment.
How is Clifton's population changing?
Clifton has a population of 1,490 with a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national average, pointing to an aging resident base. The residential stay rate of 75.7% indicates low turnover. Overseas-born residents represent only 12.2%, which is 9.4 percentage points below the national figure, limiting migration-driven 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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