Clifton
At 49 years, Clifton's median age sits 9 years above the national figure, making its aging resident base the clearest feature of the town. Its 1,490 residents occupy 45.84 square kilometres, while 93.7% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income sits at the 7th percentile, which helps explain the focus on practical housing rather than dense apartment stock. Compared with nearby Nobby, Clifton has a more established town-service profile, supported by 75.7% of residents staying at the same address. The 2.2-person average household size and 7.7% unemployment rate point to a settled market where space, local services and job access matter more than inner-city convenience.
Local council: Toowoomba
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
3
For buyers, Clifton's strongest physical signal is its 93.7% separate-house share, with 53.5% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 24.1% containing 4 or more. That makes the suburb more suited to detached homes, yards and storage than apartment living, where only 1.3% of stock is apartments. Compare recent settled sales by block size, condition and bedroom count before setting a budget. Mortgage repayments are $1,083 monthly, while mortgage costs equal 28.5% of household income, higher than the 27.9% rent-to-income measure. Compared with denser urban markets, car access matters more because 81.8% of workers drive to work. The 41.5% outright ownership share also points to an established market rather than a heavily leveraged one.
For Buyers
For buyers, Clifton's strongest physical signal is its 93.7% separate-house share, with 53.5% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 24.1% containing 4 or more. That makes the suburb more suited to detached homes, yards and storage than apartment living, where only 1.3% of stock is apartments. Compare recent settled sales by block size, condition and bedroom count before setting a budget. Mortgage repayments are $1,083 monthly, while mortgage costs equal 28.5% of household income, higher than the 27.9% rent-to-income measure. Compared with denser urban markets, car access matters more because 81.8% of workers drive to work. The 41.5% outright ownership share also points to an established market rather than a heavily leveraged one.
For Investors
Clifton's rental case is shaped by a 28.8% renting share, weekly rent of $245 and a 7.3% vacancy rate. The vacancy figure is higher than a tightly constrained market would normally suggest, so investors should test achievable rent and letting time rather than assume automatic scarcity. Rent growth of 46.2% supports recent momentum, but the 2 development applications are focused on a telecommunications facility and warehouse, not a major residential release. Compared with the 41.5% outright and 28.0% mortgaged ownership shares combined, the tenant base is smaller and may be less deep during slower periods. Healthcare at 24.5% and education at 14.6% provide local employment anchors, while internal migration supports the demand outlook.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Clifton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Francis De Sales School (Clifton)
Clifton State High School
Clifton State School
Demographics
Clifton has an older, mostly Australian-born profile: the median age is 49, which is 9 years above the national figure, while 12.2% of residents were born overseas, 9.4 percentage points below the national comparison. University attainment is 14.5%, or 15.6 points below national, consistent with a workforce more concentrated in practical and service occupations. English ancestry counts 563 people, followed by Irish 208, Scottish 156 and German 117. Christianity is reported by 868 residents and no religion by 499. Household size averages 2.2 people, 0.3 below national, because couples without children account for 48.3% of families. Compared with nearby Nobby, Clifton has a particularly pronounced aging trajectory, with senior share up 4.3 points and young share down 0.7 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.7%
Houses
4.5%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Clifton's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: separate houses make up 93.7%, compared with just 1.3% apartments and 4.5% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.5%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes add 24.1%, so household needs are more likely to centre on land, storage and maintenance than compact living. Tenure is split between 41.5% owned outright, 28.0% mortgaged and 28.8% rented. The outright share is higher than the mortgage share, reflecting an established owner base and helping explain why mortgage stress is not flagged. Mortgage repayments equal 28.5% of income, higher than the 27.9% rent measure, while the 7.3% vacancy rate is a notable comparison point for a small market. Compared with nearby Nobby, Clifton's profile is more clearly detached-home led.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$245
Census 2021
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
29.8%
Couples with children
48.3%
Couples, no children
21.7%
Single parent
383
Total families
Economy & Employment
Clifton's economy combines health and education with rural and production work. Healthcare accounts for 24.5% of jobs, education 14.6%, agriculture 12.9%, manufacturing 7.8% and retail 7.5%. The occupation profile includes 88 labourers, 86 community and personal workers and 75 trades workers, alongside 49 managers and 49 clerical and administrative workers. The labour force numbers 518 people, with a 7.7% unemployment rate, 42.6% participation and 56.5% full-time employment. Household income is $877 weekly at the 7th percentile, below national norms. SEIFA is mixed: IEO is decile 4, IER decile 6, IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 4. The economic-resources result is higher than the other 4 decile measures, suggesting income capacity is not uniform across education, occupation and disadvantage. Compared with higher-income regional hubs, local job availability is especially important.
Unemployment
7.7%
Labour Force
518
Unemployed
40
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.5%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
42.6%
Employed
478
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.5%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
12.2%
Dwellings
605
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car dependent: 81.8% of workers drive to work, compared with 5.6% who walk or cycle and 6.4% who work from home. That pattern reflects a spread-out 45.84 square kilometre setting and makes reliable vehicle access more important for errands and appointments. Clifton has 3 local schools covering 2 government options, Clifton State School and Clifton State High School, plus 1 Catholic school, St Francis De Sales School. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, especially for high-school transitions. The IRSAD decile is 4, below the IER decile of 6, while IRSD and IEO are both 4, so resources are mixed rather than uniformly strong. Review current Queensland Police information, lighting and access after dark. Compared with denser centres, open space and privacy may appeal, but services require planning.
Drive
81.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
6.4%
Growth Outlook
Clifton's growth outlook combines expansion with demographic aging. The annual forecast trend is 2.26%, and internal migration is the primary driver, pointing to demand shaped more by people moving within Australia than by overseas inflows. Across the wider area, population change runs at 43.6% over 10 years. At the same time, the shift trajectory is labelled Aging: senior share is up 4.3 points, young share is down 0.7 points and working share is down 1.2 points. Gentrification is scored 57 and classed as Active, while affordability is labelled Stable at 53.7 in 2021 versus 53.1 in 2011. Compared with a fast-growing, younger market, Clifton's 2.26% pace is more likely to reinforce an established town than quickly change its age profile.
Population trend: Toowoomba council area
Clifton sits in the Toowoomba council area. These are the council area's residents, not Clifton's.
Residents 2025
186,276
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.2%
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 Clifton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clifton a good suburb to live in?
Clifton can suit buyers who want a quiet, detached-home setting and are comfortable with car-based daily life. The median age is 49, 93.7% of homes are separate houses and 81.8% of workers drive to work, so the lifestyle is more established and low-density than an inner-city suburb. Check employment, services and school access before committing.
What is the median house price in Clifton?
Clifton's current median house price should be verified against recent settled sales rather than inferred. The local housing mix includes 53.5% 3-bedroom dwellings, 24.1% with 4 or more bedrooms and 93.7% separate houses. Compare land size, condition, improvements and outbuildings because these features can materially change sale prices.
What schools are in Clifton?
Clifton has 3 listed schools: Clifton State School, Clifton State High School and St Francis De Sales School. The mix is 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school, covering primary, high-school and non-state education. Confirm enrolment zones and year-level availability with each school because boundaries can affect practical access.
Is Clifton safe?
Use current street-level checks rather than a simple suburb label. Clifton has 1,490 residents across 45.84 square kilometres, so conditions may differ between the town centre and outlying roads. Review Queensland Police incident information, inspect lighting and access after dark, and speak with locals before renting or buying.
Is Clifton good for property investment?
Clifton may interest investors seeking a low-rent regional market, but the signals are mixed. Weekly rent is $245, vacancy is 7.3% and renters represent 28.8% of households, lower than the 41.5% outright and 28.0% mortgaged ownership shares combined. Rent growth of 46.2% is encouraging, while only 2 development applications point to limited near-term residential supply.
How is Clifton's population changing?
Clifton's population is changing through growth and aging. The wider-area population change is 43.6% over 10 years, the annual trend is 2.26% and internal migration is the primary driver. However, senior share has risen 4.3 points while young share has fallen 0.7 points, so the trajectory is labelled Aging. The current suburb population is 1,490.
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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