Cloncurry
Mining drives 32.5% of Cloncurry's workforce, higher than almost any coastal Queensland suburb, and that resource base pushes household incomes to the 73.3rd percentile nationally despite a remote location 780 km inland from Townsville. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, reflecting a working-age population drawn by resource sector wages. With a land area of 8,109 sq km and just 3,167 residents, the density sits at 0.4 persons per sq km, well below the national average. Half the households rent, and a 20.4% vacancy rate signals oversupply relative to current demand, which keeps house prices affordable at a median of around $315,000.
Population
3,167
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,953/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$315K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $315,000 median, Cloncurry house prices sit well below the national median and well below southeast Queensland benchmarks. Mortgage repayments run around $1,200 per month, which against the $1,953 weekly household income produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of approximately 14.2%, below the national stress threshold of 30%. Separate houses dominate at 80.7% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 47.6% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes at 27.1%. Outright ownership at 25.6% and mortgage holders at 24.4% are both lower than national averages, reflecting the renter-majority character. The 20.4% vacancy rate means buyers face little competition from other purchasers in the current market.
For Buyers
At an estimated $315,000 median, Cloncurry house prices sit well below the national median and well below southeast Queensland benchmarks. Mortgage repayments run around $1,200 per month, which against the $1,953 weekly household income produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of approximately 14.2%, below the national stress threshold of 30%. Separate houses dominate at 80.7% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 47.6% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes at 27.1%. Outright ownership at 25.6% and mortgage holders at 24.4% are both lower than national averages, reflecting the renter-majority character. The 20.4% vacancy rate means buyers face little competition from other purchasers in the current market.
For Investors
The 50% renter share provides a large potential tenant pool, but the 20.4% vacancy rate is the key caveat, running well above a healthy market threshold and suggesting meaningful oversupply. Weekly rent averages $240, modest against the $315,000 median price, implying a gross yield near 4%, which is higher than many coastal markets but dependent on sustained occupancy. Rent-to-income at 12.3% means tenants are not under stress, which reduces default risk. The mining-driven economy creates both the opportunity and the risk: resource booms draw workers and lift rents, while downturns produce rapid vacancy spikes. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, limiting near-term supply pressure. Income at the 73.3rd percentile nationally supports tenant capacity to pay.
Schools in Cloncurry iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic School
Prep-9 · 188 students
Cloncurry State School P-12
Prep-12 · 289 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, consistent with a resource-sector workforce in prime working years. Males account for 56.5% of the population, a gender skew characteristic of mining towns where fly-in/fly-out workers are counted at their Cloncurry address. Overseas-born residents at 10.6% sit 11 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (976), Irish (318) and Scottish (236) lead the ancestry counts. University qualifications at 17.8% are 12.3 points below the national figure, consistent with a trades and machinery-based economy. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly. The volunteering rate of 18.5% is a notable civic indicator for a remote town of this size.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.7%
Houses
2.6%
Townhouse
11.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is unusual: 50% of households rent, compared to the national renter share of around 31%, making Cloncurry a renter-majority suburb. Separate houses account for 80.7% of dwellings, higher than most regional towns, while apartments make up 11.2% and semi-detached homes just 2.6%. The bedroom mix leans large, with three-bedroom homes at 47.6% and four-plus bedroom homes at 27.1%, reflecting family and worker household needs. Outright owners (25.6%) and mortgage holders (24.4%) together make up just half the housing market. The 20.4% vacancy rate is above what investors would consider healthy, suggesting the current supply exceeds demand at this point in the resource cycle. Monthly mortgage costs of $1,200 sit at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 14.2%, well below stress levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,200
Rent / wk
$240
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,246
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.4%
Unoccupied
241
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.2%
Couples, no children
1,860
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the defining industry at 32.5% of employed residents, followed by Public Admin at 11%, and Construction and Transport each at 7.8%. Education contributes 7.5%. By occupation, Machinery and Drivers lead at 306 workers, followed by Professionals (193), Managers (182) and Labourers (174). The full-time employment rate of 79.4% is strong, and unemployment sits at 4.5%, broadly in line with regional norms. Participation at 58% is moderate, with 478 residents not in the labour force. Household income at the 73.3rd percentile nationally is a direct result of resource-sector wages pulling up the local average. The 4.5% unemployment rate compares favourably to higher rates seen in many remote QLD towns.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
79.4%
Part-time
16.1%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
1,410
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.8%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
10.6%
Dwellings
932
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 66.4% of residents drive to work, above the national average, which is expected given Cloncurry's remote location with limited alternatives. Walking and cycling accounts for 15.8%, higher than many similar outback towns, likely reflecting the compact town layout. Public transport use stands at 8.4%. No schools are recorded in this dataset for Cloncurry, though the town does serve as a regional education centre. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. Rent stress at 12.3% of income is well below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage stress at 14.2% is similarly low, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. Need for assistance at 3.0% is relatively low. The 18.5% volunteering rate signals community cohesion typical of regional centres.
Drive
66.4%
Public Transport
8.4%
Walk / Cycle
15.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cloncurry compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloncurry a good suburb to live in?
Cloncurry suits workers in the resource sector and those who prefer a remote, community-focused lifestyle. Household income sits at the 73.3rd percentile nationally, housing costs are low with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 14.2%, and the rent-to-income ratio of 12.3% is well below stress levels. The trade-off is a 20.4% vacancy rate and limited services compared to coastal centres.
What is the median house price in Cloncurry?
The estimated median house price in Cloncurry is $315,000, well below the national median. Weekly rent averages $240 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,200. The low price reflects the remote location and renter-majority character, with 50% of households renting.
What schools are in Cloncurry?
No schools are recorded inside the Cloncurry boundary in this dataset. Cloncurry functions as a regional service centre for outback Queensland, and educational facilities exist in the area, but detailed school data with enrolment or ICSEA scores is not available in this dataset. University qualification rates locally sit at 17.8%, which is 12.3 points below the national figure.
Is Cloncurry safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Cloncurry are not available in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a 3.0% need-for-assistance rate (81 residents), a 4.5% unemployment rate broadly in line with regional norms, and a 18.5% volunteering rate which is typically associated with social cohesion in regional communities.
Is Cloncurry good for property investment?
Cloncurry offers a higher gross yield than most coastal markets, with $240 weekly rent against a $315,000 median implying around 4% gross. However, the 20.4% vacancy rate is a significant risk factor, above healthy market levels. Mining towns are highly cyclical, and the 30.2% population turnover rate reflects transient resource-sector demand rather than stable long-term occupancy.
How is Cloncurry's population changing?
Population forecasts are not available for Cloncurry in this dataset. The suburb had 3,167 residents at the last census across 8,109 sq km. The 30.2% turnover rate, meaning nearly one-third of residents moved in the past 5 years, reflects the transient nature of resource-sector employment. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, suggesting physical supply is stable.
What industries employ people in Cloncurry?
Mining dominates at 32.5% of employed residents (299 workers), more than 3 times the next largest sector. Public Admin follows at 11%, with Construction and Transport each at 7.8% and Education at 7.5%. The largest occupation group is Machinery and Drivers at 306 workers, reflecting the resources and logistics base. The full-time employment rate is 79.4%.
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.
Explore Cloncurry on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map