Cooktown
With a population of just 2,746 spread across 2,156 square kilometres, Cooktown is one of Queensland's most sparsely settled towns, recording a density of only 1.3 persons per km2. What makes this picture unusual is the SEIFA score: the suburb ranks in decile 9 on both IRSAD and IRSD, placing it well above the national average for socioeconomic advantage despite household incomes sitting in only the 26th percentile nationally. That gap reflects the relatively low cost base of far north Queensland rather than high wages. Median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure, and 86.1% of dwellings are separate houses, giving the town a stable, owner-occupier character at a median house price of $319,000.
Population
2,746
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,215/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$319K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $319,000, the median house price is considerably lower than most Queensland coastal markets, which makes entry-level ownership accessible. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 86.1%, with only 0.7% apartments and 8.4% semi-detached, so buyers are almost certain to find a standalone dwelling. Three-bedroom homes account for 35.7% of dwellings, two-bedrooms 28.3%, and 4-plus bedrooms 16.1%, giving a spread across family sizes. Outright owners are 37.5% of occupants, compared to 23.3% on mortgages, indicating a long-settled ownership base with relatively low debt exposure.
For Buyers
At $319,000, the median house price is considerably lower than most Queensland coastal markets, which makes entry-level ownership accessible. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 86.1%, with only 0.7% apartments and 8.4% semi-detached, so buyers are almost certain to find a standalone dwelling. Three-bedroom homes account for 35.7% of dwellings, two-bedrooms 28.3%, and 4-plus bedrooms 16.1%, giving a spread across family sizes. Outright owners are 37.5% of occupants, compared to 23.3% on mortgages, indicating a long-settled ownership base with relatively low debt exposure.
For Investors
Cooktown's 39.2% renter share is substantial for a small regional town, creating a steady tenant pool. Weekly rent averages $230, and with a median house price of $319,000, the implied gross yield sits near 3.7%, higher than most east coast capital suburbs. The vacancy rate of 16.5% is elevated and signals that supply currently exceeds demand, which is a direct risk for landlords targeting consistent occupancy. Annual population growth is essentially flat at -0.03%, and net internal migration runs at minus 30 persons per year, with overseas arrivals partially offsetting at plus 24 per year. Medium forecasts project the population near 2,929 by 2031, showing minimal growth compared to current levels, so investment returns would depend on yield rather than capital growth.
Schools in Cooktown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Endeavour Christian College
Prep-12 · 166 students
Cooktown State School
Prep-12 · 376 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national average, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by a senior share that rose 3.8 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.2 points. Only 15.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 6.5 points below the national figure, and 69 residents speak an Indigenous Australian language, reflecting the town's proximity to traditional country. English-heritage ancestry dominates: English (855), Irish (267) and Scottish (219) are the top three groups. University qualifications reach 18.4% of residents, which is 11.7 points below the national rate, consistent with a regional workforce concentrated in practical and service sectors. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below the national average of 2.5.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.1%
Houses
8.4%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 37.5% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.3%, while 39.2% rent, a tenure mix that reflects the town's established character. Separate houses make up 86.1% of stock, well above the national norm, meaning detached living is the default. Bedrooms skew toward 3-bedroom dwellings at 35.7%, followed by 2-bedrooms at 28.3%, with one-bedroom or studio properties at 19.9% and 4-plus at 16.1%. The median house price is $319,000, estimated from rent benchmarks, and the rent-to-income ratio of 18.9% is below the 30% stress threshold, indicating housing costs are manageable for tenants. Mortgage-to-income at 24.7% similarly falls within comfortable bounds compared to larger urban centres.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$678
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.5%
Unoccupied
194
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.2%
Couples, no children
1,773
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 23.5% of workers (166 people), followed by Public Administration at 15.3% (108) and Education at 14.0% (99). Construction accounts for 10.3% (73 workers) and Hospitality for 7.5% (53). By occupation, Professionals lead at 221, with Community and Personal Services workers (148), Managers (139) and Labourers (128) close behind. The unemployment rate is 6.1%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 45.7% is low because 722 residents are not in the labour force. The IRSAD decile 9 score indicates above-average socioeconomic standing nationally, despite the household income sitting in only the 26th percentile, reflecting the low cost of living context rather than high wages. Real income grew 6.7% over the decade.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
1,638
Unemployed
56
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.4%
Part-time
25.5%
Participation
45.7%
Employed
950
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.4%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
15.1%
Dwellings
978
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 77.8% of residents driving to work, reflecting limited alternatives in a remote far north Queensland town. An unusually high 11.3% walk or cycle, partly because of the compact town centre relative to its large cadastral area. Public transport accounts for only 0.4% of commutes. Volunteering reaches 21.6% of the population, above national averages, pointing to strong civic participation. Only 5.7% of residents (131 people) need daily assistance, a modest proportion for a community with a median age of 44. The IRSAD decile 9 ranking places Cooktown in the top 20% of suburbs nationally for socioeconomic advantage. No schools are recorded in the dataset for this suburb boundary, so families would rely on nearby institutions. Housing stress is low: rent-to-income at 18.9% and mortgage-to-income at 24.7% are both below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
77.8%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
11.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.03%/yr
(-1 people/yr)
EstablishedCooktown's population was 2,746 at the 2021 Census, and historical estimates show modest fluctuation: 2,946 in 2023, 2,931 in 2024, 2,962 in 2025. The medium forecast projects a slow decline to 2,929 by 2031, an annual change of minus 0.03% or roughly one person per year. Internal migration is the primary drag at minus 30 persons per year on average, partially offset by overseas arrivals of plus 24. Over the previous decade, population grew 2.2%, a low figure compared to most regional Queensland towns. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is classified as not gentrifying, meaning no structural upgrading of the neighbourhood profile is occurring. Rent grew 15.8% over the period, faster than the 6.7% real income gain, creating mild but manageable pressure on affordability.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+24
Net Internal / yr
-30
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cooktown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cooktown a good suburb to live in?
Cooktown ranks in decile 9 on IRSAD, placing it in the top 20% of Australian suburbs for socioeconomic advantage. Housing costs are manageable, with rent-to-income at 18.9% and mortgage-to-income at 24.7%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are remoteness, a 6.1% unemployment rate above the national average, and limited public transport, with 77.8% of residents relying on cars.
What is the median house price in Cooktown?
The median house price is $319,000, estimated from rental benchmarks for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. Weekly rent averages $230, which implies a gross yield near 3.7% for investors, higher than most capital city suburbs.
What schools are in Cooktown?
No schools are recorded within the Cooktown suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area rely on nearby educational institutions. The local university qualification rate is 18.4%, which is 11.7 points below the national figure, consistent with a regional, trade and service-based workforce.
Is Cooktown safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cooktown in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index, placing it in the top 20% nationally for low relative disadvantage. Only 5.7% of the 2,746 residents need daily assistance, and the volunteering rate of 21.6% reflects active civic engagement.
Is Cooktown good for property investment?
The 39.2% renter share provides a solid tenant base, and the $230 weekly rent against a $319,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, well above capital city averages. However, the 16.5% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling current oversupply, and population forecasts show near-flat growth through 2031, making yield rather than capital growth the primary investment thesis.
How is Cooktown's population changing?
The population was 2,746 at the 2021 Census and grew just 2.2% over the prior decade, below most Queensland regional towns. The medium forecast shows a slow decline to 2,929 by 2031, driven by net internal outflow of minus 30 persons per year. Overseas migration adds 24 people annually, partially offsetting the internal drain. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 3.8 points over the decade.
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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