Cooktown
The clearest housing signal in Cooktown is the combination of a 16.5% vacancy rate and an 86.1% share of separate houses. With 2,746 residents spread across 2,156.73 sq km, the town has a very low density of 1.3 people per sq km. Its median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, while 15.1% of residents were born overseas. Compared with nearby Hope Vale, Cooktown reads as a more established township setting, with healthcare, public administration and education accounting for 23.5%, 15.3% and 14.0% of employment. The profile suits buyers seeking space and services, but slower growth and high vacancy matter.
Local council: Cook
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
Cooktown suits buyers who value detached housing and manageable occupancy costs, but the absence of a current suburb median price means individual listings need close checking. Separate houses account for 86.1%, compared with 0.7% apartments and 8.4% semi-detached homes, so the stock is tilted toward yards and stand-alone dwellings. Three-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 35.7%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 28.3%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,300, while weekly rent is $230. Mortgage payments represent 24.7% of household income, higher than the 18.9% rent-to-income figure, so buyers should test insurance, repairs and transport costs as well as the loan. A 16.5% vacancy rate may create more negotiating room than in a tightly held market.
For Buyers
Cooktown suits buyers who value detached housing and manageable occupancy costs, but the absence of a current suburb median price means individual listings need close checking. Separate houses account for 86.1%, compared with 0.7% apartments and 8.4% semi-detached homes, so the stock is tilted toward yards and stand-alone dwellings. Three-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 35.7%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 28.3%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,300, while weekly rent is $230. Mortgage payments represent 24.7% of household income, higher than the 18.9% rent-to-income figure, so buyers should test insurance, repairs and transport costs as well as the loan. A 16.5% vacancy rate may create more negotiating room than in a tightly held market.
For Investors
Cooktown presents a mixed rental case. Renting accounts for 37.3% of households, higher than the 22.2% with a mortgage, and weekly rent is $230. That tenant base can support demand for affordable, practical homes, yet the 16.5% vacancy rate points to softer occupancy conditions and the need to budget for reletting time. Detached dwellings make up 86.1%, which can appeal to households needing space, while 0.7% apartments indicates little unit exposure. No development was recorded in the past 12 months, limiting near-term new-supply pressure but also signalling a thin project pipeline. The forecast trend is -0.03% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver, so investors should prioritise durable local demand over rapid capital growth. Cooktown is not gentrifying, with a score of 0.
Schools in Cooktown
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Endeavour Christian College (Cooktown)
Holy Spirit College (Cooktown)
Cooktown State School
Demographics
Cooktown has an older and less university-qualified profile than the national pattern. The median age is 44, or 4.0 years above national average, while 18.4% of residents hold a university qualification, 11.7 percentage points below the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 15.1%, 6.5 points below national, and the average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 855 people, followed by Irish at 267 and Scottish at 219. No religion is reported by 1,116 residents, compared with 1,094 identifying with Christianity. A 71.0% stay rate suggests a settled base, while 29.0% turnover still brings regular change. Compared with nearby Hope Vale, Cooktown's demographic story is more strongly shaped by an older established population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.1%
Houses
8.4%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Cooktown's tenure mix is split between owners and renters. Outright ownership is 35.6%, mortgage ownership 22.2% and renting 37.3%, so renters form a larger share than mortgaged households. Separate houses dominate at 86.1%, higher than semi-detached homes at 8.4% and apartments at 0.7%. The bedroom profile is practical but not uniform: 3-bedroom homes lead at 35.7%, 2-bedroom homes make up 28.3%, and 0 to 1-bedroom dwellings account for 19.9%. Weekly rent is $230 against a monthly mortgage figure of $1,300, while rent-to-income is 18.9% and mortgage-to-income is 24.7%. A 16.5% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly held market, which can widen choice for tenants but weaken landlord pricing power.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$230
Census 2021
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
35.6%
Couples with children
43.9%
Couples, no children
19.4%
Single parent
638
Total families
Economy & Employment
Cooktown's employment base is concentrated in essential services. Healthcare is the largest industry at 23.5% and 166 workers, ahead of Public Administration at 15.3% and 108, Education at 14.0% and 99, Construction at 10.3% and 73, and Hospitality at 7.5% and 53. The leading occupations are Professionals at 221, Community/Personal at 148, Managers at 139, Trades at 135 and Labourers at 128. The labour force totals 1,127, with unemployment at 5.5% and participation at 50.9%. The service mix matters because public and community roles support local demand, but household income sits at only the 26.1 percentile. IEO is decile 10, higher than IER decile 7, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 9, showing stronger education and occupation measures than household resources.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
1,127
Unemployed
62
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
28.2%
Participation
50.9%
Employed
1,065
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.4%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
15.1%
Dwellings
978
Transport to Work
Cooktown is highly car-dependent: 70.3% of residents drive to work, compared with 0.3% using public transport and 10.2% walking or cycling. A further 9.6% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure but increases the value of reliable internet and local services. Three nearby schools span Government, Catholic and Independent sectors, giving families more than one schooling model; enrolment zones should still be checked against the exact address. The very large 2,156.73 sq km area and density of 1.3 people per sq km mean access can vary considerably beyond the town centre. IRSAD is in decile 9, higher than the IER decile 7, while volunteering is 21.6%. For safety decisions, check current local police advice and the exact street rather than relying on suburb-wide assumptions.
Drive
70.3%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
10.2%
Work from Home
9.6%
Growth Outlook
Cooktown's outlook is one of gradual change rather than expansion. The forecast annual trend is -0.03%, below zero, while population change across the wider area is 2.2% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 3.8 percentage points and the working share has fallen 2.2 points. Rent growth of 15.8% is higher than the population-change figure, which helps explain why rental costs can move independently of resident growth. Affordability improved from 38.7 in 2011 to 34.2 in 2021. Gentrification is not occurring in the forecast, with a score of 0, so the likely pattern is incremental demand from established households and selected newcomers rather than rapid repositioning.
Population trend: Cook council area
Cooktown sits in the Cook council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cooktown's.
Residents 2025
4,876
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.3%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
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 Cooktown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cooktown a good suburb to live in?
Cooktown can suit people seeking detached housing, local services and a quieter setting. Its population is 2,746, density is 1.3 people per sq km and 70.3% of workers drive, so access and car ownership are important parts of daily life.
What is the median house price in Cooktown?
A current median house price is not available. Buyers should compare individual listings with the local housing mix, where 86.1% of dwellings are separate houses, weekly rent is $230 and the vacancy rate is 16.5%.
What schools are in Cooktown?
Cooktown has 3 nearby schools spanning Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. Families should check the exact enrolment zone for an address, as boundaries can affect access even when a school is within the broader Cooktown area.
Is Cooktown safe?
A current suburb crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked through current local police information and an address-level visit. Cooktown has a low density of 1.3 people per sq km, but conditions can vary across its 2,156.73 sq km area.
Is Cooktown good for property investment?
Cooktown has a 37.3% renting share and weekly rent of $230, but its 16.5% vacancy rate signals occupancy risk. With 0 developments recorded in the past 12 months and forecast growth of -0.03% annually, investors should prioritise resilient rental demand over rapid capital growth.
How is Cooktown's population changing?
Cooktown has 2,746 residents today, with population change across the wider area forecast at 2.2% over 10 years. The annual trend is -0.03%, the trajectory is Aging and overseas migration is the primary driver, indicating gradual rather than rapid change.
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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