Craiglie
At a median age of 44, Craiglie's residents skew 4 years older than the national figure, a pattern that shapes the suburb's relaxed, owner-occupier character. With 89.1% separate houses on 11.27 square kilometres north of Port Douglas, this is one of the more detached-dominant pockets in Far North Queensland. The $515,000 estimated median house price sits below Brisbane and Cairns inner-suburb benchmarks, and 42.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, pointing to a market built around families and lifestyle-seekers rather than inner-city density. Household income lands at the 58th percentile nationally, modest but backed by mortgage and rent stress levels comfortably below the 30% threshold.
Population
1,062
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,668/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$515K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $515,000 reflects a detached-house market where 89.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 42.8% carry 4 or more bedrooms. That bedroom profile is more generous than typical coastal suburbs, and it comes without the price premium of Cairns' northern beaches. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,777, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many southeast Queensland suburbs. Outright owners account for 27.3% of households and mortgage holders 39.6%, a ratio suggesting established residents rather than speculative buyer churn. The 3-bedroom share is 35.1%, so the market is split roughly evenly between mid-size and large family homes.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $515,000 reflects a detached-house market where 89.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 42.8% carry 4 or more bedrooms. That bedroom profile is more generous than typical coastal suburbs, and it comes without the price premium of Cairns' northern beaches. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,777, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many southeast Queensland suburbs. Outright owners account for 27.3% of households and mortgage holders 39.6%, a ratio suggesting established residents rather than speculative buyer churn. The 3-bedroom share is 35.1%, so the market is split roughly evenly between mid-size and large family homes.
For Investors
Renters make up 33.1% of households, a solid tenant pool for a suburb of 1,062 people, and weekly rent of $420 is a workable starting yield against the $515,000 estimated median. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is elevated compared to tight coastal markets, so new investors should factor in potential letting lag. The hospitality industry employs 21.7% of the local workforce, which is high concentration in a sector known for variable hours, meaning tenant income can fluctuate seasonally. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, suggesting no near-term supply pressure from new builds. Rent-to-income at 25.2% sits below the stress threshold, supporting tenant retention.
Demographics
The median age of 44 sits 4 years above the national figure, which aligns with the high couples-without-children share of 37.3% among local families. Overseas-born residents reach 31.5%, which is 9.9 percentage points above the national rate, reflecting a common pattern in Far North Queensland coastal towns where international lifestyle migrants settle. English (444), Irish (119) and Scottish (103) ancestries dominate, with a largely Anglo-Celtic base. University qualifications at 21.7% run 8.4 points below the national average, consistent with an economy anchored in hospitality, construction and trades rather than professional services. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.1%
Houses
1.4%
Townhouse
8.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Craiglie's housing stock is strongly detached: 89.1% of dwellings are separate houses, with apartments at 8.2% and semi-detached at just 1.4%. That composition is typical of Far North Queensland outer suburbs but stands in contrast to coastal resorts where unit development dominates. Tenure splits to 27.3% owned outright, 39.6% with a mortgage and 33.1% renting. At 42.8%, the 4-plus bedroom share is the largest segment, above the 3-bedroom share of 35.1%, so larger family homes define the market rather than starter units. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,777 imply a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, and rent-to-income at 25.2% also stays below financial stress levels. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is higher than low-vacancy coastal markets and worth monitoring.
Mortgage / mo
$1,777
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$819
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.3%
Couples, no children
769
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hospitality is the largest employer at 21.7% of the workforce, or 75 workers, reflecting the suburb's proximity to Port Douglas tourism and the Daintree corridor. Construction follows at 10.4% (36 workers) and healthcare at 9.2% (32 workers), with retail and transport both at 7.5%. By occupation, managers lead at 96 workers, a high count relative to a population of 1,062, suggesting a mix of self-employed operators and business owners common in tourism towns. The unemployment rate is 4.1% with 21 unemployed, and the full-time employment rate of 62.4% is reasonable for a service-economy suburb. The participation rate of 57.8% is lower than national averages, partly because 27.1% of residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 44.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
57.8%
Employed
495
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.7%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
31.5%
Dwellings
366
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced: 81.6% of residents drive to work, and only 2.9% use public transport, well below national urban averages. Walking and cycling account for 7.1%, relatively high for a rural-fringe suburb and consistent with the low-density, low-traffic character of the area. No schools are recorded within the Craiglie boundary, so families rely on Port Douglas and Mossman institutions. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The volunteering rate of 15.8% points to community engagement above typical urban rates. Only 8.3% of residents need daily assistance, which is modest for a suburb with a median age of 44. Housing stress is low: rent-to-income at 25.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6% both sit below the 30% threshold.
Drive
81.6%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
7.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Craiglie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Craiglie a good suburb to live in?
Craiglie suits lifestyle-oriented households seeking a detached house near Port Douglas and the Daintree. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 24.6% and rent-to-income at 25.2%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The median age is 44 and 72.9% of residents stayed put over the 5-year census period, pointing to a settled, low-turnover community. Car ownership is essential as only 2.9% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Craiglie?
The estimated median house price is $515,000 based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,777, and weekly rent is $420. The market is dominated by large homes: 42.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, and 89.1% are separate houses, putting Craiglie below the price range of many comparable coastal Queensland suburbs.
What schools are in Craiglie?
No schools are recorded within the Craiglie boundary in this dataset. Families typically access primary and secondary schools in Port Douglas or Mossman, which are the nearest major service centres. University qualifications among residents are 21.7%, which is 8.4 percentage points below the national average, consistent with an economy built around hospitality and trades.
Is Craiglie safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Craiglie in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 25.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6%, both below stress thresholds. Only 8.3% of residents need daily assistance, and the volunteering rate of 15.8% reflects community engagement consistent with lower-disadvantage areas.
Is Craiglie good for property investment?
The renter share of 33.1% and weekly rent of $420 provide a workable base, but the vacancy rate of 7.5% is elevated and worth accounting for. The hospitality sector employs 21.7% of local workers, creating seasonal income variability in the tenant pool. Zero development applications in the past 12 months means no near-term supply competition, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6% suggests current pricing is not stretched.
How is Craiglie's population changing?
Craiglie's current population is 1,062 across 11.27 square kilometres at a density of 94 people per square kilometre. The turnover rate of 27.1% over the census period is moderate, with 72.9% of residents having stayed. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, suggesting minimal infill growth. The overseas-born share of 31.5% is 9.9 points above national, reflecting ongoing international lifestyle migration to the Port Douglas corridor.
What languages are spoken in Craiglie?
About 31.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.9 percentage points above the national figure. The ancestry base is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (444), Irish (119) and Scottish (103) are the top three recorded ancestries. Language-specific data is not available for Craiglie in this dataset, but the international-born share of 31.5% suggests a mix of European and other overseas backgrounds.
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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