Craignish
Craignish stands out for its older, detached-home profile: the median age is 47, or 7 years above the national comparison, while 99.5% of dwellings are separate houses. Its 2,190 residents live across 14.19 square kilometres at a density of 154.3 people per square kilometre. Household size is 2.8 people, 0.3 above the national figure, and the annual growth trend is 2.21%. Compared with nearby Hervey Bay suburbs such as Urangan and Torquay, Craignish has a lower-density, more established feel because large four-bedroom-plus homes account for 59.7% of housing.
Local council: Fraser Coast
Population
2,190
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,602/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Craignish suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, although a current median house price cannot be stated. Separate houses account for 99.5% of dwellings, far higher than the 0.5% apartment share, and 59.7% of homes have four or more bedrooms compared with 34.3% with three bedrooms. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,733 per month, while weekly rent is $383. Mortgage households represent 48.5% of residents and outright owners 41.9%, suggesting a settled ownership base. Mortgage-to-income pressure is 25.0% and rent-to-income pressure is 23.9%, with both stress flags recorded as false.
For Buyers
Craignish suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, although a current median house price cannot be stated. Separate houses account for 99.5% of dwellings, far higher than the 0.5% apartment share, and 59.7% of homes have four or more bedrooms compared with 34.3% with three bedrooms. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,733 per month, while weekly rent is $383. Mortgage households represent 48.5% of residents and outright owners 41.9%, suggesting a settled ownership base. Mortgage-to-income pressure is 25.0% and rent-to-income pressure is 23.9%, with both stress flags recorded as false.
For Investors
Craignish has a small rental sector, with 8.4% of households renting, well below the 41.9% outright ownership and 48.5% mortgage shares. Weekly rent is $383 and vacancy is 5.9%, so investors should test achievable rent carefully rather than assume scarcity will support rapid increases. Seventeen development applications were recorded over 12 months, indicating ongoing but not large-scale activity. The annual growth trend is 2.21% and internal migration is the primary driver, which may support demand as new residents arrive. Compared with a higher-renter suburb, the limited tenant pool can make property selection and tenant retention more important.
Development Activity
Total DAs
28
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+750.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Craignish has 2,190 residents and a median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national comparison. Only 20.8% of residents hold university qualifications, 9.3 percentage points below the national figure, while 16.0% were born overseas, 5.6 points below the national comparison. English ancestry is recorded for 1,037 people, followed by Scottish at 279 and Irish at 239. Christianity accounts for 1,091 responses and no religion for 949. The 74.2% stay rate indicates relative residential continuity, which aligns with an aging trajectory and helps explain why couples without children represent 50.2% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.5%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Craignish is dominated by detached housing, with 99.5% of dwellings separate houses compared with 0.5% apartments. The bedroom mix is also larger than many compact suburban markets: 59.7% of homes have four or more bedrooms, while 34.3% have three bedrooms and 4.4% have two. Tenure is split between 41.9% owned outright, 48.5% with a mortgage and 8.4% rented. A current median house price is unavailable, but the $1,733 monthly mortgage figure and $383 weekly rent provide useful budgeting markers. Mortgage-to-income pressure is 25.0%, lower than the 23.9% rent-to-income measure only in absolute comparison, with neither housing-stress flag triggered.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $383.
$590
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $590 · units $480
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$653
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
47
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.5%
Couples with children
50.2%
Couples, no children
10.8%
Single parent
685
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Craignish's largest employment industry at 27.5%, or 172 workers, followed by Education at 13.7% and 86 workers. Construction accounts for 10.9% and 68 workers, Public Administration 10.2% and 64, and Professional and Technical services 5.3% and 33. The labour force includes 1,009 people, with unemployment at 6.9%, participation at 55.7% and a full-time rate of 57.8%. Professionals number 178 and trades workers 153, supporting the service and construction mix. Household income sits at the 52.6th percentile. The SEIFA pattern is uneven: IER reaches decile 8, higher than IEO decile 4, while IRSD and IRSAD both sit at decile 5.
Unemployment
6.9%
Labour Force
1,009
Unemployed
70
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
55.7%
Employed
939
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.8%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
16.0%
Dwellings
752
Transport to Work
Craignish is strongly car-dependent, with 81.6% of residents driving to work, compared with 1.1% walking or cycling and 11.9% working from home. That pattern matters because the suburb covers 14.19 square kilometres at a density of 154.3 people per square kilometre, making private transport practical for many households but important to budget for. School planning should be based on the exact address and enrolment zone, with nearby options checked across the relevant sector and year levels rather than inferred from suburb boundaries. The IRSAD score is decile 5, while IER is higher at decile 8 and IEO lower at decile 4. Volunteering is 13.9%, supporting local participation. Compare current police incident information before choosing a street, as a crime rate is not stated here.
Drive
81.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
11.9%
Growth Outlook
Craignish has an annual growth trend of 2.21%, driven primarily by internal migration, so its established setting is still attracting new households. Population change across the wider area is 24.1% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share increased by 7.3 percentage points while the young share fell by 3.5 points, making the age profile older than the national benchmark. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 43, while the broader shift measure records a score of 33 and an Early signs stage. Rent growth reached 25.0%, and affordability moved from 64.0 in 2011 to 56.5 in 2021, indicating pressure despite the stated improving affordability trend.
Population trend: Fraser Coast council area
Craignish sits in the Fraser Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Craignish's.
Residents 2025
122,924
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.3%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.1%
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 Craignish compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Craignish a good suburb to live in?
Craignish can suit households wanting larger detached homes and a quieter setting. The median age is 47, 99.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 81.6% of commuters drive. Compared with denser coastal areas, it has a more car-dependent lifestyle, while 11.9% working from home may suit some residents.
What is the median house price in Craignish?
A current median house price cannot be stated reliably. Buyers can still use the $1,733 monthly mortgage figure, $383 weekly rent and 99.5% separate-house share to frame affordability. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, Craignish requires budgeting around detached-home purchase costs and larger properties.
What schools are in Craignish?
School access should be checked using the exact property address, enrolment zone and preferred year level. Craignish covers 14.19 square kilometres, so practical travel distances can vary. Compare nearby state, Catholic and independent options directly, and confirm current intake rules before signing a contract.
Is Craignish safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so buyers should check recent police incident information and inspect the exact street at different times. Craignish has 2,190 residents and a 74.2% stay rate, which indicates residential continuity but should not be treated as a substitute for current safety checks.
Is Craignish good for property investment?
Craignish may suit investors seeking detached housing in an area supported by internal migration and a 2.21% annual growth trend. Weekly rent is $383, vacancy is 5.9% and 8.4% of households rent. Compared with higher-renter markets, the smaller tenant pool makes property condition, tenant appeal and purchase price especially important.
How is Craignish's population changing?
Growth is running at 2.21% annually and is driven by internal migration. Population change across the wider area is 24.1% over 10 years, while the senior share rose 7.3 percentage points and the young share fell 3.5 points. The trajectory is Aging, so growth is occurring alongside an older profile than the national benchmark.
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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