Craignish
With 99.5% of its dwellings being separate houses and 59.7% having four or more bedrooms, Craignish reads as one of Queensland's most family-oriented, detached-house suburbs, yet its median age of 47 sits 7 years above the national figure, pointing to an older resident base. The population has grown 24.1% over the past decade, above average for a regional QLD suburb, driven by internal migration of around 126 residents per year. The estimated median house price of $482,000 remains affordable compared to Queensland capital city benchmarks, and household income sits at the 52.6th percentile nationally.
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
8
Median House
$482K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $482,000 puts Craignish well below the Brisbane median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of coastal city markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99.5%, with 59.7% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms. Outright owners account for 42.4% versus 49.1% on mortgages, a stable split. Only 8.5% rent, lower than state averages, indicating a strong owner-occupier base.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $482,000 puts Craignish well below the Brisbane median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of coastal city markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99.5%, with 59.7% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms. Outright owners account for 42.4% versus 49.1% on mortgages, a stable split. Only 8.5% rent, lower than state averages, indicating a strong owner-occupier base.
For Investors
A vacancy rate of 5.9% signals an oversupplied rental market, applying downward pressure on achievable yields. Weekly rent of $383 against a $482,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.1%, reasonable by regional QLD standards. The renter share is low at 8.5%, meaning the tenant pool is thin. Net internal migration of 126 residents per year supports steady demand, and rent grew 25.0% over the observed period, above inflation. Medium-scenario forecasts project the broader SA2 population rising from 6,373 in 2026 to 7,064 by 2031.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national average, with the senior share rising 7.3 points over the decade, confirming an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents at 16.0% run 5.6 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting an Anglo-leaning population: English ancestry leads at 1,037 residents, followed by Scottish (279) and Irish (239). University qualifications at 20.8% are 9.3 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a trades and services workforce. The average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, and 8.1% of residents need daily assistance, higher than average given the older age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.5%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership strongly dominates, with 42.4% owning outright and 49.1% on a mortgage, while only 8.5% rent, one of the lower renter shares in regional QLD. Stock is 99.5% detached houses, with 59.7% of dwellings at four or more bedrooms and 34.3% at three bedrooms. At $482,000 median, prices sit well below coastal city benchmarks, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0% is below the 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income at 23.9% is also comfortable. Turnover at 25.8% means one quarter of residents arrived in the past five years, above a truly static suburb but far from highly transient.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$383
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
36.5%
Couples, no children
1,875
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 27.5% of workers (172 people), followed by Education at 13.7% (86) and Construction at 10.9% (68). This public-sector concentration gives the economy stability compared to cyclical sectors. Professionals lead by occupation at 178 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service at 152. The unemployment rate of 7.3% is above state and national averages, and the participation rate of 52.8% is low, because 734 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older age profile. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Craignish at the national midpoint, while the IER decile of 8 is notably higher, indicating better-than-average household resources.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
3,209
Unemployed
85
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.3%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
52.8%
Employed
886
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.8%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
16.0%
Dwellings
752
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 92.6% of residents driving to work, with walking or cycling at just 1.3%, typical of a low-density coastal suburb with limited transit. No schools are recorded within the Craignish boundary, so families rely on facilities in the wider Hervey Bay area. Crime data is unavailable for this suburb. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Craignish at the national midpoint for advantage, while the IEO decile of 4 is below average nationally, reflecting the lower university qualification rate. Rent-to-income at 23.9% and mortgage-to-income at 25.0% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to incomes.
Drive
92.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.21%/yr
(+138 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 24.1% over the past decade, and annual growth runs at 2.21%, adding around 138 persons per year, above average for an established regional suburb. Internal migration at 126 net arrivals per year is the primary driver, supplemented by 24 net overseas arrivals annually. Medium-scenario forecasts project the SA2 population rising from 6,373 in 2026 to 7,064 by 2031. Gentrification scoring is Active (43), with population growth of 36% since 2011. Real income grew 15.1% over the decade and affordability improved from 64.0% in 2011 to 56.5% in 2021, suggesting purchasing power is rising relative to local costs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+24
Net Internal / yr
+126
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +36% since 2011, Net internal migration +126/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 26%
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 suits buyers seeking affordable, large detached homes in a regional setting. At $482,000 median and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0%, housing is not financially stressful. The suburb scores decile 5 on IRSAD nationally, the midpoint of advantage. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 92.6% of commuters and an unemployment rate of 7.3% above state norms.
What is the median house price in Craignish?
The estimated median house price is $482,000 based on 2025 data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and rent runs $383 per week. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0% is below the 30% stress threshold, making Craignish more affordable than many coastal Queensland markets.
What schools are in Craignish?
No schools are recorded within the Craignish boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Hervey Bay area. University qualifications among residents stand at 20.8%, which is 9.3 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a vocational and trades-oriented community.
Is Craignish safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Craignish in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSAD index nationally. The turnover rate of 25.8% suggests a reasonably stable, owner-occupier community where 74.2% of residents have stayed in place over the past five years.
Is Craignish good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $383 against a $482,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, reasonable by regional QLD standards. However, a vacancy rate of 5.9% is elevated and the renter share is low at 8.5%. Rent grew 25.0% over the observed period, and medium forecasts project the broader SA2 reaching 7,064 residents by 2031.
How is Craignish's population changing?
The suburb and its SA2 area grew 24.1% over the past decade, with annual growth of 2.21% adding around 138 people per year. Internal migration of 126 net arrivals annually is the main driver. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population rising from 6,373 in 2026 to 7,064 by 2031, supported by ongoing regional migration.
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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