Douglas
A median age of 26 makes Douglas one of the youngest suburbs in the Townsville region, sitting 14 years below the national median. That youth skews almost everything: 52% of residents rent, household income sits at the 75.8th percentile nationally, and university qualifications reach 45.6%, which is 15.5 percentage points above the national average. Healthcare and education institutions dominate employment, drawing a highly qualified workforce that chooses renting over ownership because of proximity to James Cook University. The suburb population stands at 8,352 and is forecast to grow to roughly 9,229 by 2031.
Population
7,780
Median Age
26.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,025/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$454K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $454,000 places Douglas well below the national median for detached housing, making entry more accessible than comparable university-adjacent suburbs. Separate houses make up 84.6% of dwellings, which is high for a suburb this dense at 884 people per square kilometre, and 49.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,633, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. With outright ownership at only 18.4% and mortgage holders at 29.6%, the owner-occupier base is thinner than the national average, meaning buyers are purchasing into a market still dominated by investors and tenants.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $454,000 places Douglas well below the national median for detached housing, making entry more accessible than comparable university-adjacent suburbs. Separate houses make up 84.6% of dwellings, which is high for a suburb this dense at 884 people per square kilometre, and 49.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,633, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. With outright ownership at only 18.4% and mortgage holders at 29.6%, the owner-occupier base is thinner than the national average, meaning buyers are purchasing into a market still dominated by investors and tenants.
For Investors
At 52% renters, Douglas ranks among the higher rental-share suburbs in regional QLD, driven by the James Cook University catchment. Weekly rent sits at $360, and with a median price around $454,000, that translates to a gross yield near 4.1%, competitive for the region. The vacancy rate of 7.8% is elevated and warrants caution: oversupply risk is real in a suburb whose rental demand is tied closely to student and healthcare worker cycles. Overseas migration adds a net 142 residents per year, the primary population driver, while internal migration runs at a net outflow of 89 per year. The 4 development applications in the past 12 months signal limited new supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Douglas iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Enkindle Village School
Prep-6 · 58 students
Tec-NQ
10-12 · 375 students
Demographics
The median age of 26 is 14 years below the national median, placing Douglas in the youngest tier of suburbs nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 26.6% of the population, which is 5 percentage points above the national figure, and Malayalam (146 speakers), Punjabi (44) and Mandarin (38) are the top non-English languages, consistent with the international student and healthcare worker cohort drawn to the university precinct. University qualifications at 45.6% run 15.5 percentage points above the national average. English-ancestry residents (2,498) form the largest group, followed by Irish (785) and Scottish (733). Average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.6%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
11.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate at 84.6% of stock, with apartments at 11.4% and semi-detached at just 4%, a composition unusual for a suburb with a high rental share. The bedroom profile skews large: 49.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, compared with 36.2% at 3 bedrooms. Despite the large homes, 52% of residents rent rather than own, and outright ownership sits at only 18.4%, lower than the national average. Rent-to-income at 17.8% and mortgage-to-income at 18.6% both sit comfortably below stress levels, meaning housing costs are relatively contained compared with capital city benchmarks. The $454,000 median is an estimate derived from rent data rather than transaction records.
Mortgage / mo
$1,633
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
211
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.3%
Couples, no children
4,743
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 35.1% of the resident workforce (951 people), the dominant sector by a wide margin, followed by Education at 13.8% (374) and Public Administration at 12.3% (334). This public-sector concentration reflects proximity to the Townsville University Hospital and James Cook University. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group (1,344), well ahead of Community and Personal Service workers (794). The unemployment rate is 5.3% and the full-time employment rate is 58.9%. SEIFA scores place Douglas at decile 9 on IEO (education and occupation advantage), in the top 10% nationally, but only decile 5 on IER (economic resources), a gap explained by the high proportion of students and renters who are income-earning but asset-light. Household income sits at the 75.8th percentile nationally.
Unemployment
2.0%
Labour Force
4,894
Unemployed
99
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
35.8%
Participation
62.9%
Employed
3,928
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.6%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
26.6%
Dwellings
2,473
Transport to Work
Car dependence is strong: 87.3% of residents drive to work, while only 1.4% use public transport, lower than comparable regional centres. Walking and cycling account for 5.2% of commutes, reflecting some active-travel infrastructure near the university precinct. The IRSAD decile of 8 places Douglas above average nationally for combined advantage and disadvantage, and the IEO decile of 9 highlights the occupational and educational strength of the resident base. Rent stress sits at 17.8% of household income, below the 30% threshold, so tenants are not under significant housing cost pressure compared with national norms. Only 2.7% of residents (199 people) need daily assistance, and the volunteering rate of 21.1% reflects an engaged community. No schools are recorded within the Douglas boundary in this dataset.
Drive
87.3%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.3%/yr
(+108 people/yr)
EstablishedDouglas is growing at 1.3% per year, or roughly 108 additional residents annually, and is forecast to reach approximately 9,229 residents by 2031 under the medium scenario. Overseas migration at a net 142 per year is the primary driver; internal migration produces a net outflow of 89 per year. The population recovered from a 2.3% COVID dip and now sits at 8,352, which is 4.4% above the COVID low. The gentrification score is 14, classified as not gentrifying, consistent with the area's institutional character: university and hospital anchors create stable demand rather than displacement pressure. Real income growth of 13.6% over the decade and a 10-year population increase of 9.4% indicate steady rather than speculative momentum.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+142
Net Internal / yr
-89
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Douglas compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Douglas a good suburb to live in?
Douglas scores at SEIFA IRSAD decile 8, above the national average for combined advantage, and IEO decile 9 for education and occupation advantage. Household income sits at the 75.8th percentile nationally. The median age of 26 means the suburb suits students, early-career professionals and healthcare workers more than retirees or established families.
What is the median house price in Douglas?
The median house price is estimated at $454,000 based on 2025 rent data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,633, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $360, implying a gross yield of around 4.1% at the current median.
What schools are in Douglas?
No schools are recorded inside the Douglas boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in neighbouring Townsville suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, Douglas has one of the highest university qualification rates in the region at 45.6%, which is 15.5 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Douglas safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Douglas in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 8 nationally, indicating above-average socioeconomic conditions, and only 2.7% of its 8,352 residents need daily assistance. Low housing stress with rent at 17.8% of income also suggests limited financial hardship compared with higher-risk areas.
Is Douglas good for property investment?
With 52% of residents renting and an estimated gross yield near 4.1% ($360 per week rent against a $454,000 median), Douglas offers competitive yield for regional QLD. The vacancy rate of 7.8% is elevated compared with typical investment benchmarks, reflecting the student and healthcare cycle. Net overseas migration of 142 per year supports ongoing demand.
How is Douglas's population changing?
Douglas is growing at 1.3% per year (around 108 additional residents annually) and is forecast to reach 9,229 residents by 2031. Overseas migration at net 142 per year drives growth, partially offset by net internal outflow of 89 per year. Population rose 9.4% over the past decade and recovered fully from a 2.3% COVID-era dip.
What languages are spoken in Douglas?
About 26.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 5 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Malayalam (146 speakers), Punjabi (44), Mandarin (38) and Hindi (36), reflecting the international student and healthcare worker cohort connected to James Cook University and Townsville University Hospital.
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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