Douglas
A median age of 50, ten years above the national figure, defines Douglas more than any other single fact. This rural locality in Queensland's Darling Downs covers 50 square kilometres with just 152 residents, giving a density of 3 people per km2, far below the national average. Household income sits at the 72.3rd percentile nationally despite the small population, and SEIFA scores place it in decile 8 on IRSAD and IRSD, indicating moderate-to-high advantage. All dwellings are separate houses, with 51% having 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting the agricultural and semi-rural character of the area.
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
7
Every dwelling is a separate house, and 51% have 4 or more bedrooms, with another 39.2% at 3 bedrooms, so stock skews large. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 16.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers meaningful affordability headroom compared to capital city markets. Outright ownership at 65.9% substantially exceeds the national average, indicating the resident base is largely debt-free and established, which constrains turnover and available listings.
For Buyers
Every dwelling is a separate house, and 51% have 4 or more bedrooms, with another 39.2% at 3 bedrooms, so stock skews large. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 16.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers meaningful affordability headroom compared to capital city markets. Outright ownership at 65.9% substantially exceeds the national average, indicating the resident base is largely debt-free and established, which constrains turnover and available listings.
For Investors
However, the 11.7% vacancy rate is elevated and signals thin rental demand in this 152-person locality. Development activity is low at 4 applications in 12 months, mostly dwelling setback referrals rather than new supply. Population growth of 1.3% annually is driven by overseas migration adding an average 142 residents per year to the broader area, while internal migration removes 89, suggesting regional net demand rather than local suburb-level pressure. The small absolute population means vacancy fluctuations can shift significantly from just one or two vacant properties.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
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
Douglas has a median age of 50, which is 10 years above the national figure, reflecting an aging trajectory where the senior share rose 5.9 points over the decade. Just 6.2% of residents were born overseas, compared to the national rate of approximately 21.6%, a gap of 15.4 percentage points. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (49 residents), German (31) and Irish (14). University qualifications at 14.0% run 16.1 points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and industry-based workforce. Average household size is 2.8, slightly above the national average, and 46.1% of families are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.6%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
11.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is entirely separate houses, 100% detached, with no apartments or semi-detached dwellings recorded. Large homes dominate: 51% have 4 or more bedrooms and 39.2% have 3 bedrooms, typical of rural Queensland properties. Outright ownership at 65.9% is high by national standards, with mortgage holders making up the remaining 34.1%. Rent-to-income at 15.5% and mortgage-to-income at 16.7% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are proportionate to local incomes at the 72.3rd percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,633
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Mar 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $360.
$550
Bond data Mar 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $460
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
Manufacturing leads employment at 26.2% of workers, followed by Construction at 14.3% and three sectors each at 9.5%: Agriculture, Wholesale Trade and Public Administration. The top occupations are Managers (21 workers) and Professionals (12), together representing the majority of the 78-person employed workforce. Full-time employment runs at 67.9% and the participation rate is 64.5%. Real income grew 13.6% over the decade. On SEIFA, the IEO score sits at decile 9, placing Douglas in the top 10% nationally for education and occupation, while the IER score is decile 5, meaning economic resources such as property wealth are moderate relative to the high education-occupation profile.
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 high at 86.7% of commuters driving, expected given the rural setting across 50 square kilometres with density of 3 per km2, lower than virtually any suburban area. No public schools are recorded within the Douglas boundary, so families rely on facilities in nearby towns. Crime data is not available at this locality level, though the IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 8 scores both place Douglas above the national median for low disadvantage. Volunteering at 13.7% reflects community engagement despite the small population. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 15.5% and mortgage-to-income at 16.7% are both below the 30% threshold.
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 grew 9.4% over the past decade and the broader area is forecast to reach approximately 9,229 residents by 2031 at 1.3% annual growth. The COVID period produced a 2.3% population dip that has since fully recovered. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.9 points and the young share down 2.6 points since 2011. Gentrification scores 14, categorised as not gentrifying, which matches the stable, established character: 88.8% of residents stayed in the area over the five-year census period, well above national mobility norms. Affordability improved from 62.6% in 2011 to 46.1% in 2021, so housing costs are consuming a lower share of income than a decade ago.
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 suits buyers wanting large rural properties with low housing costs. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 16.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold, and SEIFA places the area at decile 8 on IRSAD nationally. The trade-offs are limited services, no recorded schools within the boundary, and 86.7% car dependence due to the 50 km2 rural spread.
What is the median house price in Douglas?
Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,400, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Douglas?
No schools are recorded within the Douglas locality boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers 50 square kilometres with a population of 152, so families rely on schools in nearby towns. University qualification rates locally are 14.0%, which is 16.1 points below the national figure.
Is Douglas safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Douglas at this locality level. As a broader indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on IRSD, placing it above the national median for low disadvantage, and 0 residents are recorded as needing daily assistance, consistent with a stable, low-stress rural area.
Is Douglas good for property investment?
However, the 11.7% vacancy rate is elevated in this 152-person locality, and only 4 development applications were lodged in 12 months. Low turnover, with 88.8% of residents staying, limits available stock.
How is Douglas's population changing?
The local area grew 9.4% over the past decade at approximately 1.3% per year. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.9 points since 2011. Overseas migration adds around 142 residents annually to the broader region while internal migration removes 89, keeping net growth positive but modest.
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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