East Toowoomba
A $421,000 median house price paired with university qualifications at 42.7%, which is 12.6 points above the national figure, makes East Toowoomba an unusually affordable home for an educated population. The 5,953 residents have a median age of 37, three years below national, and household income sits in the 52.2nd percentile, close to the national midpoint. Renters make up 43.4% of the 4.1 km2 suburb and the vacancy rate runs at 12.7%, both high, while detached houses still dominate the stock at 66.3%. Healthcare employs 26.9% of the local workforce, far above most suburbs, reflecting the regional hospital and aged-care base of Toowoomba.
Population
5,953
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,591/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$421K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $421,000 median, East Toowoomba is affordable relative to capital-city prices, and the stock suits families: separate houses are 66.3% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes at 38.5% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 29.1%. Apartments are scarce at just 7.7%, so buyers wanting a low-maintenance unit have limited choice compared with the deep detached-house supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which means typical buyers carry manageable debt loads despite household income sitting only in the 52.2nd percentile nationally. The combination of moderate prices and a large educated workforce makes this a practical entry point for owner-occupiers who want space without capital-city pricing.
For Buyers
At a $421,000 median, East Toowoomba is affordable relative to capital-city prices, and the stock suits families: separate houses are 66.3% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes at 38.5% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 29.1%. Apartments are scarce at just 7.7%, so buyers wanting a low-maintenance unit have limited choice compared with the deep detached-house supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which means typical buyers carry manageable debt loads despite household income sitting only in the 52.2nd percentile nationally. The combination of moderate prices and a large educated workforce makes this a practical entry point for owner-occupiers who want space without capital-city pricing.
For Investors
A 43.4% renter share gives landlords a deep tenant pool, larger than most regional markets, and weekly rent of $300 against the $421,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than the sub-2% yields common in capital cities. The catch is supply: the vacancy rate is 12.7%, well above a balanced market, which signals competition among landlords and limits rent-growth power. Development is modest at 18 applications over 12 months, mostly operational works and short-term accommodation rather than new dwelling supply, so stock turnover is slow. Rent-to-income for tenants reads 18.9%, low, meaning renters have headroom to absorb increases. The investment case rests on the strong 3.7% yield and reliable Healthcare and Education employment, tempered by the elevated vacancy that caps near-term rent escalation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
97
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Toowoomba iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Toowoomba Grammar School
Prep-12 · 1145 students
Toowoomba East State School
Prep-6 · 867 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, a relatively young profile for a regional suburb, supported by families: couples with children number 1,709 against 1,084 couples with no children, or 27.6% of families. University qualifications reach 42.7%, which is 12.6 points above national, an education premium driven by the suburb's Healthcare and Education workforce. Overseas-born residents are just 15.8%, which is 5.8 points below national, so the population is predominantly Australian-born and Anglo-leaning: English ancestry leads at 2,476, followed by Irish at 943 and Scottish at 873. The most common non-English languages are Korean (15), Mandarin (13) and Punjabi (12), small numbers consistent with the low overseas-born share. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.3%
Houses
25.0%
Townhouse
7.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renting: 43.4% rent, while 30.3% own outright and 26.2% carry a mortgage. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to a settled older-owner base alongside a large tenant population. The stock is 66.3% separate houses and 25.0% semi-detached, leaving apartments at only 7.7%, so the suburb offers space rather than density. Three-bedroom homes account for 38.5% and four-plus-bedroom homes 29.1%, with two-bedroom dwellings at 25.2%, a family-oriented mix. Against the $421,000 median, monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 give a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2% and rent of $300 a week gives a rent-to-income ratio of 18.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability is the suburb's defining housing feature relative to capital-city markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$838
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.7%
Unoccupied
331
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.6%
Couples, no children
3,934
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is concentrated in services: Healthcare leads at 26.9% (551 workers), far above most suburbs, with Education second at 15.8% (324), then Public Admin at 7.5% (154), Professional/Tech at 7.4% (151) and Construction at 6.7% (137). This Healthcare and Education weight reflects Toowoomba's role as a regional hospital and schooling hub. By occupation, Professionals dominate at 915 and Managers at 377, which aligns with the university qualification rate of 42.7%, 12.6 points above national. Unemployment is 5.1% and the full-time employment rate is 64.8%. Participation reads 58.7%, held down by 1,573 residents not in the labour force, consistent with the family and older-owner profile. The service-sector base provides stable, recession-resilient demand for housing.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.8%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
58.7%
Employed
2,629
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.7%
Postgraduate
12.5%
Born Overseas
15.8%
Dwellings
2,267
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 81.4% drive to work, well above suburbs with rail access, while only 0.4% use public transport and 10.9% walk or cycle, reflecting a regional setting without a metro network. The trade-off is space and affordability, with rent-to-income at 18.9%, low, leaving households financial headroom. Community engagement is strong: volunteering runs at 22.7%, higher than many metro areas, and only 4.9% of residents (281 people) need daily assistance despite the family and older-owner mix. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in the wider Toowoomba area, a practical consideration given the 1,709 couple-with-children families. Density is moderate at 1,452 residents per km2, lower than inner-city suburbs, which keeps the feel residential and low-rise.
Drive
81.4%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
10.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Toowoomba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Toowoomba a good suburb to live in?
East Toowoomba suits families and educated professionals: university qualifications reach 42.7%, 12.6 points above national, the median age is 37, three years below national, and the $421,000 median house price is affordable versus capital cities. Volunteering at 22.7% signals an engaged community, though car dependence is high at 81.4%.
What is the median house price in East Toowoomba?
The median house price is $421,000, affordable relative to capital-city markets. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. The $300 rent against the median implies a gross yield near 3.7%.
What schools are in East Toowoomba?
No schools are recorded inside the East Toowoomba boundary in this dataset, so the 1,709 couple-with-children families rely on schools in the wider Toowoomba area. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 42.7%, which is 12.6 points above the national figure.
Is East Toowoomba safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for East Toowoomba in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 4.9% of residents (281 people) need daily assistance and volunteering runs at 22.7%, both consistent with a stable, family-oriented residential area rather than a high-stress one.
Is East Toowoomba good for property investment?
Rent of $300 a week against the $421,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than the sub-2% yields common in capital cities, and 43.4% of residents rent. The catch is a 12.7% vacancy rate, above a balanced market, which limits rent-growth power despite the strong tenant pool.
How is East Toowoomba's population changing?
The suburb has 5,953 residents with a median age of 37, three years below national, and a family-heavy profile of 1,709 couples with children. Development is light at 18 applications over 12 months and turnover is moderate at 32.2%, pointing to steady rather than rapid demographic change.
What industries drive jobs in East Toowoomba?
Healthcare is the largest employer at 26.9% of the local workforce (551 workers), far above most suburbs, followed by Education at 15.8% (324). Professionals dominate occupations at 915, aligning with the 42.7% university qualification rate, 12.6 points above national. This service base provides stable demand.
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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