Eli Waters
At 48, Eli Waters has a median age 8 years above the national figure, giving its 3,758 residents an older profile than many growth corridors. Detached homes account for 94.3% of dwellings, while 52.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, supporting established households and downsizers. Compared with coastal-focused searches around nearby Urangan, Eli Waters presents a more inland residential choice, with Wondunna another useful local comparator. The suburb remains car-oriented, as 83.4% drive to work and 0.8% use public transport, while growth is running at 2.16% annually.
Population
3,758
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,038/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Eli Waters suits buyers seeking conventional houses rather than apartment living, because 94.3% of dwellings are separate homes and 52.4% contain 4 or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,300 represents 28.9% of household income, below the 35.6% rent-to-income level that flags rental stress. Outright ownership at 47.7% is higher than mortgage ownership at 22.3%, pointing to an established owner base. Compared with more coastal or unit-oriented searches around Hervey Bay, buyers here should focus on land, maintenance and resale demand. A current median house price is not available, so verified recent sales are essential before setting a budget.
For Buyers
Eli Waters suits buyers seeking conventional houses rather than apartment living, because 94.3% of dwellings are separate homes and 52.4% contain 4 or more bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,300 represents 28.9% of household income, below the 35.6% rent-to-income level that flags rental stress. Outright ownership at 47.7% is higher than mortgage ownership at 22.3%, pointing to an established owner base. Compared with more coastal or unit-oriented searches around Hervey Bay, buyers here should focus on land, maintenance and resale demand. A current median house price is not available, so verified recent sales are essential before setting a budget.
For Investors
The rental profile has both support and caution. Weekly rent is $370, and 28.7% of households rent, creating an established tenant pool, while a 6.1% vacancy rate suggests available stock should be monitored carefully. Rental stress reaches 35.6% of household income, so affordability may limit rent increases even as demand grows. Only 8 development matters were recorded across the latest 12-month period, reducing the immediate signal of a large local supply pipeline. Growth is forecast at 2.16% annually and is driven by internal migration, which is more supportive than a stagnant demand base. The aging trajectory may favour low-maintenance, accessible homes over highly specialised properties.
Development Activity
Total DAs
27
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Eli Waters has an older demographic profile, with a median age of 48, which is 8 years above the national comparison. The overseas-born share is 20.2%, 1.4 percentage points below the national figure, while university attendance at 16.3% sits 13.8 points lower. English ancestry is prominent at 1,732 people, followed by Scottish ancestry at 388 and Irish ancestry at 321. Couples without children account for 52.9% of families, compared with 27.5% for couples with children, helping explain the average household size of 2.4, slightly below the national average. Compared with nearby Urangan and Wondunna, the profile points more clearly to established and older households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Eli Waters is overwhelmingly detached and family-sized: separate houses represent 94.3% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 5.7%, and 4 or more bedrooms 52.4%. Three-bedroom homes account for 29.3%, while 2-bedroom dwellings make up 17.7%. Outright ownership at 47.7% is higher than mortgage ownership at 22.3%, while renting accounts for 28.7%, creating a mixed but settled tenure base. The $1,300 monthly mortgage figure equals 28.9% of household income, below the 35.6% rent burden. Compared with more unit-oriented coastal markets, this housing structure places greater emphasis on yards, upkeep and car access. A median house price is not currently available.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $370.
$590
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $590 · units $480
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$533
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
93
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.5%
Couples with children
52.9%
Couples, no children
18.5%
Single parent
1,096
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 33.2%, or 235 workers, followed by education at 11.2% and 79 workers, retail at 11.0% and 78, construction at 8.3% and 59, and hospitality at 7.3% and 52. Occupations are led by community and personal services with 214 people, professionals with 182, and trades with 166. The unemployment rate is 8.6%, while participation is 40.1% and 1,611 people are outside the labour force. That lower participation is consistent with a median age of 48 and an aging trajectory. Household income sits at the 14.3rd percentile, and SEIFA results rank the area in the 2nd or 3rd decile across education, income and disadvantage measures, below higher-income parts of the region.
Unemployment
8.6%
Labour Force
1,245
Unemployed
107
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.2%
Part-time
40.6%
Participation
40.1%
Employed
1,138
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.3%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
20.2%
Dwellings
1,430
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car dependent because 83.4% of commuters drive, compared with just 0.8% using public transport and 1.7% walking or cycling. Work-from-home participation is 6.3%, so reliable road access remains more important than local transit for most households. Families should check the exact address against current enrolment zones and compare nearby Hervey Bay school options rather than assume access from the suburb name alone. The IRSAD result is in decile 2, below the higher advantage deciles, so household budgets and service access deserve attention. No suburb-specific crime rate is available; current local incident information should be reviewed before making a safety judgement. The median age of 48 also supports demand for accessible, low-maintenance services.
Drive
83.4%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
6.3%
Population Forecast
+2.16%/yr
(+384 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is forecast at 2.16% annually, driven by internal migration, while population change across the wider area reaches 25.9% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 8.2 percentage points and the young share down 3.9 points. This means demand can expand even as the resident base becomes older, because incoming households may offset the changing age mix. Gentrification signals are mixed: the main score is 53 at an Active stage, while the shift measure records a score of 30 and Early signs. Rent growth of 32.1% adds pressure, but affordability is marked Improving, so the outlook is stronger than a purely declining established suburb.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+88
Net Internal / yr
+444
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +38% since 2011, Net internal migration +444/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 25%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Eli Waters compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eli Waters a good suburb to live in?
Eli Waters can suit households seeking detached homes, larger floor plans and an established setting. The median age is 48, 94.3% of dwellings are separate houses, and 83.4% of commuters drive, so it is better suited to car-oriented living than transit-dependent households.
What is the median house price in Eli Waters?
A current median house price is not available. Buyers can frame housing costs using the $370 weekly rent, the $1,300 monthly mortgage figure and the 94.3% share of separate houses, then compare verified recent sales and current asking prices before committing.
What schools are in Eli Waters?
Families should check the exact address against current enrolment zones and compare nearby Hervey Bay schools, because catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Eli Waters is highly car dependent, with 83.4% driving to work and only 0.8% using public transport, so school travel time should be part of the decision.
Is Eli Waters safe?
A suburb-specific crime rate is not available, so safety should be assessed using current Queensland Police incident information and an address-level inspection. Eli Waters has a median age of 48 and 94.3% separate houses, but those housing and demographic features should not be treated as a substitute for recent crime checks.
Is Eli Waters good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking established detached rental housing, but pricing needs careful review because no median house price is available. Weekly rent is $370, vacancy is 6.1%, renting is 28.7%, and forecast growth is 2.16% annually, driven by internal migration.
How is Eli Waters's population changing?
The current population is 3,758. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 25.9% over 10 years, with annual growth of 2.16% driven by internal migration. The age trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 8.2 percentage points and the young share down 3.9 points.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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