Esk
At a median age of 58, Esk's residents are 18 years older than the national average, making it one of QLD's most age-skewed towns by population. The median house price of $328,000 sits well below the national median, which partly explains why 52.3% of homeowners hold their properties outright, one of the higher outright-ownership rates you will find outside major retiree belts. Population stands at 1,641 in the suburb proper, though the broader SA2 area reached 5,236 in 2025. The income profile is modest, with household income in just the 9th percentile nationally, and SEIFA places Esk in the 2nd disadvantage decile, signalling limited economic depth for a small regional town.
Population
1,641
Median Age
58.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$910/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
144
Median House
$328K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $328,000 makes Esk accessible compared to QLD's state median, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,181, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30%, right at the conventional stress threshold rather than above it. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, so buyers are almost certainly buying freestanding homes rather than units or apartments. The most common configuration is 3-bedroom at 53.6%, with 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 18.6% and 2-bedroom dwellings at 21.1%. Outright ownership at 52.3% is considerably higher than the national average, reflecting an established, older population that has paid down debt over decades rather than recent buyers entering the market.
For Buyers
The median house price of $328,000 makes Esk accessible compared to QLD's state median, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,181, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30%, right at the conventional stress threshold rather than above it. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, so buyers are almost certainly buying freestanding homes rather than units or apartments. The most common configuration is 3-bedroom at 53.6%, with 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 18.6% and 2-bedroom dwellings at 21.1%. Outright ownership at 52.3% is considerably higher than the national average, reflecting an established, older population that has paid down debt over decades rather than recent buyers entering the market.
For Investors
Rental yield prospects require caution. Weekly rent of $260 against a $328,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.1%, reasonable on paper, but the 13.2% vacancy rate signals meaningful supply overhang relative to demand. Only 19.8% of dwellings are rented, below the national average, so the tenant pool is shallow. Development activity reached 111 applications in the past 12 months, mostly repair and maintenance works rather than new supply. Net internal migration averages 46 persons per year and net overseas migration adds 10, providing a steady but modest demand base. Population growth is 0.48% annually, below the national average, and the aging trajectory means the working-age cohort is shrinking, which tends to limit rental demand growth over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
144
Last 12 Months
144
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 Esk iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Esk State School
Prep-6 · 140 students
Demographics
The median age of 58 is 18 years above the national figure, reflecting a substantial retiree presence. The senior share of the population rose 9.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 5.1 points, reinforcing the aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents make up 18.4% of the population, 3.2 points below the national average, pointing to a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (736), Scottish (197), Irish (181) and German (157) are the leading groups. University qualifications reach 14.6%, which is 15.5 points below national, consistent with a regional workforce oriented toward trades and community services rather than knowledge industries. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, typical for an older, couples-dominant population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.1%
Houses
1.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers dominate the housing market: 52.3% own outright and 27.9% carry a mortgage, leaving just 19.8% renting. That outright-ownership figure is substantially above the national average and reflects decades of owner tenure rather than active buyer churn. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.1%, with semi-detached dwellings at 1.4%. Three-bedroom homes make up 53.6% of dwellings, 4-plus bedroom 18.6%, and 2-bedroom 21.1%. Rent-to-income sits at 28.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income is 30.0%, at the threshold. The vacancy rate of 13.2% is elevated, suggesting some surplus in the rental pool relative to active demand in this small regional centre.
Mortgage / mo
$1,181
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$479
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.2%
Unoccupied
113
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.7%
Couples, no children
1,183
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the single largest employer at 20.8% of local workers (70 people), followed by Public Administration at 11.3% (38), Retail at 11.0% (37) and Education at 9.5% (32). Manufacturing employs 7.4%. The occupation breakdown shows Community and Personal Services leading at 97 workers, then Labourers at 90 and Professionals at 59. The labour participation rate is just 34.0%, low compared to the national average, because 815 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a largely retired population. Unemployment is 4.4% on a small base of 22 unemployed persons. SEIFA places Esk in the 2nd decile nationally on IRSD and IRSAD, indicating a high-disadvantage economic profile, with real income growth of 8.9% over the decade remaining modest.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
2,250
Unemployed
131
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.4%
Part-time
40.2%
Participation
34.0%
Employed
478
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.6%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
18.4%
Dwellings
734
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 82.9% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and public transport data is not recorded, reflecting the limited infrastructure of a small regional town. A meaningful 9.1% walk or cycle, which is notable for a rural setting at 27.5 persons per km2. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. The IRSAD decile of 2 and IRSD decile of 2 both indicate high relative disadvantage nationally. Volunteering is strong at 21.0%, above the national average, suggesting active community participation despite economic constraints. About 11.8% of residents (183 people) need assistance with daily activities, a higher share than average and consistent with the older median age of 58.
Drive
82.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
9.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.48%/yr
(+25 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation in the broader Esk SA2 grew 5.8% over the past decade, slower than the national average, and sits at 5,236 in 2025. The medium forecast projects continued slow growth to around 5,413 by 2031, an annual rate of 0.48%. The primary migration driver is balanced, with net internal migration averaging 46 persons per year and overseas migration adding 10. The aging trajectory is the dominant structural shift, with the senior share up 9.7 points since 2011 and young-adult share down 4.4 points. Affordability has been stable, moving from 52.6% in 2011 to 51.1% in 2021. The gentrification score of 26 registers as early signs of change, though momentum is limited by the low income base and the 9th-percentile household income nationally.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+10
Net Internal / yr
+46
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Esk compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Esk a good suburb to live in?
Esk suits retirees and owner-occupiers seeking affordable, low-density living. At $328,000 median house price, 52.3% of homeowners hold their properties outright. The trade-offs are limited economic opportunity, with household income in just the 9th percentile nationally, and an IRSAD decile of 2, indicating high disadvantage by national standards.
What is the median house price in Esk?
The median house price is $328,000, based on 2025 estimates derived from rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,181, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0%. Weekly rent averages $260. Esk sits well below the QLD state median, reflecting its regional and rural character.
What schools are in Esk?
No schools are recorded within the Esk suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the broader Esk area would typically access schools in the surrounding Somerset region. University qualifications among residents reach 14.6%, which is 15.5 points below the national figure, consistent with the regional demographic profile.
Is Esk safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Esk in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the IRSD decile of 2 places Esk among the more disadvantaged communities nationally, which can correlate with higher crime rates in some areas. The suburb has a volunteering rate of 21.0%, suggesting active community engagement.
Is Esk good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is around 4.1% based on $260 weekly rent against a $328,000 median. However, the 13.2% vacancy rate is elevated, and population growth is just 0.48% annually, well below the national pace. The aging demographic and low income base (9th percentile nationally) limit demand-side growth prospects.
How is Esk's population changing?
The broader Esk SA2 population reached 5,236 in 2025, up 5.8% over 10 years. Annual growth is 0.48%, or about 25 persons per year. Forecasts project around 5,413 by 2031. The aging trajectory is pronounced, with the senior share rising 9.7 points and the working-age share falling 5.1 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Esk?
There were 111 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, notable for a suburb of 1,641 residents. Recent samples show repair and maintenance works on existing dwellings rather than new construction, consistent with an aging housing stock and a slow-growth market at 0.48% annual population increase.
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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