QLD 4625 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Gayndah

With a median house price of $283,000 and household incomes in the 14.2nd percentile nationally, Gayndah sits at the affordable end of the Queensland property spectrum. The suburb records SEIFA decile 1 on three of four indexes, placing it among Australia's most disadvantaged communities by education, income and relative disadvantage measures. Yet 38.7% of residents own their homes outright, higher than the mortgage-holding share of 24.7%, suggesting a long-settled population that has paid off its debt rather than a transient one. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and the population has declined 0.5% over a decade, signalling a slow aging and contraction typical of inland Queensland towns.

Gayndah urban fabric map

Population

1,949

Median Age

47.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,033/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

0

Median House

$283K

Estimated from rent (2025)

68.07 km²· 28.6 people/km²· Family income $1,327/wk

At $283,000, the median house price is substantially below the Queensland state median, making Gayndah one of the more accessible markets for buyers priced out of coastal cities. Monthly mortgage repayments average $984, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 91.0% of the stock, so buyers have limited apartment or semi-detached options, with semi-detached at just 5.2%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 48.8% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 26.6%, giving families a reasonable choice of family-sized homes. The 16.0% vacancy rate is notable and higher than typical regional markets, which can mean greater buyer negotiating power but also suggests softer underlying demand.

For Buyers

At $283,000, the median house price is substantially below the Queensland state median, making Gayndah one of the more accessible markets for buyers priced out of coastal cities. Monthly mortgage repayments average $984, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 91.0% of the stock, so buyers have limited apartment or semi-detached options, with semi-detached at just 5.2%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 48.8% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 26.6%, giving families a reasonable choice of family-sized homes. The 16.0% vacancy rate is notable and higher than typical regional markets, which can mean greater buyer negotiating power but also suggests softer underlying demand.

For Investors

The 16.0% vacancy rate is the most cautionary data point for investors. Against a weekly rent of $230, that vacancy level makes consistent tenancy difficult to guarantee. At a $283,000 median, the gross yield calculates near 4.2% when tenanted, which is above the yield available in most capital city markets. The renter share of 36.6% means over a third of residents are in the rental pool, comparable to higher-demand regional towns. Net internal migration averages minus 6 residents per year, so population isn't growing from internal movement. Overseas migration adds 94 per year on average, though for a town of 1,949 this is a relatively modest offset. With zero development applications in the past 12 months, new supply is not a risk factor.

Schools in Gayndah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

St Joseph's School

ICSEA 1003 Primary Catholic

Prep-6 · 71 students

Burnett State College

ICSEA 923 Secondary Government

7-12 · 158 students

Gayndah State School

ICSEA 881 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 97 students

Demographics

The median age of 47 sits 7 years above the national figure, and the trajectory reinforces this gap: the senior share has risen 6.2 points while the working-age share fell 3.6 points over the decade. English (733 people), German (194) and Irish (169) are the leading ancestries, consistent with the long-established pastoral families of the Burnett region. Overseas-born residents account for 10.5% of the population, which is 11.1 percentage points below the national average, making Gayndah one of the more Anglo-homogeneous communities in Queensland. University qualifications reach only 14.2%, which is 15.9 points below the national rate, reflecting the trade and primary-industry workforce base. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure of 2.5.

Age Distribution

0-14
15.5%
15-24
12.4%
25-44
20.3%
45-64
25.4%
65+
26.7%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
5.6%
2 bed
19.1%
3 bed
48.8%
4+ bed
26.6%

Dwelling Structure

91.0%

Houses

5.2%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 38.7% Mortgage 24.7% Rent 36.6%

Tenure in Gayndah skews toward outright ownership: 38.7% of households own with no mortgage, compared to 24.7% on a mortgage and 36.6% renting. The outright ownership rate above the renting rate is characteristic of older, longer-settled communities where debt has been paid down over decades. Separate houses make up 91.0% of the stock, far above the national average, and nearly all in the 3-bedroom or larger category (75.4% combined). The median house price of $283,000 is estimated from rent data for 2025, and the rent-to-income ratio of 22.3% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning neither owners nor tenants face acute housing cost pressure in relative terms. The 16.0% vacancy rate is above typical regional benchmarks and warrants attention for anyone entering the market.

Mortgage / mo

$984

Rent / wk

$230

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$570

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

16.0%

Unoccupied

136

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.3%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.0%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
733
Ancestry NS
258
German
194
Irish
169
Scottish
166
Other
81

Household Composition

35.6%

Couples, no children

1,218

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the largest employer at 22.2% of the local workforce (96 workers), followed by Agriculture at 15.3% (66 workers) and Education at 13.9% (60 workers), with Public Administration at 8.3% rounding out the top four. This pattern is common in small regional service centres that act as hubs for surrounding agricultural districts. The unemployment rate is 5.9%, above the national average, and the participation rate is 47.6%, low because 594 residents are not in the labour force, partly a function of the aging demographic. By occupation, Labourers (232) is the single largest category, consistent with the agricultural and construction base. SEIFA decile 1 on the IRSD and IRSAD indexes places Gayndah in the bottom 10% nationally for socioeconomic advantage, largely driven by low incomes at the 14.2nd percentile.

Unemployment

3.7%

Labour Force

3,844

Unemployed

144

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
1
Disadvantage
1
Economic resources
2
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

61.6%

Part-time

32.5%

Participation

47.6%

Employed

737

Occupations

Labourers 232
Community/Personal 98
Professionals 85
Managers 84
Clerical/Admin 77
Sales 58
Machinery/Drivers 57

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.2%
Agriculture 15.3%
Education 13.9%
Public Admin 8.3%
Retail 6.9%

University

14.2%

Postgraduate

1.5%

Born Overseas

10.5%

Dwellings

708

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high, with 78.3% of residents driving to work, while 9.6% walk or cycle, reflecting the rural town layout where most destinations are reachable on foot within the centre. Public transport usage is not recorded, which is typical for towns of this size in regional Queensland where services are limited. No schools are recorded in the dataset for the Gayndah suburb boundary, though the town is the service centre for North Burnett and residents rely on facilities in the area. The IRSAD decile 1 score places the suburb in the bottom 10% nationally for socioeconomic advantage, meaning access to services and economic resources is significantly below average. Volunteering runs at 22.7%, above most suburban benchmarks, and 10.8% of residents (183 people) require daily assistance, higher than the national rate, consistent with the older median age of 47.

Drive

78.3%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

9.6%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

0.0%/yr

Established

Population has declined 0.5% over the past decade, and the medium forecast holds the broader SA2 population steady near 6,609 through 2031, essentially flat. Rent has grown 45.3% over the period, well above what income growth of 2.9% in real terms would support, which explains the worsening affordability trend from 32.5% in 2011 to 37.3% in 2021. Net internal migration is negative at minus 6 per year, meaning more people leave for other parts of Australia than arrive. Overseas migration of 94 per year contributes the only positive demographic flow, but this operates at the SA2 level and may not directly reflect the town itself. The gentrification score of 28 and stage of early signs is modest, suggesting very limited capital upgrade activity compared to gentrifying urban markets.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+94

Net Internal / yr

-6

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Gayndah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 22%
Household Income
Bottom 14%
Rent Level
Bottom 40%
Renters
Top 19%
Uni Educated
Bottom 16%
Born Overseas
Bottom 32%
Density
Top 34%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gayndah a good suburb to live in?

Gayndah offers very affordable housing at a $283,000 median and low housing cost stress, with mortgage-to-income at 22.0% and rent-to-income at 22.3%, both below the 30% stress threshold. It ranks in SEIFA decile 1 nationally, meaning services and economic opportunity are limited compared to urban centres. It suits buyers seeking affordability and a settled rural community rather than career or amenity diversity.

What is the median house price in Gayndah?

The median house price in Gayndah is approximately $283,000, estimated from rent data for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $984 at this price point. Weekly rent averages $230. The price is substantially below the broader Queensland median, making it one of the more affordable regional markets in the state.

What schools are in Gayndah?

No schools are recorded inside the Gayndah suburb boundary in this dataset. The town serves as the service centre for North Burnett and local families access educational facilities in the surrounding area. University qualifications among residents sit at 14.2%, which is 15.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the region's trade and agricultural workforce base.

Is Gayndah safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Gayndah in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 1, meaning it ranks in the bottom 10% nationally on relative disadvantage, which in regional contexts can correlate with higher crime rates than metropolitan low-disadvantage areas. Volunteering at 22.7% suggests an engaged local community, which is often associated with stronger social cohesion.

Is Gayndah good for property investment?

The gross yield when tenanted is near 4.2% based on $230 weekly rent and a $283,000 median, higher than most capital city yields. However, the 16.0% vacancy rate is a significant risk, and population has declined 0.5% over the decade. Net internal migration is negative at minus 6 per year. Investment returns depend more on rental income when occupied than capital growth, given the flat population and affordability trend worsening from 32.5% to 37.3% over 10 years.

How is Gayndah's population changing?

Population has fallen 0.5% over the past decade, and medium forecasts hold the broader SA2 near 6,609 residents through 2031 with essentially zero annual growth. The demographic is aging, with the senior share up 6.2 points and working-age share down 3.6 points over the decade. Net internal migration is minus 6 per year, partially offset by overseas migration of 94 per year at the SA2 level.

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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