Gin Gin
At a median age of 51, Gin Gin's resident base skews 11 years older than the national figure, and that aging profile shapes nearly everything about the suburb. Household income sits at just the 8.9th percentile nationally, and all four SEIFA indexes land in decile 1, placing Gin Gin among the most disadvantaged communities in Australia by education, occupation and economic resources. Yet the median house price of $285,000 keeps ownership accessible: 45.9% of households own their home outright with no mortgage, a share far above the national average. The suburb covers 33.81 square kilometres in the Bundaberg region with a population of 1,139.
Population
1,139
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$904/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$285K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $285,000 puts Gin Gin well below Queensland and national medians, making entry-level ownership achievable. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 87.1% of dwellings, so buyers get detached stock rather than apartments, which account for only 1.6% of the mix. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 46.9%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 21.4%. Outright owners at 45.9% far outnumber mortgage holders at 17.7%, indicating that many long-term residents have paid off their homes. The rent-to-income ratio of 27.7% also stays below the stress threshold.
For Buyers
The median house price of $285,000 puts Gin Gin well below Queensland and national medians, making entry-level ownership achievable. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 87.1% of dwellings, so buyers get detached stock rather than apartments, which account for only 1.6% of the mix. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 46.9%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 21.4%. Outright owners at 45.9% far outnumber mortgage holders at 17.7%, indicating that many long-term residents have paid off their homes. The rent-to-income ratio of 27.7% also stays below the stress threshold.
For Investors
Gin Gin's 36.4% renter share is a meaningful tenant pool for a small regional town, and weekly rent averages $250. Against the $285,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield around 4.6%, higher than most coastal Queensland markets. The downside is a vacancy rate of 14.2%, which is elevated and signals that demand does not always absorb available supply. Development activity is low at just 2 applications in the past 12 months, limiting new competition. Net internal migration runs at 98 people per year, the primary population driver, providing a steady if modest flow of new residents. Population grew 6.7% over the decade, and rent rose 32.3% over the same period, both figures that support gradual income growth for landlords.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
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 Gin Gin iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Gin Gin State High School
7-12 · 404 students
Gin Gin State School
Prep-6 · 254 students
Demographics
The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, the result of a decade-long trend where the senior share rose 10.3 points and the working-age share fell 4.1 points. The overseas-born share of 18.5% runs 3.1 points below national, consistent with a predominantly locally-born community. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic, led by English (483 residents), German (111) and Scottish (102). University qualifications reach just 12.0%, which is 18.1 points below the national rate, reflecting the lower education and occupation outcomes captured in the decile 1 IEO score. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national. Couples without children at 36.5% of families is the dominant household type.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.1%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure patterns are distinctive: 45.9% own outright, 17.7% carry a mortgage and 36.4% rent. The high outright-ownership rate relative to national averages reflects long-held properties in an affordable market rather than recent churn. Separate houses make up 87.1% of the stock, well above the national share, and semi-detached homes account for 7.6%. Three-bedroom dwellings are most common at 46.9%, with four-plus bedroom at 21.4% and two-bedroom at 20.4%. The median house price of $285,000 is an estimate derived from rent data for 2025, meaning direct price comparisons should be treated with caution. At that level the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1% remains below stress territory, and the rent-to-income ratio of 27.7% also keeps renters under the 30% threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$483
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.2%
Unoccupied
75
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.5%
Couples, no children
727
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 18.2% of local workers, followed closely by Education at 17.7% and Agriculture at 12.5%. Hospitality (10.4%) and Public Administration (8.3%) round out the top five. By occupation, Labourers lead at 87 workers, ahead of Machinery and Drivers (48), Community and Personal services (47), Professionals (40) and Managers (38), a profile that matches the decile 1 SEIFA scores on education and occupation. Unemployment runs at 9.7%, which is above state and national averages, and labour force participation is just 38.1%, well below national, because 480 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older age structure. Real income grew 8.8% over the decade, but household income still sits in the 8.9th percentile nationally.
Unemployment
7.4%
Labour Force
2,612
Unemployed
194
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
28.3%
Participation
38.1%
Employed
337
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.0%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
18.5%
Dwellings
448
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 71.3% of residents driving to work, though 9.7% use public transport and another 9.7% walk or cycle, reasonable figures for a regional town. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families access education in the broader Gin Gin district. Crime data is not available for this suburb. As an indirect measure of disadvantage, Gin Gin scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the lowest tier nationally, meaning residents face above-average socioeconomic barriers. Volunteering at 20.1% of the population is a positive community indicator, and 14.0% of residents need daily assistance, reflecting the older age profile. Rent stress and mortgage stress are both below threshold at 27.7% and 22.1% respectively.
Drive
71.3%
Public Transport
9.7%
Walk / Cycle
9.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.92%/yr
(+54 people/yr)
EstablishedGin Gin is growing slowly but steadily at 0.92% per year, adding roughly 54 residents annually. The SA2-level historical record shows the broader area rising from 5,620 in 2023 to 5,851 in 2025, and medium forecasts reach 6,062 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary driver, averaging 98 net arrivals per year, while overseas migration adds 20. Population increased 6.7% over the decade and the 10-year population change registered 13% growth at the SA2 level, earning an early signs gentrification score of 32. The trajectory is aging, however, with a 5.5-point fall in the young adult share and a 10.3-point rise in the senior share over 10 years. Affordability stayed stable at 53.5% in 2021 compared to 54.2% in 2011, suggesting price growth roughly tracked incomes.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+20
Net Internal / yr
+98
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +13% since 2011, Net internal migration +98/yr, Accelerating: 0% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gin Gin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gin Gin a good suburb to live in?
Gin Gin suits buyers seeking affordable detached housing in a regional Queensland setting. The median house price of $285,000 is well below state and national medians, and 45.9% of households own their home outright. The trade-offs are a decile 1 SEIFA score across all four indexes and an unemployment rate of 9.7%, both indicating limited economic opportunity compared to metropolitan areas.
What is the median house price in Gin Gin?
The median house price is approximately $285,000, estimated from rent data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $867, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. The gross rental yield is around 4.6% at current prices and rents.
What schools are in Gin Gin?
No schools are recorded inside the Gin Gin suburb boundary in this dataset. The broader Gin Gin district in the Bundaberg region does service local families, but residents should verify catchment and enrolment details directly with the Queensland Department of Education. University qualifications locally are at 12.0%, which is 18.1 points below the national rate.
Is Gin Gin safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Gin Gin in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, which is the lowest tier and associated with higher disadvantage. Volunteering participation at 20.1% suggests reasonable community cohesion for a town of 1,139 residents.
Is Gin Gin good for property investment?
At $285,000 median price and $250 weekly rent, the gross yield is around 4.6%, higher than many Queensland coastal markets. Internal migration adds 98 net residents per year and rents rose 32.3% over the decade. The main risks are a 14.2% vacancy rate and low economic activity: unemployment is 9.7% and all SEIFA indexes sit in decile 1.
How is Gin Gin's population changing?
Population is growing at 0.92% per year, adding about 54 residents annually. The 10-year change was 6.7% and the broader SA2 area reached 5,851 in 2025, with medium forecasts projecting 6,062 by 2031. Internal migration of 98 net arrivals per year is the main driver, while the age profile is shifting older, with the senior share up 10.3 points over the decade.
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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