Heatley
With all four SEIFA indexes landing in decile 1, Heatley ranks among Queensland's most disadvantaged suburbs by every measure of advantage, education, and economic resources. Household income sits at the 28.4th percentile nationally, and weekly household income of $1,266 falls well below the national average. Yet the suburb is 84% detached houses on a 2.03 km2 footprint at 1,923 persons per km2, giving it the physical character of a classic mid-century suburban area rather than a struggling inner-city pocket. The median age of 40 matches the national figure, and a 9.7% vacancy rate signals softer rental demand than surrounding Townsville suburbs.
Population
3,907
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,266/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$357K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $357,000, considerably lower than the Queensland state median, making Heatley one of Townsville's more accessible entry points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes sitting at only the 28.4th percentile nationally. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 84%, with semi-detached dwellings accounting for the remaining 16%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.5%, and 4-plus bedroom properties make up 25.6%, so the suburb suits families more than singles or couples. Outright owners at 30.9% roughly match mortgage holders at 34.2%, suggesting a stable, long-held ownership base rather than a market of recent buyers chasing price growth.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $357,000, considerably lower than the Queensland state median, making Heatley one of Townsville's more accessible entry points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes sitting at only the 28.4th percentile nationally. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 84%, with semi-detached dwellings accounting for the remaining 16%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.5%, and 4-plus bedroom properties make up 25.6%, so the suburb suits families more than singles or couples. Outright owners at 30.9% roughly match mortgage holders at 34.2%, suggesting a stable, long-held ownership base rather than a market of recent buyers chasing price growth.
For Investors
A 34.9% renter share provides a meaningful tenant pool, but a 9.7% vacancy rate is elevated compared to healthy rental markets and signals that supply outpaces current demand. Weekly rent of $280 against a $357,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, higher than most capital city suburbs. Rent-to-income at 22.1% sits below the 30% stress threshold, so tenants are not under pressure to leave. Rent growth ran at 7.7% over the measured period, one of the stronger signals in the brief. Net overseas migration averages 19 people per year while net internal migration averages minus 18, producing a balanced but thin growth driver. Population is forecast to decline gradually at 0.57% per year through 2031, which limits capital growth prospects and makes yield the primary investment case.
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 Heatley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Heatley Secondary College
7-12 · 715 students
Heatley State School
Prep-6 · 423 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 is at the national average, though the suburb shows an aging trajectory: the senior share rose 5.5 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 4.2 points, and population declined 7.3% over 10 years. Overseas-born residents account for 13.7% of the population, which is 7.9 percentage points below the national figure. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,380 residents), Irish (416) and Scottish (416). University qualifications stand at 17.9%, a full 12.2 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the decile 1 IEO score for education and occupation advantage. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national figure of 2.5. Christianity is the dominant religion at 1,956 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.0%
Houses
16.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits relatively evenly across three groups: 34.9% rent, 34.2% hold a mortgage, and 30.9% own outright. This roughly balanced split, with renters the slight plurality, reflects the suburb's below-median income profile where 34.2% of households are still paying down mortgages. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 84%, with semi-detached making up 16% and no meaningful apartment stock. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 57.5% of homes, 4-plus bedroom for 25.6%, and smaller 2-bedroom homes for 13.7%, indicating the suburb primarily houses families. The $357,000 median is substantially below the national median house price, which partly explains why mortgage-to-income at 23.7% remains manageable despite household incomes sitting at only the 28.4th national percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$662
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.7%
Unoccupied
162
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.5%
Couples, no children
2,841
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 21.9% of workers (197 people), ahead of Education at 12.2% (110) and Public Administration at 9.4% (85). Construction accounts for 8.9% and Retail 7.9%, rounding out a workforce oriented around public services rather than private enterprise. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (258) lead, followed by Labourers (242) and Clerical/Administrative workers (211), with Professionals at 194. The unemployment rate is 8.9%, notably higher than the national average, and the participation rate of 51.1% is low, partly because 1,211 residents are not in the labour force. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 1, the lowest advantage tier nationally, reflecting below-average incomes, education levels, and economic resources across the suburb.
Unemployment
10.6%
Labour Force
1,818
Unemployed
192
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.7%
Part-time
27.4%
Participation
51.1%
Employed
1,498
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.9%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
13.7%
Dwellings
1,515
Transport to Work
Transport in Heatley is heavily car-dependent: 86.4% of employed residents drive to work, and only 1.2% use public transport, below the national average for urban areas. Walking and cycling accounts for 2.9% of commutes. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families access education in neighbouring Townsville suburbs. The IRSAD decile 1 score places Heatley in the lowest advantage tier nationally, indicating concentrated disadvantage relative to the broader Australian population. Rent-to-income at 22.1% and mortgage-to-income at 23.7% are both below the 30% stress threshold, so housing costs do not appear to be the primary source of financial pressure. The need-assistance rate of 10.1% (362 residents) is above average, reflecting the older and lower-income profile.
Drive
86.4%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.57%/yr
(-23 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation declined 7.3% over the past decade and the current trend runs at minus 0.57% per year, or around 23 fewer residents annually. The medium forecast projects the population falling from roughly 3,910 in 2026 to 3,794 by 2031. Migration is balanced with overseas arrivals averaging 19 per year offsetting internal losses of 18 per year, but neither flow is large enough to reverse the aging-driven decline. The gentrification score is 10 out of 100, classifying the suburb as not gentrifying, which is consistent with decile 1 SEIFA scores across all four indexes. The COVID dip was modest at minus 2.3% and has been recovered, but the longer structural trend of population decline and an aging trajectory continues. Real income growth over the decade was minus 6.7%, meaning residents are earning less in inflation-adjusted terms than a decade ago.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+19
Net Internal / yr
-18
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Heatley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heatley a good suburb to live in?
Heatley offers affordable housing with a $357,000 median and mortgage-to-income at 23.7%, below the stress threshold. However, all four SEIFA indexes score decile 1, the lowest advantage tier nationally, and unemployment runs at 8.9%. The suburb suits buyers prioritising affordability and detached family homes over proximity to high-income employment.
What is the median house price in Heatley?
The median house price is estimated at $357,000, well below the Queensland state median. Weekly rent averages $280, giving an estimated gross yield near 4.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.7%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Heatley?
No schools are recorded inside the Heatley suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Townsville suburbs. University qualifications among residents stand at 17.9%, which is 12.2 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the suburb's decile 1 IEO score.
Is Heatley safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Heatley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the lowest advantage tier nationally, and 10.1% of residents (362 people) need daily assistance, both suggesting higher vulnerability than the national average. Prospective buyers should consult QLD Police crime mapping for current figures.
Is Heatley good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $280 against a $357,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, above most capital city suburbs. However, a 9.7% vacancy rate signals softer rental demand, and population is forecast to fall to around 3,794 by 2031. Rent grew 7.7% over the measured period, but long-term capital growth is limited by a declining and aging population.
How is Heatley's population changing?
Population declined 7.3% over the past decade and is forecast to fall a further 0.57% per year through 2031, reaching approximately 3,794 residents. The suburb has an aging trajectory, with the senior share up 5.5 points and the young adult share down 4.2 points over 10 years. Net overseas and internal migration are both small and roughly cancel each other out.
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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