Helidon
With a population of just 1,130 and a median house price estimated at $381,000, Helidon sits well below the national median, making it one of the more affordable rural townships in South East Queensland. Household income lands in the 34.1st percentile nationally, reflecting a working-class demographic where labourers and machinery operators make up the two largest occupation groups. The suburb spans 48.74 square kilometres at a density of only 23.2 people per square kilometre. Notably, 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses, higher than virtually any urban market, and 30.9% of residents own their homes outright, indicating long-established tenure rather than speculative buying.
Population
1,130
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,342/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$381K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $381,000 is below the national median for detached housing, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. That affordability advantage is the primary draw for buyers priced out of Toowoomba and South East Queensland growth corridors. The housing stock is almost entirely detached, with 94.4% of dwellings being separate houses and only 5.6% semi-detached. Four-plus bedroom homes match three-bedroom homes at 42.1% each, pointing to family-sized blocks rather than compact starter homes. Outright ownership at 30.9% is a signal of stability among longer-term residents, while 35.6% carry mortgages and 33.5% rent.
For Buyers
The median house price of $381,000 is below the national median for detached housing, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. That affordability advantage is the primary draw for buyers priced out of Toowoomba and South East Queensland growth corridors. The housing stock is almost entirely detached, with 94.4% of dwellings being separate houses and only 5.6% semi-detached. Four-plus bedroom homes match three-bedroom homes at 42.1% each, pointing to family-sized blocks rather than compact starter homes. Outright ownership at 30.9% is a signal of stability among longer-term residents, while 35.6% carry mortgages and 33.5% rent.
For Investors
A vacancy rate of 8.5% is elevated compared to a healthy market threshold of around 3%, signalling that rental demand is soft relative to available stock. Weekly rent of $313 against a $381,000 median gives a gross yield in the range of 4.3%, higher than most coastal Queensland markets, but the vacancy figure tempers that number. Only 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating minimal construction pressure on supply. The renter share of 33.5% provides a tenant base, but the low participation rate of 51.4% and unemployment rate of 8.1% both run above state averages, which affects renters' capacity to absorb rent increases. Investors should weigh the yield against absorbing vacancy periods.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
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 Helidon iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Helidon State School
Prep-6 · 103 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, slightly younger than average for a rural town. Overseas-born residents account for only 8.6% of the population, which is 13.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a strongly Anglo-Celtic composition: English (439), German (133), Irish (123) and Scottish (116) lead ancestry responses. University qualifications stand at 12.4%, which is 17.7 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and labour-oriented workforce. Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national average by 0.1 people. Couples with children (343 families) outnumber couples without children (222), pointing to a family-oriented resident profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.4%
Houses
5.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses make up 94.4% of dwellings, a proportion higher than most Queensland suburbs, with semi-detached homes accounting for the remaining 5.6%. Tenure is split roughly into thirds: 30.9% own outright, 35.6% hold a mortgage, and 33.5% rent. The high outright ownership share relative to the 34.1st percentile income profile indicates long-term residents who purchased during lower price periods. Bedroom distribution is family-oriented, with three-bedroom and four-plus bedroom homes equally matched at 42.1% each, while two-bedroom dwellings represent 14.0%. Rent-to-income at 23.3% stays below stress levels, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4% is similarly manageable, both metrics performing better than higher-priced Queensland markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$313
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$690
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
37
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples, no children
847
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.0% of workers (44 people), followed by Construction at 11.9% (29), Public Administration at 10.7% (26), Manufacturing at 10.2% (25) and Transport at 9.8% (24). By occupation, Labourers (87) and Machinery/Drivers (71) top the list, well above the white-collar mix typical of urban centres. The unemployment rate of 8.1% runs above the national average, and the participation rate of 51.4% is notably low, with 274 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment makes up 69.5% of those who do work, and 37 residents are recorded as unemployed. The income profile, household weekly income of $1,342, places Helidon in the 34.1st percentile nationally, reflecting the trade and services nature of local employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
22.4%
Participation
51.4%
Employed
420
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.4%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
8.6%
Dwellings
391
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total, with 91.7% of employed residents driving to work, above the national average, and no public transport use recorded in available data. The suburb has no schools listed in the data, so families rely on nearby Gatton or Toowoomba institutions. Crime statistics are not available at the suburb level for Helidon. Volunteering participation sits at 11.8%, broadly in line with regional Queensland norms. Housing stress is low on both measures: rent-to-income at 23.3% and mortgage-to-income at 22.4% both fall below the 30% stress threshold. About 6.0% of residents (60 people) need daily assistance, slightly above the national rate, which may reflect age or health factors in a lower-income community.
Drive
91.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Helidon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helidon a good suburb to live in?
Helidon suits buyers and renters who prioritise affordability and space over urban amenity. The median house price of $381,000 is below the national median, mortgage-to-income sits at 22.4% (below the 30% stress threshold), and 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses on large blocks. The trade-off is car dependence, with 91.7% of workers driving, and limited local services compared to nearby Gatton.
What is the median house price in Helidon?
The median house price in Helidon is estimated at $381,000, based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and weekly rent is $313. The vacancy rate of 8.5% is above the typical healthy market level of around 3%, suggesting there is more rental supply than demand at current prices.
What schools are in Helidon?
No schools are recorded within the Helidon suburb boundary in available data. Families typically rely on schools in nearby Gatton, approximately 14 kilometres away, which serves the broader Lockyer Valley area. The local university qualification rate of 12.4% is 17.7 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade-oriented workforce.
Is Helidon safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Helidon in this dataset. As a context indicator, the volunteering rate is 11.8% and only 6.0% of the 1,130 residents require daily assistance. The area is a small rural township of 1,130 people with low-density living at 23.2 residents per square kilometre, which typically correlates with lower crime exposure than urban centres.
Is Helidon good for property investment?
The gross rental yield implied by $313 weekly rent against a $381,000 median is approximately 4.3%, above most coastal Queensland markets. However, the vacancy rate of 8.5% is well above a healthy threshold of around 3%, meaning investors may face extended vacancy periods. Only 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is minimal.
How is Helidon's population changing?
Helidon has a small population of 1,130 across 48.74 square kilometres. No ABS suburb-level forecasts are available for localities this size. Residential mobility data shows 74.7% of residents stayed at the same address over 5 years, indicating stability rather than active growth. Development applications totalled just 2 in the past year, pointing to very little new housing supply being added.
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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