Hodgson Vale
Household income in the 94.2nd percentile nationally is the standout figure for Hodgson Vale, a small suburb of 1,444 people spread across 26 square kilometres south of Toowoomba. Every dwelling is a separate house, and 81.8% have four or more bedrooms, a bedroom density far above most Queensland suburbs. University qualifications reach 36.8%, which is 6.7 percentage points above the national average. The suburb attracts and holds established families: 82.3% of residents stayed put over the five years to the Census, and the average household size of 3.1 runs 0.6 above national. Only 6.2% of households rent, compared to the national average, making this firmly an ownership-oriented community.
Population
1,444
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,629/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$519K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $519,000, derived from the $365 weekly rent figure for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers more headroom than most Queensland markets. Every dwelling is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment or semi-detached stock. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 81.8% of the stock, which suits families requiring space but limits options for downsizers or smaller households. Outright ownership at 39.7% and mortgage holders at 54.0% together show that nearly all residents hold their property rather than rent. The low renter share of 6.2% compared to the state average signals a stable, owner-dominated market with limited turnover.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $519,000, derived from the $365 weekly rent figure for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 19.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers more headroom than most Queensland markets. Every dwelling is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment or semi-detached stock. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 81.8% of the stock, which suits families requiring space but limits options for downsizers or smaller households. Outright ownership at 39.7% and mortgage holders at 54.0% together show that nearly all residents hold their property rather than rent. The low renter share of 6.2% compared to the state average signals a stable, owner-dominated market with limited turnover.
For Investors
The investment fundamentals here are modest. Weekly rent of $365 against a $519,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, below the national average for regional Queensland. Vacancy sits at 5.5%, which is higher than the typical healthy market threshold of 3%, indicating some softness in rental demand. The renter pool is thin at only 6.2% of households, leaving little competition for quality tenants. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming this is an established, low-churn suburb rather than a growth corridor. Demand support comes from the high family formation rate, with couples with children making up 51.0% of families, but the small total population of 1,444 limits the investment depth compared to larger regional centres.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
Demographics
The median age of 39 is one year below the national figure, reflecting the family-formation character of the suburb. Overseas-born residents at 9.6% are 12.0 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (613), Irish (235), Scottish (205) and German (160) are the top four groups. No non-English languages are recorded in the brief, consistent with a predominantly Australian-born population. University qualifications at 36.8% sit 6.7 points above the national rate, a meaningful gap that points to a professional household base. Average household size of 3.1 persons is 0.6 above the national figure, and couples with children represent 51.0% of all families, more than double the share of couples without children at 23.6%.
Age Distribution
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is entirely separate houses, with 81.8% having four or more bedrooms and 17.3% having three bedrooms. This extreme concentration in large family homes reflects the suburb's 26 square kilometre area and low-density rural-residential character. Tenure splits cleanly between owners: 39.7% own outright and 54.0% carry a mortgage, while only 6.2% rent, far below the national renter share. Mortgage stress is absent, with repayments at 19.0% of household income, comfortably below the 30% threshold. Weekly rent of $365 is the basis for the estimated $519,000 median price, as direct sales data was not available for this period. Rent-to-income at 13.9% means tenants in Hodgson Vale face well below average housing cost pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$365
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,002
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
26
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.6%
Couples, no children
1,314
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education and healthcare dominate employment, accounting for 20.3% (110 workers) and 16.6% (90 workers) of the employed base respectively. Construction follows at 12.5% (68 workers), reflecting the rural-residential development activity in the Toowoomba region more broadly. Professional/Technical services and Public Administration each contribute around 6% of jobs. By occupation, Professionals lead (199 workers), followed by Managers (132) and Clerical/Admin (103). The unemployment rate is 1.4%, exceptionally low compared to the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 63.4% is solid. Participation sits at 68.4% and household income in the 94.2nd percentile nationally indicates these are well-paid professional and managerial roles rather than lower-wage service work.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
68.4%
Employed
756
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.8%
Postgraduate
6.2%
Born Overseas
9.6%
Dwellings
448
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total, with 91.0% of residents driving to work, while 2.3% walk or cycle. Public transport figures are not recorded, consistent with the large-lot rural-residential setting. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on Toowoomba's schools nearby. Housing affordability is a genuine strength: mortgage-to-income at 19.0% and rent-to-income at 13.9% are both well below national stress benchmarks, meaning residents retain more disposable income than in most state capital suburbs. Need-for-assistance at 3.8% is low. Volunteering at 25.2% is above average nationally and points to an engaged community. The suburb's 26 square kilometre spread means services and amenities require a car trip, a practical trade-off for the space and low housing cost relative to household income at the 94.2nd percentile.
Drive
91.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hodgson Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hodgson Vale a good suburb to live in?
Hodgson Vale suits established families seeking space and affordability. Household income sits in the 94.2nd percentile nationally, mortgage repayments consume only 19.0% of income, and 82.3% of residents stayed in the area over five years. The trade-off is car dependence (91.0% drive to work) and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Hodgson Vale?
The median house price is estimated at $519,000, based on the 2025 weekly rent of $365. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167. The entire housing stock is separate houses, with 81.8% having four or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Hodgson Vale?
No schools are recorded inside the Hodgson Vale suburb boundary in this dataset. Residents rely on schools in nearby Toowoomba. Despite this, university qualifications in Hodgson Vale reach 36.8%, which is 6.7 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Hodgson Vale safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Hodgson Vale in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 3.8% of residents need daily assistance, the unemployment rate is 1.4%, well below the national average, and 82.3% of residents stayed in the suburb over five years, consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community.
Is Hodgson Vale good for property investment?
The investment case is modest. Weekly rent of $365 against a $519,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, below typical regional Queensland benchmarks. Vacancy at 5.5% is above the healthy 3% threshold, and the renter pool is thin at 6.2% of households. Capital growth is likely tied to Toowoomba's broader regional performance.
How is Hodgson Vale's population changing?
Hodgson Vale has a population of 1,444 across 26 square kilometres. Stability is high, with 82.3% of residents remaining in the same address over five years and a turnover rate of only 17.7%. Zero development applications in the past 12 months indicates the suburb is not in an active growth phase currently.
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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