Hope Vale
With 88.1% of residents renting and household income sitting at just the 5.2nd percentile nationally, Hope Vale presents a profile unlike most Queensland communities. The population of 1,004 is young, with a median age of 29, which is 11 years below the national figure. The economy is almost entirely anchored to public services: government administration, healthcare and education together account for more than 65% of local employment. Over 307 residents speak an Australian Indigenous Language, reflecting the community's deep First Nations character. The vacancy rate of 14.7% and a near-absent owner-occupier base make this a government-service town rather than a conventional residential market.
Population
1,004
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$827/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$201K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $201,000 sits far below Queensland and national medians, making Hope Vale one of the most affordable markets on paper. Monthly mortgage repayments are estimated at $975, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, technically below the 30% stress threshold. However, the owner-occupier market is extremely thin: only 8.1% own outright and 3.7% are purchasing with a mortgage, compared to much higher national ownership rates. The dwelling stock is dominated by separate houses at 92.2%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 45.2% and four-plus bedroom homes at 26.3%. Buyers considering this market should note the very low transaction volume typical of remote community housing.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $201,000 sits far below Queensland and national medians, making Hope Vale one of the most affordable markets on paper. Monthly mortgage repayments are estimated at $975, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, technically below the 30% stress threshold. However, the owner-occupier market is extremely thin: only 8.1% own outright and 3.7% are purchasing with a mortgage, compared to much higher national ownership rates. The dwelling stock is dominated by separate houses at 92.2%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 45.2% and four-plus bedroom homes at 26.3%. Buyers considering this market should note the very low transaction volume typical of remote community housing.
For Investors
Hope Vale's rental market is dominated by social and community housing, with 88.1% of dwellings rented, far higher than the state average. Weekly rent is $120, producing a gross yield that appears attractive against the $201,000 estimated median, but the vacancy rate of 14.7% signals meaningful periods of untenanted stock. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, indicating no private supply pipeline. The unemployment rate of 22.4% and a labour participation rate of only 39.6% mean the local rental demand is driven by government-funded housing allocations rather than private demand. Conventional investor analysis does not translate directly to this community context.
Schools in Hope Vale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy
Prep-6 · 146 students
Demographics
The median age of 29 is 11 years below the national average, giving Hope Vale one of Queensland's younger resident profiles. University qualifications stand at 9.8%, which is 20.3 percentage points below the national rate, while overseas-born residents are just 2.0%, some 19.6 points below national. The community shows strong First Nations character: 307 residents speak an Australian Indigenous Language, accounting for roughly 30% of the population. Average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 persons above the national figure, consistent with the higher proportion of couples with children. Residential stability is very high, with 91.1% of residents remaining at the same address, compared to much higher turnover in urban markets.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.2%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.2%, with apartments at only 2.4% and semi-detached dwellings at 3.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common type at 45.2%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 26.3% and two-bedroom at 17.8%. The tenure structure is unusual: 88.1% of dwellings are rented, while outright owners make up just 8.1% and mortgage holders 3.7%, a split that reflects the dominance of community and social housing. The estimated median house price of $201,000 is derived from rent data for 2025, placing the suburb far below Queensland medians. Rent at $120 per week implies a rent-to-income ratio of 14.5% for tenants, below the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$975
Rent / wk
$120
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$390
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.7%
Unoccupied
50
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
12.2%
Couples, no children
810
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration is the single largest employer at 28.6% of the workforce (42 workers), followed by healthcare at 19.0% (28 workers) and education at 17.7% (26 workers). Mining accounts for 10.9% (16 workers), which is notable for a community of this size, reflecting proximity to Cape York resources. The unemployment rate of 22.4% is significantly higher than state and national averages, and the participation rate of 39.6% is low because 355 residents are not in the labour force. Community and personal service workers are the dominant occupation at 59, followed by professionals at 40. Of 153 employed full-time, the workforce is small in absolute terms relative to the total population of 1,004.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.2%
Part-time
7.4%
Participation
39.6%
Employed
218
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.8%
Postgraduate
N/A
Born Overseas
2.0%
Dwellings
296
Transport to Work
Car travel is the primary mode of transport, with 74.0% of residents driving, while 15.3% walk or cycle, higher than many urban suburbs because of the community's compact settlement pattern within a large land area. Public transport data is not recorded for Hope Vale, reflecting its remote location north of Cooktown. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. Schools are not individually recorded in the brief, though the 17.7% employment share in education suggests local schooling is present. Volunteering sits at 5.9%, and 2.8% of residents (26 people) require daily assistance. Housing stress is low for renters, with rent-to-income at 14.5%, well below the 30% threshold that defines affordability pressure.
Drive
74.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
15.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hope Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hope Vale a good suburb to live in?
Hope Vale is a remote First Nations community in Cape York with a population of 1,004. Household income sits at the 5.2nd percentile nationally, unemployment is 22.4%, and public services form more than 65% of local employment. Housing is affordable by price, with an estimated median of $201,000, and residential stability is high at 91.1% staying in place.
What is the median house price in Hope Vale?
The estimated median house price is $201,000, derived from rent data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $120 and estimated monthly mortgage repayments are $975. The owner-occupier market is very thin, with only 8.1% owning outright and 3.7% purchasing with a mortgage, compared to 88.1% renting.
What schools are in Hope Vale?
No individual schools are recorded in this dataset for Hope Vale, though education employs 17.7% of the local workforce (26 workers), suggesting schooling services are present in the community. University qualifications among residents stand at 9.8%, which is 20.3 percentage points below the national average.
Is Hope Vale safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Hope Vale in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 91.1% of residents stayed in the same address, showing strong community attachment. Rent-to-income is 14.5% and housing stress is low. The 22.4% unemployment rate is above national and state averages, which can be associated with broader socioeconomic pressures.
Is Hope Vale good for property investment?
Hope Vale is not a conventional investment market. The vacancy rate of 14.7% is elevated, development applications in the past 12 months were zero and the rental demand stems from social housing allocations rather than private tenants. The estimated gross yield appears high against a $201,000 median and $120 weekly rent, but the 88.1% renter share reflects government-funded tenancies rather than market-rate demand.
How is Hope Vale's population changing?
Suburb-level population forecasts are not published for Hope Vale. The current population is 1,004 across 1,303 square kilometres. Residential stability is very high, with 91.1% staying in the same address, well above urban norms. The median age of 29 is 11 years below the national figure, pointing to a younger demographic structure relative to national averages.
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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