Humpty Doo
A 14.1% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Humpty Doo, alongside a household income percentile of 90.7 and a housing stock that is 96.2% separate houses. Its 4,313 residents have a median age of 39, one year below the national median, while 58.5% of homes carry a mortgage. Compared with Palmerston's more urban form, Humpty Doo is more car-dependent and land-oriented, with density of 60.2 people per square kilometre. Nearby Howard Springs shares the wider rural-fringe setting, while Humpty Doo's four-bedroom-plus share of 36.8% points to established family households rather than compact living.
Population
4,313
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,401/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers in Humpty Doo are selecting a highly detached market, with 96.2% of dwellings being separate houses and only 0.4% apartments. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,206, compared with weekly rent of $400, while mortgage households at 58.5% substantially exceed outright owners at 23.8%. Mortgage-to-income is 21.2% and rent-to-income is 16.7%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Three-bedroom homes account for 38.4% and four-bedroom-plus homes 36.8%, making the suburb more suited to households seeking space than to buyers prioritising compact apartment living.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Humpty Doo are selecting a highly detached market, with 96.2% of dwellings being separate houses and only 0.4% apartments. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,206, compared with weekly rent of $400, while mortgage households at 58.5% substantially exceed outright owners at 23.8%. Mortgage-to-income is 21.2% and rent-to-income is 16.7%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Three-bedroom homes account for 38.4% and four-bedroom-plus homes 36.8%, making the suburb more suited to households seeking space than to buyers prioritising compact apartment living.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed rental picture. Weekly rent is $400, but the vacancy rate is 14.1%, which can lengthen leasing periods and increase the importance of property condition and tenant appeal. Only 16.1% of households rent, below the 58.5% with mortgages, so the tenant pool is smaller than in many established urban markets. Development activity recorded 0 projects in the past 12 months, while the main gentrification score is 12 and the stage is Not gentrifying. Rent growth of 14.3% and a Balanced migration driver provide support, but the 1.09% annual growth forecast suggests a gradual rather than speculative strategy.
Demographics
Humpty Doo has a median age of 39, one year below the national comparison, but its trajectory is ageing. University attainment is 15.1%, 15 percentage points below the national level, and overseas-born residents account for 14.5%, 7.1 points below the national comparison. Household size is 2.9 people, 0.4 above the national figure, because couples with children make up 47.1% of families and one-parent families 13.4%. English ancestry leads at 1,593 people, followed by Irish at 466 and Scottish at 425. No religion is recorded for 2,187 residents compared with 1,558 identifying with Christianity, giving the locality a less religious profile than its ancestry mix alone might suggest.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.2%
Houses
3.2%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Humpty Doo is overwhelmingly low-density and detached: 96.2% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 3.2% semi-detached homes and 0.4% apartments. The tenure mix is led by mortgages at 58.5%, well above outright ownership at 23.8%, while renting accounts for 16.1% and other tenure for 1.7%. The most common bedroom configurations are three bedrooms at 38.4% and four or more at 36.8%, reinforcing the family-house pattern. Vacancy is high at 14.1%, and the mortgage-to-income figure of 21.2% is higher than rent-to-income at 16.7%, although neither is flagged as stressed.
Mortgage / mo
$2,206
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,080
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.1%
Unoccupied
224
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.1%
Couples with children
39.1%
Couples, no children
13.4%
Single parent
1,137
Total families
Economy & Employment
Humpty Doo's employment base is anchored by Public Admin at 17.5% and 254 people, followed by Construction at 15.1% and 219, Education at 10.1% and 147, Healthcare at 9.2% and 134, and Other Services at 6.6% and 96. That mix fits the occupation profile: Trades lead at 462, followed by Clerical/Admin at 354, Professionals at 316, Managers at 292 and Community/Personal work at 231. Labour-force participation is 68.8%, unemployment is 3.9% and full-time work is 66.8%, supporting household income of $2,401 a week at the 90.7th percentile. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 4 sits below IER decile 9, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 7. Resources therefore rank higher than education and occupation, consistent with a mortgage-led, trade-heavy economy.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
2,356
Unemployed
92
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.8%
Part-time
24.8%
Participation
68.8%
Employed
2,264
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.1%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
14.5%
Dwellings
1,354
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-led: 85.1% travel as car drivers, far higher than the 1.0% using public transport and the 1.7% walking or cycling. A further 6.8% work from home, which may suit larger properties across the locality's 71.65 square kilometres and density of 60.2 people per square kilometre. Compared with denser urban areas, this layout provides more space but creates greater reliance on driving for services and connections. IRSAD sits in decile 7, above the middle of the national distribution, while volunteering is 17.2% and need for assistance is 4.0%. The combination points to reasonable socioeconomic capacity, but daily convenience depends heavily on location and vehicle access.
Drive
85.1%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
6.8%
Population Forecast
+1.09%/yr
(+104 people/yr)
EstablishedHumpty Doo's established trajectory is steady rather than explosive, with forecast annual growth of 1.09% and a Balanced migration driver. Population change across the wider area is 7.5% over 10 years, while the shift is labelled Aging, supported by a senior-share increase of 5.0% and a young-share decline of 3.2%. Affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 39.7% in 2011 to 34.9% in 2021. The main gentrification assessment is score 12 and stage Not gentrifying, while a separate shift indicator records score 22 and Early signs. Together, these signals point to gradual established-area change rather than a major reinvention.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+33
Net Internal / yr
+56
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011, Net internal migration +56/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Humpty Doo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Humpty Doo a good suburb to live in?
Humpty Doo suits households seeking space, detached housing and a semi-rural setting. Separate houses make up 96.2% of dwellings, while 85.1% of residents drive to work compared with 1.0% using public transport. Its IRSAD decile of 7 and household income percentile of 90.7 indicate solid resources, but car dependence is higher than in denser urban areas.
What is the median house price in Humpty Doo?
A current median house price is not available. The market is 96.2% separate houses, with 58.5% of occupied dwellings carrying a mortgage, so buyers should compare recent sales for similar land size, bedroom count and condition rather than rely on an area-wide figure. Three-bedroom homes represent 38.4% of the housing stock and four-bedroom-plus homes 36.8%.
What schools are in Humpty Doo?
Families should verify the nearest school and enrolment zone for each address, because local catchments can cross locality boundaries. Humpty Doo has 4,313 residents, but practical school choices depend on the property's exact location, travel route and current intake rules. Confirm availability directly before making a purchase or lease decision.
Is Humpty Doo safe?
A definitive safety rating should not be assumed without current incident information. Humpty Doo covers 71.65 square kilometres and has 4,313 residents, so conditions can vary by road and property. Inspect lighting, access and nearby activity at different times, and ask for recent local incident details when comparing homes.
Is Humpty Doo good for property investment?
Humpty Doo may suit investors seeking a detached-house market, but the vacancy rate of 14.1% is a clear risk because it can lengthen leasing periods. Weekly rent is $400, the renting share is 16.1% and development activity was 0 projects over 12 months. Rent growth of 14.3% and a Balanced migration driver are supportive, while the 1.09% growth forecast favours a patient strategy.
How is Humpty Doo's population changing?
Humpty Doo has 4,313 residents today, with wider-area population change of 7.5% over 10 years and forecast annual growth of 1.09%. The trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 5.0% and the young share down 3.2%. Migration is classified as Balanced, so change is likely to be steady rather than driven by one dominant source.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Humpty Doo on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map