Idalia
At a median age of 32, Idalia runs 8 years younger than the national figure, which tells most of the story. This is a suburb built around families: 67.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and couples with children make up the dominant household type. Household incomes sit at the 92.6th percentile nationally, yet the estimated median house price of $517,000 keeps mortgage-to-income at just 17.6%, well below stress thresholds. The suburb occupies 3.39 square kilometres near Townsville, with a population of 4,563 and a density of 1,346 people per square kilometre. University qualification rates reach 42.6%, which is 12.5 percentage points above the national average.
Population
4,563
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,524/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$517K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $517,000 is derived from 2025 rent data, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,920, manageable relative to a median weekly household income of $2,524. Separate houses make up 79.9% of stock, with apartments at 19.3% and semi-detached at just 0.8%, so buyers wanting a detached home face a broad and accessible market. The standout feature is bedroom size: 67.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, significantly higher than the national average for suburban areas, which suits the family-oriented profile driven by a median age 8 years below the national figure. Outright owners represent 18.6% of residents compared to 38.3% on a mortgage, indicating a suburb still in an accumulation phase.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $517,000 is derived from 2025 rent data, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,920, manageable relative to a median weekly household income of $2,524. Separate houses make up 79.9% of stock, with apartments at 19.3% and semi-detached at just 0.8%, so buyers wanting a detached home face a broad and accessible market. The standout feature is bedroom size: 67.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, significantly higher than the national average for suburban areas, which suits the family-oriented profile driven by a median age 8 years below the national figure. Outright owners represent 18.6% of residents compared to 38.3% on a mortgage, indicating a suburb still in an accumulation phase.
For Investors
A 43.2% renter share is one of the highest tenure splits you will find in a predominantly detached house suburb, giving landlords a deep tenant pool without competing against a dense apartment market. Weekly rent is $400 against a $517,000 estimated median, implying a gross yield near 4.0%, well above inner-city benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 7.8% is elevated and warrants scrutiny before purchasing, as it suggests supply currently exceeds demand in parts of the Townsville rental market. Development activity is modest at 6 applications in the past 12 months, mostly lot reconfiguration rather than new dwellings, so new supply is not the driver of vacancies. The under-35 dominant population base and strong healthcare and public administration employment base near Townsville provide a stable renter cohort. Household income at the 92.6th percentile nationally means tenants here have above-average financial capacity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
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 Idalia iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Oonoonba State School
Prep-6 · 525 students
Demographics
The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national median, a gap driven by the family formation cohort: couples with children account for 1,756 of 3,607 total families. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 20.1%, which is 1.5 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,769 residents), Irish (521) and Scottish (464). Non-English languages spoken at home include Korean (53), Hindi (24) and Mandarin (12), reflecting a modest international presence. Christianity is the dominant religion (2,310 residents), with Hinduism the next largest at 138. University qualification rates of 42.6% run 12.5 points above the national average, consistent with the professional and public sector employment profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.9%
Houses
0.8%
Townhouse
19.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split tilts toward renters at 43.2%, compared to 38.3% on a mortgage and 18.6% owning outright. That renter majority in an 80% detached house suburb is unusual and points to a workforce housing dynamic, given proximity to Townsville's hospitals and government employers. Bedroom distribution is heavily weighted to larger homes: 67.5% have 4 or more bedrooms and 13.1% have 3 bedrooms, with smaller 2-bedroom stock at just 15.8%. The estimated median house price of $517,000 places Idalia below the national median for comparable detached markets, and the rent-to-income ratio of 15.8% is well below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,920 are modest relative to a household weekly income of $2,524. Apartments account for 19.3% of stock, concentrated likely along arterial edges given the suburb's 3.39 square kilometre footprint.
Mortgage / mo
$1,920
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,240
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
137
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.5%
Couples, no children
3,607
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 25.4% of the local workforce (485 workers), followed by Public Administration at 18.3% (350) and Education at 9.8% (187). Professional and Technical services add 7.6% and Construction 6.4%, giving a workforce profile anchored to Townsville's public sector and health infrastructure. By occupation, Professionals lead with 768 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service at 448 and Managers at 415. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 72.6% with a participation rate of 72.9%. Personal weekly income averages $1,240 and family weekly income reaches $2,826. The healthcare and public administration concentration provides employment stability, as these sectors are less cyclical than construction or retail.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.6%
Part-time
24.5%
Participation
72.9%
Employed
2,560
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.6%
Postgraduate
10.2%
Born Overseas
20.1%
Dwellings
1,606
Transport to Work
Car dependence is pronounced at 90.7% of residents driving to work, while public transport use is just 0.3%, well below the national average, which means access to Townsville's services relies almost entirely on road networks. Walking and cycling account for 3.1% of commutes, modest but above the public transport share. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Townsville institutions. Crime data is not available for Idalia specifically. Housing stress is low on both measures: rent-to-income of 15.8% and mortgage-to-income of 17.6% are both comfortably below the 30% threshold, meaning the 92.6th percentile income base gives residents genuine financial breathing room. The volunteering rate of 16.6% suggests moderate community engagement, and only 4.1% of residents (178 people) need daily assistance.
Drive
90.7%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Idalia compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Idalia a good suburb to live in?
Idalia suits families well, with 67.5% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and a median age of 32, which is 8 years below the national figure. Household incomes sit at the 92.6th percentile nationally, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 17.6%. The main trade-off is near-total car dependence, with public transport use at just 0.3%.
What is the median house price in Idalia?
The estimated median house price is $517,000, derived from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,920. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.6% is well below the 30% stress threshold, making Idalia more accessible than many comparable detached house suburbs.
What schools are in Idalia?
No schools are recorded within the Idalia suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on nearby Townsville schools. Despite this, the suburb has a highly educated resident base, with 42.6% holding university qualifications, which is 12.5 percentage points above the national average.
Is Idalia safe?
Specific crime data is not available for Idalia in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb's unemployment rate of 2.9% is below the national average, and only 4.1% of residents (178 people) need daily assistance. The high household income at the 92.6th percentile nationally is generally associated with lower crime-risk areas.
Is Idalia good for property investment?
The 43.2% renter share and $400 weekly rent against a $517,000 median imply a gross yield near 4.0%, above most capital city benchmarks. However, the 7.8% vacancy rate is elevated, suggesting current supply exceeds demand in the Townsville market. The stable public sector and healthcare employment base provides a reliable renter cohort for long-term investors.
How is Idalia's population changing?
Formal forecasts are not available for Idalia in this dataset. The current population is 4,563 across 3.39 square kilometres. The high turnover rate of 39.7% over 5 years reflects the large 43.2% renter share rather than instability. The median age of 32, which is 8 years below the national median, points to ongoing family formation and natural population growth.
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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