Jandowae
With a median age of 53 and household income in just the 11.2nd percentile nationally, Jandowae is one of Queensland's more economically modest rural townships. The population of 1,004 is spread across 254 square kilometres, giving a density of only 4 residents per km2, which is far below the national average. Despite low incomes, housing affordability is genuine: a $256,000 median house price keeps mortgage-to-income at 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Half of all homeowners hold their properties outright, a higher rate than most suburban markets, pointing to a settled, long-established resident base rather than a transient one.
Population
1,004
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$959/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$256K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $256,000, the median house price in Jandowae sits well below the QLD state median, making it one of the more accessible entry points in the Darling Downs region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $940, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, which stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 93.9%, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 47.9% and 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 23.3%. Outright ownership at 50.4% is notably high compared to the national average, suggesting many residents have held their homes for decades. That ownership depth reduces churn and keeps the supply of affordable listings limited.
For Buyers
At $256,000, the median house price in Jandowae sits well below the QLD state median, making it one of the more accessible entry points in the Darling Downs region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $940, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, which stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 93.9%, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 47.9% and 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 23.3%. Outright ownership at 50.4% is notably high compared to the national average, suggesting many residents have held their homes for decades. That ownership depth reduces churn and keeps the supply of affordable listings limited.
For Investors
Jandowae presents a contrasting picture for investors. Weekly rent of $200 against a $256,000 median implies a gross yield of around 4%, which is higher than most metropolitan benchmarks. However, a vacancy rate of 19.6% is a significant warning: nearly 1 in 5 rental properties is unoccupied, well above healthy thresholds of 2-3%. The rental market represents only 26.3% of households, limiting tenant pool depth. Development activity is minimal at just 5 applications in the past 12 months, all minor works, reflecting low speculative interest. The combination of thin population (1,004) and high vacancy means rental income depends heavily on retaining the existing tenant base rather than attracting new demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Jandowae iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Jandowae Prep-10 State School
Prep-10 · 114 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, one of the more pronounced aging gaps in regional Queensland. University qualifications reach just 12.4%, which is 17.7 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the manual and agricultural employment base of the area. Only 7.0% of residents were born overseas, compared to the national figure of around 21.6%, a gap of 14.6 percentage points. Ancestry is overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic: English (442), Irish (105), Scottish (98) and German (93) lead the counts. The average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, consistent with a resident base that skews toward older couples and retirees rather than families with young children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.9%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Half of all Jandowae homeowners, 50.4%, own outright with no mortgage, a rate that sits higher than most urban and suburban markets nationally. Mortgage holders make up 23.3% and renters 26.3%. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 93.9%, with the majority being 3-bedroom homes (47.9%), followed by 4-plus bedrooms (23.3%) and 2-bedroom homes (23.0%). Rent at $200 per week accounts for 20.9% of renter incomes, below the standard stress threshold of 30%. Mortgage repayments at $940 per month represent 22.6% of household income. Both figures indicate that housing costs, while modest in absolute terms, remain proportionate to the area's lower income levels rather than creating systemic financial pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$940
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$495
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.6%
Unoccupied
96
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.9%
Couples, no children
679
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 22.3% of the local workforce (39 workers), followed equally by Agriculture and Public Administration each at 14.9% (26 workers), and Construction at 12.0% (21 workers). Managers are the top occupation group (58 workers), alongside Machinery and Transport Drivers (44) and Labourers (44), reflecting the rural and trade character of the local economy. The unemployment rate is 9.8%, notably higher than the national average, partly because the low participation rate of 38.2% means that a large share of working-age residents, particularly older residents and retirees, have exited the labour force entirely. Personal weekly income of $495 and household weekly income of $959 both sit below state and national medians, consistent with the 11.2nd percentile household income ranking.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.0%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
38.2%
Employed
286
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.4%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
7.0%
Dwellings
394
Transport to Work
Transport in Jandowae is car-dependent, with 85.6% of residents driving to work, consistent with a rural township where public transport options are limited. Walking and cycling account for 11.4% of commutes, higher than many regional centres, likely reflecting the compact township layout. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families would rely on facilities in nearby centres. Volunteering is a notable community strength at 24.7%, well above the national average, pointing to a high level of civic engagement relative to the 1,004-person population. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The need-for-assistance rate of 12.9% (115 residents) is relatively elevated compared to the national average, consistent with the older median age of 53.
Drive
85.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Jandowae compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jandowae a good suburb to live in?
Jandowae suits those seeking affordable, low-density rural living. The $256,000 median house price and mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% make homeownership financially manageable. Trade-offs include a 9.8% unemployment rate, limited school data within the suburb, and household income in just the 11.2nd percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Jandowae?
The median house price in Jandowae is $256,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $200 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $940, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Jandowae?
No schools are recorded within the Jandowae suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in nearby Darling Downs centres. University qualification rates locally are 12.4%, which is 17.7 percentage points below the national average.
Is Jandowae safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Jandowae in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the volunteering rate of 24.7% points to strong community cohesion, and the suburb's turnover rate is low at 17.2%, with 82.8% of residents remaining in their homes, suggesting a stable, settled community.
Is Jandowae good for property investment?
Investment in Jandowae carries notable risk due to a 19.6% vacancy rate, well above the healthy benchmark of 2-3%. Weekly rent of $200 against a $256,000 median implies a gross yield near 4%, above metropolitan averages, but the thin rental pool of 26.3% of households and only 5 development applications in the past 12 months limit upside.
How is Jandowae's population changing?
Jandowae has a population of 1,004 across 254 square kilometres. Structural indicators suggest gradual decline: the median age of 53 is 13 years above national, the participation rate is low at 38.2%, and the 19.6% vacancy rate points to housing stock outpacing demand. Only 5 development applications were lodged in the past year, all minor works.
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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