Julatten
With a median age of 54, Julatten sits 14 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest-skewing communities in Far North Queensland. Population is 1,020 spread across 154 square kilometres, producing a density of just 6.6 people per kilometre, far below the national average. Household income falls at the 21.2nd percentile nationally, yet 53.7% of residents own their homes outright, reflecting long-established tenure rather than recent buyer activity. The vacancy rate of 12.5% is elevated compared to most regional suburbs, and 95.3% of dwellings are separate houses, pointing to a rural lifestyle community rather than a growth corridor.
Population
1,020
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,136/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$356K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $356,000 positions Julatten well below Queensland state medians for comparable lifestyle properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,327, and mortgage-to-income sits at 27.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.3%, with apartments and semi-detached properties each below 2%, so buyers face limited choice in dwelling type. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.0% of stock and four-plus bedrooms 18.8%, which is suited to families or buyers seeking extra space. Outright owners at 53.7% greatly outnumber mortgage holders at 33.6%, suggesting stable long-term residents rather than a suburb driven by upgrader churn.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $356,000 positions Julatten well below Queensland state medians for comparable lifestyle properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,327, and mortgage-to-income sits at 27.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.3%, with apartments and semi-detached properties each below 2%, so buyers face limited choice in dwelling type. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.0% of stock and four-plus bedrooms 18.8%, which is suited to families or buyers seeking extra space. Outright owners at 53.7% greatly outnumber mortgage holders at 33.6%, suggesting stable long-term residents rather than a suburb driven by upgrader churn.
For Investors
A weekly rent of $275 against the $356,000 estimated median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, relatively attractive compared to coastal Queensland markets where prices have run harder. However, the vacancy rate of 12.5% is high, indicating that rental demand is thin relative to available stock. Only 12.7% of households rent, which is significantly lower than the national average, limiting the depth of the tenant pool. Three development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, including one secondary dwelling and two lot reconfigurations, signalling incremental rather than transformative supply growth. The aging population profile and low income base, at the 21.2nd percentile nationally, constrain rent growth potential over the medium term.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Julatten iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Julatten State School
Prep-6 · 59 students
Demographics
The median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, one of the most pronounced age gaps of any Queensland rural locality. English, Irish and Scottish ancestries dominate, each reflecting the long-settled Anglo-Celtic community, with English (425 residents) the largest single group. Overseas-born residents reach 20.0%, which is 1.6 percentage points below the national figure, suggesting limited recent international migration. University qualifications at 19.5% sit 10.6 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the trades and labourers-heavy workforce. Average household size is 2.4, close to but slightly below the national figure. Couples with no children form the largest family type at 42.7% of all families, a pattern typical of older rural communities where children have moved away.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.3%
Houses
1.1%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 95.3% of dwellings, far above the national average, and apartment living is effectively absent at 0.8%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 45.0%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 18.8% and two-bedroom at 21.8%. Tenure is skewed heavily toward outright ownership: 53.7% own without a mortgage, 33.6% carry one, and only 12.7% rent, ratios that reflect the older demographic base with decades of equity accumulation rather than active buyer competition. The estimated median house price is $356,000 with weekly rent at $275. Rent-to-income at 24.2% stays below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 27.0% is similarly comfortable, indicating housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,327
Rent / wk
$275
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$559
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.5%
Unoccupied
53
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.7%
Couples, no children
709
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employment sector at 17.4% of workers (44 people), followed by Education at 10.7% (27), Retail at 10.3% (26), Construction at 9.5% (24) and Agriculture at 7.9% (20). Labourers are the largest occupation group at 77 workers, ahead of Managers (64) and Community/Personal service roles (53), reflecting the rural service economy rather than a professional hub. The unemployment rate is 6.0%, above the national rate at the time of the Census, and the participation rate of 45.1% is well below average, largely because 349 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the retirement-age skew of the population. Weekly household income of $1,136 ranks at the 21.2nd percentile nationally, meaning the local economy generates significantly lower earnings than the typical Australian suburb.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.2%
Part-time
39.8%
Participation
45.1%
Employed
373
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.5%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
20.0%
Dwellings
364
Transport to Work
Car dependence is pronounced, with 89.5% of workers driving to work compared to the national average, while only 1.8% use public transport and 1.8% walk or cycle, reflecting the suburb's rural character across 154 square kilometres. No schools are recorded within the Julatten boundary, so families travel to nearby centres for schooling. Crime statistics are not available, so the safety profile cannot be quantified from this dataset. SEIFA disadvantage scores are not available for Julatten, limiting comparison to other suburbs. The need-for-assistance rate of 10.2% (91 residents) is notable against the small population and correlates with the older demographic, where aged care needs are higher than average. The housing stress indicators are favourable: rent-to-income at 24.2% and mortgage-to-income at 27.0% both sit below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
89.5%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Julatten compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Julatten a good suburb to live in?
Julatten suits buyers seeking rural acreage lifestyle in Far North Queensland. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 27.0% and the estimated median house price at $356,000. The population of 1,020 is spread across 154 square kilometres, so residents value space and quiet over urban convenience. The median age of 54 is 14 years above national, reflecting a predominantly older, established community.
What is the median house price in Julatten?
The estimated median house price is $356,000, with weekly rent averaging $275. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,327, putting mortgage-to-income at 27.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Homes are almost entirely detached houses, with 95.3% of dwellings in that category.
What schools are in Julatten?
No schools are recorded within the Julatten suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby townships. University qualifications among residents reach 19.5%, which is 10.6 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the trades and rural workforce profile of the area.
Is Julatten safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Julatten in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb has a stable resident base with 85.7% of residents remaining at the same address over 5 years and a volunteering rate of 16.8%. The small population of 1,020 and low density of 6.6 people per square kilometre are typical of rural communities with limited recorded crime.
Is Julatten good for property investment?
The estimated gross yield of around 4.0% based on $275 weekly rent against the $356,000 median is higher than many coastal Queensland markets. However, the vacancy rate of 12.5% is elevated, and only 12.7% of households rent, meaning the tenant pool is narrow. Household income at the 21.2nd percentile nationally limits upside from rent growth. Investors should weigh yield against the thin demand base.
How is Julatten's population changing?
Julatten's population of 1,020 shows a highly stable profile: 85.7% of residents lived at the same address five years prior, well above average. The median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, suggesting the community is aging in place rather than attracting younger residents. No formal forecast is available, but low development activity with only 3 applications in 12 months points to limited near-term 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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