Junction Hill
Half the homes in Junction Hill are owned outright, a figure that sits well above the national average and signals a settled, low-debt community. With a population of 1,547 across 7.2 km2, it is a quiet residential pocket of the Clarence Valley. Median age is 47, which is 7 years older than the national figure, and just 5.1% of residents were born overseas compared to a national rate near 30%, reflecting a deeply Anglo-Celtic heritage. Household income places the suburb at the 34th percentile nationally, below average, yet mortgage and rent costs are comfortably within sustainable ratios.
Population
1,547
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,340/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
39
Median House
$496K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $496,500 makes Junction Hill accessible compared to metropolitan NSW markets. Price history shows a move from $520,000 in 2024 to $465,000 in 2025, a 10.6% decline, so buyers entering now are purchasing below the recent peak. Separate houses dominate at 94.5% of dwellings, with apartments at just 1.2%, which is well below the state average. The bedroom split is balanced between 3-bedroom (46.8%) and 4-plus bedroom (46.5%) homes, meaning most stock suits families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,528 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership costs manageable relative to local incomes.
For Buyers
The median house price of $496,500 makes Junction Hill accessible compared to metropolitan NSW markets. Price history shows a move from $520,000 in 2024 to $465,000 in 2025, a 10.6% decline, so buyers entering now are purchasing below the recent peak. Separate houses dominate at 94.5% of dwellings, with apartments at just 1.2%, which is well below the state average. The bedroom split is balanced between 3-bedroom (46.8%) and 4-plus bedroom (46.5%) homes, meaning most stock suits families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,528 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership costs manageable relative to local incomes.
For Investors
The rental yield picture is supported by a $350 weekly rent median against a $496,500 median price, implying a gross yield near 3.7%. The vacancy rate is 3.0%, within the healthy band, and renter households account for 19.4% of the market. Development activity recorded 38 applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling houses and structural additions, suggesting steady if modest building momentum. The 80.9% resident stability rate, where nearly 81 in 100 stayed in the same address over 5 years, means tenant churn is low, reducing re-letting costs. The suburb lacks a strong migration-driven demand driver given overseas-born residents are only 5.1%, so capital growth depends on Clarence Valley regional trends rather than population pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
113
Last 12 Months
39
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 47 exceeds the national figure by 7 years, placing Junction Hill firmly in the aging-resident category. Overseas-born residents at 5.1% sit 16.5 percentage points below the national average, one of the more striking demographic contrasts in the brief. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (727 residents) leads by a wide margin, followed by Irish (177) and Scottish (138). University qualifications at 22.4% fall 7.7 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a regional, trade-oriented workforce. Average household size is 2.4, close to the national figure of 2.5. Couples with children (469 families) and couples without children (490 families) are near equal, reflecting a mid-life to retirement population structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.5%
Houses
3.8%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure data shows 50.3% of homes owned outright, which is substantially higher than the national average, meaning more than half the housing stock carries no mortgage. Mortgage holders account for 30.3% and renters 19.4%, an unusually low rental share that points to long-term owner-occupier roots. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 94.5%, with semi-detached at 3.8% and apartments at only 1.2%, far below national norms. The 3-bedroom and 4-plus bedroom segments together cover 93.3% of dwellings. The median house price declined 10.6% from $520,000 in 2024 to $465,000 in 2025, meaning the current median of $496,500 reflects a market correcting from a post-COVID peak. Rent-to-income at 26.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,528
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$668
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.0%
Unoccupied
19
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.4%
Couples, no children
1,275
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.6% of workers (89 people), followed by Public Administration at 19.6% (77) and Education at 14.8% (58), a pattern typical of a regional service-sector hub rather than a private-sector economy. Construction accounts for 10.2% (40 workers) and Retail for 7.4% (29). By occupation, Professionals lead at 112 workers, closely followed by Community and Personal Service workers at 101, and Clerical and Admin at 96. Full-time employment runs at 61.9%, and the unemployment rate is 4.5%. Household income sits at the 34th percentile nationally, below average, which reflects the dominance of public-sector and community-service roles that tend to pay moderate wages relative to professional services. Participation rate is 46.0%, partly because 580 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.9%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
46.0%
Employed
551
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.4%
Postgraduate
4.8%
Born Overseas
5.1%
Dwellings
604
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 94.3% of workers commuting by private vehicle, above the national average, consistent with the suburb's regional location and limited public transport. Walking and cycling account for only 0.8% of trips. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. Schools are not recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in the broader Clarence Valley area, notably the Grafton township. Volunteering is notable at 20.0% of residents, which is above typical national rates and consistent with the older, community-oriented demographic. Rent stress and mortgage stress flags are both clear, with housing costs comfortably below income stress thresholds. The need-for-assistance rate is 7.8% (116 residents), slightly elevated relative to the national average, reflecting the older age profile.
Drive
94.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Junction Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Junction Hill a good suburb to live in?
Junction Hill suits owner-occupiers and families who value space and stability. More than 50% of homes are owned outright, well above the national average, and 80.9% of residents stayed put over the past 5 years. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage repayments averaging $1,528 per month and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Junction Hill?
The median house price is $496,500. Prices declined 10.6% from $520,000 in 2024 to $465,000 in 2025, so buyers are entering below the recent peak. Weekly rent averages $350, implying a gross yield near 3.7% for investors.
What schools are in Junction Hill?
No schools are recorded within the Junction Hill suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access education in the broader Clarence Valley area, with Grafton being the main service centre. University qualifications in the suburb stand at 22.4% of residents, which is 7.7 percentage points below the national average.
Is Junction Hill safe?
Crime rate data is not available for Junction Hill in this dataset. As a proxy for community wellbeing, the suburb has a 20.0% volunteering rate, above typical national levels, and a resident stability rate of 80.9%, indicating a settled, low-turnover community. The need-for-assistance rate is 7.8% among 1,547 residents.
Is Junction Hill good for property investment?
The rental yield is relatively attractive for a regional suburb, with $350 weekly rent against a $496,500 median implying about 3.7% gross yield. The vacancy rate is 3.0%, within a healthy range. The downside is a 10.6% price decline from 2024 to 2025 and a small renter base of only 19.4%, so demand for rental accommodation is limited compared to higher-density urban markets.
How is Junction Hill's population changing?
Junction Hill has a population of 1,547 with a median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national figure. The high residential stability rate of 80.9% means population turnover is slow. The suburb has very low overseas migration at 5.1% born overseas, 16.5 percentage points below the national average, so growth depends on natural increase in a community that skews older.
How much development activity is there in Junction Hill?
There were 38 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include new dwelling houses with subdivision and structural additions such as decks and pools. This level of activity reflects steady owner-driven reinvestment rather than large-scale new supply, consistent with a stable 94.5% separate-house dominated suburb.
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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