Kalkie
A median house price of $402,000 puts Kalkie well below the national average, yet 92.6% of its dwellings are separate houses on a 9.24 km2 footprint north of Bundaberg. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 2 for both IRSD and IRSAD, placing it in the bottom fifth nationally for advantage, while household income lands at the 52.5th percentile, a split that reflects owner-occupier stability rather than wealth. With 35.6% of homes owned outright and only 25.0% renting, Kalkie has the debt-light tenure profile of an established outer suburb, not a rental market. Population grew 11.4% over the decade, driven mainly by net overseas migration of 46 per year.
Population
2,968
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,599/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$402K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $402,000 makes Kalkie one of the more accessible detached-house markets in Queensland, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,502 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is strongly detached: 92.6% are separate houses and only 4.0% are apartments. Bedroom configuration skews large, with 49.1% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% having 3, so families buying here are getting genuine space. Outright owners at 35.6% outnumber renters at 25.0%, which signals a settled, low-churn community where owners hold property long-term rather than cycling frequently. Affordability has been improving, with the affordability ratio falling from 49.8% in 2011 to 43.9% in 2021.
For Buyers
The median house price of $402,000 makes Kalkie one of the more accessible detached-house markets in Queensland, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,502 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is strongly detached: 92.6% are separate houses and only 4.0% are apartments. Bedroom configuration skews large, with 49.1% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% having 3, so families buying here are getting genuine space. Outright owners at 35.6% outnumber renters at 25.0%, which signals a settled, low-churn community where owners hold property long-term rather than cycling frequently. Affordability has been improving, with the affordability ratio falling from 49.8% in 2011 to 43.9% in 2021.
For Investors
Rental yields in Kalkie face a headwind from a 6.2% vacancy rate, which is elevated compared to healthy market benchmarks below 3%, suggesting limited rental competition among tenants. Weekly rent of $310 against a $402,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.0%, modest but more credible than east-coast prestige markets. The renter share is 25.0%, below average nationally, so the investor pool competes for a smaller slice of occupiers. On the demand side, net overseas migration averages 46 per year while internal migration runs at negative 15, meaning overseas arrivals, not interstate movers, are the growth driver. Rent grew 18.4% over the measured period, outpacing real income growth of 9.2%, which supports future rent escalation if vacancy tightens. A recent 145-lot subdivision application signals incoming supply that could pressure vacancy further.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
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 Kalkie iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Luke's Anglican School
Prep-12 · 1090 students
Kalkie State School
Prep-6 · 322 students
Demographics
Kalkie's median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, while the suburb trends older: the senior share has risen 5.3 points and the working-age share fell 2.3 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 13.6% of the population, which is 8.0 points below the national average, and English ancestry dominates, with 1,234 residents identifying as English, followed by Scottish (312) and Irish (273). Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national average by 0.1. University qualifications at 24.2% run 5.9 points below the national figure, consistent with the decile 2 IEO education and occupation index. The volunteering rate of 16.5% is moderate, and 8.1% of residents need daily assistance, suggesting a meaningful share of elderly or disabled residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.6%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
4.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 92.6% of Kalkie's 2,968-person, 9.24 km2 suburb, making apartment living almost negligible at 4.0%. Tenure is owner-dominated: 35.6% own outright and 39.4% carry a mortgage, leaving only 25.0% renting, well below the national renter share. Four-plus bedroom homes represent 49.1% of stock and three-bedroom homes 41.5%, so the housing stock caters almost exclusively to families and couples, not singles or students. The $402,000 median price is an estimate based on 2025 rental data, and rent-to-income sits at 19.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership well above average suggests long-term residents who purchased years ago rather than a market driven by recent credit.
Mortgage / mo
$1,502
Rent / wk
$310
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$726
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
70
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.7%
Couples, no children
2,453
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment mix at 27.0% of workers (234 people), nearly double the next-largest sector, Education at 12.9% (112 workers). Retail, Public Administration and Construction each account for roughly 7% to 9%. Professionals are the leading occupation group (258 workers), ahead of Community and Personal Service (191) and Clerical/Admin (170). Unemployment is 5.8%, higher than the national average, and the participation rate of 56.2% is low, because 846 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 63.6% of employed residents. Kalkie scores decile 2 on all SEIFA indexes, meaning it ranks in the bottom 20% nationally for economic resources, education, and relative advantage, a reflection of the Bundaberg region's wage structure rather than acute deprivation.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
3,351
Unemployed
126
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.6%
Part-time
30.6%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
1,256
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.2%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
13.6%
Dwellings
1,065
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Kalkie is near-total: 91.7% of residents drive to work, and only 0.8% use public transport, lower than most Queensland outer suburbs. The suburb scores decile 2 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the bottom fifth for overall advantage, though the mortgage and rent stress indicators are both clear, with mortgage-to-income at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 19.4%. No schools are recorded within the Kalkie boundary in the dataset, so families depend on schools in nearby Bundaberg suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for Kalkie specifically. Household income at the 52.5th percentile nationally, combined with high home ownership, positions Kalkie as a working-to-middle-income suburb where cost of living is manageable and outright ownership reduces financial pressure.
Drive
91.7%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+63 people/yr)
EstablishedKalkie grew 11.4% over the decade to reach 2,968 residents, with annual growth forecast at 1.05%, adding roughly 63 people per year. Under medium projections, the broader SA2 population rises from around 5,981 in 2025 to 6,463 by 2031. Overseas migration drives the gain at a net 46 per year, while internal migration is a net negative 15, meaning residents leave for other parts of Australia but are replaced by international arrivals. The gentrification score of 26 and stage of early signs suggests the area is at the beginning of a value-uplift cycle, though the formal gentrification signal reads not gentrifying. Real income grew 9.2% and rents rose 18.4% over the period, and affordability has been improving since 2011, all conditions that historically precede broader price movement in lower-decile suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+46
Net Internal / yr
-15
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kalkie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalkie a good suburb to live in?
Kalkie suits buyers seeking a detached house at an affordable price with low financial stress: the mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.7% and 75% of households own or are buying their home. The suburb scores SEIFA decile 2 nationally, so amenity and income levels are below average compared to capital city suburbs, but the $402,000 median makes entry achievable for many buyers.
What is the median house price in Kalkie?
The median house price is estimated at $402,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $310 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,502, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Kalkie?
No schools are recorded within the Kalkie boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the broader Bundaberg area. The suburb has 2,968 residents and the local university qualification rate is 24.2%, which is 5.9 points below the national average.
Is Kalkie safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Kalkie in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA decile 2 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, placing it in the lower fifth nationally, which is typically associated with higher than average crime exposure. Local conditions are best verified with the Queensland Police crime map.
Is Kalkie good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $310 against a $402,000 median gives a gross yield around 4.0%, reasonable for Queensland, but the 6.2% vacancy rate is elevated and signals weak rental demand. Rent grew 18.4% over the measured period and overseas migration adds 46 residents a year, providing a demand base, but a recent 145-lot subdivision could increase supply pressure.
How is Kalkie's population changing?
Kalkie grew 11.4% over the past decade and annual growth is forecast at 1.05%, adding about 63 people per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 46 per year, while internal migration is slightly negative at minus 15. Under medium projections, the broader area population reaches 6,463 by 2031.
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.
Explore Kalkie on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map