Kelso
Two SEIFA scores tell the real story of this Townsville suburb: IRSAD and IEO both sit in decile 2, placing Kelso among the more disadvantaged 20% of areas nationally, yet the median house price of $393,000 makes it genuinely affordable rather than distressed. The gap resolves through tenure, because 67.3% of residents own or are buying their homes while only 14.8% hold a university qualification, 15.3 points below the national rate. Detached houses make up 98.0% of the stock with apartments at just 0.3%, confirming a low-density mortgage belt of 10,599 people. Healthcare employs 21.8% of workers, the single largest industry, anchoring the local economy to the nearby Townsville hospital corridor.
Population
10,599
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,626/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$393K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $393,000 the median house price is roughly a quarter of what inner-Brisbane buyers pay, and the monthly mortgage of $1,496 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because local incomes track the low price point. Three-bedroom homes account for 53.0% of stock and four-or-more bedrooms a further 43.8%, so almost the entire market is family-sized housing. Separate houses dominate at 98.0%, with apartments at 0.3%, meaning buyers wanting a unit have almost no options here. Owner-occupiers are well represented, with 43.8% carrying a mortgage and 23.5% owning outright, a higher ownership base than the 32.7% who rent.
For Buyers
At $393,000 the median house price is roughly a quarter of what inner-Brisbane buyers pay, and the monthly mortgage of $1,496 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because local incomes track the low price point. Three-bedroom homes account for 53.0% of stock and four-or-more bedrooms a further 43.8%, so almost the entire market is family-sized housing. Separate houses dominate at 98.0%, with apartments at 0.3%, meaning buyers wanting a unit have almost no options here. Owner-occupiers are well represented, with 43.8% carrying a mortgage and 23.5% owning outright, a higher ownership base than the 32.7% who rent.
For Investors
Renters make up 32.7% of households, a smaller tenant pool than the national average, and the weekly rent of $300 against a $393,000 median produces a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than most capital-city suburbs where yields sit below 3%. The catch is a vacancy rate of 7.4%, well above a balanced market, which signals soft tenant demand and longer void periods. Population growth is slow at 0.78% per year, and net internal migration runs at minus 39 people annually, partly offset by 28 overseas arrivals. Development is minimal, with just 1 application lodged in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is low but so is the capital-growth catalyst.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
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 Kelso iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kelso State School
Prep-6 · 303 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national median, a comparatively young profile driven by families rather than students. English ancestry leads with 4,011 residents, followed by Irish at 1,036 and Scottish at 1,035, an Anglo-Celtic concentration reinforced by an overseas-born share of just 9.4%, which is 12.2 points below the national rate. University qualifications at 14.8% sit 15.3 points under the national average, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and services. Households average 2.8 people, slightly above the national figure, and couples with children (3,312 families) outnumber couples without children (1,932), confirming the family-oriented character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.0%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure here leans firmly toward ownership, with 43.8% of households holding a mortgage and 23.5% owning outright, against 32.7% renting, a higher owner share than the national split. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, at 98.0% separate houses versus 0.3% apartments and 1.6% semi-detached, so density stays low at 617 people per square kilometre. Larger homes dominate, with 53.0% three-bedroom and 43.8% four-or-more bedroom dwellings. The IER score sits in decile 4, better than the IRSAD decile 2, because high outright-ownership rates lift household economic resources even where incomes and education are lower. Rent-to-income at 18.5% keeps renters below stress, as does the 21.2% mortgage-to-income figure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,496
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$777
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
279
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.0%
Couples, no children
8,401
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 21.8% of workers (594 people), reflecting Kelso's position within the Townsville health-services catchment, followed by Public Administration at 11.6%, Construction at 11.3%, Education at 10.6% and Retail at 8.1%. Occupations skew toward Community and Personal Service workers (751) and Labourers (592) ahead of Professionals (527), which explains why the IEO score lands in decile 2 despite steady employment. Full-time employment runs at 66.7%, but the unemployment rate of 7.1% sits above the national average and the participation rate of 57.2% is comparatively low, both consistent with the broader IRSAD decile 2 disadvantage ranking.
Unemployment
6.8%
Labour Force
5,498
Unemployed
375
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.7%
Part-time
26.2%
Participation
57.2%
Employed
4,302
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.8%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
9.4%
Dwellings
3,468
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total, with 89.6% of commuters driving and only 1.5% using public transport, well below the national rate, reflecting the low-density layout of 617 people per square kilometre. The IRSAD decile 2 ranking points to relative disadvantage compared with most of Australia, though affordability cushions this: rent-to-income sits at 18.5% and mortgage-to-income at 21.2%, both below stress thresholds. The volunteering rate of 11.5% indicates moderate community engagement, and 8.1% of residents need daily assistance, slightly above what a younger median age of 34 would predict, hinting at the growing senior cohort. Healthcare access is strong given that 21.8% of local jobs sit in that sector.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.78%/yr
(+87 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow and aging, running at 0.78% per year (about 87 people), with the resident base rising from 11,054 in 2023 to 11,180 in 2025 and a 10-year change of just 4.3%. The medium forecast projects 11,837 residents by 2031, a continuation of the established trend rather than expansion. The senior share rose 6.1 points while the young share fell 3.8 points, marking a clear aging trajectory. Overseas migration (plus 28 per year) is the primary driver because net internal migration is negative at minus 39. Affordability improved from 46.8% in 2011 to 38.6% in 2021, but the gentrification score of 0 confirms the suburb is not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+28
Net Internal / yr
-39
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kelso compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelso a good suburb to live in?
Kelso suits budget-conscious families, with a median house price of $393,000 and 98.0% detached homes. It is affordable, with mortgage-to-income at 21.2%, but ranks in SEIFA decile 2 for disadvantage and has a 7.1% unemployment rate above the national average, so it trades amenity for low entry cost.
What is the median house price in Kelso?
The median house price in Kelso is $393,000, around a quarter of inner-Brisbane medians. Weekly rent averages $300 and the monthly mortgage repayment is about $1,496, which keeps the mortgage-to-income ratio at a manageable 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Kelso?
Specific school records were not available in this dataset for Kelso. Education employs 10.6% of the local workforce (289 people), and the suburb sits within Townsville's broader catchment, so families typically draw on schools across the surrounding 4815 area rather than within Kelso itself.
Is Kelso safe?
Detailed crime statistics were not available for Kelso in this dataset. As context, the suburb ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 2, among the more disadvantaged 20% nationally, while 89.6% of residents commute by car. Prospective residents should check current Queensland Police crime maps for the 4815 area directly.
Is Kelso good for property investment?
Kelso offers gross rental yields near 4.0% ($300/week on a $393,000 median), above most capital-city suburbs. The drawback is a 7.4% vacancy rate, well above balanced, plus slow 0.78% annual population growth and net internal migration of minus 39, so income beats capital growth here.
How is Kelso's population changing?
Kelso's population is growing slowly at 0.78% per year, rising from 11,054 in 2023 to 11,180 in 2025, a 4.3% gain over a decade. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 6.1 points and the young share down 3.8 points. The medium forecast projects 11,837 residents 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.
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