Kilcoy
Manufacturing employs 42.8% of Kilcoy's workforce, a concentration that is unusually high even among regional QLD towns and anchors the local economy in a way that most Southeast Queensland suburbs do not experience. With a population of 1,996 and household income at the 34.9th percentile nationally, the town sits well below the national median on earnings, yet housing affordability improved between 2011 and 2021 as the ratio fell from 56.2% to 47.8%. The overseas-born share of 32.4% runs 10.8 percentage points above the national average, led by a Filipino community of 401 residents, which is notably large relative to total population and directly tied to manufacturing workforce recruitment.
Population
1,996
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,354/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$397K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price in Kilcoy is estimated at $397,000 based on 2025 rental data, well below the Brisbane median and accessible for buyers priced out of coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, better than most Queensland coastal suburbs. Separate houses account for 95.9% of dwellings, so buyers get genuine detached homes rather than units or apartments. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 54.5% of stock, with four-plus bedrooms at 27.8%, giving families practical size options. Outright owners at 35.0% and mortgagees at 31.1% together hold about two-thirds of housing, reflecting an established, stable owner base.
For Buyers
The median house price in Kilcoy is estimated at $397,000 based on 2025 rental data, well below the Brisbane median and accessible for buyers priced out of coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, better than most Queensland coastal suburbs. Separate houses account for 95.9% of dwellings, so buyers get genuine detached homes rather than units or apartments. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 54.5% of stock, with four-plus bedrooms at 27.8%, giving families practical size options. Outright owners at 35.0% and mortgagees at 31.1% together hold about two-thirds of housing, reflecting an established, stable owner base.
For Investors
Renters make up 33.9% of Kilcoy households, a reasonable tenant pool for a town of 1,996 people. Weekly rent averages $335 and grew 27.9% over the measurement period, outpacing real income growth of 22.2%. The vacancy rate of 6.9% is elevated compared to healthy markets of 2-3%, which warrants caution. Net overseas migration of 65 residents per year is the primary population driver, compared to internal migration of just 14, and that inflow supports rental demand from newly settling residents. Development activity is low at 13 applications in the past 12 months, which limits new supply competition for existing landlords over the near term.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
14
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 Kilcoy iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kilcoy State School
Prep-6 · 282 students
Kilcoy State High School
7-12 · 432 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, reflecting a working-age and family-oriented population. The overseas-born share of 32.4% runs 10.8 percentage points above national, and the Filipino community stands at 401 residents, ranking second behind English ancestry at 639. University qualifications at 22.1% are 8.0 points below the national average, consistent with a trade and labourer-led workforce tied to manufacturing. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national, and couples with children at 624 families outnumber couples without children at 363. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 5.0 points over the decade while the young share fell 3.3 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.9%
Houses
2.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Kilcoy is overwhelmingly a detached house market, with 95.9% of dwellings being separate houses and semi-detached at just 2.9%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.5%, followed by four-plus bedroom homes at 27.8%, making the stock well suited to families. Tenure splits relatively evenly: 35.0% own outright, 31.1% hold a mortgage and 33.9% rent. The estimated median house price of $397,000 is affordable relative to state and national capital benchmarks. Rent at $335 per week produces a rent-to-income ratio of 24.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Population grew 19.8% over the past decade, which absorbed housing supply without creating acute ownership-end pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$335
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$754
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
49
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.4%
Couples, no children
1,327
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manufacturing employs 42.8% of the Kilcoy workforce, far above any national or state average for a residential suburb, reflecting food processing activity in the town. Healthcare follows at 10.5%, Education at 9.6% and Retail at 5.8%. By occupation, Labourers are the largest group at 314 workers, ahead of Community and Personal Services at 78 and Clerical and Admin at 68. The unemployment rate is 4.8% and participation rate 51.6%, with 532 residents not in the labour force. SEIFA scores place Kilcoy in decile 2 on IEO and IRSAD, meaning it ranks in the lower fifth nationally on education, occupation and advantage measures. Household income at the 34.9th percentile is well below the national median, consistent with the labourer-heavy occupational mix.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
3,304
Unemployed
75
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
51.6%
Employed
794
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.1%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
32.4%
Dwellings
655
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 79.9% of residents commuting by car, while only 1.2% use public transport, which is typical of regional QLD towns distant from rail corridors. Walking and cycling account for 3.8% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the Kilcoy suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities across the broader Somerset region. Crime data is not available for Kilcoy. The IRSAD decile of 2 places Kilcoy in the lower fifth nationally on the combined advantage-disadvantage index. Rent-to-income at 24.7% and mortgage-to-income at 22.2% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes.
Drive
79.9%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.4%/yr
(+87 people/yr)
EstablishedKilcoy has grown 19.8% over the past decade, with annual growth of 1.4% adding roughly 87 residents per year. The broader area reached 6,216 in 2025, up from 6,009 in 2023, and medium forecasts project growth to 6,742 by 2031. Overseas migration at 65 net arrivals per year is the primary driver, outpacing internal migration of only 14. The gentrification score of 8 classifies the town as not gentrifying, so appreciation will follow demand fundamentals rather than amenity or demographic uplift. Affordability improved from 2011 to 2021 as the ratio fell from 56.2% to 47.8%, and real income grew 22.2% over the same period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+65
Net Internal / yr
+14
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +24% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kilcoy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kilcoy a good suburb to live in?
Kilcoy suits buyers and renters seeking affordable regional Queensland living with a strong manufacturing employment base. The median house price is around $397,000, mortgage-to-income at 22.2% stays below the stress threshold, and 95.9% of dwellings are detached houses. The IRSAD decile of 2 signals below-average socioeconomic resources compared to most Australian suburbs, so urban services are more limited than in metropolitan areas.
What is the median house price in Kilcoy?
The median house price in Kilcoy is estimated at $397,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $335, monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, and rent grew 27.9% over the measurement period. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2% is below the 30% stress threshold, making Kilcoy one of the more affordable entry points in Queensland.
What schools are in Kilcoy?
No schools are recorded inside the Kilcoy suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on educational facilities in the broader Somerset region. Locally, university qualifications sit at 22.1%, which is 8.0 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the trade and labourer-dominant workforce tied to the manufacturing sector.
Is Kilcoy safe?
Crime statistics for Kilcoy are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the IRSAD decile of 2 places Kilcoy in the lower fifth nationally for relative advantage, and 8.3% of its 1,996 residents (144 people) require daily assistance. For current safety data, the Queensland Police Service crime statistics provide the most reliable local figures.
Is Kilcoy good for property investment?
At an estimated $397,000 median and $335 weekly rent, the gross yield is above 4.3%, higher than most southeast QLD capital-city markets. Rent grew 27.9% over the period. The vacancy rate of 6.9% is elevated versus tighter markets. Net overseas migration of 65 residents per year is the primary demand driver, and the 33.9% renter share provides a tenant base, but the elevated vacancy means investors should research local demand carefully.
How is Kilcoy's population changing?
Kilcoy has grown 19.8% over the past decade at 1.4% per year, adding around 87 residents annually. The broader area reached 6,216 in 2025 and is forecast at approximately 6,742 by 2031. Overseas migration averaging 65 arrivals per year is the main driver, well above internal migration of just 14. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.0 percentage points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Kilcoy?
About 32.4% of Kilcoy residents were born overseas, which is 10.8 percentage points above the national average. The Filipino community is the second-largest ancestry group at 401 residents, behind English at 639. This reflects overseas worker recruitment into the local manufacturing sector, which employs 42.8% of the workforce, making Filipino languages likely among the most spoken non-English languages locally.
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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