Koongal
With a $342,000 median house price and household incomes sitting at just the 32.9th percentile nationally, Koongal is one of Rockhampton's most affordable residential addresses. The suburb packs 4,252 residents into 3.6 square kilometres at a density of 1,181 per km2, and 87.5% of dwellings are separate houses, giving it a distinctly low-rise, suburban character. A 37.1% renter share is higher than average for a detached-dominated suburb, partly because weekly rents of $260 keep housing costs well below stress thresholds at 19.7% of income, lower than national benchmarks. The dominant employment sectors are Healthcare at 20.9% and Education at 11.9%, anchored by Rockhampton's regional service centre role.
Population
4,252
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,320/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$342K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $342,000 median, house prices in Koongal sit far below both Queensland and national medians, making entry costs accessible for first-home buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and mortgage-to-income runs at 22.7% of household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold compared to many capital city suburbs. The stock is 87.5% separate houses, so buyers seeking a detached home have good selection. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 56.8%, followed by four-plus bedroom homes at 21.8%, meaning family-sized floor plans are the norm rather than the exception. Outright owners at 27.7% and mortgage holders at 35.2% together represent a majority, which suggests the suburb retains a stable owner base rather than drifting toward full rental dominance.
For Buyers
At a $342,000 median, house prices in Koongal sit far below both Queensland and national medians, making entry costs accessible for first-home buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and mortgage-to-income runs at 22.7% of household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold compared to many capital city suburbs. The stock is 87.5% separate houses, so buyers seeking a detached home have good selection. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 56.8%, followed by four-plus bedroom homes at 21.8%, meaning family-sized floor plans are the norm rather than the exception. Outright owners at 27.7% and mortgage holders at 35.2% together represent a majority, which suggests the suburb retains a stable owner base rather than drifting toward full rental dominance.
For Investors
Koongal's 37.1% renter share is substantial for a suburb where 87.5% of stock is detached houses, and weekly rent of $260 reflects the affordability that drives rental demand in this regional market. Against the $342,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield in the range of 4% or above, considerably higher than inner-city alternatives. However, the 9.2% vacancy rate is elevated compared to healthy market benchmarks of around 2-3%, signalling that rental supply outstrips demand at present. Development activity is minimal, with only 2 applications lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is not a risk factor. The key question for investors is whether the low income base, with household incomes at the 32.9th percentile nationally, can sustain rent growth over time.
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 Koongal iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mount Archer State School
Prep-6 · 531 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, making Koongal a notably younger suburb, likely because affordable housing attracts younger families and working-age renters. Overseas-born residents account for 13.6% of the population, which is below the national average by around 8 percentage points, reflecting the inland regional character of Rockhampton. University qualification rates at 15.8% run 14.3 points below the national figure, consistent with the workforce profile where Labourers (430 workers) outnumber Professionals (219). The ancestry mix leans Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,584) and Irish (415) leading, while Mandarin is the most common non-English language with 52 speakers. The average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly, and 40.2% of families are couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.5%
Houses
6.8%
Townhouse
5.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into three distinct camps: 35.2% carry a mortgage, 37.1% rent, and 27.7% own outright. The relatively high mortgage share alongside a lower outright ownership rate suggests many current owners are in the accumulation phase rather than debt-free, which is consistent with the younger median age of 35. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 87.5%, with semi-detached at 6.8% and apartments at 5.8%. Bedroom mix is family-oriented, with 56.8% three-bedroom and 21.8% four-plus bedroom dwellings, while two-bedrooms account for 19.2%. Monthly repayments average $1,300 and rent-to-income sits at 19.7%, both below stress thresholds compared to national norms, suggesting housing costs are manageable across all tenure types at current income levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$716
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
162
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.7%
Couples, no children
3,161
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 20.9% of local workers (216 people), which is well above the national share, consistent with Rockhampton's role as a regional health hub for Central Queensland. Education follows at 11.9% (123 workers), then Manufacturing and Construction each at 7.8%, and Retail at 7.8%. By occupation, Labourers dominate at 430 workers, with Community and Personal Service at 281, Professionals at 219, and Clerical and Admin at 202. The unemployment rate of 7.1% is above national averages, and the participation rate of 57.2% is low, with 1,066 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment runs at 65.7% for those who are employed, suggesting that workers who are in jobs tend to be in stable full-time positions rather than casual roles.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
27.2%
Participation
57.2%
Employed
1,789
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.8%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
13.6%
Dwellings
1,596
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high in Koongal, with 86.5% of workers driving to work compared to the national average, while only 0.7% use public transport and 2.0% walk or cycle. This reflects the typical transport profile of inland Queensland regional centres where bus networks are limited and distances require a car. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding Rockhampton suburbs. Crime data for Koongal is not available in this dataset, so safety comparisons cannot be made directly. The volunteering rate of 12.1% indicates a degree of community engagement. With 8.1% of residents (318 people) needing daily assistance, a higher-than-average assistance need signals some vulnerability in the population, likely linked to the lower income base at the 32.9th percentile nationally.
Drive
86.5%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Koongal compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koongal a good suburb to live in?
Koongal offers affordable detached housing at a $342,000 median, with mortgage costs at 22.7% of income, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb is younger than national at a median age of 35, and 87.5% of homes are separate houses. The trade-offs are a 7.1% unemployment rate and limited public transport, with 86.5% of workers relying on cars.
What is the median house price in Koongal?
The median house price in Koongal is $342,000, well below Queensland and national medians. Weekly rent averages $260, and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,300, producing a rent-to-income ratio of 19.7% and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7%, both below stress levels.
What schools are in Koongal?
No schools are recorded within the Koongal suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjacent Rockhampton suburbs. Education is the second-largest employment sector locally at 11.9% of workers (123 people), reflecting the broader Rockhampton area's role as a regional education hub.
Is Koongal safe?
Crime statistics for Koongal are not available in this dataset, so a direct safety ranking cannot be given. As contextual indicators, the suburb has a 7.1% unemployment rate, which is above national averages, and 8.1% of residents (318 people) need daily assistance, both factors that are worth weighing when assessing community conditions.
Is Koongal good for property investment?
At a $342,000 median with $260 weekly rent, the gross yield estimate is around 4%, higher than most capital city markets. The 37.1% renter share supports rental demand, but the 9.2% vacancy rate is elevated compared to a healthy 2-3% benchmark. Low income levels at the 32.9th income percentile nationally may limit rent growth capacity.
How is Koongal's population changing?
Koongal's current population is 4,252 residents in a 3.6 km2 area. The turnover rate of 26.1% over five years shows moderate churn, typical for affordable regional suburbs. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, suggesting younger households are attracted by affordable housing, which supports a stable long-term resident base.
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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