Kowanyama
An unemployment rate of 44.3% and a median house price of $142,000 tell the core story of Kowanyama, a remote Cape York community where nearly every household rents and all four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally. Household income lands in the 21.1st percentile nationally, yet rent-to-income at 10.2% is low, because weekly rent of $115 is far below state averages. The median age of 29 is 11 years below the national figure, reflecting a young resident base spread across 2,555 square kilometres of Gulf Country with a population density of just 0.4 per square kilometre.
Population
1,079
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,132/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$142K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $142,000, estimated from rental yields in 2025, sits well below national and state medians, making Kowanyama one of Queensland's most affordable markets by purchase price. However, 94.2% of households rent rather than own, and only 5.8% own outright, with zero recorded mortgage holders, which signals that conventional purchase financing is almost absent here. Separate houses account for 78.8% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 21.2%. Three-bedroom dwellings are the dominant type at 50.6%, followed by two-bedroom at 31.1%. For buyers, the low entry price must be weighed against the remoteness, near-zero resale market, and income levels at the 21.1st percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price of $142,000, estimated from rental yields in 2025, sits well below national and state medians, making Kowanyama one of Queensland's most affordable markets by purchase price. However, 94.2% of households rent rather than own, and only 5.8% own outright, with zero recorded mortgage holders, which signals that conventional purchase financing is almost absent here. Separate houses account for 78.8% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 21.2%. Three-bedroom dwellings are the dominant type at 50.6%, followed by two-bedroom at 31.1%. For buyers, the low entry price must be weighed against the remoteness, near-zero resale market, and income levels at the 21.1st percentile nationally.
For Investors
A 94.2% renter majority provides a captive tenant base, but the investment fundamentals are constrained. Weekly rent of $115 is low in absolute terms, and despite the affordable $142,000 median price, gross yields reflect the community housing context rather than a private market. Vacancy sits at 5.6%, modest but real in a market with near-zero purchase transactions. Rent growth ran 162.2% over the measured period, far above typical state averages, yet started from a very low base. Net internal migration averages minus 16 residents per year, compared to just 1 arriving from overseas annually, so demand is supported by the existing community rather than in-migration. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, pointing to a static stock with no new supply pipeline.
Schools in Kowanyama iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kowanyama State School
Prep-10 · 163 students
Demographics
Kowanyama's median age of 29 sits 11 years below the national average, a figure driven by a young resident base with average household size of 3.7, which is 1.2 persons above the national figure. University qualifications reach just 8.5%, which is 21.6 percentage points below national, and overseas-born residents account for only 1.3%, some 20.3 points below national. The ancestry profile is led by Ancestry Not Stated (118 residents), reflecting the community's First Nations character, with English (32) and Other (15) the next recorded groups. Christianity is the predominant religion at 819 residents. The workforce is concentrated in Community and Personal Services (46 workers), Professionals (29) and Clerical and Admin (20).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.8%
Houses
21.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
With 94.2% renting and 5.8% owning outright, Kowanyama's tenure profile is the inverse of most Australian suburbs, where owner-occupiers dominate. This reflects the community land title structure common in remote Indigenous communities, where private freehold sale is not typical. Weekly rent of $115 produces a rent-to-income ratio of 10.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so renting households are not financially stressed relative to income. Separate houses make up 78.8% of dwellings and semi-detached 21.2%. The three-bedroom stock at 50.6% suits the average household size of 3.7, and four-plus bedroom homes account for 17.0% of dwellings. The vacancy rate of 5.6% is notable given no formal purchase market operates here.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wk
$115
HH Size
3.7
Personal Income / wk
$341
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
15
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
10.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
12.5%
Couples, no children
881
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates at 41.3% of employed residents (38 workers), followed closely by Education at 38.0% (35 workers) and Healthcare at 16.3% (15 workers). This concentration in government-funded services is characteristic of remote Aboriginal communities where council and health services are the primary employers. The unemployment rate of 44.3% is dramatically above typical national and state figures, and the labour force participation rate of only 36.1% means the majority of working-age adults are not in the labour force at all, with 325 people recorded as not in the labour force. All four SEIFA indexes score at decile 1: IRSD, IRSAD, IEO and IER, placing Kowanyama among the most disadvantaged communities in Australia by every socioeconomic measure. Real income fell 4.3% over the decade.
Unemployment
21.7%
Labour Force
756
Unemployed
164
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
-10.5%
Participation
36.1%
Employed
160
Occupations
Top Industries
University
8.5%
Postgraduate
1.1%
Born Overseas
1.3%
Dwellings
241
Transport to Work
Transport patterns differ sharply from urban Australia: 52.5% of residents walk or cycle to work, far above the national average, while 33.8% drive, reflecting a compact township layout within a vast 2,555 square kilometre area. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. Crime rate data is not available for Kowanyama. The IRSAD decile of 1 places the community in the most disadvantaged tier nationally across both relative disadvantage and advantage measures. Need for daily assistance is recorded for 3.1% of residents (28 people), and volunteering participation is 4.1%. The rent-to-income ratio of 10.2% means housing costs are not a primary financial burden relative to income levels, which fall at the 21.1st national percentile.
Drive
33.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
52.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+4 people/yr)
EstablishedKowanyama's population declined 0.4% over the decade, and medium-scenario forecasts project only marginal growth of roughly 4 persons per year through to 2031, reaching an estimated 1,816 residents. Net internal migration runs at minus 16 residents annually, modestly offset by 1 arrival from overseas, so natural increase is the primary growth driver. The young-share delta fell 2.1 points while the senior share rose 2.2 points, indicating early-stage demographic aging despite the young median age of 29. Affordability worsened from 15.4% in 2011 to 34.2% in 2021, and the gentrification score is zero, consistent with a remote community where market-driven reinvestment does not occur. Population is forecast at approximately 1,816 by 2031 under trend continuation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+1
Net Internal / yr
-16
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kowanyama compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kowanyama a good suburb to live in?
Kowanyama is a remote First Nations community in Cape York with a population of around 1,079. All four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and unemployment is 44.3%. Housing costs are low, with rent at $115 per week and a rent-to-income ratio of 10.2%, but services and employment are limited compared to regional or urban Queensland.
What is the median house price in Kowanyama?
The estimated median house price is $142,000 (estimated from rent data, 2025), far below the Queensland state median. Weekly rent averages $115. The vast majority of residents rent (94.2%), and private freehold purchase transactions are rare in this remote community housing context.
What schools are in Kowanyama?
No schools are recorded within the Kowanyama suburb boundary in this dataset. The community does have local educational services, and Education is the second-largest employment sector at 38.0% of workers (35 residents), suggesting schooling infrastructure exists but is not captured in this school-level data.
Is Kowanyama safe?
Specific crime rate data per 1,000 residents is not available for Kowanyama in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, Kowanyama scores decile 1 on IRSD, the lowest tier nationally for relative socioeconomic disadvantage, which is associated with higher community stressors. The population of around 1,079 resides across a 2,555 square kilometre area.
Is Kowanyama good for property investment?
Conventional property investment is uncommon here. At $142,000 median and $115 weekly rent, gross yield calculations suggest over 4% on paper, but near-zero purchase transactions, community land title structures, and an internal migration outflow of 16 residents per year mean there is no liquid resale market. Rent grew 162.2% over the measured period but from a very low base.
How is Kowanyama's population changing?
Population declined 0.4% over the past decade and is forecast to grow at about 4 persons per year, reaching an estimated 1,816 by 2031. Internal migration runs at minus 16 residents annually. The young-share fell 2.1 points while the senior share rose 2.2 points, indicating gradual demographic aging despite a median age of 29, which is 11 years below national.
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 Kowanyama on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map