Kurwongbah
At 44.19 square kilometres with only 1,552 residents, Kurwongbah averages 35.1 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most sparsely settled localities in the Moreton Bay region. Household income sits at the 87th percentile nationally, well above average despite the rural scale. Ownership is the dominant tenure, with 38.2% owning outright and 49.3% on a mortgage, meaning fewer than 13% of residents rent. Almost all dwellings are detached houses at 98%, and nearly 70% carry four or more bedrooms, signalling a community built around large family lots rather than urban density.
Population
1,552
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,254/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$504K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $504,000, supported by weekly rent of $365. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,037, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most QLD outer-suburban markets. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 98%, with apartments and semi-detached dwellings each below 2%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 69.9% of dwellings, making Kurwongbah well suited to families needing space rather than buyers seeking compact or low-maintenance stock. Outright ownership at 38.2% is high, suggesting established households holding land for the long term rather than rapid turnover buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $504,000, supported by weekly rent of $365. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,037, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most QLD outer-suburban markets. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 98%, with apartments and semi-detached dwellings each below 2%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 69.9% of dwellings, making Kurwongbah well suited to families needing space rather than buyers seeking compact or low-maintenance stock. Outright ownership at 38.2% is high, suggesting established households holding land for the long term rather than rapid turnover buyers.
For Investors
A 4.9% vacancy rate is elevated compared to the national average of roughly 1-2%, indicating limited tenant competition and slower absorption. The rent of $365 per week against a $504,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, moderate for outer QLD. Only 12.5% of residents rent, so the tenant pool is shallow, a consideration for investors who depend on quick re-let. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications in the past 12 months, including 1 secondary dwelling permit, which points to low speculative supply pressure but also limited short-term capital growth triggers. The 87th-percentile household income base supports rental capacity without stress, as rent-to-income sits at only 16.2%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, consistent with a settled, owner-occupier community rather than a suburb drawing young first-home buyers. Overseas-born residents at 15.8% are 5.8 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (681), Scottish (221) and Irish (176). University qualifications reach 21.2%, which is 8.9 points below the national rate, suggesting the local workforce is weighted toward trades and services rather than professional degrees. Average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above national, reflecting the high proportion of couples with children and the prevalence of large, multi-bedroom homes.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.0%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership dominates the tenure structure: 38.2% own outright and 49.3% carry a mortgage, leaving only 12.5% renting. This near-87% ownership rate is well above state and national norms. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98%, with four-plus bedroom configurations at 69.9% and three-bedroom at 22.8%. Apartments represent just 1.1%. The $504,000 median and $2,037 monthly mortgage repayment translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.9%, below the national stress benchmark. Housing stress indicators are subdued, with rent-to-income at 16.2% for tenants and no mortgage stress flag triggered, making affordability a relative strength compared to most coastal QLD markets.
Mortgage / mo
$2,037
Rent / wk
$365
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$774
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
23
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.1%
Couples, no children
1,345
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the leading employer at 17.3% of the local workforce (85 workers), ahead of Education at 13.0% (64) and Construction at 12.4% (61). Professional/Technical services and Manufacturing follow at 8.6% and 7.9% respectively. By occupation, Professionals (138) and Managers (115) are the top categories, which is above what university qualification rates alone would suggest, implying residents commute to higher-skill roles in Moreton Bay or Brisbane. The unemployment rate of 4.3% is modestly above typical metro levels, and full-time employment at 66.1% of those employed is solid. Household income at the 87th percentile nationally reflects this commuter dynamic, where earnings are generated externally and spent locally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.1%
Part-time
29.6%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
696
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.2%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
15.8%
Dwellings
445
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 89.1% of commuters driving, compared to a national figure where public transport captures a larger share; only 3.0% use public transport. Walking and cycling account for 2.8%. There are no schools recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on facilities in adjacent Moreton Bay localities. Volunteering runs at 18.0%, notably above typical suburban rates, pointing to community cohesion among long-term residents. Need-for-assistance is low at 5.8% (86 people). Housing stress indicators are benign, with both rent-to-income at 16.2% and mortgage-to-income at 20.9% below stress thresholds, making daily living costs manageable relative to incomes at the 87th percentile nationally.
Drive
89.1%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kurwongbah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kurwongbah a good suburb to live in?
Kurwongbah suits families seeking large detached homes with low housing stress. Household income ranks at the 87th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income sits at 20.9%, and 84% of residents stayed put over the census period. Car dependency is high at 89.1% of commuters, and there are no schools recorded within the suburb, so families rely on nearby Moreton Bay localities.
What is the median house price in Kurwongbah?
The median house price is estimated at $504,000. Weekly rent averages $365 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,037, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.9%. Ownership is strong, with 38.2% owning outright and 49.3% holding a mortgage.
What schools are in Kurwongbah?
No schools are recorded inside the Kurwongbah suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring localities within the Moreton Bay region. Despite this, 21.2% of residents hold university qualifications, suggesting access to education is managed via commuting to adjacent areas.
Is Kurwongbah safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Kurwongbah in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 20.9% and rent-to-income at 16.2%, both below stress thresholds nationally. Household income sits at the 87th percentile, and only 5.8% of residents need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage profile.
Is Kurwongbah good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $365 against a $504,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, moderate by QLD standards. The 4.9% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter metro markets. Only 12.5% of residents rent, so the tenant pool is limited. Development activity is low at 2 applications in 12 months, which limits new supply risk but also short-term capital growth catalysts.
How is Kurwongbah's population changing?
No ABS population forecast is available at the suburb level for Kurwongbah. The community shows strong residential stability, with 84% of residents staying in place over the census period and a turnover rate of only 16%. The current population is 1,552 across 44 square kilometres, giving a density of 35.1 people per square kilometre.
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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