Mareeba
Mareeba's standout feature is its scale: 11,825 people are spread across 480.2 sq km, giving a very low 24.6 persons per sq km. Compared with nearby Kuranda and Atherton, it reads more as a broad rural service centre than a compact commuter town. Housing is strongly detached, with 89.3% separate houses and only 7.3% apartments, while the median age of 41 sits 1 year above the national figure. Household income is lower, at the 29.7 percentile, so affordability matters because local wages are more constrained.
Population
11,825
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,282/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$383K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers are mainly choosing space rather than density: 89.3% of dwellings are separate houses, and family-sized stock dominates with 44.0% having 3 bedrooms and 34.2% having 4 or more. A current median house price is not available, so buyers should compare recent sales carefully, but the median monthly mortgage payment is $1,495. Mortgage payments take 26.9% of income, below common stress levels, because prices and repayments appear more aligned with local earnings than in higher-income coastal markets.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mainly choosing space rather than density: 89.3% of dwellings are separate houses, and family-sized stock dominates with 44.0% having 3 bedrooms and 34.2% having 4 or more. A current median house price is not available, so buyers should compare recent sales carefully, but the median monthly mortgage payment is $1,495. Mortgage payments take 26.9% of income, below common stress levels, because prices and repayments appear more aligned with local earnings than in higher-income coastal markets.
For Investors
Mareeba has a sizeable rental base, with 32.1% of households renting and a median rent of $285 a week. The vacancy rate of 8.4% is the key caution because it is higher than a tight rental market and can lengthen leasing times. Demand is supported by 26 development applications in 12 months and forecast rent growth of 42.5% over the shift period, but household income sits lower at the 29.7 percentile, so rent increases need to remain affordable to local workers.
Development Activity
Total DAs
240
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+3.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mareeba iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Stephen's Catholic College
7-12 · 652 students
St Thomas' School
Prep-6 · 431 students
Mareeba State High School
7-12 · 721 students
Mareeba State School
Prep-6 · 695 students
Demographics
Mareeba is slightly older than Australia overall, with a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 19.0%, or 2.6 percentage points below the national share, while university attainment is 19.1%, 11.0 points lower than national. English ancestry is the largest group at 3,565 people, followed by Italian at 1,639, and Italian is also the top non-English language with 251 speakers, reflecting a long agricultural settlement pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.3%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
7.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Mareeba's housing mix is much more detached than apartment-led markets: 89.3% separate houses compared with 7.3% apartments and 0.9% semi-detached homes. Ownership is relatively deep, with 39.9% owned outright, 28.0% mortgaged and 32.1% renting. A current median house price is unavailable, so the better affordability signals are payment-based: rent is 22.2% of income and mortgages are 26.9%, both below common stress thresholds. The stock skews practical because 78.2% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms.
Mortgage / mo
$1,495
Rent / wk
$285
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$689
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.4%
Unoccupied
391
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.4%
Couples, no children
8,546
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mareeba's economy is service-led but still tied to the rural base. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.2% and 505 workers, followed by Agriculture at 12.8% and 376 workers, Public Admin at 10.7%, Education at 10.6% and Construction at 8.2%. Labourers are the biggest occupation group with 952 people, above Professionals at 631. Unemployment is 6.3% and participation is 50.6%, while all 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 2, signalling lower socio-economic rankings than the state median across education, resources and advantage.
Unemployment
8.3%
Labour Force
6,218
Unemployed
515
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.2%
Part-time
26.5%
Participation
50.6%
Employed
4,574
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.1%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
19.0%
Dwellings
4,249
Transport to Work
Daily life in Mareeba is car-oriented: 81.0% drive to work, compared with 2.6% using public transport and 6.1% walking or cycling. School choice is a strength for a regional centre, with 4 local schools across Catholic and Government sectors and an ICSEA range from 855 to 1041. St Stephen's Catholic College leads on ICSEA at 1041 with 652 students, followed by St Thomas' School at 1002 with 431 students. IRSAD decile 2 sits below the state median, so services matter because household resources are more limited.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.25%/yr
(+159 people/yr)
EstablishedMareeba's forecast points to steady, not explosive, expansion. The trend path adds 1.25% a year, equal to about 159 people annually, with the medium scenario rising from 12,876 in 2026 to 13,670 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with average net overseas migration of 102 people a year and net internal migration of 63. The age profile is shifting older, with seniors up 3.6 points and younger residents down 2.7 points, while the gentrification score is 15 and labelled Not gentrifying, below faster-changing urban markets.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+102
Net Internal / yr
+63
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal migration +63/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mareeba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mareeba a good suburb to live in?
Mareeba can work well for households wanting space, schools and a regional service-town setting. It has 89.3% separate houses, 4 local schools and a median age of 41, but public transport use is low at 2.6%, so it suits car-based living more than inner-city convenience.
What is the median house price in Mareeba?
A current median house price is not available for Mareeba, so recent comparable sales matter. For context, the median monthly mortgage payment is $1,495 and median rent is $285 a week, with mortgage payments at 26.9% of income.
What schools are in Mareeba?
Mareeba has 4 local schools across Catholic and Government sectors. St Stephen's Catholic College has an ICSEA of 1041 and 652 students, St Thomas' School has 1002 and 431 students, and the Government options include primary and secondary campuses.
Is Mareeba safe?
A suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available for Mareeba, so safety should be checked street by street. Families may also weigh local routines, lighting and school access, with 4 schools and 81.0% car commuting shaping daily activity patterns.
Is Mareeba good for property investment?
Mareeba has investment positives and cautions. Renters make up 32.1% of households and median rent is $285 a week, while 26 development applications show activity. The 8.4% vacancy rate is higher than a tight market, so tenant demand should be tested carefully.
How is Mareeba's population changing?
Mareeba is growing steadily rather than rapidly. The forecast trend is 1.25% a year, or about 159 extra people annually, with the medium scenario reaching 13,670 by 2031. Growth is balanced between overseas migration at 102 a year and internal migration at 63.
Is there much development in Mareeba?
Yes, there is a noticeable pipeline for a regional market, with 26 development applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include retirement facility expansion and dual occupancy proposals, which fits an aging trajectory with seniors up 3.6 percentage points.
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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