Margate
Age is the defining feature of Margate's profile: the median age is 46, which is 6 years above the national benchmark. Its 7,575 residents live at a high density of 2,884.9 people per square kilometre, while 41.5% of households rent. Housing remains detached-dominant, with 71.8% of dwellings separate houses compared with 23.8% apartments. The suburb is better suited to established coastal living than a fast-changing investment precinct, reflected in its aging trajectory and gentrification stage of Not gentrifying. For buyers comparing Margate with nearby Redcliffe, the key distinction is Margate's smaller household profile, older age structure and stronger concentration of conventional houses.
Population
7,575
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,231/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Margate suits buyers who prioritise established detached housing, manageable household scale and access to a coastal suburban setting. Separate houses account for 71.8% of dwellings versus 23.8% apartments, while three-bedroom homes make up 47.3%, more than twice the 21.2% share of four-bedroom-plus homes. The typical mortgage benchmark is $1,733 per month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 32.5%, with mortgage stress flagged, so borrowing capacity needs careful testing. Weekly rent is $320, which may appeal to buyers moving from renting into ownership. Average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national average, supporting demand for smaller three-bedroom layouts rather than only large family homes.
For Buyers
Margate suits buyers who prioritise established detached housing, manageable household scale and access to a coastal suburban setting. Separate houses account for 71.8% of dwellings versus 23.8% apartments, while three-bedroom homes make up 47.3%, more than twice the 21.2% share of four-bedroom-plus homes. The typical mortgage benchmark is $1,733 per month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 32.5%, with mortgage stress flagged, so borrowing capacity needs careful testing. Weekly rent is $320, which may appeal to buyers moving from renting into ownership. Average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national average, supporting demand for smaller three-bedroom layouts rather than only large family homes.
For Investors
Margate has a substantial rental base, with 41.5% of households renting and advertised weekly rent recorded at $320. The 7.1% vacancy rate is a caution because it can make tenant competition and leasing times more variable than in tighter markets. Rental growth of 32.1% is higher than real income growth of 11.8%, which may support investor returns but also places pressure on affordability. Thirty development applications were recorded across 12 months, including multiple-dwelling proposals, so future supply should be checked at street level. Migration is classified as Balanced, making property selection, condition and tenant appeal more important than relying on a strong migration-led uplift.
Development Activity
Total DAs
76
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Margate
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Humpybong State School
Demographics
Margate's median age of 46 is 6 years above the national comparison, while university attainment at 23.6% is 6.5 percentage points below the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 22.9%, 1.3 points above the national figure, but ancestry responses lean Anglo, led by English at 3,281 people, Irish at 1,011 and Scottish at 943. No religion is recorded for 3,366 residents, narrowly above Christianity at 3,353. Average household size is 2.2, or 0.3 below the national average, helping explain the strong presence of couples without children and smaller households. Residential stability is moderate: 74.5% stayed at the same address, while turnover reached 25.5%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.8%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
23.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Margate's housing stock is weighted towards conventional family-form dwellings, with 71.8% separate houses, 23.8% apartments and 4.3% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 47.3%, compared with 21.2% for four-bedroom-plus homes, so the market is more focused on mid-sized housing than large residences. Tenure is mixed: 28.3% own outright, 29.2% have a mortgage and 41.5% rent. That renting share is higher than either outright ownership or mortgage ownership, creating a substantial tenant segment. Housing costs need attention because mortgage repayments are benchmarked at $1,733 monthly and mortgage costs equal 32.5% of income, above the 26.0% rent-to-income figure. Buyers comparing Margate with Redcliffe should assess recent comparable sales by dwelling type and street rather than rely on one suburb-wide price assumption.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $320.
$660
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $660 · units $500
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$687
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
247
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.0%
Couples with children
39.6%
Couples, no children
24.5%
Single parent
1,999
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Margate's largest recorded industry at 22.9%, or 497 workers, followed by construction at 12.4% and 269, education at 11.9% and 258, professional and technical services at 7.0% and 152, and public administration at 6.3% and 137. Occupationally, professionals number 642, trades 490, community and personal service workers 430, clerical and administrative workers 408, and managers 365. The unemployment rate is 7.0%, with participation at 54.4%. Household income is $1,231 per week, placing Margate at the 27th percentile, below the midpoint of the income distribution. That lower income position aligns with SEIFA results: the IRSAD is in decile 3, while the IER is lower at decile 2, despite a sizeable professional and management workforce.
Unemployment
7.0%
Labour Force
3,459
Unemployed
243
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.3%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
54.4%
Employed
3,216
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.6%
Postgraduate
5.2%
Born Overseas
22.9%
Dwellings
3,228
Transport to Work
Margate's compact 2.63 square kilometre footprint and density of 2,884.9 people per square kilometre support a settled suburban layout, but everyday travel is strongly car-oriented. Drivers account for 73.1% of transport journeys, far higher than public transport at 2.8%, while 16.4% work from home and 3.0% walk or cycle. Families have one local government school, Humpybong State School, so enrolment zones and nearby options should be checked against the exact address. Socioeconomic access is mixed, with an IRSAD decile of 3 and an IEO decile of 4, while 8.5% of residents need assistance and volunteering is recorded at 14.6%. Safety decisions should include current street-level checks, lighting, traffic conditions and activity at different times.
Drive
73.1%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
16.4%
Population Forecast
+1.51%/yr
(+132 people/yr)
EstablishedMargate has an established-area growth outlook, with the annual trend forecast at 1.51% and migration classified as Balanced. Population change across the wider area is 19.7% over 10 years, indicating ongoing expansion rather than stagnation. The trajectory is Aging: senior share has increased by 5.2 percentage points, compared with a 2.9-point decline in the young share and a 3.2-point fall in the working share. Rental growth of 32.1% is higher than real income growth of 11.8%, which may keep housing demand firm while affordability remains important. Gentrification signals are mixed: the main score is 7 with a stage of Not gentrifying, while the shift measure records 29 and Early signs. This points to gradual change rather than a rapid neighbourhood reset.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+31
Net Internal / yr
-11
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +21% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Margate compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Margate a good suburb to live in?
Margate can suit residents seeking an established coastal suburb with mostly detached housing. It has 7,575 residents, a median age of 46 and 71.8% separate houses, but public transport use is only 2.8%, so a car is useful for many daily trips.
What is the median house price in Margate?
A current suburb-wide median house price is not provided. Buyers should compare recent sales by address, dwelling type and bedroom count. Three-bedroom homes represent 47.3% of housing, while 71.8% of dwellings are separate houses.
What schools are in Margate?
Humpybong State School is the listed local school in Margate and operates in the government sector. Families should confirm the school's catchment for an exact address and check nearby alternatives, particularly because the suburb has 2.63 square kilometres of compact residential area.
Is Margate safe?
Safety varies by street, traffic conditions and time of day, so inspect the exact area and check current Queensland Police and council information before deciding. Margate has 73.1% of commuters driving, making road crossings, parking activity and local traffic important practical checks.
Is Margate good for property investment?
Margate has a sizeable rental base, with 41.5% of households renting and weekly rent at $320. However, the 7.1% vacancy rate warrants caution. Rental growth reached 32.1%, and 30 development applications were recorded over 12 months, so property condition and future supply need careful review.
How is Margate's population changing?
The wider-area forecast records annual growth of 1.51% and 19.7% population change over 10 years, with migration classified as Balanced. Margate is on an Aging trajectory, with senior share up 5.2 percentage points and young share down 2.9 points.
What development is occurring in Margate?
Thirty development applications were recorded across 12 months, including applications for multiple dwellings and domestic building works. This may gradually add or alter housing supply, so buyers and investors should check approvals, construction timing and potential impacts on individual streets.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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