Margate
Mortgage stress at 32.5% of income breaches the 30% threshold, the only suburb in this batch where mortgage holders are formally under stress. The $436,000 estimated median is low in absolute terms, but household incomes at the 27th percentile nationally are lower still. At 41.9% renters, Margate is a renter-heavy suburb where 29.5% of families are couples without children and the median age of 46 runs 6 years above national. This is a Moreton Bay coastal suburb where older homeowners share space with lower-income renters, creating a split demographic that the SEIFA IRSAD decile 3 confirms as broadly disadvantaged.
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
32
Median House
$436K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $436,000 median makes Margate one of the more accessible Moreton Bay coastal options. However, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.5% is above the 30% stress line, meaning households on median incomes would be under formal mortgage stress. Separate houses at 71.8% are supplemented by 23.8% apartments, a higher unit share than most Redcliffe Peninsula suburbs. Three-bedroom homes at 47.3% dominate, with 2-bedroom at 23.5% and 4+ at 21.2%. Humpybong State School (Government, ICSEA 974, 565 students) sits below the national 1,000 benchmark. The 8.5% need-assistance rate is above average.
For Buyers
The estimated $436,000 median makes Margate one of the more accessible Moreton Bay coastal options. However, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.5% is above the 30% stress line, meaning households on median incomes would be under formal mortgage stress. Separate houses at 71.8% are supplemented by 23.8% apartments, a higher unit share than most Redcliffe Peninsula suburbs. Three-bedroom homes at 47.3% dominate, with 2-bedroom at 23.5% and 4+ at 21.2%. Humpybong State School (Government, ICSEA 974, 565 students) sits below the national 1,000 benchmark. The 8.5% need-assistance rate is above average.
For Investors
The 41.9% renter share is substantial, providing a deep tenant pool. Weekly rent of $320 against $436,000 gives a gross yield of approximately 3.8%, above the metro average. Vacancy at 7.1% is elevated, however, partly explained by the coastal holiday rental market. Development activity at 33 DAs in 12 months is moderate, including dual occupancy applications. Rent-to-income at 26.0% is approaching stress for tenants on median incomes. The SEIFA IER decile 2 confirms low economic resources among residents, which creates a tension between strong yield and tenant capacity. The 25.5% turnover rate means regular re-letting.
Development Activity
Total DAs
71
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Margate iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Humpybong State School
Prep-6 · 565 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6 years above national, with the senior share having grown over the decade. Overseas-born at 22.9% is 1.3 points above national: English (3,281), Irish (1,011) and Scottish (943) dominate ancestry, an Anglo-Celtic profile. German (17) and Italian (12) are the only notable non-English languages. University qualifications at 23.6% are 6.5 points below the national average. The 7.7% unemployment rate is above average, with a low 49.8% participation rate reflecting the older, semi-retired population. Community/Personal (430) and Professionals (642) are the top occupations, consistent with a service-oriented local economy.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.8%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
23.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters (41.9%) outnumber mortgage holders (29.5%) and outright owners (28.6%). The 23.8% apartment share is notable for a Moreton Bay suburb, reflecting beachfront unit development. Three-bedroom homes at 47.3% lead, with studios/one-bedroom at 7.9% indicating a retirement unit segment. No price history series is available for trend analysis. Mortgage stress at 32.5% is the highest in this batch, breaching the 30% threshold. Rent stress at 26.0% is elevated but below the threshold. The 74.5% residential stability rate is moderate. The combination of older housing stock and coastal location suggests maintenance costs that budget-conscious buyers should factor in.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$320
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
29.5%
Couples, no children
5,411
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 22.9% (497 workers), followed by Construction at 12.4% (269), Education at 11.9% (258), Professional/Tech at 7.0% (152) and Public Admin at 6.3% (137). The 22.9% healthcare concentration is well above the national average, reflecting aged-care and health services for the older population. Full-time employment at 61.9% is moderate. The 7.7% unemployment rate and 49.8% participation rate both underperform the national average. SEIFA IRSAD decile 3 and IER decile 2 confirm limited economic resources. The economy is service-heavy rather than knowledge-sector driven, consistent with the 23.6% university rate.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.9%
Part-time
30.4%
Participation
49.8%
Employed
2,923
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.6%
Postgraduate
5.2%
Born Overseas
22.9%
Dwellings
3,228
Transport to Work
Car driving at 87.5% dominates, with public transport at 3.4% and walking/cycling at 3.6%. Humpybong State School (Government, ICSEA 974, 565 students) scores below the 1,000 benchmark, a consideration for families. IRSAD decile 3 places the suburb in the lower advantage tier. Need-assistance at 8.5% is above the national average. Rent stress at 26.0% and mortgage stress at 32.5% indicate financial pressure for many residents. The coastal location provides amenity that the SEIFA scores do not capture, but the elevated mortgage stress suggests that proximity to the beach comes at a cost relative to local incomes.
Drive
87.5%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
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 offers coastal living at an estimated $436,000 median, but mortgage stress at 32.5% is above the 30% threshold for households on median incomes. IRSAD decile 3 is in the lower advantage tier. The median age of 46 is 6 years above national, and the 8.5% need-assistance rate exceeds the average.
What is the median house price in Margate?
The estimated median is $436,000 (2025). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and weekly rent is $320. Gross yield is approximately 3.8%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.5% is above the stress threshold, as household incomes rank at just the 27th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Margate?
Humpybong State School (Government, ICSEA 974, 565 students) is the suburb's primary school. The ICSEA score of 974 sits below the 1,000 national benchmark. Families may look to neighbouring suburbs for secondary schooling options.
Is Margate safe?
Suburb-specific crime data is not available. SEIFA IRSD decile 2 and unemployment at 7.7% are factors associated with higher crime rates in comparable QLD coastal suburbs. The 28.6% outright ownership rate and 46-year median age suggest a stable long-term resident base alongside a transient renter population.
Is Margate good for property investment?
Gross yield of approximately 3.8% ($320/week on $436,000) is above the metro average. The 41.9% renter share provides a large tenant pool. However, vacancy at 7.1% is elevated, and SEIFA IER decile 2 means tenants have limited economic resources. The 33 DAs in 12 months add moderate new supply.
How is Margate's population changing?
Detailed forecast data is not available. The median age of 46 is 6 years above national, and the senior share has been growing. The 22.9% overseas-born share is near the national average. The 25.5% turnover rate and 49.8% participation rate suggest a mix of settled retirees and transient renters.
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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