Marian
At 90.5th percentile for household income nationally, Marian punches well above its modest size of 4,224 people. The explanation sits in the employment data: mining drives 20.5% of all jobs, pulling household incomes to $2,392 a week, far higher than most Queensland regional suburbs. The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, reflecting a workforce-age population drawn to industry earnings rather than retirement. Nearly all dwellings (99%) are separate houses on an 82.83 square kilometre footprint, giving the suburb a spacious, low-density character that contrasts with coastal Queensland towns.
Population
4,224
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,392/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$519K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price is $519,000, reasonable against household incomes at the 90.5th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,941, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability reflects a 59.4% mortgage-holder share, the highest tenure segment, consistent with active buying activity among working-age residents. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99%, with 65.2% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms, well above national norms, suited to families needing space. Weekly rent runs $400, and at 16.7% of income, renters face no financial stress. For buyers seeking a detached home in a high-income regional setting, affordability here compares favourably to coastal QLD alternatives.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price is $519,000, reasonable against household incomes at the 90.5th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,941, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability reflects a 59.4% mortgage-holder share, the highest tenure segment, consistent with active buying activity among working-age residents. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99%, with 65.2% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms, well above national norms, suited to families needing space. Weekly rent runs $400, and at 16.7% of income, renters face no financial stress. For buyers seeking a detached home in a high-income regional setting, affordability here compares favourably to coastal QLD alternatives.
For Investors
The rental market is tight but modest in scale. Weekly rent of $400 against a $519,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, reasonable for a regional Queensland suburb. The vacancy rate of 6.4% is elevated, which is a caution signal, suggesting some softness in tenant demand relative to supply. The renter share is low at 18.4%, meaning most residents are owners or buyers, which limits the tenant pool. Development activity is minimal, with only 2 applications in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term concern. The suburb's income base, driven by mining at 20.5% of employment, creates cyclical exposure: commodity downturns can affect local purchasing power. Investors should weigh the yield against that sector concentration rather than treating it as a stable, diversified market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Marian iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Marian State School
Prep-6 · 449 students
Demographics
The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, a strong signal that Marian attracts working-age households rather than retirees. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above national, consistent with the family-heavy profile: 1,979 couples with children compared to 751 couples without. Overseas-born residents at 5.9% sit 15.7 percentage points below the national average, making this a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominated, led by English (1,661), Irish (437) and Scottish (389). University qualifications at 12.2% are 17.9 points below the national rate, reflecting an industry and trades economy where vocational training is the prevailing path. Residential stability is high, with 76.6% of residents having stayed in the same address over the measured period.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
1.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is mortgage-dominant: 59.4% carry a mortgage, 22.2% own outright and only 18.4% rent, a split that signals a settled, buying-active community. The outright ownership rate of 22.2% suggests a meaningful cohort of longer-term residents who have paid off their homes. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses (99%) and large ones: 65.2% have 4 or more bedrooms, compared to a national figure well below 40%, because households here average 3.0 people and prioritise space. Semi-detached dwellings account for just 1% and apartment share is negligible. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,941 against a $519,000 median are manageable at 18.7% of income, below the national stress threshold. The combination of high incomes and affordable prices makes the mortgage burden lighter here than in most capital city suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,941
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,006
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
90
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.3%
Couples, no children
3,532
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the defining employer at 20.5% of workers (266 people), the largest single industry by a margin, which explains why household income sits in the 90.5th percentile nationally despite the suburb's regional setting. Healthcare comes second at 12.4% (161 workers) and Education third at 9.7% (126), followed by Construction at 8.2% and Manufacturing at 7.2%. By occupation, Machinery and Drivers lead at 287 workers, closely followed by Clerical and Admin at 281, with Professionals at 240 and Managers at 186. The full-time employment rate is 69.8% and unemployment runs at just 3.3%, below national average. Participation at 65.4% is moderate, with 630 residents not in the labour force, consistent with a young family profile where some parents step back from work. The economy is concentrated in resources, creating income strength alongside commodity-cycle risk.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.8%
Part-time
26.9%
Participation
65.4%
Employed
1,946
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.2%
Postgraduate
1.2%
Born Overseas
5.9%
Dwellings
1,310
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extremely high: 91.6% of residents drive to work, compared to national averages closer to 60%, because public transport covers only 1.7% of commuters. Walking and cycling accounts for 2.7%. No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset, so families rely on facilities in nearby centres. Volunteering at 13.0% indicates reasonable community engagement. Only 3.3% of residents (127 people) require daily assistance, low for any suburb and consistent with the young median age of 32. Housing stress is absent on both measures: rent-to-income at 16.7% and mortgage-to-income at 18.7% are both well below the 30% stress threshold. The broad 82.83 km2 footprint, low density of 51 per km2 and near-total separate house stock create a spacious lifestyle suited to families, though reliance on private vehicles for all daily movement is a practical constraint.
Drive
91.6%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Marian compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marian a good suburb to live in?
Marian suits working families well. Household income sits in the 90.5th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is a low 18.7%, and the median age of 32 points to a young, active community. The suburb is car-dependent with 91.6% driving to work and has no recorded schools inside its boundary, which are the main practical trade-offs.
What is the median house price in Marian?
The estimated median house price is $519,000 (2025). Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,941, which at 18.7% of household income is well below the 30% stress benchmark. The suburb is 99% separate houses, with 65.2% having 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Marian?
No schools are recorded inside the Marian suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 4,224 and a young median age of 32, families are likely served by schools in nearby Mackay regional centres. University qualifications locally sit at 12.2%, which is 17.9 points below the national average, reflecting the trades and industry character of the area.
Is Marian safe?
Crime statistics for Marian are not available in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the unemployment rate is low at 3.3%, housing stress is absent on both the rent and mortgage measures, and only 3.3% of residents need daily assistance. These factors are generally associated with lower disadvantage and stable community conditions compared to higher-stress areas.
Is Marian good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against a $519,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, reasonable for a regional suburb. The vacancy rate of 6.4% is elevated, suggesting some softness in rental demand. The renter share is low at 18.4%, limiting the tenant pool. Income is strong at the 90.5th percentile nationally, but 20.5% employment in mining creates cyclical exposure investors should factor in.
How is Marian's population changing?
Marian has a population of 4,224 across 82.83 square kilometres, giving a low density of 51 residents per km2. Residential stability is high, with 76.6% of residents having stayed in place over the measured period and turnover at 23.4%. The young median age of 32 and large average household size of 3.0 suggest a family-forming community with scope for organic growth tied to local industry conditions.
What industries employ people in Marian?
Mining is by far the largest employer at 20.5% of workers (266 people), which is why household income sits in the 90.5th percentile nationally. Healthcare follows at 12.4%, Education at 9.7%, Construction at 8.2% and Manufacturing at 7.2%. The full-time employment rate is 69.8% and unemployment is 3.3%, both reflecting a healthy labour market anchored by the Bowen Basin resources sector.
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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