Maryborough
An established regional centre with 8,160 residents, Maryborough has a median age of 51, which is 11 years above the national figure, and household income at the 7th percentile. Housing is predominantly detached, with 87.4% separate houses and 44.7% owned outright. Compared with nearby Carisbrook and Dunolly, buyers should treat Maryborough as a distinct regional market with established services, including healthcare at 25.3% of local employment. The trade-off is a recorded crime rate of 144.5 per 1,000 residents and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its 2.1-person households and 83.5% residential stability suit downsizers and established households more than fast-turnover lifestyle buyers.
Population
8,160
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$876/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$435K
October to December 2025
Maryborough suits buyers prioritising detached space and established housing stock. A typical mortgage payment is $1,000 monthly, equal to 26.4% of household income, while weekly rent is $240 and rent-to-income is 27.4%. Separate houses account for 87.4% of homes, with 54.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 18.7% containing 4 or more, versus only 1.7% apartments. Compared with the 44.7% owned outright, 24.7% mortgaged share indicates a substantial established-owner base.
For Buyers
Maryborough suits buyers prioritising detached space and established housing stock. A typical mortgage payment is $1,000 monthly, equal to 26.4% of household income, while weekly rent is $240 and rent-to-income is 27.4%. Separate houses account for 87.4% of homes, with 54.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 18.7% containing 4 or more, versus only 1.7% apartments. Compared with the 44.7% owned outright, 24.7% mortgaged share indicates a substantial established-owner base.
For Investors
Rental conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $240 and 28.2% of households rent, below the 44.7% outright ownership share, which points to a smaller tenant segment than an owner-heavy market would usually support. The 8.9% vacancy rate may reduce leasing competition, even though rents have grown 25.0%. Eight development matters were recorded over 12 months, suggesting some ongoing supply activity without evidence of a large construction pipeline. The 2.15% annual growth trend, driven by internal migration, provides a supportive demand backdrop, but investors should weigh that against the suburb's 6.2% unemployment rate and ageing trajectory.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Maryborough
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Maryborough Education Centre
St Augustine's School
Highview College
Demographics
Maryborough has an older, settled demographic profile. The median age is 51, or 11 years above national, while 83.5% of residents stayed at the same address. Only 9.4% of residents were born overseas, 12.2 percentage points below national, and 15.8% have university qualifications, 14.3 points below national. English ancestry is most common at 3,747 people, followed by Scottish at 935 and Irish at 881. Average household size is 2.1, or 0.4 below the national average, and couples without children account for 48.7% of families. These figures help explain demand for smaller, lower-maintenance homes and services suited to older households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.4%
Houses
9.5%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure remains owner-heavy: 44.7% own outright, 24.7% have a mortgage and 28.2% rent. The stock is detached, with 87.4% separate houses, 9.5% semi-detached homes and 1.7% apartments. Mortgage costs equal 26.4% of income versus 27.4% for rent, while 3-bedroom homes make up 54.9%, more than the 18.7% share of 4-plus-bedroom homes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$240
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$511
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
356
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.7%
Couples with children
48.7%
Couples, no children
21.7%
Single parent
2,140
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Maryborough's largest industry at 25.3% of jobs, or 404 workers, followed by manufacturing at 13.2% and 210 workers, education at 11.2% and 179, retail at 8.3% and 133, and public administration at 7.5% and 120. The occupational mix is led by labourers at 477, community and personal service workers at 443, and trades at 434, ahead of professionals at 347 and sales workers at 301. The labour force totals 2,962, with unemployment at 6.2% and participation at 42.6%. Household income ranks at the 7th percentile, while IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD are all decile 1, below national socioeconomic benchmarks. This helps explain the strong role of essential services and practical occupations.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
2,962
Unemployed
185
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.8%
Part-time
40.2%
Participation
42.6%
Employed
2,777
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.8%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
9.4%
Dwellings
3,625
Transport to Work
Maryborough is car-oriented: 79.1% of residents drive to work, compared with 7.2% who walk or cycle and 6.6% who work from home. Education access includes 3 local schools across Catholic primary, government primary and secondary, and independent secondary settings; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Safety requires attention, with 1,179 recorded offences and a rate of 144.5 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences led at 467, compared with 257 justice procedures offences and 227 crimes against the person. IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 1, below national socioeconomic benchmarks. The lower-density setting of 177 residents per square kilometre across 46.1 square kilometres may suit buyers seeking space, but car dependence is higher than active travel.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
6.6%
Population Forecast
+2.15%/yr
(+240 people/yr)
EstablishedMaryborough's growth trend runs at 2.15% annually, with internal migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 24.9% over 10 years, but the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 11.7 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 3.8 points and the working share 7.0 points. This suggests growth alongside an older resident base rather than a youth-led expansion. Affordability is described as Stable, moving from 54.1 in 2011 to 53.1 in 2021. Gentrification readings are mixed, with a score of 54 marked Active versus a shift measure of 19 marked Not gentrifying. Compared with a rapidly rejuvenating market, Maryborough's growth is more likely to be shaped by internal migration and ageing demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+29
Net Internal / yr
+355
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +43% since 2011, Net internal migration +355/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 32%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,179
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
144.5
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Maryborough compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maryborough a good suburb to live in?
Maryborough can suit buyers seeking detached homes, established services and a slower-paced setting. The median age is 51 and 87.4% of homes are separate houses. Compared with denser markets, car dependence is higher at 79.1%, while the crime rate of 144.5 per 1,000 should be considered alongside housing affordability.
What schools are in Maryborough?
Maryborough has 3 local schools: St Augustine's School, a Catholic primary school; Maryborough Education Centre, a government primary and secondary setting; and Highview College, an independent secondary school. Compared with a single-sector catchment, the local mix is broader, but families should check enrolment zones for the exact address.
Is Maryborough safe?
Safety is a material consideration. Maryborough recorded 1,179 offences at a rate of 144.5 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 467, compared with 227 crimes against the person. Buyers and renters should review current conditions at the street and address level before deciding.
How is Maryborough's population changing?
Maryborough has 8,160 residents today. Growth is running at 2.15% annually and is primarily driven by internal migration. Across the wider area, population change is 24.9% over 10 years, but the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 11.7 percentage points and the young share down 3.8 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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), 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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