Middle Ridge
With 7,595 residents, Middle Ridge combines established household wealth with an older, detached-housing profile. The median age is 43, or 3.0 years above the national comparison, while household income of $2,177 per week sits at the 82.9th percentile. Separate houses account for 93.0% of dwellings and 78.2% have 4 or more bedrooms, supporting long-term family occupancy. For buyers comparing Middle Ridge with Rangeville or Kearneys Spring, the suburb's large-house emphasis is a defining feature. Population change is linked to internal migration, but the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.0 percentage points and the young share down 1.7 points.
Population
7,595
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,177/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Homebuyers comparing Middle Ridge with Rangeville or Kearneys Spring will find a strongly detached, family-sized housing profile: 93.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 78.2% have 4 or more bedrooms. A dependable current median house price is not available, so the $1,950 monthly mortgage reference and $420 weekly rent are useful holding-cost guides. Household income is above the national midpoint at the 82.9th percentile, while mortgage payments equal 20.7% of income and rent equals 19.3%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Affordability was 46.3 in 2021, below 47.2 in 2011, suggesting buyers should focus on land, condition and comparable sales rather than one suburb-wide price figure.
For Buyers
Homebuyers comparing Middle Ridge with Rangeville or Kearneys Spring will find a strongly detached, family-sized housing profile: 93.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 78.2% have 4 or more bedrooms. A dependable current median house price is not available, so the $1,950 monthly mortgage reference and $420 weekly rent are useful holding-cost guides. Household income is above the national midpoint at the 82.9th percentile, while mortgage payments equal 20.7% of income and rent equals 19.3%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Affordability was 46.3 in 2021, below 47.2 in 2011, suggesting buyers should focus on land, condition and comparable sales rather than one suburb-wide price figure.
For Investors
Middle Ridge presents an owner-led rental case rather than a highly rental-dependent market. Renting households account for 20.1%, compared with 44.4% owning outright and 34.5% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $420, vacancy is 5.8%, and rent growth is 23.5%, while rent-to-income at 19.3% is lower than mortgage-to-income at 20.7%. These conditions may support tenant demand because the suburb combines established households with internal migration, although the absence of a median purchase price prevents a reliable gross-yield calculation. Ten development applications in 12 months indicate some ongoing activity, but not a large pipeline on the available count.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+83.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Middle Ridge
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Middle Ridge State School
Demographics
Middle Ridge has an older demographic profile, with a median age of 43, which is 3.0 years above the national comparison. University qualification attainment is 44.6%, or 14.5 percentage points above national, while the overseas-born share is 20.6%, 1.0 point below national. Average household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above national, reflecting a strong family base alongside 44.0% couples without children and 45.8% couples with children. English ancestry is reported by 2,919 people, followed by Irish 1,019, Scottish 907 and German 831. Christianity counts 4,805 people versus 1,863 reporting no religion. A 72.4% stayed rate supports residential continuity, while the 27.6% turnover rate leaves room for new households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.0%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
3.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Middle Ridge is dominated by large detached homes: the 93.0% separate-house share is higher than both apartment and semi-detached shares, each at 3.5%. Four or more bedrooms account for 78.2% of dwellings, compared with 17.0% for 3-bedroom homes, so the stock is oriented toward families and long-term occupancy. Tenure is split between 44.4% owned outright, 34.5% mortgaged and 20.1% rented. The $1,950 monthly mortgage reference is higher than the $420 weekly rent figure when viewed as a simple cash-flow measure, although the relevant income ratios remain moderate at 20.7% and 19.3%. Affordability moved from 47.2 in 2011 to 46.3 in 2021, a slight decline rather than a sharp change.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $420.
$560
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $560 · units $440
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$907
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
160
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.8%
Couples with children
44.0%
Couples, no children
9.5%
Single parent
2,147
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Middle Ridge's largest employment industry at 27.2%, representing 707 workers, followed by education at 19.0% and 496 workers. Public administration accounts for 7.3%, professional and technical services 6.9%, and retail 6.7%. The occupational mix is led by 1,156 professionals, with 488 managers, 470 clerical and administrative workers, 393 community and personal service workers, and 382 trades workers. Unemployment is 4.0%, participation is 61.8% and the full-time rate is 62.0%. Household income is above the national midpoint at the 82.9th percentile. SEIFA results sit in deciles 8, 9, 9 and 8 for IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD, respectively. The modest spread from 8 to 9 points to broadly advantaged conditions rather than a uniform top-decile result.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
3,736
Unemployed
151
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
61.8%
Employed
3,585
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.6%
Postgraduate
12.7%
Born Overseas
20.6%
Dwellings
2,604
Transport to Work
Middle Ridge's daily routine is strongly car dependent: 80.3% drive to work, compared with just 0.1% using public transport and 1.8% walking or cycling. A further 10.6% work from home, which may reduce commuting pressure for some households. The suburb covers 8.68 square kilometres at a density of 875 people per square kilometre, giving it a lower-intensity feel than denser inner areas. One local school is identified, in the government sector and state-school type, so families should confirm the exact enrolment zone before committing to an address. IRSAD and IEO both sit at decile 8, higher than the middle deciles, while volunteering is 21.9% and need for assistance is 8.2%. A suburb-wide crime rate is not available as a reliable benchmark, so current Queensland Police information should be checked for the exact street.
Drive
80.3%
Public Transport
0.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
10.6%
Population Forecast
+1.26%/yr
(+102 people/yr)
EstablishedMiddle Ridge has an annual growth trend of 1.26%, driven primarily by internal migration. Population change across the wider area is 15.8% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share increased by 4.0 percentage points and the young share fell by 1.7 points. Rent growth of 23.5% may reflect continued demand for established housing, while real income growth was 2.4%. Compared with a rapidly changing market, the signals are mixed: the gentrification score is 20 with a stage of Early signs, but the separate shift score is 18 and labelled Not gentrifying. Stable affordability, moving from 47.2 in 2011 to 46.3 in 2021, may help retain existing households as internal migration adds demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+48
Net Internal / yr
+106
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +20% since 2011, Net internal migration +106/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Middle Ridge compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middle Ridge a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Middle Ridge can suit households seeking detached housing, larger homes and an established residential setting. The suburb has 93.0% separate houses, a median age of 43 and household income of $2,177 per week at the 82.9th percentile. The trade-off is car dependence, with only 0.1% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Middle Ridge?
There is no dependable current median house price to quote for Middle Ridge. Buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type and land size, then test repayments against the $1,950 monthly mortgage reference and $420 weekly rent. With 93.0% separate houses, like-for-like comparisons are especially important.
What schools are in Middle Ridge?
Middle Ridge State School is the named local option. It is 1 government school classified as a state school. Families should confirm the catchment for the exact address and ask about current enrolment capacity, because school zones can differ across nearby Toowoomba streets.
Is Middle Ridge safe?
Safety should be checked at street level using current Queensland Police information rather than assumed from the suburb name. Middle Ridge covers 8.68 square kilometres and has a density of 875 people per square kilometre, so conditions may vary across the area. No reliable suburb-wide crime rate supports a definitive safe or unsafe verdict.
Is Middle Ridge good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking established owner-occupier demand and moderate rental exposure. Weekly rent is $420, vacancy is 5.8%, renting households represent 20.1%, and rent growth is 23.5%. Annual growth is 1.26% and is driven by internal migration, but a purchase price is needed to calculate gross yield.
How is Middle Ridge's population changing?
Middle Ridge is growing while ageing. Its current population is 7,595, the annual trend is 1.26%, and population change across the wider area is 15.8% over 10 years. Internal migration is the primary driver, while the senior share rose 4.0 percentage points and the young share fell 1.7 points. The forecast trajectory is labelled Aging.
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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