Miles
A vacancy rate of 24.7% stands out as the most unusual fact about Miles, QLD 4415, a town of 1,874 people spread across 431 square kilometres in the Western Downs. Median house price sits at $265,000, far below state and national medians, yet 50.1% of residents rent rather than buy, because household income falls at just the 28.3rd percentile nationally. The suburb identity is shaped by affordable detached housing, with 80.7% separate houses, a working-class occupational base led by labourers and machinery operators, and a SEIFA disadvantage decile of 3, indicating below-average socioeconomic conditions compared to most Australian communities.
Population
1,874
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,263/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$265K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $265,000 median house price, Miles sits well below the Queensland state median and national benchmarks, making entry costs low relative to most Australian markets. The housing stock is 80.7% separate houses, with semi-detached dwellings at 16.9% and apartments just 1.9%, so buyers almost always get a standalone property. Bedroom distribution skews large, with 40.8% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 40.0% having 3, meaning family-sized homes dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,020, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 19.9% of residents carry a mortgage versus 30.0% who own outright, reflecting a lower-income owner base that bought at historically lower price points rather than a recent influx of leveraged buyers.
For Buyers
At a $265,000 median house price, Miles sits well below the Queensland state median and national benchmarks, making entry costs low relative to most Australian markets. The housing stock is 80.7% separate houses, with semi-detached dwellings at 16.9% and apartments just 1.9%, so buyers almost always get a standalone property. Bedroom distribution skews large, with 40.8% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 40.0% having 3, meaning family-sized homes dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,020, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 19.9% of residents carry a mortgage versus 30.0% who own outright, reflecting a lower-income owner base that bought at historically lower price points rather than a recent influx of leveraged buyers.
For Investors
With 50.1% of residents renting, Miles has a majority-renter population, which is above the national average and signals sustained tenant demand in this regional town. Weekly rent is $200, low in absolute terms but set against a $265,000 median, implying a gross yield around 3.9%, materially higher than coastal capital city benchmarks. The 24.7% vacancy rate is the critical risk factor, indicating that roughly one in four rental properties sits empty, which points to oversupply or cyclical demand tied to resource sector employment. Net internal migration averages minus 1 person a year while overseas migration adds 14, so population growth is modest at 0.61% annually. Development activity is light at 9 applications in 12 months, keeping new supply additions minimal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
39
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+22.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Miles iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Miles State School
Prep-6 · 200 students
Miles State High School
7-12 · 164 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, giving Miles a slightly younger-than-average age profile. Overseas-born residents account for 11.5% of the population, which is 10.1 points below the national rate, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is firmly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (638), Scottish (169) and Irish (166) residents. University qualifications reach only 17.5%, sitting 12.6 points below the national rate, consistent with a blue-collar occupational base. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national average. Couples with children (483 families) outnumber couples without children (380) among the 1,240 total families, pointing to a family-oriented demographic stage rather than the retirement-skewed profiles common in other regional Queensland towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.7%
Houses
16.9%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split places Miles firmly in renter territory: 50.1% rent, 30.0% own outright and 19.9% carry a mortgage, compared to a national ownership norm closer to 67%. Outright owners outnumber mortgage holders significantly, because the low $265,000 median means properties were purchased decades ago at much lower prices. The stock is 80.7% separate houses with virtually no apartment supply (1.9%), so the high vacancy rate of 24.7% flows almost entirely from unoccupied detached and semi-detached dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 40.8% of dwellings and 3-bedroom homes another 40.0%, a large-home profile that reflects farming and trade families rather than apartment-dwelling commuters. Rent-to-income sits at 15.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning tenants who do occupy rental properties are not financially stretched.
Mortgage / mo
$1,020
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$716
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
24.7%
Unoccupied
227
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.6%
Couples, no children
1,240
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 14.0% of workers (66 people), followed by Education at 12.3% (58) and Construction at 11.7% (55), with Retail and Public Administration each at 9.4% (44). This mix reflects a regional service economy anchored in public-sector employment rather than private enterprise. By occupation, Labourers lead at 123 workers, followed by Machinery and Drivers at 106 and Community and Personal service roles at 96, consistent with the Western Downs' agricultural and infrastructure base. The unemployment rate is 4.3% against a participation rate of 52.0%, indicating that a large share of residents (479) are outside the labour force entirely. Weekly household income of $1,263 places Miles at the 28.3rd percentile nationally, meaning nearly three quarters of Australian suburbs have higher household incomes. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 3 or below, confirming concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage relative to the national distribution.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
2,600
Unemployed
99
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.8%
Part-time
26.9%
Participation
52.0%
Employed
743
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.5%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
11.5%
Dwellings
675
Transport to Work
Car dependence is dominant in Miles, with 80.6% of residents driving to work, consistent with a 431 square kilometre area where destinations are spread far apart. Public transport use is just 1.2%, among the lowest nationally, making a private vehicle essential. Walking and cycling account for 9.9%, which is reasonable for a small town where services cluster near the centre. No schools are recorded within the Miles suburb boundary in this dataset. The volunteering rate is 24.2%, above the national average, suggesting strong community participation that compensates for limited formal services. Miles scores decile 3 on IRSAD nationally, placing it among the lower-advantage third of Australian suburbs. The 7.8% of residents needing daily assistance (126 people) is above the national average, reflecting the older and lower-income demographic profile.
Drive
80.6%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
9.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+27 people/yr)
EstablishedMiles has grown at 0.61% annually, adding around 27 people per year, and the 10-year population change is 10.0%, indicating steady if unspectacular expansion for a remote regional town. Medium forecasts project the wider area reaching 4,522 residents by 2031, up from 4,394 in 2025. Real incomes grew 20.5% over the decade and affordability improved from 28.7% in 2011 to 25.8% in 2021, showing incomes rising faster than housing costs. Rent grew 33.3% over the period, an unusually strong figure for a low-priced market. The gentrification score is 52 with an Active stage designation in the shift data, though the separate gentrification signal reads Not Gentrifying with population up 13% since 2011. Internal migration is near neutral at minus 1 per year, so growth is driven primarily by overseas arrivals averaging 14 annually and natural increase.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
-1
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Miles compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Miles a good suburb to live in?
Miles suits buyers and renters seeking affordable regional living. The median house price of $265,000 is well below state and national medians, mortgage-to-income sits at 18.7% (below the 30% stress threshold), and the volunteering rate of 24.2% points to a community-oriented town. The trade-offs are a SEIFA disadvantage decile of 3 and limited public transport with only 1.2% of residents using it.
What is the median house price in Miles?
The median house price in Miles is $265,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $200, and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,020. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7% is comfortably below the 30% stress benchmark, making purchase costs accessible relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Miles?
No schools are recorded inside the Miles suburb boundary in this dataset. The town of Miles does have local schools serving the Western Downs region, but families should confirm current options with the Queensland Department of Education. University qualifications among residents stand at 17.5%, which is 12.6 points below the national rate.
Is Miles safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Miles in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, Miles scores decile 3 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, meaning conditions are below average compared to most Australian suburbs. The 24.2% volunteering rate and family-oriented household composition (483 couples with children) are positive community signals.
Is Miles good for property investment?
Miles offers a gross rental yield near 3.9%, higher than most capital city benchmarks, because the $265,000 median is low while weekly rent is $200. However, the 24.7% vacancy rate is the critical risk, indicating significant oversupply. Population growth is 0.61% annually and development activity is minimal at 9 applications in 12 months, limiting upside from new demand.
How is Miles's population changing?
Miles grows at 0.61% annually, adding roughly 27 people per year, with a 10-year population increase of 10.0%. Overseas migration averages 14 arrivals a year while internal migration is near neutral at minus 1. Medium forecasts project the wider area reaching 4,522 residents by 2031, up from 4,394 in 2025, indicating slow but positive trajectory.
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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