QLD 4311 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Minden

With 99% of dwellings being separate houses and just 1,227 residents across 22 square kilometres, Minden is one of south-east Queensland's most distinctly rural-residential communities. Household income sits at the 60.6th percentile nationally, above the national median, while the median age of 37 runs 3 years below the national figure, reflecting an active, family-oriented population. Mortgage holders make up 60.5% of residents, well above outright owners at 28.3%, pointing to a suburb in active acquisition mode rather than settled wealth.

Minden urban fabric map

Population

1,227

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,725/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

15

Median House

$433K

Estimated from rent (2025)

22.06 km²· 55.6 people/km²· Family income $1,923/wk

The median house price is estimated at $433,000, significantly lower than comparable south-east Queensland suburban markets, making Minden accessible to mortgage-belt buyers. Monthly repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite 60.5% of residents carrying a mortgage. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99%, with 62.9% having 4 or more bedrooms, higher than the national average for suburban areas, which signals strong family demand. The $350 weekly rent translates to a rent-to-income ratio of 20.3%, also below stress levels, so both owners and renters are managing repayments comfortably relative to local incomes.

For Buyers

The median house price is estimated at $433,000, significantly lower than comparable south-east Queensland suburban markets, making Minden accessible to mortgage-belt buyers. Monthly repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite 60.5% of residents carrying a mortgage. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99%, with 62.9% having 4 or more bedrooms, higher than the national average for suburban areas, which signals strong family demand. The $350 weekly rent translates to a rent-to-income ratio of 20.3%, also below stress levels, so both owners and renters are managing repayments comfortably relative to local incomes.

For Investors

Minden's rental market is small but tight: only 11.2% of residents rent, compared to national averages closer to 30%, which means fewer tenants compete for a limited pool. The 4.9% vacancy rate is elevated compared to most suburban markets, so investors should factor in longer vacancy periods between tenancies. Just 13 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, all small-scale works including a secondary dwelling and a shed, suggesting limited new supply pressure. The median rent of $350 per week against a $433,000 price implies a gross yield near 4.2%, reasonable for a semi-rural market. Secondary dwelling activity in recent DA applications points to emerging granny flat interest, which could improve yields for well-positioned properties.

Development Activity

Total DAs

15

Last 12 Months

15

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

Garage / Carport / Shed
8
Swimming Pool / Spa
2
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
2
Commercial / Industrial
1
Deck / Pergola / Patio
1
Renovation / Extension
1

Schools in Minden iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Minden State School

ICSEA 975 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 135 students

Demographics

The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, and couples with children at 515 families far outnumber couples without children at 287, confirming a young family skew. The overseas-born share is 10.9%, which is 10.7 percentage points below the national average, one of the more Anglo-Celtic compositions in Queensland. Ancestry is led by English (517), German (151), Irish (116) and Scottish (114), reflecting European settler heritage common to the Lockyer Valley. University qualifications reach only 16.7%, which is 13.4 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar and trades-oriented local economy. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, driven by the prevalence of larger family households.

Age Distribution

0-14
23.1%
15-24
11.2%
25-44
24.2%
45-64
26.0%
65+
15.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.0%
2 bed
5.2%
3 bed
30.9%
4+ bed
62.9%

Dwelling Structure

99.0%

Houses

1.0%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 28.3% Mortgage 60.5% Rent 11.2%

Minden's housing stock is defined by scale and tenure: 99% separate houses and 62.9% with 4 or more bedrooms, a profile suited to larger families. Ownership is split between mortgage holders (60.5%) and outright owners (28.3%), with renters at just 11.2%, well below the national renting share of around 30%. The $433,000 median house price is estimated from rental data and sits at an accessible level compared to metropolitan QLD markets. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,517 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% leave meaningful financial headroom, suggesting the suburb attracts buyers who can service debt without stretching. The 4.9% vacancy rate is a caution flag for the rental segment, indicating supply modestly outpaces current rental demand.

Mortgage / mo

$1,517

Rent / wk

$350

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$708

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.9%

Unoccupied

21

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.3%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.3%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
517
German
151
Irish
116
Scottish
114
Ancestry NS
64
Other
58

Household Composition

27.1%

Couples, no children

1,058

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the leading employer at 16.3% of the workforce (60 workers), followed by Education at 12.2% (45 workers) and Construction at 11.1% (41 workers), a mix that reflects workers commuting out for government and services jobs while some trades work locally. Public Administration accounts for 9.5% and Manufacturing 7.0%, rounding out a diverse but modest local employment base. By occupation, Labourers (75), Community and Personal Service workers (72) and Clerical and Admin workers (70) lead, with Professionals (61) and Machinery Drivers (61) close behind, a trades-heavy profile consistent with the 16.7% university qualification rate, which is 13.4 points below national. The unemployment rate is 5.0% and the participation rate is 54.6%, below national averages, partly because 325 residents are not in the labour force, including the non-working spouses and retirees common in rural-residential communities.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

68.4%

Part-time

26.6%

Participation

54.6%

Employed

494

Occupations

Labourers 75
Community/Personal 72
Clerical/Admin 70
Professionals 61
Machinery/Drivers 61
Sales 54
Managers 52

Top Industries

Healthcare 16.3%
Education 12.2%
Construction 11.1%
Public Admin 9.5%
Manufacturing 7.0%

University

16.7%

Postgraduate

2.7%

Born Overseas

10.9%

Dwellings

407

Transport to Work

Car dependency is nearly absolute in Minden: 91.8% of residents drive to work, higher than the national average, because public transport options are minimal in this semi-rural setting. Walking and cycling accounts for just 1.7% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the Minden boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Lockyer Valley suburbs. The volunteering rate of 13.5% indicates meaningful community participation relative to population size. Housing stress is low, with both the rent-to-income ratio (20.3%) and mortgage-to-income ratio (20.3%) below the 30% stress threshold, meaning residents are not financially stretched by housing costs. The 8.1% of residents needing daily assistance (94 people) is notable for a community of just 1,227, suggesting some older or disability-support households present.

Drive

91.8%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

1.7%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Minden compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 26%
Household Income
Top 39%
Rent Level
Top 28%
Renters
Bottom 20%
Uni Educated
Bottom 25%
Born Overseas
Bottom 34%
Density
Top 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Minden a good suburb to live in?

Minden suits families and owner-occupiers looking for large detached homes at accessible prices. Household income sits at the 60.6th percentile nationally, above median, and housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 20.3%. The trade-off is near-total car dependence, with 91.8% of residents driving to work, and limited local services in this 22-square-kilometre rural-residential area.

What is the median house price in Minden?

The median house price is estimated at $433,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $350, and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,517. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% is well below the 30% stress threshold, making Minden more affordable to carry than many south-east Queensland suburban markets.

What schools are in Minden?

No schools are recorded inside the Minden boundary in this dataset. Families in this 1,227-person community rely on schools in neighbouring Lockyer Valley suburbs. University qualifications in Minden reach 16.7% of residents, which is 13.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the area's trades and services employment base.

Is Minden safe?

Detailed crime statistics for Minden are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low with both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income ratios at 20.3%, and 80.4% of residents stayed in the area over the five years prior to the last Census, suggesting a stable and settled community rather than a high-turnover area.

Is Minden good for property investment?

The $433,000 median price and $350 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 4.2%, reasonable for a semi-rural market. However, the rental pool is small, with only 11.2% of residents renting compared to national averages near 30%, and the 4.9% vacancy rate is elevated. Only 13 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is low.

How is Minden's population changing?

Minden's population is 1,227 residents with a turnover rate of 19.6% over the prior five years. The 80.4% of residents who stayed signals a stable base. With a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national figure, and a strong family household composition, the suburb is demographically positioned for gradual owner-occupier driven growth rather than speculative turnover.

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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