QLD 4506 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Morayfield

A 3.13% annual growth trend sets Morayfield apart from a flat-growth market, while 24,898 residents spread across 44.52 sq km give it the scale of a major Moreton Bay service suburb. The median age is 34, or 6 years below the national figure, yet the trajectory is aging as the senior share has risen 3.9 percentage points and the young share has fallen 3.2 points. Housing is detached-dominant, with 81.7% separate houses and 51.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby Caboolture and Burpengary, Morayfield's useful distinction is its combination of scale, family-sized housing and car dependence, with 77.8% driving to work and 398 development matters recorded in 12 months. The mix suits buyers seeking space and services, but affordability and transport remain central trade-offs.

Morayfield urban fabric map

Population

24,898

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,442/wk

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

389

44.52 km²· 559.3 people/km²· Family income $1,619/wk

Morayfield suits buyers prioritising a separate home over apartment living. A suburb-specific median house price is not available, but a monthly mortgage estimate of $1,560 and weekly rent of $345 provide useful benchmarks while buyers compare recent settled sales. The 81.7% separate-house share, 16.8% semi-detached share and 51.9% four-bedroom-plus share point to family-sized stock. That mix is useful for families because larger homes can support children, home offices or multi-generational living. Mortgage costs equal 25.0% of household income and rent equals 23.9%, both below 30%, although the affordability measure moved from 59.3 in 2011 to 48.6 in 2021 and is labelled improving. Compared with a compact apartment market, Morayfield provides more space, but buyers should budget for car reliance and verify flood, maintenance and school-zone details at the address.

For Buyers

Morayfield suits buyers prioritising a separate home over apartment living. A suburb-specific median house price is not available, but a monthly mortgage estimate of $1,560 and weekly rent of $345 provide useful benchmarks while buyers compare recent settled sales. The 81.7% separate-house share, 16.8% semi-detached share and 51.9% four-bedroom-plus share point to family-sized stock. That mix is useful for families because larger homes can support children, home offices or multi-generational living. Mortgage costs equal 25.0% of household income and rent equals 23.9%, both below 30%, although the affordability measure moved from 59.3 in 2011 to 48.6 in 2021 and is labelled improving. Compared with a compact apartment market, Morayfield provides more space, but buyers should budget for car reliance and verify flood, maintenance and school-zone details at the address.

For Investors

Morayfield presents a growth-oriented rental case, but not a low-supply one. Rent is $345 a week, 44.5% of households rent and vacancy is 5.9%, so tenant demand should be tested against competing listings rather than assumed. Compared with a tightly supplied market, that vacancy rate suggests more choice for renters and potentially slower leasing in weaker pockets. The 3.13% annual growth trend and internal migration driver support longer-term demand, while 398 development matters in 12 months could add new competition. Detached houses dominate at 81.7%, which may suit family tenants, but the 1.5% apartment share means the product mix is narrow. Returns should be assessed with insurance, maintenance, land tax and finance costs because no median sale price is available.

Development Activity

Total DAs

975

Last 12 Months

389

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-7.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
233
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
113
Electrician
103
Other
100
Change of Use
89
New Dwelling
78
Renovation / Extension
26
Signage / Advertising
14

Schools in Morayfield

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Carmichael College (Morayfield)

Non-State School Independent

Morayfield State High School

State High School Government

Minimbah State School

State School Government

Morayfield East State School

State School Government

Morayfield State School

State School Government

Demographics

Morayfield's median age of 34 is 6 years below national, and university attainment at 14.8% is 15.3 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents account for 18.1%, 3.5 points below national, while average household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above national. English, Scottish and Irish are the largest reported ancestries, at 10,374, 2,334 and 2,167 people. Family households are important: 38.5% of families are couples with children, 35.8% couples without children and 24.1% one-parent families. The age pattern is shifting older because the senior share rose 3.9 points and the young share fell 3.2 points. Compared with a more university-heavy or migrant-majority suburb, Morayfield has a more locally rooted, practical workforce profile, reflected in trades, labouring and community occupations.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.6%
15-24
14.0%
25-44
27.5%
45-64
23.1%
65+
13.9%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
2.1%
2 bed
8.9%
3 bed
37.1%
4+ bed
51.9%

Dwelling Structure

81.7%

Houses

16.8%

Townhouse

1.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 20.0% Mortgage 34.0% Rent 44.5% Other 1.5%

Morayfield's housing stock is primarily detached and family-sized: 81.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 16.8% semi-detached and just 1.5% apartments. Bedrooms follow the same pattern, with 51.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 37.1% containing 3 bedrooms. Tenure is mixed, with 20.0% owned outright, 34.0% paying a mortgage and 44.5% renting. That mix supports both family ownership and a sizeable renter market because larger homes can accommodate changing household needs. Compared with apartment-led suburbs, the low 1.5% apartment share means less product diversity for investors. Weekly rent is $345 and rent-to-income is 23.9%, while mortgage-to-income is 25.0%; a median house price is not available for a precise price-to-income calculation.

Mortgage / mo

$1,560

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $345.

$570

Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $570 · units $460

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$708

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

5.9%

Unoccupied

535

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

23.9%

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

25.0%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
95
Samoan
63
Korean
51
Afrikaans
35
Punjabi
28
Hindi
27

Ancestry

English
10,374
Scottish
2,334
Irish
2,167
Ancestry NS
1,735
Other
1,690
German
1,561

Household Composition

38.5%

Couples with children

35.8%

Couples, no children

24.1%

Single parent

6,696

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is Morayfield's largest industry at 20.1% or 1,321 workers, followed by construction at 12.7% with 835, education at 9.7% with 639, retail at 9.2% with 604 and manufacturing at 7.4% with 488. That spread gives the suburb a service-and-trades base rather than reliance on one employer. Occupations are led by trades at 1,814, labourers at 1,784, community and personal work at 1,591, clerical and administration at 1,351 and sales at 1,145. Participation is 60.5%, full-time employment is 56.4% and unemployment is 7.1%, indicating meaningful labour-market capacity but a softer position than a very tight employment market. Household income sits at the 43.7th percentile, below the midpoint, while SEIFA IEO is decile 2 versus IER decile 6; IRSD and IRSAD both sit at decile 4. The gap suggests education and occupation disadvantage is more pronounced than economic-resource standing.

Unemployment

7.1%

Labour Force

11,814

Unemployed

839

Source: ABS Census 2021

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

Overall advantage
4
Disadvantage
4
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
2

Full-time

56.4%

Part-time

34.1%

Participation

60.5%

Employed

10,975

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Trades 1,814
Labourers 1,784
Community/Personal 1,591
Clerical/Admin 1,351
Sales 1,145
Professionals 1,144
Machinery/Drivers 1,003
Managers 946

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.1%
Construction 12.7%
Education 9.7%
Retail 9.2%
Manufacturing 7.4%

University

14.8%

Postgraduate

2.0%

Born Overseas

18.1%

Dwellings

8,559

Transport to Work

Daily life in Morayfield is structured around driving: 77.8% travel as car drivers, versus 2.8% using public transport, while 10.7% work from home and 1.4% walk or cycle. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, errands and school travel are more car-dependent, so household transport costs matter. Five local schools cover state primary, state high and independent schooling, including 4 government schools and 1 independent option; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. A current suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 cannot be stated reliably, so recent Queensland Police information and street-level conditions deserve attention rather than assumptions. IRSAD sits at decile 4 and the suburb has 559.3 people per sq km across 44.52 sq km, giving a broad, established setting with services distributed across a large area.

Drive

77.8%

Public Transport

2.8%

Walk / Cycle

1.4%

Work from Home

10.7%

Population Forecast

+3.13%/yr

(+433 people/yr)

Established

Growth is a defining feature, with the forecast trend at 3.13% annually and internal migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change runs at 54.5% over 10 years, a much higher pace than a static established suburb. Morayfield also carries a gentrification score of 40 and an Active stage, even as its broader trajectory is labelled Aging and records a 3.9-point rise in the senior share against a 3.2-point fall in the young share. Rent growth of 10.9% adds pressure for tenants, while real income growth of 10.1% provides some offset. The contrast suggests expansion through incoming households and development, alongside an older resident mix, rather than a simple young-family boom. Planning activity matters because 398 development matters were recorded in 12 months.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Internal Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+110

Net Internal / yr

+406

40

Gentrification Signal

Active

Net internal migration +406/yr, Accelerating: 18% → 59%

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

How Morayfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 1%
Household Income
Bottom 44%
Rent Level
Top 29%
Apartments
Top 18%
Renters
Top 8%
Uni Educated
Bottom 18%
Public Transport
Top 46%
Born Overseas
Top 35%
Density
Top 19%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Morayfield a good suburb to live in?

Yes, it can suit households wanting detached space and access to schools and services. Morayfield has 24,898 residents, 81.7% separate houses and a median age of 34, which is 6 years below national. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, daily life is more car-dependent because 77.8% drive to work.

What is the median house price in Morayfield?

Current median house price data is not available for Morayfield. A weekly rent of $345, a monthly mortgage estimate of $1,560 and an 81.7% separate-house share provide useful context. Compared with apartment markets, buyers should compare recent settled sales by dwelling type because 51.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.

What schools are in Morayfield?

Morayfield has 5 listed schools: Minimbah State School, Morayfield East State School, Morayfield State High School, Morayfield State School and Carmichael College. The mix is 4 government schools and 1 independent school, covering primary and high school options. Compared with a suburb without a local high school, families have a more direct local option, but should confirm enrolment zones.

Is Morayfield safe?

Safety should be checked using current Queensland Police information and the exact street, because a suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 is not available. Morayfield has 24,898 residents across 44.52 sq km, so conditions can vary across a broad area. Compared with relying on one suburb-wide figure, checking the immediate pocket is more useful.

Is Morayfield good for property investment?

Morayfield may suit investors seeking family rental demand and growth exposure, but returns need careful checking. Rent is $345 a week, 44.5% of households rent, vacancy is 5.9% and development activity reached 398 matters in 12 months. Compared with a low-vacancy market, tenant competition may be less predictable, while the 3.13% annual growth trend and internal migration support the longer view.

How is Morayfield's population changing?

Morayfield's wider-area growth outlook is strong: the annual trend is 3.13%, internal migration is the primary driver and population change over 10 years is 54.5%. The shift is also labelled Aging, with the senior share up 3.9 points and the young share down 3.2 points. Compared with a purely young-family market, future demand may be more mixed.

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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