Mornington
At a median age of 35, Mornington runs 5 years younger than the national figure, and its household income lands in the 72nd percentile nationally despite sitting in a remote Queensland postcode. The suburb's most striking characteristic is its labour profile: Mining employs 29.5% of workers, nearly 3 times the national share, which explains both the above-average incomes and the 57.1% renter majority typical of fly-in, fly-out communities. The estimated median house price of $355,000 reflects the remote location, and a 20.2% vacancy rate signals that population demand fluctuates with the resources cycle rather than organic growth.
Population
1,846
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,925/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$355K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $355,000 makes entry significantly more affordable than state or national medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers who do commit are financially comfortable. Separate houses make up 47.8% of dwellings while semi-detached homes account for 18.6%, giving buyers a reasonable choice of dwelling type. The 3-bedroom configuration is most common at 37.1% of dwellings, followed by 2-bedroom at 30.9%. The 57.1% renter majority is higher than the national average, meaning owner-occupier buyers face less competition from other purchasers, though the 26.8% mortgage share is comparatively low.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $355,000 makes entry significantly more affordable than state or national medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 18.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers who do commit are financially comfortable. Separate houses make up 47.8% of dwellings while semi-detached homes account for 18.6%, giving buyers a reasonable choice of dwelling type. The 3-bedroom configuration is most common at 37.1% of dwellings, followed by 2-bedroom at 30.9%. The 57.1% renter majority is higher than the national average, meaning owner-occupier buyers face less competition from other purchasers, though the 26.8% mortgage share is comparatively low.
For Investors
The renter majority of 57.1% provides landlords with a large tenant pool, but the 20.2% vacancy rate is a material caution signal, running well above the 3% equilibrium threshold typical of healthy markets. Weekly rent is $245, and the rent-to-income ratio for tenants is just 12.7%, indicating affordable rents relative to local wages. The resources-driven economy means rental demand correlates with mining activity levels rather than steady population growth, creating cyclical risk. Development activity recorded 0 applications in the past 12 months, confirming a lack of new supply that could support prices, but also reflecting an absence of confidence in sustained demand. Investors should weigh the affordable entry point against the high vacancy and commodity-cycle sensitivity.
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years younger than the national median of 40, consistent with a working-age population drawn by the resources sector. Males account for 51.3% of the population, a slight skew associated with mine-site employment patterns. Overseas-born residents reach 22.8%, which is 1.2 percentage points above the national figure, a modest but present international component. University qualifications stand at 23.5%, which is 6.6 points below national, reflecting the trade and machinery-focused employment base. The average household size is 2.1, slightly below the national figure of 2.5. English, Irish and Scottish ancestries lead, indicating an Anglo-Celtic demographic foundation typical of Queensland regional towns. The volunteering rate of 14.0% suggests an engaged resident base within a small community of 1,846 people.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
47.8%
Houses
18.6%
Townhouse
15.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure data reveals a rental-dominant suburb: 57.1% of households rent compared to 26.8% on a mortgage and just 16.1% owning outright. The low outright-ownership share points to relatively recent settlement patterns rather than long-established generational wealth. Separate houses represent 47.8% of stock, with semi-detached at 18.6% and apartments at 15.0%. Three-bedroom dwellings are the modal type at 37.1%, suited to the family and worker-household profile. The estimated median house price of $355,000 is significantly lower than the Queensland state median, making the suburb accessible to first-home buyers and smaller investors. The 20.2% vacancy rate is the most important housing market signal, indicating that supply meaningfully exceeds demand at current price levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$245
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,100
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.2%
Unoccupied
184
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.7%
Couples, no children
1,079
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining dominates the local employment base at 29.5% of workers (159 employed), a concentration that shapes the entire suburb economy. Healthcare is second at 23.0% (124 workers), reflecting service provision to the resident population, followed by Education at 11.1% and Public Administration at 8.2%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 202 workers, above the Machinery and Drivers group at 133, suggesting the mine workforce includes technical and engineering roles rather than purely manual labour. The unemployment rate is 5.5%, above the national trend, and the participation rate of 54.4% is notably below national levels, partly because 282 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 80.2% of those employed, consistent with mining shift patterns. Personal weekly income of $1,100 places households in the 72nd income percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
80.2%
Part-time
14.3%
Participation
54.4%
Employed
787
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.5%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
22.8%
Dwellings
726
Transport to Work
Transport reliance on private vehicles is high at 78.0% car usage, but 11.6% of residents walk or cycle, well above the national average, reflecting the compact 0.98 square kilometre footprint where destinations are within walking distance. Public transport usage is minimal at 0.8%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby facilities. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset, so a direct safety rating cannot be made. SEIFA socioeconomic decile data is also unavailable for this suburb. Rent-to-income at 12.7% is well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters retain financial flexibility. The need-for-assistance rate of 4.0% is low, and the proximity of a 1,846-person community in a compact area supports service accessibility.
Drive
78.0%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
11.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mornington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mornington a good suburb to live in?
Mornington suits workers in the resources sector, with household income in the 72nd percentile nationally despite remote Queensland location. The rent-to-income ratio is low at 12.7% and the mortgage-to-income ratio at 18.2% is well below stress levels. Trade-offs include limited schooling within the suburb boundary and a 20.2% vacancy rate that signals a fluctuating population.
What is the median house price in Mornington?
The estimated median house price is $355,000, significantly more affordable than Queensland state and national medians. Weekly rent averages $245. Monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.2%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Mornington?
No schools are recorded within the Mornington QLD suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children rely on educational facilities in surrounding areas. The local university qualification rate is 23.5%, which is 6.6 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade-focused workforce.
Is Mornington safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Mornington QLD in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the rent-to-income ratio of 12.7% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.2% are both low, suggesting residents are not under financial stress, a factor associated with lower crime rates. The population of 1,846 in 0.98 square kilometres is a small, compact community.
Is Mornington good for property investment?
Entry is affordable at an estimated median of $355,000, and the 57.1% renter majority provides a large tenant pool. However, the 20.2% vacancy rate is a significant risk flag, running far above healthy market levels. Rental demand tracks the mining cycle, so returns depend on sustained resources sector activity rather than steady demographic growth.
How is Mornington's population changing?
Mornington has a population of 1,846 in a 0.98 square kilometre area, with a high annual turnover rate of 28.6%, meaning around 1 in 4 residents moved in or out in the past year. This churn is typical of mine-adjacent communities where workforce rotations drive residency patterns rather than organic family or retiree settlement.
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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