Mount Lofty
At a median age of 43, Mount Lofty skews 3 years older than the national average, and its workforce composition explains why: 25.4% of employed residents work in Healthcare and 19.2% in Education, two sectors that draw mid-career professionals rather than young renters. University qualifications reach 46.2%, which is 16.1 percentage points above the national figure, pointing to a knowledge-worker concentration unusual for a suburb this affordable.
Population
3,825
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,002/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Detached houses make up 89.1% of dwellings, so buyers get genuine house-and-land stock rather than apartments, which represent only 1.1% of the mix. Bedroom sizes lean large: 41.6% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 43.8% have 3 bedrooms, meaning families competing for space are well served. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733. The suburb sits at the 75th percentile for household income nationally, which means the typical buyer here has above-average capacity to service a loan relative to the purchase price.
For Buyers
Detached houses make up 89.1% of dwellings, so buyers get genuine house-and-land stock rather than apartments, which represent only 1.1% of the mix. Bedroom sizes lean large: 41.6% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 43.8% have 3 bedrooms, meaning families competing for space are well served. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733. The suburb sits at the 75th percentile for household income nationally, which means the typical buyer here has above-average capacity to service a loan relative to the purchase price.
For Investors
The vacancy rate of 7.2% is elevated and worth monitoring, as it suggests the rental market has more supply than immediate demand, which could pressure rents. Development activity recorded 6 applications in the past 12 months, a low level that limits new supply pressure over the near term. Owner-occupier stability is high: 37.5% own outright and 36.4% carry a mortgage, meaning only a small renter base turns over frequently. Rent-to-income at 17% is below the stress threshold, which supports tenant retention.
Development Activity
Total DAs
28
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mount Lofty iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Toowoomba State High School
7-12 · 775 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure and the household composition reflects this maturity: 31.2% of families are couples without children, while couples with children account for 1,266 families. Average household size of 2.4 sits marginally below the national level. Overseas-born residents reach 15.1%, which is 6.5 percentage points lower than the national average, giving Mount Lofty a predominantly Australian-born profile. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,625), Irish (683) and Scottish (551). University qualifications at 46.2% are 16.1 points above the national figure, a notable gap that reflects the Healthcare and Education workforce rather than a typical suburban profile. Volunteering runs at 22.7%, above the typical community level.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.1%
Houses
9.8%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with 37.5% owning outright, 36.4% on a mortgage, and 26.1% renting. The high proportion of outright owners relative to mortgage holders suggests an older, settled ownership base carrying less debt. Separate houses dominate at 89.1%, with semi-detached homes at 9.8% and apartments at just 1.1%, making this almost entirely a detached-house suburb. Four-plus bedroom homes represent 41.6% of the stock and 3-bedroom homes 43.8%, so the dwelling mix strongly favours families rather than singles or downsizers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Mar 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $340.
$550
Bond data Mar 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $430
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$965
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.2%
Unoccupied
114
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.2%
Couples, no children
3,036
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 25.4% (385 workers), well above the national industry share for most suburban areas, followed by Education at 19.2% (291 workers). Together these two sectors account for nearly half the local workforce, which explains the high university qualification rate of 46.2%. Professional and Technical services add 8.5% (129 workers) and Construction 8.3% (126 workers). By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 716 workers, ahead of Managers (237) and Clerical/Admin (226). The unemployment rate stands at 4.3%, with a full-time employment rate of 66.1% among those working. Participation sits at 61.8%, consistent with a suburb where 1,013 residents are not in the labour force, partly reflecting the older median age of 43.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.1%
Part-time
29.6%
Participation
61.8%
Employed
1,849
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.2%
Postgraduate
12.7%
Born Overseas
15.1%
Dwellings
1,464
Transport to Work
Transport patterns reflect a car-dependent suburb: 89.4% of residents drive to work and only 0.2% use public transport, which is lower than the national average. Walkable and cycling commutes account for 3.6%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on institutions in surrounding Toowoomba suburbs. The rent-to-income ratio of 17% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 20% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating most residents are not financially stretched by housing costs. Community participation is high, with 22.7% volunteering, above the typical national rate. The need-assistance rate of 6.6% (245 people) is moderate and consistent with the older median age of 43.
Drive
89.4%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Lofty compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Lofty a good suburb to live in?
Mount Lofty has a lot going for it for settled households. Household income sits at the 75th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20% (well below the 30% stress threshold), and 46.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 16 percentage points above national. The main consideration is car dependence, with only 0.2% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Mount Lofty?
Weekly rent averages $340, giving an estimated gross yield above 3.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20% is well below the 30% stress threshold, making purchases more accessible than in most capital city markets.
What schools are in Mount Lofty?
No schools are recorded within the Mount Lofty suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the surrounding Toowoomba area. The local population is highly educated, with 46.2% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 16.1 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Mount Lofty safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Mount Lofty in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb records a household income at the 75th percentile nationally, a low mortgage-to-income ratio of 20%, and a volunteering rate of 22.7%, all consistent with a stable, low-stress community. Only 6.6% of residents (245 people) need daily assistance.
Is Mount Lofty good for property investment?
The vacancy rate of 7.2% is elevated, suggesting some oversupply in the rental segment. Development activity is low at 6 applications in the past 12 months, limiting near-term supply pressure. Rent-to-income of 17% supports tenant retention.
How is Mount Lofty's population changing?
The suburb's turnover rate of 27.6% shows moderate resident mobility, with 72.4% of households having lived there for 5 or more years. The population of 3,825 is spread across 9.7 square kilometres at a density of 394.5 per km2, lower than the national urban average. Development activity remains low at 6 applications in 12 months, suggesting steady rather than rapid population growth.
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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