Nikenbah
Almost two-thirds of homes in Nikenbah have four or more bedrooms, a share that stands well above the national average and signals a suburb built around families with room to spare. Set across 23.47 square kilometres west of Hervey Bay, this low-density community of 1,234 people averages just 52.6 residents per km2. Household weekly income of $1,660 sits at the 57.5th percentile nationally, meaning roughly half of Australian households earn more. Every dwelling is a separate house, 100% detached stock with no apartments at all, and ownership is well entrenched with 39% of residents owning outright.
Population
1,234
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,660/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$489K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $489,000 makes Nikenbah considerably more affordable than the national median for detached housing, which is a direct result of its regional QLD location and low-density land supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,747, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here carry less financial pressure than in most capital-city suburbs. The stock is 100% separate houses with no apartments or semi-detached options, meaning competition focuses entirely on the detached segment. Large homes dominate: 65.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, compared with 3-bedroom stock at 25.8% and 2-bedroom at just 8.6%. Outright owners (39.0%) outnumber mortgage holders (37.5%), pointing to a base of established, longer-tenured residents rather than a suburb in active turnover.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $489,000 makes Nikenbah considerably more affordable than the national median for detached housing, which is a direct result of its regional QLD location and low-density land supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,747, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here carry less financial pressure than in most capital-city suburbs. The stock is 100% separate houses with no apartments or semi-detached options, meaning competition focuses entirely on the detached segment. Large homes dominate: 65.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, compared with 3-bedroom stock at 25.8% and 2-bedroom at just 8.6%. Outright owners (39.0%) outnumber mortgage holders (37.5%), pointing to a base of established, longer-tenured residents rather than a suburb in active turnover.
For Investors
Renters make up 23.6% of Nikenbah households, a moderate share that provides a basic tenant pool for landlords. Weekly rent is estimated at $390, and against the $489,000 median that implies a gross yield around 4.1%, higher than most major capital-city markets. However, the vacancy rate of 6.7% is elevated, sitting above the 3% threshold that typically signals balanced demand, which means investors may face longer periods between tenants. Development activity is low at just 5 applications in the past 12 months, and recent lodgements show subdivision and material change-of-use activity rather than new dwelling construction, so supply pressure is limited. The suburb's household income at the 57.5th percentile nationally indicates moderate purchasing power among the local renter pool.
Development Activity
Total DAs
31
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+80.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 39 is one year below the national figure of 40, placing Nikenbah roughly in line with the Australian average rather than skewing older like many regional areas. Overseas-born residents account for 19.0% of the population, which is 2.6 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the suburb's Anglo-leaning identity. Ancestry is led by English (533 residents), Irish (141), Scottish (130) and German (74), consistent with an established Anglo-Celtic community. University qualifications reach 27.5%, which is 2.6 percentage points below the national figure. Average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above the national average of 2.5, and couples with children (487 families) outnumber couples without children (384), confirming the family-oriented character the large dwelling sizes suggest.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every one of Nikenbah's dwellings is a separate house, a 100% detached rate that is unusual even by Queensland suburban standards. The bedroom profile skews large: 65.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms, 25.8% have three, and just 8.6% have two, making this suburb oriented toward families needing space. Tenure is split between outright owners (39.0%), mortgage holders (37.5%) and renters (23.6%), with owners outright holding the largest single share. The estimated median house price of $489,000 compares favourably to national detached-house benchmarks, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3% and rent-to-income at 23.5%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The vacancy rate of 6.7% is above typical market balance levels, suggesting some softness in rental demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,747
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$740
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.6%
Couples, no children
1,078
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 34.1% of the local workforce (114 workers), a share considerably higher than the national industry mix and likely tied to proximity to Hervey Bay's health precinct. Education follows at 13.2% (44 workers), Construction at 9.3% (31) and Retail and Public Administration each at 8.7% (29 workers). Professionals are the top occupation group (125 workers), followed by Community and Personal Services (83) and Managers (61). The unemployment rate is 5.8%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 51.9% is lower than typical, partly because 405 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 65.5% of those employed. Weekly personal income averages $740 and family income $1,783.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.5%
Part-time
28.7%
Participation
51.9%
Employed
469
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.5%
Postgraduate
6.0%
Born Overseas
19.0%
Dwellings
419
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Nikenbah is high even by Queensland standards: 91.0% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, reflecting the suburb's low-density layout across 23.47 km2 with limited public transport. Walking and cycling accounts for just 2.8% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby Hervey Bay schools. The volunteering rate of 13.8% indicates moderate community participation. Housing stress metrics are reassuring: rent-to-income sits at 23.5% and mortgage-to-income at 24.3%, both below the 30% threshold that flags financial strain. Only 6.2% of residents (74 people) require daily assistance, which is below the national average and consistent with the relatively young median age of 39.
Drive
91.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Nikenbah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nikenbah a good suburb to live in?
Nikenbah suits families wanting large detached homes at moderate cost. Every dwelling is a separate house, 65.6% with four or more bedrooms, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3% is below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 91.0% and a 6.7% vacancy rate that suggests softer rental demand.
What is the median house price in Nikenbah?
The estimated median house price is $489,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $390 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,747, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, which is below the national stress benchmark of 30%.
What schools are in Nikenbah?
No schools are recorded inside the Nikenbah suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers 23.47 km2 near Hervey Bay, so families access schools in the surrounding Hervey Bay urban area. Locally, 27.5% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 2.6 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Nikenbah safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Nikenbah in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 6.2% of the 1,234 residents need daily assistance, below the national average, and housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 23.5% and mortgage-to-income at 24.3%, both well under the 30% stress threshold.
Is Nikenbah good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $390 against a $489,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, higher than most capital-city markets. However, the 6.7% vacancy rate is elevated above balanced-market levels of around 3%, so investors should factor in potential vacancy periods. Development applications in the area include subdivision activity, suggesting gradual land release.
How is Nikenbah's population changing?
The current population is 1,234 across 23.47 km2, giving a density of 52.6 residents per km2. Recent development applications include staged subdivision plans for over 100 new lots, pointing to measured residential expansion. The suburb's household income at the 57.5th percentile nationally suggests moderate but stable demand from owner-occupiers.
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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