Norville
With a median house price estimated at $337,000 and every SEIFA measure sitting in decile 1, Norville sits at the affordable end of the Queensland market in ways that go beyond price alone. The suburb's household income registers only in the 17.4th percentile nationally, 89.4% of dwellings are separate houses, and the median resident age of 44 runs 4 years above the national figure. A 9.7% unemployment rate well above average and a 15% university qualification rate that is 15 points below national explain why affordability trends have improved: prices here have not kept pace with broader QLD growth, making Norville accessible to buyers priced out elsewhere.
Population
2,476
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,094/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$337K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $337,000 is well below the Queensland state median, placing Norville among the more accessible markets in the region. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $1,130, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most buyers here carry manageable debt loads compared to capital city purchasers. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.4% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 10.3% and apartments at just 0.3%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.2%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 21.6%, giving families good options at low price points. Outright owners account for 38.8%, higher than the national average, reflecting long-term residents who bought in at lower historic prices.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $337,000 is well below the Queensland state median, placing Norville among the more accessible markets in the region. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $1,130, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most buyers here carry manageable debt loads compared to capital city purchasers. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.4% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 10.3% and apartments at just 0.3%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.2%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 21.6%, giving families good options at low price points. Outright owners account for 38.8%, higher than the national average, reflecting long-term residents who bought in at lower historic prices.
For Investors
Renters make up 31.3% of Norville households, providing a steady tenant base, and weekly rent averages $280. The rent-to-income ratio of 25.6% suggests tenants are not under severe pressure, which supports stable tenancy. The vacancy rate of 6.8% is elevated above healthy levels, pointing to softer rental demand and meaning landlords may face longer vacancy periods between tenants than in tighter markets. Net internal migration averages 55 people per year, a positive signal, while annual population growth sits at just 0.17%, which limits near-term capital growth expectations. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications in the last 12 months, both for sheds, indicating no new housing supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
3
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
Schools in Norville iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Norville State School
Prep-6 · 518 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, making Norville a notably older suburb by national standards. Overseas-born residents make up just 10.4%, which is 11.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,087), Scottish (257), Irish (222) and German (215) lead the counts. University qualifications at 15% run 15.1 points below the national rate, consistent with the blue-collar and community services employment profile. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below the national average, and 28.1% of families are couples without children, suggesting a sizeable share of empty-nesters in line with the older age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.4%
Houses
10.3%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure data reveals a suburb of established residents: 38.8% own outright, 29.9% hold a mortgage and 31.3% rent. The high outright ownership rate compared to the national average suggests many long-term residents purchased decades ago at lower price points. Detached houses dominate at 89.4%, making this almost exclusively a house market with apartments at 0.3% and semi-detached at 10.3%. Three-bedroom homes account for 59.2% of stock, four-plus bedroom at 21.6%, and two-bedroom at 18.8%. The estimated median house price of $337,000 reflects affordability improving from 2011 to 2021, as real income grew 13.7% over the decade while prices remained constrained. The 6.8% vacancy rate is above typical healthy thresholds of 2-3%, indicating the rental market has more supply than demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,130
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$580
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
74
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.1%
Couples, no children
1,793
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employment sector at 29.4% of workers (163 employed), nearly double the second-largest sector, reflecting the servicing needs of an older, higher-needs population. Education follows at 12.1% (67 workers), then Manufacturing at 9.4%, Construction at 9.0% and Retail at 7.7%. By occupation, Community and Personal Services leads (172 workers), with Labourers second (166) and Professionals third (128). The unemployment rate of 9.7% is well above state and national averages, and the participation rate of 48.2% is low, with 874 residents not in the labour force. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 1, the lowest nationally, indicating concentrated disadvantage across education, occupation, income and economic resources. Real income grew 13.7% over the decade but from a low base.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
3,067
Unemployed
181
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
48.2%
Employed
902
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.0%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
10.4%
Dwellings
1,018
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 89.5% of residents drive to work, and only 0.4% use public transport, among the lowest rates nationally. Walking and cycling account for 2.5% of commute modes. No schools are recorded within the Norville boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in surrounding suburbs of the Bundaberg region. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. As a proxy, the IRSAD decile of 1 indicates that Norville ranks among the most disadvantaged 10% of suburbs nationally, which correlates with higher rates of hardship. On the positive side, 14.3% of residents volunteer, and the rent-to-income ratio of 25.6% keeps housing costs within reach for tenants. About 11.1% of residents (258 people) need some form of daily assistance, above average nationally.
Drive
89.5%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.17%/yr
(+10 people/yr)
EstablishedNorville's population trajectory is essentially flat: annual growth of 0.17% adds roughly 10 people per year, and the 10-year change of 0.9% is well below the national average. Historical data shows the broader area at 5,961 in 2023 and 6,028 in 2025, with medium forecasts projecting around 6,013 by 2031. Net internal migration of 55 arrivals per year is the primary growth driver, supplemented by 19 overseas arrivals annually. The gentrification score of 16 and a Not gentrifying classification confirm this is a stable, low-change suburb, not experiencing rapid social transformation. Affordability has improved, with the affordability ratio shifting from 54.6% in 2011 to 47.7% in 2021, suggesting housing costs have become more manageable relative to incomes over time.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+19
Net Internal / yr
+55
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +55/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Norville compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norville a good suburb to live in?
Norville suits buyers seeking affordable detached housing below $340,000 with manageable mortgage costs at 23.9% of income. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 1 nationally, reflecting concentrated disadvantage in income, education and employment, with a 9.7% unemployment rate. It offers stable, established community living but has limited public transport and lower amenity than larger centres.
What is the median house price in Norville?
The estimated median house price in Norville is $337,000, based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,130, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. This puts Norville well below the Queensland state median, making it one of the more affordable suburban markets in the Bundaberg area.
What schools are in Norville?
No schools are recorded within the Norville suburb boundary in this dataset. Families would rely on schools in surrounding Bundaberg suburbs. The suburb's university qualification rate is 15%, which is 15.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a workforce concentrated in trades, healthcare and community services rather than professional roles.
Is Norville safe?
Crime rate data specific to Norville is not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb scores in SEIFA decile 1 nationally on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, meaning it ranks among the most disadvantaged 10% of Australian suburbs. Additionally, 11.1% of residents (258 people) require daily assistance, above the national average.
Is Norville good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $280 against a $337,000 median gives a gross yield around 4.3%, above typical capital city levels. However, the vacancy rate of 6.8% is elevated, signalling softer rental demand. Population growth is minimal at 0.17% per year and the suburb does not show gentrification signals, so returns rely more on yield than capital growth in the near term.
How is Norville's population changing?
Norville's population is growing slowly at 0.17% annually, adding roughly 10 people per year. The 10-year population change is just 0.9%, well below national growth rates. Net internal migration of 55 arrivals per year provides the main driver, with 19 overseas arrivals annually. Medium forecasts project the broader area population at around 6,013 by 2031, up from 6,028 in 2025.
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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