Oakey
At a $338,000 median house price, Oakey sits well below almost any metropolitan market in Australia, and the affordability flows from a rural Darling Downs economy rather than scarcity. Household income lands in the 26th percentile nationally, so the low price largely tracks lower local earnings of $1,213 a week. The 126.81 km2 footprint holds just 4,756 residents at 37.5 people per km2, and the dwelling stock is 92.6% separate houses with almost no apartments. University qualifications reach only 11.3%, which is 18.8 points below the national figure, and overseas-born residents make up 9.9%, 11.7 points under national, marking a settled, locally-rooted town more than a commuter or migrant hub.
Population
4,756
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,213/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$338K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $338,000 median makes Oakey one of the cheapest entry points in Queensland, and the stock suits families: 49.9% of dwellings have three bedrooms and 35.8% have four or more, while two-bedroom homes are just 12.3%. Separate houses dominate at 92.6%, so buyers compete for detached homes on land rather than apartments, which barely exist here. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,238, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even on the suburb's modest incomes. Outright owners at 34.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.2%, a sign that much of the housing is held by long-settled, debt-free owners rather than recent buyers, which keeps purchase competition lower than in churning metro markets.
For Buyers
The $338,000 median makes Oakey one of the cheapest entry points in Queensland, and the stock suits families: 49.9% of dwellings have three bedrooms and 35.8% have four or more, while two-bedroom homes are just 12.3%. Separate houses dominate at 92.6%, so buyers compete for detached homes on land rather than apartments, which barely exist here. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,238, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even on the suburb's modest incomes. Outright owners at 34.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.2%, a sign that much of the housing is held by long-settled, debt-free owners rather than recent buyers, which keeps purchase competition lower than in churning metro markets.
For Investors
A 36.4% renter share and weekly rent of $265 give landlords a reasonable tenant pool for a rural town. Against the $338,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.1%, far healthier than the sub-2% yields typical of capital-city suburbs, because the low purchase price is the lever rather than high rent. The 8.1% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling that tenant demand can be thin in a town of 4,756, so re-letting periods may run longer than in tighter markets. Development activity is minimal at 6 applications in 12 months, mostly operational works and a food outlet rather than new dwellings, so supply is stable. Rent-to-income for tenants sits at 21.8%, below the stress line, which supports rent-paying capacity but also caps how far rents can climb.
Development Activity
Total DAs
23
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Oakey iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Monica's School
Prep-6 · 193 students
Oakey State High School
7-12 · 455 students
Oakey State School
Prep-6 · 249 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, so Oakey is neither notably young nor aging. The population skews settled and Anglo: only 9.9% were born overseas, 11.7 points below national, and ancestry is led by English (1,798), Irish (483), German (477) and Scottish (390). Portuguese is the most common non-English language at just 55 speakers, reflecting a largely English-speaking town. University qualifications at 11.3% run 18.8 points below national, consistent with a trades and labouring workforce. Average household size is 2.5, in line with national, and families lean toward couples with children (1,305) over couples without (931, or 26.1%). Christianity dominates religious identity with 2,654 residents, far ahead of any other affiliation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.6%
Houses
7.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits fairly evenly: 34.4% own outright, 29.2% carry a mortgage and 36.4% rent, with outright owners edging out mortgage holders, a marker of long-held, debt-free housing rather than a churn of new buyers. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 92.6% separate houses and only 7.0% semi-detached, with apartments effectively absent. Three-bedroom homes make up 49.9% and four-plus-bedroom 35.8%, so the town is built for families on standard blocks. At a $338,000 median against household income near $63,000 a year, the price-to-income ratio is roughly 5.4, low by Australian standards. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.6% and rent-to-income at 21.8%, both below the 30% stress threshold, which leaves more household budget intact than in higher-cost markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,238
Rent / wk
$265
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$651
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.1%
Unoccupied
151
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
3,570
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in essential and blue-collar sectors: Healthcare leads at 18.2% (187 workers), Manufacturing follows at 17.2% (176), then Public Admin at 10.0% (102), Education at 9.8% (100) and Construction at 7.0% (72). By occupation, Labourers (484) and Community/Personal workers (267) outnumber Managers (174), which aligns with university attainment 18.8 points below national and explains household income in the 26th percentile. Unemployment is elevated at 7.2%, above the national rate, while the full-time employment rate of 68.7% is solid for those in work. Participation reads only 52.0%, held down by 1,445 residents not in the labour force, a share consistent with the town's median age of 40 and a sizeable retired and caregiving population.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.7%
Part-time
24.1%
Participation
52.0%
Employed
1,833
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.3%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
9.9%
Dwellings
1,704
Transport to Work
Oakey is a car-dependent town, with 84.5% of commuters driving, well above metro averages, and only 7.0% walking or cycling, reflecting the dispersed 37.5 people per km2 layout across 126.81 km2. Housing costs are the standout livability advantage: rent-to-income at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 23.6% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, leaving residents more disposable income than tighter capital-city markets allow. Volunteering runs at 13.7%, a typical regional figure, and 9.7% of residents (431 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a median age of 40 and an established population. No schools are recorded inside the town boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions, a practical trade-off for a small rural centre.
Drive
84.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oakey compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oakey a good suburb to live in?
Oakey suits buyers prioritising affordability, with a $338,000 median house price and housing costs below the 30% stress threshold (mortgage-to-income 23.6%, rent-to-income 21.8%). It is a settled rural town of 4,756 where 74.7% of residents stayed put, though university attainment at 11.3% sits 18.8 points below national.
What is the median house price in Oakey?
The median house price is $338,000, among the cheapest in Queensland and well below metro markets. Weekly rent averages $265 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,238, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably under the 30% stress line.
What schools are in Oakey?
No schools are recorded inside the Oakey town boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding areas. The local population is trades-oriented, with university qualifications at 11.3%, which is 18.8 points below the national figure.
Is Oakey safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Oakey in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, residential turnover is low at 25.3% with 74.7% of residents staying put, and 9.7% of the 4,756 residents need daily assistance, a profile consistent with a settled, stable rural community.
Is Oakey good for property investment?
Rent of $265 a week against a $338,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, far above the sub-2% yields common in capital cities. The 36.4% renter share supplies tenants, but an 8.1% vacancy rate signals that demand can be thin in a town of 4,756, so re-letting may take longer.
How is Oakey's population changing?
Oakey is a stable rural town of 4,756 with low movement: turnover is 25.3% and 74.7% of residents stayed put. Only 6 development applications were lodged in 12 months and none added dwellings, while overseas-born residents at 9.9% sit 11.7 points below national, so growth is gradual rather than rapid.
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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