Oonoonba
At 2,050 residents across 2.57 square kilometres, Oonoonba is a compact, car-oriented suburb with a renter majority and a comparatively young age profile. Its median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, while 52.1% rent and 73.9% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income sits near the middle at the 47.2nd percentile, and transport is strongly car-led: 87.9% drive compared with 0.3% using public transport. For buyers comparing Oonoonba with nearby Railway Estate or Idalia, the 9.4% vacancy rate and 2.43% annual growth trend are useful filters. Migration is Balanced, but the longer-term trajectory is Aging.
Local council: Townsville
Population
2,050
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,510/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Homebuyers need to weigh a mostly detached housing stock against limited apartment supply. Separate houses account for 73.9% of dwellings, compared with 23.5% semi-detached homes and 2.6% apartments; 3-bedroom homes make up 49.4%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 26.7%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,430, while mortgage costs equal 21.9% of household income, above the 21.2% rent-to-income measure. Weekly rent is $320, making renting a useful affordability reference where no current median sale price is stated. The median age of 31, 9 years below the national figure, supports demand from younger households, but 52.1% renting means buyers should assess tenant-heavy streets individually.
For Buyers
Homebuyers need to weigh a mostly detached housing stock against limited apartment supply. Separate houses account for 73.9% of dwellings, compared with 23.5% semi-detached homes and 2.6% apartments; 3-bedroom homes make up 49.4%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 26.7%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,430, while mortgage costs equal 21.9% of household income, above the 21.2% rent-to-income measure. Weekly rent is $320, making renting a useful affordability reference where no current median sale price is stated. The median age of 31, 9 years below the national figure, supports demand from younger households, but 52.1% renting means buyers should assess tenant-heavy streets individually.
For Investors
Oonoonba's renter majority creates a clear tenant-demand base, with 52.1% of households renting and weekly rent at $320. However, the 9.4% vacancy rate is higher than in a low-vacancy market, giving tenants more choice and potentially limiting short-term rent pressure. Development activity is modest at 9 applications over 12 months, including a proposed 5-dwelling multiple dwelling project, so new supply should be monitored without assuming a major pipeline. The forecast identifies migration as Balanced, rent growth at 2.9%, and gentrification as Not gentrifying with a score of 13. Compared with a tightly held investment suburb, Oonoonba is better suited to investors who prioritise entry affordability and tenant depth over scarcity-driven price growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
9
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
Demographics
Demographically, Oonoonba is younger and less internationally diverse than national averages. The median age is 31, or 9 years below national, while university qualification is 28.8%, 1.3 percentage points below the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 13.1%, 8.5 points below national, and average household size is 2.1, or 0.4 below national. English ancestry leads at 782 people, followed by Irish at 241 and Scottish at 212. No religion is recorded for 933 residents versus 878 identifying with Christianity. A 37.7% turnover rate and 62.3% staying rate indicate a mobile but still anchored population, creating changing local demand compared with more settled suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.9%
Houses
23.5%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Oonoonba has a detached-house profile rather than a unit-led one: 73.9% of dwellings are separate houses, higher than the 2.6% apartment share and also above the 23.5% semi-detached share. The bedroom mix is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 49.4%, with 2-bedroom dwellings at 26.7%, 4 or more bedrooms at 16.1% and 0 or 1-bedroom homes at 7.8%. Tenure is the defining feature, with 52.1% renting, 29.9% paying a mortgage and 17.1% owning outright. Mortgage costs are $1,430 monthly and equal 21.9% of household income, while rent is $320 weekly and equals 21.2%. Compared with a higher-ownership suburb, this mix points to stronger rental turnover and fewer established owner occupiers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,430
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $320.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $500
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$931
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.4%
Unoccupied
95
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.3%
Couples with children
49.4%
Couples, no children
21.5%
Single parent
520
Total families
Economy & Employment
Oonoonba's employment base is led by Healthcare at 21.4% or 158 workers, Public Administration at 20.6% or 152, Education at 11.1% or 82, Construction at 7.3% or 54, and Professional and Technical services at 5.5% or 41. This public, health and service orientation aligns with the leading occupations: Community and Personal services at 264 people, Professionals at 230, Trades at 160, Clerical and Administration at 130, and Sales at 102. Labour-force participation is 71.0%, unemployment is 5.6%, and 68.7% of employed residents work full time. Household income ranks at the 47.2nd percentile. SEIFA is above the midpoint, with IEO decile 7, IER decile 7, IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 7, suggesting broad relative advantage despite a mixed occupational base.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
1,260
Unemployed
71
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.7%
Part-time
25.7%
Participation
71.0%
Employed
1,189
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.8%
Postgraduate
5.2%
Born Overseas
13.1%
Dwellings
914
Transport to Work
Oonoonba is compact at 2.57 square kilometres and has a density of 799.2 people per square kilometre, but daily travel is more car dependent than transit oriented. Some 87.9% of residents drive to work, compared with 0.3% using public transport and 1.6% walking or cycling; only 4.6% work from home. Compared with a transit-led suburb, residents should budget more carefully for vehicle ownership and commuting. School access needs to be planned beyond Oonoonba, with enrolment zones checked against the exact address. An IRSAD decile of 7 places relative advantage above the midpoint, while volunteering is 11.8% and need for assistance is 5.4%, adding useful context to local support and participation.
Drive
87.9%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
4.6%
Growth Outlook
Oonoonba's forecast annual growth trend is 2.43%, above a flat-growth profile, with migration classified as Balanced. Population change across the wider area runs at 33.9% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the young share has fallen 6.3 points and the senior share has risen 4.1 points. Affordability is marked Improving, moving from 43.9 in 2011 to 32.8 in 2021, while real income growth is 11.9%. The core gentrification classification is score 13 and Not gentrifying, although a separate shift signal records score 42 and Early signs. Together, the indicators point to steady established-area growth driven by balanced movement and demographic aging rather than a rapid reinvention of the suburb.
Population trend: Townsville council area
Oonoonba sits in the Townsville council area. These are the council area's residents, not Oonoonba's.
Residents 2025
206,260
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oonoonba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oonoonba a good suburb to live in?
Oonoonba may suit residents seeking detached housing, moderate rental costs and access to Townsville employment areas. The median age is 31, weekly rent is $320 and 73.9% of dwellings are separate houses. It is strongly car dependent, with 87.9% driving and only 0.3% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Oonoonba?
A current median house price is not stated for Oonoonba. For context, the monthly mortgage figure is $1,430 and weekly rent is $320, but neither replaces a sale-price benchmark. Buyers should compare recent transactions, property condition and exact street location before setting a budget.
What schools are in Oonoonba?
School access needs to be planned beyond Oonoonba, with families checking nearby options and enrolment zones against the exact address. Transport is mainly car based, with 87.9% of residents driving to work and 0.3% using public transport, so school runs may require private vehicle travel.
Is Oonoonba safe?
Safety should be checked using current Queensland Police records and an inspection of the exact street, rather than inferred from suburb labels. Oonoonba has 2,050 residents and density of 799.2 people per square kilometre, but population size and density cannot establish whether a particular pocket is safe.
Is Oonoonba good for property investment?
Oonoonba has a renter majority of 52.1%, weekly rent of $320 and a vacancy rate of 9.4%. Those figures indicate tenant depth but also more available choice than a low-vacancy market. There were 9 development applications over 12 months, while the gentrification score is 13 and classified as Not gentrifying.
How is Oonoonba's population changing?
Oonoonba has 2,050 residents today, with a forecast annual growth trend of 2.43% and Balanced migration. Population change across the wider area is 33.9% over 10 years, but the trajectory is Aging: the young share has declined 6.3 points and the senior share has increased 4.1 points.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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