Park Avenue
An affordable Rockhampton suburb where the $342,000 median house price sits far below most coastal Queensland markets, Park Avenue pairs that low entry cost with one of the country's most disadvantaged SEIFA profiles, scoring decile 1 on IRSAD and IEO and decile 2 on IRSD. Household income reaches only the 29.4th percentile nationally, and the median age of 36 runs 4.0 years below the national figure. The detached-house character is strong, with 86.7% of dwellings separate houses and apartments just 3.1%. Population has slipped 1.4% over the decade, leaving the suburb established and slow-growing rather than expanding.
Population
5,292
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,281/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$342K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $342,000 median, Park Avenue is one of the cheaper entry points in regional Queensland, and the affordability shows in the repayment maths: monthly mortgage costs average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household income sitting in only the 29.4th percentile nationally. The stock suits owner-occupier families, with 86.7% separate houses against just 3.1% apartments, and three-bedroom homes dominating at 53.8% ahead of 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 19.3%. Affordability has improved over the decade, with the cost-to-income measure falling from 42.6% in 2011 to 37.3% in 2021, so buyers face less pressure than a decade ago. Outright owners (30.6%) trail mortgage holders (35.4%), pointing to a working-age buyer base rather than retired, debt-free owners.
For Buyers
At a $342,000 median, Park Avenue is one of the cheaper entry points in regional Queensland, and the affordability shows in the repayment maths: monthly mortgage costs average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household income sitting in only the 29.4th percentile nationally. The stock suits owner-occupier families, with 86.7% separate houses against just 3.1% apartments, and three-bedroom homes dominating at 53.8% ahead of 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 19.3%. Affordability has improved over the decade, with the cost-to-income measure falling from 42.6% in 2011 to 37.3% in 2021, so buyers face less pressure than a decade ago. Outright owners (30.6%) trail mortgage holders (35.4%), pointing to a working-age buyer base rather than retired, debt-free owners.
For Investors
A 34.0% renter share gives landlords a usable tenant pool, and the $260 weekly rent against a $342,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, well above the sub-2% yields typical of premium capital-city suburbs. The trade-off is a 9.6% vacancy rate, higher than a tight rental market, which signals that finding and keeping tenants takes effort here. Rent grew 13.0% over the period, so income is rising even as the headline price stays low. Demand support is thin, with net overseas migration adding 24 residents a year and internal migration 12, against effectively flat 0.04% annual population growth. Development activity is minimal at 4 applications in 12 months, mostly minor works like a carport and a showroom extension rather than new dwelling supply, so the investment case rests on yield and rent escalation rather than capital growth or volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
5
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 Park Avenue iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Emmaus College
7-12 · 1320 students
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 341 students
Park Avenue State School
Prep-6 · 163 students
Demographics
Park Avenue skews younger than the country, with a median age of 36 that is 4.0 years below the national figure, and the resident base is strongly Australian-born, with overseas-born residents at just 7.8%, which is 13.8 points below national. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,145), Irish (590), Scottish (483) and German (376). University qualifications reach only 16.4%, running 13.7 points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and service roles rather than knowledge professions. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national, and the family profile favours couples with children (1,438 families) over couples without (998, or 26.4%). Christianity dominates religious affiliation at 2,644 residents, with no significant second faith group.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.7%
Houses
10.0%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits three ways: 35.4% carry a mortgage, 34.0% rent and 30.6% own outright. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a younger, still-paying buyer base rather than settled retirees. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, with separate houses at 86.7% and apartments only 3.1%, and three-bedroom dwellings the most common at 53.8% ahead of two-bedroom at 23.3%. At a $342,000 median against household income of $1,281 a week, the price-to-income relationship is far gentler than coastal Queensland, and neither stress flag is triggered: mortgage-to-income sits at 23.4% and rent-to-income at 20.3%, both well below the 30% threshold. That low housing-cost burden is the suburb's clearest advantage given incomes in the 29.4th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$697
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
214
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.4%
Couples, no children
3,783
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in Healthcare at 23.3% (318 workers), followed by Education at 11.7% (159), Construction at 10.0% (136), Public Administration at 7.3% (99) and Retail at 7.1% (97), a service-and-trade mix typical of a regional centre. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers lead (351), with Labourers (304) and Machinery Operators and Drivers (232) outnumbering Professionals (272), which explains the low 16.4% university rate. Unemployment is elevated at 7.0%, above the national average, and participation is modest at 53.7% with 1,483 residents not in the labour force. The full-time employment rate is 65.7%. SEIFA scores are uniformly low, with IRSAD and IEO in decile 1 and IRSD in decile 2, placing Park Avenue among the most disadvantaged suburbs nationally, though real incomes still grew 4.9% over the decade.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
2,828
Unemployed
138
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
27.3%
Participation
53.7%
Employed
2,114
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.4%
Postgraduate
1.7%
Born Overseas
7.8%
Dwellings
2,031
Transport to Work
Park Avenue is heavily car-dependent, with 88.3% of commuters driving and only 0.9% using public transport, well below what denser suburbs manage, and just 3.0% walking or cycling, reflecting a low-density layout at 1,216 residents per km2. The suburb scores decile 2 on IRSAD, near the bottom of the national advantage scale, and 9.6% of residents (471 people) need daily assistance, slightly above what the median age of 36 would suggest. On the positive side, housing costs are low, with rent-to-income at 20.3% keeping tenants comfortable. Volunteering runs at 12.5%, and residential stability is reasonable with 74.6% of residents staying put against a 25.4% turnover rate. No schools are recorded inside the 4.35 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Rockhampton suburbs.
Drive
88.3%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.04%/yr
(+2 people/yr)
EstablishedPark Avenue is contracting slightly rather than growing: the population fell 1.4% over the decade and annual growth registers just 0.04%, or about 2 people a year, classifying it as an established, slow-growth suburb. Historical counts show a mild decline from 5,538 in 2025, and medium forecasts hold the population flat near 5,411 to 5,421 through 2031, so no meaningful expansion is expected. Migration is balanced and small, with net overseas inflow of 24 a year against internal inflow of 12. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying with a score of 6, fitting a decile 1 SEIFA suburb where rising rents (up 13.0%) reflect broad regional pressure rather than a wealth shift. The senior share edged up 2.2 points while the working-age share fell 1.2 points over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+24
Net Internal / yr
+12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Park Avenue compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Park Avenue a good suburb to live in?
Park Avenue offers strong affordability, with a $342,000 median house price and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are SEIFA scores in decile 1 to 2, among the most disadvantaged nationally, and household income in only the 29.4th percentile.
What is the median house price in Park Avenue?
The median house price is $342,000, low for Queensland. Weekly rent averages $260, implying a gross yield near 4.0%, and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress level.
What schools are in Park Avenue?
No schools are recorded inside the 4.35 km2 Park Avenue boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Rockhampton suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 16.4%, which is 13.7 points below the national figure.
Is Park Avenue safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Park Avenue in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and 9.6% of its residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a lower-advantage regional area.
Is Park Avenue good for property investment?
Rent of $260 a week against a $342,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, higher than premium city suburbs, though the 9.6% vacancy rate signals softer demand. With population growth at 0.04% annually, returns rest on yield and the 13.0% rent growth rather than capital gains.
How is Park Avenue's population changing?
Population growth is just 0.04% annually, about 2 people a year, and the suburb shrank 1.4% over the decade. Medium forecasts hold the population near 5,411 to 5,421 through 2031. The senior share rose 2.2 points while the working-age share fell 1.2 points over the decade.
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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