Point Vernon
A median age of 52 sits a full 12 years above the national figure, and that single number explains much of Point Vernon's character. Household income of $1,077 a week lands in just the 16.5th percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 2 on three of four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the lower advantage tiers. Yet the $401,000 median house price keeps it affordable, and 48.7% of homes are owned outright, well above the share carrying a mortgage. The dwelling base is overwhelmingly detached at 93.5%, with apartments at a negligible 0.2%, and the population is barely growing at 0.53% a year.
Population
5,718
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,077/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$401K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $401,000 median house price is among the more affordable in coastal Queensland, and it underpins a market dominated by owner-occupiers: 48.7% own outright while only 25.5% carry a mortgage. Stock is built for families, with 50.2% three-bedroom and 38.7% four-plus-bedroom homes, and separate houses make up 93.5% of dwellings against just 0.2% apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in only the 16.5th percentile. The high outright-ownership share reflects the older resident base, where many have paid off homes over decades rather than buying recently, so genuine listings can be scarce.
For Buyers
The $401,000 median house price is among the more affordable in coastal Queensland, and it underpins a market dominated by owner-occupiers: 48.7% own outright while only 25.5% carry a mortgage. Stock is built for families, with 50.2% three-bedroom and 38.7% four-plus-bedroom homes, and separate houses make up 93.5% of dwellings against just 0.2% apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in only the 16.5th percentile. The high outright-ownership share reflects the older resident base, where many have paid off homes over decades rather than buying recently, so genuine listings can be scarce.
For Investors
Renters make up 25.8% of households and weekly rent averages $340, which against the $401,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, stronger than most metropolitan markets. Rent-to-income runs at 31.6%, above the 30% stress threshold, so tenants are already stretched and further rent rises face a ceiling. The 7.5% vacancy rate signals softer demand than tight rental markets, and population growth is modest at 0.53% a year. Demand is supported by net internal migration of 89 residents annually, the primary driver, well above the 22 added through overseas migration. Development is thin at 9 applications in 12 months, mostly minor dwelling and outbuilding work, so new supply will not flood the market, and rent grew 30.8% over the period.
Development Activity
Total DAs
36
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+700.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is firmly aging: the senior share rose 8.1 points while the young-resident share fell 4.5 points over the decade. Only 18.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 3.6 points below national, and university qualifications reach 19.7%, fully 10.4 points below the national rate, both consistent with an established Anglo-leaning population led by English (2,662), Scottish (693) and Irish (633) ancestry. Couples without children account for 40.0% of the 4,261 families, far outnumbering couples with children, which fits the older profile. Average household size is 2.3, just 0.2 below national, and 11.6% of residents, some 619 people, need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.5%
Houses
3.9%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts heavily toward outright ownership at 48.7%, nearly double the 25.5% on a mortgage, with renters at 25.8%. That outright share is unusually high and reflects long-held, debt-free homes among older residents rather than a churn of recent buyers. The stock is 93.5% separate houses and only 0.2% apartments, so the suburb offers almost no high-density option. Three-bedroom homes lead at 50.2% and four-plus-bedroom at 38.7%, leaving smaller dwellings scarce. The $401,000 median house price keeps the price-to-income picture manageable: mortgage-to-income sits at 27.9%, below the 30% stress line, even though household income reaches only the 16.5th percentile nationally. Rent-to-income at 31.6% is the tighter pressure point for tenants.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$534
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
186
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.0%
Couples, no children
4,261
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce leans on Healthcare, which alone employs 31.3% (391 workers), more than double the next sector, Education at 11.6% (145), followed by Construction at 9.0%, Retail at 8.6% and Public Admin at 8.3%. By occupation, Professionals (361) and Community/Personal service workers (353) lead. The labour market is soft: unemployment runs at 9.3%, above typical levels, and participation is only 38.4% because 2,442 residents sit outside the labour force, a direct consequence of the median age of 52. SEIFA confirms the constraint, with decile 2 on IRSAD, IRSD and IEO and decile 3 on IER, all in the lower tiers nationally. Real incomes still grew 11.0% over the decade, a modest gain.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
2,536
Unemployed
137
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.3%
Part-time
35.4%
Participation
38.4%
Employed
1,690
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.7%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
18.0%
Dwellings
2,284
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-dependent: 89.8% drive to work while only 0.2% use public transport and 3.2% walk or cycle, well above the national reliance on cars. No schools are recorded inside the 4.85 km2 boundary, so families with children rely on institutions in neighbouring Hervey Bay suburbs, a practical trade-off in a low-density area of 1,180 residents per km2. Detailed crime statistics are not available in this dataset. The suburb scores decile 2 on IRSAD, a lower advantage tier nationally, and 11.6% of residents need daily assistance, both reflecting the older, lower-income profile. Volunteering at 14.8% and a 40.0% share of couples without children point to a settled, community-oriented retiree population.
Drive
89.8%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.53%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedPoint Vernon is an established, slow-growth market: annual population growth registers 0.53%, about 32 people a year, and the 10-year change is just 0.4%. The current population near 5,985 is forecast to rise gradually to roughly 6,161 by 2031 under the medium trend, so no rapid expansion is expected. Net internal migration of 89 a year is the primary growth driver, well above the 22 added through overseas migration. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying, with a score of 11, fitting a suburb at decile 2 advantage with an aging base. Affordability improved from 66.5% in 2011 to 63.7% in 2021, a slow gain, while rent climbed 30.8% over the period, the sharper movement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+22
Net Internal / yr
+89
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +89/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Point Vernon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Point Vernon a good suburb to live in?
Point Vernon suits buyers seeking affordability and a quiet, settled lifestyle, with a $401,000 median house price and 48.7% outright home ownership. The trade-offs are a low advantage profile, scoring decile 2 on IRSAD, and household income in just the 16.5th percentile nationally. The median age of 52 reflects a retiree-heavy population.
What is the median house price in Point Vernon?
The median house price is $401,000, affordable for coastal Queensland. Weekly rent averages $340 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The implied gross rental yield sits near 4.4%.
What schools are in Point Vernon?
No schools are recorded inside the 4.85 km2 Point Vernon boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Hervey Bay suburbs. The local population is older, with a median age of 52 and university qualifications at 19.7%, which is 10.4 points below the national figure.
Is Point Vernon safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Point Vernon in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, and 11.6% of its residents, some 619 people, need daily assistance, both consistent with an older, lower-income community.
Is Point Vernon good for property investment?
Rent of $340 a week against a $401,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.4%, stronger than most metro markets. However the 7.5% vacancy rate signals softer demand and rent-to-income at 31.6% is already above the 30% stress threshold, capping further rises. Net internal migration of 89 a year supports demand.
How is Point Vernon's population changing?
Population growth is modest at 0.53% annually, about 32 people a year, with a 0.4% rise over 10 years. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 8.1 points and the young-resident share down 4.5 points over the decade. The current 5,985 residents are forecast to reach roughly 6,161 by 2031.
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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