Queenstown
With a median house price of $83,500 and household income sitting at just the 6.3rd percentile nationally, Queenstown is one of Tasmania's most affordable towns and one of Australia's most economically modest. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, the vacancy rate hits 27.6%, and mining accounts for 18.4% of local employment, higher than almost any comparable Tasmanian community. These three facts are connected: as younger workers cycle through mining rosters and then leave, the resident base ages and dwellings stand empty longer. Unemployment runs at 11.7%, well above state and national averages, and labour force participation is just 44.0%.
Population
1,808
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$851/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$84K
YTD 2008
At $83,500, the median house price is far below the Tasmanian state median, making Queenstown one of the most accessible entry points for owner-occupiers on limited budgets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $574, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 15.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 96.1% of dwellings, so buyers get genuine detached properties rather than apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 60.7%, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 15.8%. Outright owners account for 52.1% of households, the highest tenure category, suggesting long-term residents who paid off their mortgages rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers.
For Buyers
At $83,500, the median house price is far below the Tasmanian state median, making Queenstown one of the most accessible entry points for owner-occupiers on limited budgets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $574, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 15.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 96.1% of dwellings, so buyers get genuine detached properties rather than apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 60.7%, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 15.8%. Outright owners account for 52.1% of households, the highest tenure category, suggesting long-term residents who paid off their mortgages rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers.
For Investors
The 27.6% vacancy rate is the single most important number for any investor. Weekly rent of $150 against a median purchase price of $83,500 implies a gross yield near 9.3%, but that calculation only holds if the dwelling is occupied. At roughly 1-in-4 homes sitting empty, landlord demand is structurally weak compared to most Australian markets. Renting households represent 24.1% of the suburb, a modest pool. The 11.7% unemployment rate and 44.0% participation rate limit rent growth. With no development applications in the past 12 months and price data last recorded in 2008, the market lacks the transaction volume that supports confident forward projections.
Schools in Queenstown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic School
Prep-6 · 59 students
Mountain Heights School
K-12 · 199 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7.0 years above the national figure, one of the clearest markers of an aging regional town. University qualifications reach 16.9%, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades and resource industries. Overseas-born residents are 10.4%, some 11.2 points below national, reflecting the town's predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry: English (801), Irish (187) and Scottish (94) are the top three. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, and couples without children make up 37.3% of families. The volunteering rate of 17.8% is notable for a community of 1,808 people and suggests strong local participation despite economic pressures.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.1%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
1.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Queenstown's housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 96.1%, with apartments at 1.8% and semi-detached at 1.3%. The price record shows a 203.6% rise from $27,500 in 1996 to $83,500 in 2008, a CAGR of 9.7% over 12 years, though no sales data is available after 2008. Ownership is the dominant tenure at 52.1% outright plus 23.8% with a mortgage, leaving just 24.1% renting. Rent-to-income sits at 17.6% and mortgage-to-income at 15.6%, both below stress levels, which means existing owners and renters face manageable housing costs relative to income, even with incomes at the 6.3rd percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$574
Rent / wk
$150
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$509
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
27.6%
Unoccupied
311
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.3%
Couples, no children
1,190
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the largest industry at 18.4% of employed residents (66 workers), reflecting the West Coast's copper and mineral heritage and placing Queenstown above most Tasmanian communities on mining dependence. Education follows at 14.8% (53 workers) and Healthcare at 12.8% (46 workers), providing some public-sector stability. Hospitality at 10.3% and Public Administration at 9.2% round out the top five. The occupation profile leans manual: Labourers (108) and Machinery and Drivers (99) are the top two categories, well ahead of Professionals (67). Unemployment is 11.7%, notably above national and state averages, and the participation rate of 44.0% is low, partly because 664 residents are not in the labour force at all against an employed workforce of 588.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
44.0%
Employed
588
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.9%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
10.4%
Dwellings
819
Transport to Work
Car use at 79.1% reflects Queenstown's remote West Coast location with limited public transport options. Walking and cycling account for 12.7% of journeys, above many rural Tasmanian towns, likely because the compact town centre makes short trips practical. No crime data is available in this dataset. Housing stress is low by conventional measures, with rent-to-income at 17.6% and mortgage-to-income at 15.6%, both well below the 30% threshold. However, 10.6% of residents (177 people) need daily assistance, higher than many comparable towns, which aligns with the aged resident profile: at a median age of 47, the community skews toward older households who may require support services.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
12.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Queenstown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Queenstown a good suburb to live in?
Queenstown suits buyers who prioritise affordability and a quiet, established community over urban amenity. The median house price is $83,500 and housing costs are low relative to income, with mortgage-to-income at 15.6%. The population of 1,808 has a median age of 47, 7 years above national, and unemployment runs at 11.7%, so employment options are limited compared to larger centres.
What is the median house price in Queenstown?
The median house price was $83,500 as of the most recent data (2008), up from $27,500 in 1996, a 203.6% rise over 12 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $574, and weekly rent is $150. These figures make Queenstown one of the most affordable property markets in Tasmania.
What schools are in Queenstown?
No schools are recorded inside the Queenstown suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area would rely on schools in the broader West Coast municipal district. University qualifications among residents reach 16.9%, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a trade and resource-sector workforce.
Is Queenstown safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Queenstown in this dataset. As a broader indicator, 10.6% of residents (177 people) need daily assistance, and the town's economic base sits at the 6.3rd percentile for household income nationally, reflecting the economic pressures common to remote mining communities.
Is Queenstown good for property investment?
The numbers present a mixed picture. Weekly rent of $150 against a median purchase price of $83,500 implies a high nominal yield, but a 27.6% vacancy rate means a large share of dwellings are untenanted. Unemployment at 11.7% and no development activity in the past 12 months signal a low-growth market with limited near-term demand drivers.
How is Queenstown's population changing?
Queenstown's population stands at 1,808 with a median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national figure. The high proportion of older residents and a 27.6% vacancy rate suggest gradual population decline rather than growth. Labour force participation at 44.0% is low, partly reflecting the aging demographic rather than only unemployment.
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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