Ravenshoe
At a median age of 52, Ravenshoe's residents are 12 years older than the national median, the most striking number in the profile. Household income sits in just the 6.4th percentile nationally, yet 49.9% of dwellings are owned outright, a sign that long-term residents have paid off their homes rather than accumulated wealth. The suburb spans 139 square kilometres at a density of 9.6 people per km2, far below urban averages. A vacancy rate of 18.6% stands well above typical Queensland levels, pointing to subdued housing demand rather than active turnover.
Population
1,332
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$859/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$300K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $300,000 is significantly lower than Queensland state and national medians, making Ravenshoe one of the more affordable detached-house markets in the region. Separate houses make up 95.8% of dwellings, compared to national norms where apartments take a much larger share. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $1,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 41.5%, followed by 2-bedroom at 29.9% and 4-plus at 19.9%. With 49.9% of homes owned outright and only 20.2% carrying a mortgage, the ownership structure reflects a settled, older population rather than active first-home buyers entering the market.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $300,000 is significantly lower than Queensland state and national medians, making Ravenshoe one of the more affordable detached-house markets in the region. Separate houses make up 95.8% of dwellings, compared to national norms where apartments take a much larger share. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $1,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 41.5%, followed by 2-bedroom at 29.9% and 4-plus at 19.9%. With 49.9% of homes owned outright and only 20.2% carrying a mortgage, the ownership structure reflects a settled, older population rather than active first-home buyers entering the market.
For Investors
Ravenshoe's investor case is constrained by several factors. Weekly rent of $250 against a $300,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, which is above many coastal Queensland markets, but the 18.6% vacancy rate is a serious headwind, well above the 3% level typically considered balanced. Only 1 development application was lodged in the past 12 months, signalling minimal new supply pressure but also little economic momentum driving demand. The renter share of 29.9% is modest compared to urban centres. Unemployment runs at 13.2%, far above the national average, which constrains tenant affordability and rental demand. Investors seeking yield should weigh the headline number against the structural vacancy and weak income base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
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 Ravenshoe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Teresa's School
Prep-6 · 85 students
Ravenshoe State School
Prep-12 · 351 students
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, one of the more pronounced aging profiles in regional Queensland. The overseas-born share of 13.0% sits 8.6 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry base: English (463), Irish (159) and Scottish (137) are the leading ancestries. University qualification rates reach only 13.4%, which is 16.7 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trade and labourer-heavy workforce. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, fitting the older couples profile, with 39.5% of families being couples without children. Volunteering is notably high at 23.2%, above national averages, suggesting strong civic participation despite low income levels.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.8%
Houses
0.6%
Townhouse
2.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates at 95.8% of dwellings, a proportion far above the national average, reflecting Ravenshoe's rural character across its 139 square kilometre area. Tenure splits unevenly toward outright ownership: 49.9% own outright, 20.2% carry a mortgage and 29.9% rent. The outright ownership rate is high compared to national norms, consistent with a long-settled, older population who purchased decades ago at lower prices. The estimated $300,000 median house price positions Ravenshoe as affordable relative to both Queensland state median and national benchmarks. Rent-to-income sits at 29.1%, near but below the 30% stress threshold. The high vacancy rate of 18.6% suggests that available stock exceeds active demand, which may keep price growth subdued.
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$483
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.6%
Unoccupied
118
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.5%
Couples, no children
882
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.1% of workers (49 people), well above its typical share in comparable small towns, followed by Education at 13.1% and Construction at 10.4%. Agriculture at 9.9% reflects the surrounding Atherton Tablelands farming economy. By occupation, Labourers lead at 87 workers, ahead of Managers (68) and Community/Personal service roles (57). The unemployment rate of 13.2% is significantly higher than national averages, and the participation rate of 38.7% is low, with 510 residents not in the labour force, driven in part by the high median age of 52. Personal weekly income averages $483, placing household income in the 6.4th percentile nationally. Housing stress is limited despite low incomes, as mortgage and rent obligations remain manageable relative to earnings.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.6%
Part-time
29.2%
Participation
38.7%
Employed
380
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.4%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
13.0%
Dwellings
520
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 75.3% of commuters driving, which is above national averages and typical for a low-density rural town. Walking and cycling accounts for 15.4%, surprisingly high, likely reflecting short commute distances within the compact town centre rather than infrastructure. Public transport use of 1.4% reflects limited service options compared to urban areas. No schools are recorded in this dataset for the Ravenshoe boundary, but the suburb supports education employment at 13.1% of the workforce. The need-for-assistance rate of 10.6% (124 residents) is elevated relative to the population size of 1,332, consistent with the older median age of 52. Housing stress metrics are manageable, with rent-to-income at 29.1% and mortgage-to-income at 26.9%, both below the 30% stress benchmark.
Drive
75.3%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
15.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ravenshoe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ravenshoe a good suburb to live in?
Ravenshoe suits those seeking affordable, rural living with strong community ties. The $300,000 median house price is well below state and national medians, and 49.9% of homes are owned outright. The trade-off is limited employment opportunities, with unemployment at 13.2% and a participation rate of 38.7%, and a median age of 52 that reflects an older, settled community.
What is the median house price in Ravenshoe?
The estimated median house price in Ravenshoe is $300,000, significantly lower than Queensland and national medians. Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,000. Mortgage-to-income sits at 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, making housing relatively affordable for local incomes.
What schools are in Ravenshoe?
No schools are recorded in this dataset within the Ravenshoe suburb boundary. However, education employs 13.1% of the local workforce, suggesting educational facilities are accessible within the area. Families should check current enrolment options with the Queensland Department of Education for nearby schools.
Is Ravenshoe safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Ravenshoe in this dataset. As context, the suburb has a population of 1,332 spread across 139 square kilometres at a low density of 9.6 people per km2. The high outright home ownership rate of 49.9% and community volunteering rate of 23.2% suggest a stable, long-established local community.
Is Ravenshoe good for property investment?
Ravenshoe presents a mixed investment picture. Weekly rent of $250 against a $300,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, above many coastal Queensland markets. However, the 18.6% vacancy rate is well above a balanced 3%, and just 1 development application was lodged in the past 12 months. Unemployment at 13.2% limits tenant income capacity.
How is Ravenshoe's population changing?
Ravenshoe's population is 1,332 with a median age of 52, which is 12 years above the national median. The residential stability rate of 78.9% staying in the same address points to low turnover rather than growth. The aging profile and 13.2% unemployment rate suggest slow or negative natural population growth without new economic drivers.
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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