River Heads
A median age of 54, some 14 years above the national figure, is the single most defining fact about River Heads. The suburb's 2,044 residents are concentrated in detached houses, with 98.7% separate-house stock and a median price of around $420,000, well below the Queensland coastal average. Household incomes sit at the 27.5th percentile nationally, yet mortgage-to-income at 26.0% and rent-to-income at 28.2% both stay below stress thresholds, suggesting that lower debt loads offset the modest wages. Population has grown 38.7% over the past decade, driven mainly by internal migration averaging 479 net arrivals per year.
Population
2,044
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,243/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$420K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $420,000 places River Heads well below typical Queensland coastal markets, making entry more accessible than higher-priced regional centres. Separate houses account for 98.7% of the stock, so buyers face a single clear asset class with minimal apartment competition. Four-bedroom-plus dwellings make up 39.6% of homes and three-bedroom 42.7%, giving families broad choice. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold even though household incomes are at the 27.5th percentile nationally. Owner-occupiers dominate: 47.8% own outright and 35.7% carry a mortgage, with only 16.5% renting, a tenure profile that tends to produce stable neighbourhoods with low turnover pressure.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $420,000 places River Heads well below typical Queensland coastal markets, making entry more accessible than higher-priced regional centres. Separate houses account for 98.7% of the stock, so buyers face a single clear asset class with minimal apartment competition. Four-bedroom-plus dwellings make up 39.6% of homes and three-bedroom 42.7%, giving families broad choice. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold even though household incomes are at the 27.5th percentile nationally. Owner-occupiers dominate: 47.8% own outright and 35.7% carry a mortgage, with only 16.5% renting, a tenure profile that tends to produce stable neighbourhoods with low turnover pressure.
For Investors
With only 16.5% of dwellings rented and weekly rent at $350, the rental market is smaller than in most Queensland suburbs. The 10.2% vacancy rate is elevated compared to the state average, signalling more supply than active demand at any given time. Net internal migration averaging 479 people per year into the broader area supports medium-term demand, but River Heads itself recorded just 2 development applications in the past 12 months, indicating constrained new supply. Gross yield on the $420,000 median at $350 a week sits near 4.3%, modest but above inner-city benchmarks. The population growth trajectory of 3.08% annually and a forecast medium-scenario population rising from roughly 7,500 to 8,700 by 2031 suggest sustained regional demand that could tighten the current vacancy over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
8
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
River Heads skews strongly older: the median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, and the senior share of the population rose 9 points over the past decade while the working-age share contracted by 2.9 points. The university qualification rate of 15.7% sits 14.4 points below the national average, reflecting a workforce that leans toward trades, community service and retail rather than professional credentials. Overseas-born residents make up 18.6%, which is 3 points below the national rate. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (981), Scottish (254) and Irish (236). Average household size of 2.4 is near the national figure, driven by a high share of couples without children (48.8% of families), consistent with an established, empty-nester community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.7%
Houses
0.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 98.7%, with semi-detached at 0.8% and no meaningful apartment supply. Bedroom distribution leans large: 39.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 42.7% have three, well above what a purely rental-focused market would hold. The tenure split of 47.8% owned outright, 35.7% mortgaged and 16.5% renting places outright ownership far above national norms, reflecting an older population that has paid down debt over decades. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0% is below the 30% stress threshold, compared to many higher-priced coastal Queensland towns. The 10.2% vacancy rate indicates a looser market, which can benefit buyers and tenants seeking negotiating room.
Mortgage / mo
$1,400
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$543
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.2%
Unoccupied
90
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.8%
Couples, no children
1,624
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 29.2% of workers (152 people), more than double the next industry, Construction at 10.9%. Education (9.6%), Retail (9.4%) and Public Administration (7.3%) round out the top five, a pattern typical of smaller regional service centres. By occupation, Community/Personal service leads at 136 workers, followed by Professionals (111) and Labourers (107). The unemployment rate of 10.1% is elevated compared to national norms, partly because the participation rate is just 45.5%, well below the national average, as many residents aged 54-plus have moved out of the labour force. SEIFA scores position the suburb at decile 2 on IRSAD (relative disadvantage) and decile 2 on IEO (education and occupation), both in the lower tier nationally, though the IER score of decile 7 indicates reasonable physical economic resources.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
3,967
Unemployed
119
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.9%
Part-time
33.0%
Participation
45.5%
Employed
729
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.7%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
18.6%
Dwellings
777
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 90.8% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average of around 60-65%, and only 0.7% use public transport, reflecting a township with limited transit infrastructure. Walkability and cycling account for 2.0% of trips. No schools are recorded within the River Heads boundary, so families travel to Hervey Bay for schooling. The IRSAD decile of 2 places the suburb among the more disadvantaged communities nationally, though mortgage and rent stress indicators are both below threshold. A volunteering rate of 13.0% and 10.8% of residents needing daily assistance (213 people) are both consistent with an older, settled community where informal support networks play a larger role than in younger suburbs.
Drive
90.8%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.08%/yr
(+243 people/yr)
EstablishedRiver Heads registered population growth of 38.7% over the past decade, and the current annual rate sits at 3.08%. Net internal migration averaging 479 people per year is the primary driver, with overseas migration adding a modest 12 per year. Medium-scenario forecasts project the broader area population rising from around 7,513 in 2026 to 8,726 by 2031. Gentrification is active, with a score of 40 and signals including accelerating net migration. Rents grew 37.5% over the decade and real incomes rose 24.0%, though affordability as measured by the income-to-housing-cost ratio improved from 60.3% in 2011 to 54.4% in 2021, a positive direction compared to many coastal Queensland markets that saw affordability deteriorate sharply over the same period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+12
Net Internal / yr
+479
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +479/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 70%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How River Heads compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is River Heads a good suburb to live in?
River Heads suits retirees and owner-occupiers well. Some 47.8% of residents own their home outright, mortgage-to-income sits at 26.0% below the 30% stress threshold, and 65.4% of households have stayed put for five or more years. The trade-off is limited services, no local schools, and an IRSAD decile of 2 placing it among lower-advantage areas nationally.
What is the median house price in River Heads?
The estimated median house price is $420,000 based on 2025 rental-derived data. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,400, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0%, below the 30% stress level even at the suburb's 27.5th-percentile household income.
What schools are in River Heads?
No schools are recorded within the River Heads boundary (postcode 4655) in this dataset. Families travel to Hervey Bay for primary and secondary schooling. The suburb's university qualification rate of 15.7% is 14.4 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce built around trades and services rather than professional credentials.
Is River Heads safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for River Heads in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 3 on IRSD (relative socio-economic disadvantage), which is in the lower third nationally. The 65.4% residential stability rate and 13.0% volunteering rate suggest a community with strong local ties, which generally correlates with lower reported crime.
Is River Heads good for property investment?
The gross rental yield sits near 4.3% based on $350 weekly rent against a $420,000 median, above inner-city benchmarks. The downside is a 10.2% vacancy rate, elevated compared to most Queensland suburbs. Net internal migration of 479 people per year into the region and a projected population rise to around 8,700 by 2031 support medium-term demand growth.
How is River Heads's population changing?
Population grew 38.7% over the past decade at a current annual rate of 3.08%, adding around 243 people per year. Internal migration averaging 479 net arrivals annually is the primary driver. Medium-scenario forecasts project the broader area rising from approximately 7,513 in 2026 to 8,726 by 2031, with gentrification signals rated active.
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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