Sapphire Central
At a median age of 59, Sapphire Central skews 19 years older than the national average, making it one of Queensland's most distinctly senior-weighted communities. The suburb stretches across 636.75 square kilometres with just 1,214 residents, a density of 1.9 people per km2. The median house price of $218,000 sits well below state and national medians, reflecting both the remote Central Queensland setting and a household income in the 1.5th percentile nationally. Three in four dwellings are owned outright, a rate far higher than average, pointing to a long-settled ownership base rather than an entry-level market.
Population
1,214
Median Age
59.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$644/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$218K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $218,000 median house price makes Sapphire Central one of the more affordable entry points in Queensland, substantially lower than the state median. Separate houses account for 90.4% of the stock, so buyers get genuine detached living without competing against apartment supply. Bedroom stock skews small: 40.5% of dwellings have 0-1 bedrooms and 29.3% have 2 bedrooms, which suits downsizers more than growing families. Monthly mortgage repayments of $867 look modest, but mortgage-to-income runs 31.1%, above the stress threshold, because household income is in the 1.5th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 75.7% greatly outnumber mortgage holders at 12.4%, confirming that most homes here were purchased long ago rather than recently leveraged.
For Buyers
The $218,000 median house price makes Sapphire Central one of the more affordable entry points in Queensland, substantially lower than the state median. Separate houses account for 90.4% of the stock, so buyers get genuine detached living without competing against apartment supply. Bedroom stock skews small: 40.5% of dwellings have 0-1 bedrooms and 29.3% have 2 bedrooms, which suits downsizers more than growing families. Monthly mortgage repayments of $867 look modest, but mortgage-to-income runs 31.1%, above the stress threshold, because household income is in the 1.5th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 75.7% greatly outnumber mortgage holders at 12.4%, confirming that most homes here were purchased long ago rather than recently leveraged.
For Investors
The 34.5% vacancy rate is the critical number for investors: more than 1 in 3 properties sits empty, far higher than typical Queensland markets. Only 11.9% of dwellings are rented at a weekly median of $160, which implies a gross yield below 4% against the $218,000 median. The low rent, extreme vacancy, and 0 development applications in 12 months collectively signal limited rental demand. The participation rate of 28.4% means that most working-age residents are not in the labour force, constraining local income growth. No recent price history is available for trend comparison, and the household income in the 1.5th percentile nationally leaves little runway for rent escalation beyond current levels.
Demographics
The median age of 59 sits 19 years above the national average and reflects a retirement-oriented population that has largely settled and stayed: 83.1% of residents did not move in the previous year. Average household size is 1.8, which is 0.7 below the national figure, consistent with couples-without-children households that make up 52.4% of families. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (492 residents), Irish (129) and Scottish (115). University qualifications reach 8.1%, which is 22 percentage points below the national average, and 21.5% of residents were born overseas, roughly in line with national proportion. Christianity is the dominant religion at 519 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.4%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Three in four dwellings (75.7%) are owned outright, a tenure rate far above the national norm, with only 12.4% carrying a mortgage and 11.9% renting. This pattern reflects a long-settled, older ownership base rather than active market churn: the annual turnover rate is just 16.9%. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 90.4%, spread across a 636.75 km2 footprint. Small dwelling sizes dominate: 40.5% have 0-1 bedrooms and 29.3% have 2 bedrooms, with 3-bedroom homes at 22.5% and 4-plus bedrooms at just 7.7%. Rent averages $160 per week, and at 24.8% of income the rent-to-income ratio stays below the 30% stress threshold, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.1% is flagged as stressed.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wk
$160
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$437
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
34.5%
Unoccupied
297
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.1% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
52.4%
Couples, no children
638
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads industry at 15.1% of workers, followed by Retail at 13.5%, Hospitality at 11.1%, and Mining and Construction each at 10.3%, a mix that reflects both service-town functions and the resource extraction economy of Central Queensland. By occupation, Machinery and Drivers top the list at 61 workers, followed by Managers at 45 and Labourers at 43. The unemployment rate of 13.9% is well above the national average, and the participation rate of 28.4% is low, because the large retired population sits outside the labour force entirely. Of 572 residents not in the labour force, many are likely retirees rather than discouraged workers. Personal weekly income averages $437, placing household income in the 1.5th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.8%
Part-time
30.3%
Participation
28.4%
Employed
267
Occupations
Top Industries
University
8.1%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
21.5%
Dwellings
554
Transport to Work
Car use is dominant here, with 84.3% of residents driving to work, which is above the national average given the suburban spread across a 636.75 km2 area. Notably, 11.8% walk or cycle, a meaningful share for a rural-scale footprint. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in surrounding areas. Crime statistics are not available for this dataset. The volunteering rate of 18.0% indicates a relatively active community participation level. About 12.5% of residents (127 people) need daily assistance, which is elevated compared to typical national proportions and consistent with the older median age of 59, nearly 19 years above the national figure.
Drive
84.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sapphire Central compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sapphire Central a good suburb to live in?
Sapphire Central suits retirees and those seeking affordable, quiet rural living. The median house price of $218,000 is well below the Queensland median, and 75.7% of dwellings are owned outright. The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national average, reflecting a predominantly retirement-age community. Services are limited, with no schools recorded in the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Sapphire Central?
The median house price is approximately $218,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $160, and monthly mortgage repayments run around $867. Despite the low price, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 31.1% because household income sits in the 1.5th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Sapphire Central?
No schools are recorded within the Sapphire Central suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-aged children would need to travel to nearby towns. The local university qualification rate is 8.1%, which is 22 percentage points below the national average.
Is Sapphire Central safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Sapphire Central in this dataset. The suburb has a population of just 1,214 spread over 636.75 km2, with 83.1% of residents not having moved in the previous year, suggesting a stable and settled community. Volunteering participation sits at 18.0%.
Is Sapphire Central good for property investment?
Investment fundamentals are challenging. The vacancy rate of 34.5% is very high, with only 11.9% of dwellings rented at $160 per week. Against the $218,000 median, this implies a gross yield below 4%. There were 0 development applications in the past 12 months, and the local unemployment rate of 13.9% limits tenant demand.
How is Sapphire Central's population changing?
No forecast data is available for Sapphire Central. Current signals suggest a stable or slowly declining population: 0 development applications in 12 months, a 34.5% vacancy rate, and a median age of 59 that is 19 years above the national average. The 83.1% stay-put rate shows existing residents are settled, but new inward migration appears limited.
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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