South Toowoomba
Almost half of South Toowoomba's dwellings, 49.7%, are rented, yet 69.6% of the stock is still separate houses, an unusual pairing that defines this inner Toowoomba pocket. The median house price sits at $376,000, well below most metropolitan markets, and weekly rent of $290 keeps entry costs modest. Household income lands in the 34.9th percentile nationally, and the 10.5% vacancy rate is high, pointing to soft tenant demand rather than scarcity. At a median age of 36, the population runs 4.0 years younger than the national figure, and university qualifications reach 33.8%, which is 3.7 points above national.
Population
5,512
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,354/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$376K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $376,000 median house price is the main draw, sitting far below capital-city levels, and monthly mortgage repayments of $1,405 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 24.0%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. Buyers get genuine houses rather than apartments: 69.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 25.1% are semi-detached and only 5.3% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.7% and two-bedroom at 30.3%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are 15.4%, so the market suits small families and first buyers more than larger households. With household income in the 34.9th percentile, affordability matters here, and the low repayment-to-income figure is why owner-occupiers can enter without overstretching, even though only 22.2% own outright against 49.7% renting.
For Buyers
The $376,000 median house price is the main draw, sitting far below capital-city levels, and monthly mortgage repayments of $1,405 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 24.0%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. Buyers get genuine houses rather than apartments: 69.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 25.1% are semi-detached and only 5.3% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.7% and two-bedroom at 30.3%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are 15.4%, so the market suits small families and first buyers more than larger households. With household income in the 34.9th percentile, affordability matters here, and the low repayment-to-income figure is why owner-occupiers can enter without overstretching, even though only 22.2% own outright against 49.7% renting.
For Investors
A 49.7% renter share gives landlords a deep tenant pool, the largest tenure group in the suburb, but the demand signals call for caution. Weekly rent of $290 against the $376,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than premium markets, yet the 10.5% vacancy rate is high and points to oversupply rather than tight competition for tenants. Rent-to-income sits at a manageable 21.4%, so tenants are not stretched, which limits scope for aggressive rent rises. Development is quiet, with only 8 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a dual occupancy material change of use, so new supply is modest. The turnover rate of 32.5% shows a third of residents moved within five years, consistent with a renter-heavy, transient profile where yield, not capital growth, anchors the case.
Development Activity
Total DAs
52
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-18.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 runs 4.0 years below the national figure, a younger profile that fits the high 49.7% renter share and a transient turnover rate of 32.5%. University qualifications reach 33.8%, which is 3.7 points above national, lifted by the suburb's healthcare and education employment base. Overseas-born residents make up 18.6%, 3.0 points below national, so the population is more Australian-born than typical, and ancestry leans Anglo with English (2,046), Irish (745), Scottish (611) and German (575) the largest groups. The most common non-English languages are Arabic (25 speakers), Nepali (22) and Punjabi (21), small numbers reflecting a modest migrant mix. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, and couples without children account for 29.2% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.6%
Houses
25.1%
Townhouse
5.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts strongly to renting: 49.7% rent, 28.1% carry a mortgage and only 22.2% own outright, an inversion of the usual owner-majority pattern that marks this as a tenant suburb. Despite that, 69.6% of dwellings are separate houses and just 5.3% are apartments, so renters mostly occupy houses rather than units, with 25.1% in semi-detached stock. Three-bedroom homes lead at 49.7% and two-bedroom follow at 30.3%. The median house price of $376,000 stays affordable against a household income in the 34.9th percentile, and mortgage-to-income at 24.0% sits below the stress line while rent-to-income at 21.4% is also comfortable. The high 10.5% vacancy rate suggests supply outpaces demand, which helps keep both rents and prices in check.
Mortgage / mo
$1,405
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$763
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
274
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
3,672
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment concentrates heavily in services: Healthcare leads at 27.3% (521 workers), more than double Education at 13.6% (259), with Construction at 7.9%, Public Administration at 7.2% and Retail at 6.9%. That healthcare weight reflects Toowoomba's role as a regional medical hub and explains the above-national 33.8% university qualification rate. By occupation, Professionals (688) form the largest group, ahead of Community and Personal Service workers (384) and Clerical and Administrative staff (316). Unemployment is elevated at 6.9% against a participation rate of 59.1%, and the full-time employment rate is 65.7%, leaving 1,433 residents not in the labour force. Household income in the 34.9th percentile is consistent with this service and care-sector base, where wages sit below the professional and finance hubs of major cities.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
27.4%
Participation
59.1%
Employed
2,521
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.8%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
18.6%
Dwellings
2,339
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 84.7% of commuters drive, well above the national average, while public transport carries just 0.3% and 7.2% walk or cycle, reflecting the limited rail and bus links of a regional centre. Affordability is the standout livability factor, with rent-to-income at 21.4% and mortgage-to-income at 24.0%, both below the 30% stress threshold, so housing costs leave more disposable income than in dearer markets. Volunteering runs at 15.6%, and 8.1% of residents (426 people) need daily assistance, a moderate figure. No schools are recorded inside the 3.7 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Toowoomba suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the central location and the 33.8% university qualification rate that is 3.7 points above national.
Drive
84.7%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Toowoomba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Toowoomba a good suburb to live in?
South Toowoomba suits renters and first buyers, with a $376,000 median house price and rent of $290 a week, both below most metropolitan markets. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.0%, under the stress line. University qualifications reach 33.8%, which is 3.7 points above the national figure, though the 10.5% vacancy rate signals soft demand.
What is the median house price in South Toowoomba?
The median house price is $376,000, well below capital-city levels. Weekly rent averages $290 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,405, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.0%, below the 30% stress threshold and comfortable for a suburb with income in the 34.9th percentile.
What schools are in South Toowoomba?
No schools are recorded inside the 3.7 km2 South Toowoomba boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Toowoomba suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 33.8%, which is 3.7 points above the national figure.
Is South Toowoomba safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for South Toowoomba in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 8.1% of the 5,512 residents need daily assistance and volunteering runs at 15.6%, figures consistent with a settled regional community rather than a high-stress area.
Is South Toowoomba good for property investment?
Rent of $290 a week against a $376,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than premium markets, and 49.7% of dwellings are rented, a deep tenant pool. The catch is a 10.5% vacancy rate that signals oversupply, so returns lean on yield rather than capital growth.
How is South Toowoomba's population changing?
The turnover rate is 32.5%, meaning about a third of residents moved within five years, while 67.5% stayed. The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below national, a younger, renter-heavy profile. Development is light at 8 applications in 12 months, below the level that signals rapid expansion.
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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