Stanthorpe
A median age of 50 sits 10 years above the national figure, and that single number explains much of what follows in this Granite Belt town. Household income lands in just the 11.8th percentile nationally, well below average, yet the median house price of $323,000 keeps both rent-to-income (25.8%) and mortgage-to-income (28.6%) below stress thresholds. The dwelling stock is overwhelmingly detached at 88.4%, with apartments only 1.9%. SEIFA scores are low across all four indexes, decile 1 on IRSAD and IEO and decile 2 on IRSD and IER, reflecting an aging, lower-income base rather than disadvantage in the urban sense.
Population
5,286
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$970/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Median House
$323K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $323,000 median house price, Stanthorpe is far cheaper than most of Queensland, which matters because local household income sits in only the 11.8th percentile nationally. Affordability holds despite that low income: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,200 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 28.6%, just under the 30% stress line. The stock suits families and downsizers alike, with 46.5% of dwellings holding three bedrooms and 31.0% four or more, while two-bedroom homes are 18.8%. Separate houses make up 88.4% of dwellings versus just 1.9% apartments, so buyers are almost always purchasing a standalone house on land. Outright owners at 44.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.7%, a sign that much of the market is held by older, debt-free residents rather than recent entrants competing for stock.
For Buyers
At a $323,000 median house price, Stanthorpe is far cheaper than most of Queensland, which matters because local household income sits in only the 11.8th percentile nationally. Affordability holds despite that low income: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,200 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 28.6%, just under the 30% stress line. The stock suits families and downsizers alike, with 46.5% of dwellings holding three bedrooms and 31.0% four or more, while two-bedroom homes are 18.8%. Separate houses make up 88.4% of dwellings versus just 1.9% apartments, so buyers are almost always purchasing a standalone house on land. Outright owners at 44.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.7%, a sign that much of the market is held by older, debt-free residents rather than recent entrants competing for stock.
For Investors
Renters make up 31.6% of households and weekly rent averages $250, which against the $323,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than the inner-city norm. The catch is the 15.8% vacancy rate, well above a healthy market, signalling that tenant demand is thinner than the rent figure alone suggests. Rent has still grown 37.1% over the period, so the segment is not stagnant. Demand drivers are modest and balanced: net internal migration adds about 38 residents a year and overseas migration 14, supporting the 1.04% annual population trend. Development activity is light at 21 applications in 12 months, mostly carports, pools and extensions rather than new dwellings, so supply stays tight. The investment case rests on yield and slow rent escalation more than capital growth or volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
28
Last 12 Months
28
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 Stanthorpe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
Prep-12 · 492 students
Stanthorpe State High School
7-12 · 523 students
Stanthorpe State School
Prep-6 · 275 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 runs a full 10 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging further: the senior share rose 8.7 points while the working-age share fell 5.8 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents are 16.8%, which is 4.8 points below national, so this is a less migrant-heavy community than most. University qualifications reach 21.5%, which is 8.6 points below national, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and labouring. Ancestry is Anglo-leaning, led by English (2,107), Irish (594) and Italian (579), the Italian presence a legacy of Granite Belt farming families. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, and couples without children make up 39.2% of families against 32.7% who are couples with children, both pointing to the older, post-child-rearing profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.4%
Houses
9.3%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by outright ownership: 44.7% own their home outright, 23.7% carry a mortgage and 31.6% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders nearly two to one reflects a long-settled, older population rather than a churn of new buyers. The stock is 88.4% separate houses and only 1.9% apartments, with semi-detached at 9.3%, so detached living defines the market. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.5% and four-plus 31.0%, leaving smaller dwellings scarce. The median house price of $323,000 keeps both ratios under control: mortgage-to-income at 28.6% and rent-to-income at 25.8% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, unusual given household income sits in only the 11.8th percentile nationally. Affordability has held broadly stable, moving from 41.0% in 2011 to 42.8% in 2021.
Mortgage / mo
$1,200
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$564
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.8%
Unoccupied
416
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.2%
Couples, no children
3,636
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in services and primary industry: Healthcare leads at 21.3% (250 workers), Education follows at 14.6% (171) and Agriculture at 10.6% (124), with Construction at 8.6% and Hospitality at 7.8%. By occupation, Labourers (373) are the single largest group, ahead of Professionals (282) and Community and Personal workers (267), a mix that explains why university qualifications run 8.6 points below national. Unemployment is moderate at 5.3%, but participation is low at 44.0% because 2,041 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the median age of 50. SEIFA reads decile 1 on IRSAD and IEO and decile 2 on IRSD and IER, all low, driven by the lower-income, agriculture-and-care economy rather than acute urban disadvantage.
Unemployment
5.7%
Labour Force
2,437
Unemployed
139
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.5%
Part-time
41.2%
Participation
44.0%
Employed
1,866
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.5%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
16.8%
Dwellings
2,207
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near total, with 83.7% of residents driving to work and only 7.2% walking or cycling, expected for a town spread across 33.65 km2 at just 157 residents per km2. Volunteering runs at a healthy 23.0%, above the level many larger centres manage, a marker of community cohesion. The aging profile shows in support needs: 10.4% of residents, or 510 people, require daily assistance, reflecting the median age of 50. SEIFA scores are low across the board, decile 1 on IRSAD and decile 2 on IRSD, which signals constrained resources rather than danger. No schools are recorded inside the Stanthorpe boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions elsewhere in the Southern Downs region, a practical trade-off for a low-density rural town.
Drive
83.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.04%/yr
(+68 people/yr)
EstablishedStanthorpe is growing steadily but slowly: the annual population trend is 1.04%, or about 68 people a year, and the 10-year change is 13.9%. Recent history confirms the climb, with population rising from 6,408 in 2023 to 6,544 in 2025, and medium forecasts carry it to roughly 6,949 by 2031. Migration is balanced rather than driven by one force, adding about 38 residents a year from internal moves and 14 from overseas. The gentrification stage reads early signs, scoring 21 to 32, supported by a 17% population rise since 2011 and growth accelerating from 5% to 12%. Real incomes grew 6.8% over the decade, modest, while rent climbed 37.1%, a gap that helps explain why early gentrification signals are appearing despite incomes in the 11.8th percentile.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
+38
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +17% since 2011, Accelerating: 5% → 12%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Stanthorpe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stanthorpe a good suburb to live in?
Stanthorpe suits those wanting space and affordability, with a $323,000 median house price and 88.4% detached houses. It is a quieter, older town, with a median age of 50, which is 10 years above national. Volunteering is strong at 23.0%, though SEIFA scores sit in decile 1 to 2 and household income in the 11.8th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Stanthorpe?
The median house price in Stanthorpe is $323,000, well below most of Queensland. Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,200, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.6%, just under the 30% stress threshold despite local incomes in the 11.8th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Stanthorpe?
No schools are recorded inside the Stanthorpe boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools elsewhere in the Southern Downs region. Education is the second-largest local industry at 14.6% of workers, or 171 people, so schooling is a meaningful part of the town economy.
Is Stanthorpe safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Stanthorpe in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the town scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, and 10.4% of residents, or 510 people, need daily assistance, consistent with an older, lower-income rural community rather than a high-risk area.
Is Stanthorpe good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $250 against a $323,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than inner-city markets. The catch is a 15.8% vacancy rate, well above healthy, signalling thin tenant demand. Rent has grown 37.1% over the period, so returns lean on yield and slow rent escalation more than capital growth.
How is Stanthorpe's population changing?
Population is growing about 1.04% a year, or 68 people, rising from 6,408 in 2023 to 6,544 in 2025, with a 13.9% increase over 10 years. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 8.7 points and the working-age share down 5.8 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Stanthorpe?
There were 21 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, light for the town. Most are carports, swimming pools and extensions on existing homes rather than new dwellings, consistent with a slow-growth market expanding at just 1.04% annually and dominated by 88.4% detached houses.
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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