Tamborine Mountain
With a median age of 50, a full decade above the national figure, Tamborine Mountain is one of Queensland's most distinctly older-resident communities. Nearly half of all homes (45.4%) are owned outright, well above the national average, and only 14.4% of residents rent. The 93.9% separate-house share and 42.45 sq km footprint produce a rural-residential density of just 191 people per sq km. Despite modest household incomes (47th percentile), university education at 34.9% runs 4.8 points above the national rate, indicating retirees who traded career income for lifestyle.
Population
8,105
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,508/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$518K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $518,000 median, houses on Tamborine Mountain cost roughly half of what you would pay in Gold Coast beachside suburbs. Mortgage stress sits at 27.6% of income, still below the 30% danger line but tighter than the typical owner-occupier experience here because 45.4% own outright and pay nothing. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.1%, with 34.6% having 4+ bedrooms, reflecting the acreage-style lots common in the area. Buyers should note the near-total car dependency: 90.4% drive and only 0.6% use public transport. The 78.1% residential stability rate is higher than average, meaning turnover is low and stock comes to market infrequently.
For Buyers
At an estimated $518,000 median, houses on Tamborine Mountain cost roughly half of what you would pay in Gold Coast beachside suburbs. Mortgage stress sits at 27.6% of income, still below the 30% danger line but tighter than the typical owner-occupier experience here because 45.4% own outright and pay nothing. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.1%, with 34.6% having 4+ bedrooms, reflecting the acreage-style lots common in the area. Buyers should note the near-total car dependency: 90.4% drive and only 0.6% use public transport. The 78.1% residential stability rate is higher than average, meaning turnover is low and stock comes to market infrequently.
For Investors
Only 14.4% of residents rent, making Tamborine Mountain a thin rental market. Weekly rent at $420 against the $518,000 estimated price gives a gross yield of roughly 4.2%, reasonable but paired with a 9.3% vacancy rate that is well above a balanced market. Zero development applications in 12 months means no new supply pressure, though it also signals stagnant development interest. The aging population profile (median age 50, 47.3% participation rate) limits future rental demand growth. Investors looking for yield may find the numbers appealing on paper, but the high vacancy and low liquidity make exits harder.
Schools in Tamborine Mountain iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Tamborine Mountain State School
Prep-6 · 564 students
St Bernard State School
Prep-6 · 117 students
Tamborine Mountain State High School
7-12 · 943 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 puts Tamborine Mountain 10 years above the national median, defining it as a retirement-transition community. University education at 34.9% runs 4.8 points above national, unusual for a non-metro area, suggesting educated retirees and tree-changers. English ancestry dominates strongly at 3,862 residents, followed by Scottish (1,134) and Irish (1,126). Born-overseas residents at 27.0% sit 5.4 points above national, largely from Anglophone countries. Christianity (3,229 adherents) is the leading religion. The 35.6% couples-without-children rate, combined with low participation at 47.3%, paints a suburb of empty-nesters and retirees enjoying the hinterland setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.9%
Houses
4.7%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Houses at an estimated $518,000 median sit in the affordable tier for the Gold Coast hinterland, well below coastal equivalents. Outright ownership at 45.4% is one of the highest rates you will find in southeast Queensland, while mortgage holders at 40.2% face repayments of $1,800/month. The 93.9% separate-house share and near-zero apartment stock (0.6%) reflect the rural-residential character. Bedrooms skew large: 48.1% three-bed and 34.6% four-plus. Rent-to-income at 27.9% and mortgage-to-income at 27.6% both sit close to but below the stress threshold, suggesting affordability is tighter than the outright-ownership figures might imply for newer buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$681
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.3%
Unoccupied
313
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.6%
Couples, no children
6,462
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (17.2%) and Education (15.8%) are the top employers, together absorbing a third of all workers. Construction follows at 9.0%, then Professional/Tech (8.6%) and Hospitality (7.9%), the latter likely tied to the mountain's tourism industry. Professionals (932) and Managers (517) lead occupations. The 55.9% fulltime rate is notably lower than average, consistent with the older population profile and high part-time workforce (1,356 workers). Unemployment at 4.4% is moderate, but the real story is the 47.3% participation rate, meaning over half the adult population is retired or not seeking work. Not-in-labour-force at 2,742 people exceeds the combined employed count.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
39.7%
Participation
47.3%
Employed
3,073
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.9%
Postgraduate
8.9%
Born Overseas
27.0%
Dwellings
3,028
Transport to Work
Three schools serve the mountain: Tamborine Mountain State School (ICSEA 1,054, 564 students), St Bernard State School (ICSEA 1,039, 117 students), and Tamborine Mountain State High School (ICSEA 1,039, 943 students). All three score above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000, a strong result for a hinterland area. Public transport is virtually absent at 0.6%, and 90.4% drive, so the mountain lifestyle requires vehicle ownership. Walking and cycling at 4.3% is higher than many regional areas, likely reflecting local village trips. Volunteering at 21.3% is well above average, indicating a community-oriented culture.
Drive
90.4%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tamborine Mountain compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tamborine Mountain a good suburb to live in?
Tamborine Mountain suits retirees and lifestyle seekers who value space over convenience. The median age of 50 is 10 years above national, and 45.4% own homes outright. All 3 local schools score above the ICSEA 1,000 benchmark. However, 90.4% of commuters drive, so it is not suited to car-free living.
What is the median house price in Tamborine Mountain?
The estimated median house price is $518,000 (2025, rent-derived). Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,800 consume 27.6% of household income, near but below the stress threshold. The 93.9% separate-house stock means virtually all purchases are freestanding homes on larger lots.
What schools are in Tamborine Mountain?
Tamborine Mountain has 3 schools: Tamborine Mountain State School (primary, ICSEA 1,054, 564 students), St Bernard State School (primary, ICSEA 1,039, 117 students), and Tamborine Mountain State High School (secondary, ICSEA 1,039, 943 students). All score above the 1,000 national ICSEA average.
Is Tamborine Mountain safe?
Crime data is not separately available for Tamborine Mountain. The suburb's demographic profile is favourable for safety: 45.4% outright homeownership, 78.1% residential stability, and a volunteering rate of 21.3% that is well above the national average. The low-density layout (191 people/sq km) also reduces typical urban crime pressures.
Is Tamborine Mountain good for property investment?
Investment appeal is mixed. Gross yield at roughly 4.2% ($420/week on $518,000) looks reasonable, but the 9.3% vacancy rate is high for a residential area and only 14.4% of residents rent. Zero DAs in 12 months means no new supply, but also limited demand signals. The thin rental market makes finding tenants harder than in nearby Gold Coast suburbs.
How is Tamborine Mountain's population changing?
The population of 8,105 lives at a low density of 191/sq km. The median age of 50 and 47.3% participation rate point to an aging trajectory. Over the past decade, the population grew 24.7%, but growth appears to have plateaued with zero development applications and low turnover at 21.9%. This is a lifestyle plateau rather than a growth corridor.
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.
Explore Tamborine Mountain on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map