Telina
Manufacturing employs 18.6% of Telina's workforce, more than any other sector, which shapes the suburb's identity as a working-class enclave in the Gladstone region. With 2,197 residents across just 1.54 square kilometres, population density reaches 1,431 per square kilometre. Household income sits in the 72nd percentile nationally, yet the IRSAD decile of 3 and IRSD decile of 4 indicate moderate disadvantage compared to most Australian suburbs. The median house price of $366,000 is well below the Australian median, and 86.3% of dwellings are detached houses, making Telina a predominantly owner-occupier, detached-housing suburb with a workforce tied to regional industry.
Population
2,197
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,927/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$366K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a median house price of $366,000, Telina sits well below the national median for detached houses, reflecting its position in a regional Queensland market rather than a capital city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,545, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5%, which is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is heavily detached: 86.3% of dwellings are separate houses, with semi-detached at 13% and apartments at just 0.7%. Larger homes dominate, with 49.4% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 38.1% having 3 bedrooms, so buyers seeking family-sized homes have strong choice. Outright owners account for 26.7% of households and mortgage holders 40.8%, reflecting a mortgage-belt profile where most residents are still paying off their homes.
For Buyers
At a median house price of $366,000, Telina sits well below the national median for detached houses, reflecting its position in a regional Queensland market rather than a capital city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,545, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5%, which is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is heavily detached: 86.3% of dwellings are separate houses, with semi-detached at 13% and apartments at just 0.7%. Larger homes dominate, with 49.4% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 38.1% having 3 bedrooms, so buyers seeking family-sized homes have strong choice. Outright owners account for 26.7% of households and mortgage holders 40.8%, reflecting a mortgage-belt profile where most residents are still paying off their homes.
For Investors
Telina's rental market presents a mixed picture. The 32.5% renter share is near average nationally, and weekly rent sits at $255. However, the vacancy rate of 6.5% is elevated compared to the typical sub-3% range considered healthy, suggesting some excess supply in the rental segment. Net migration is balanced, with an average of 19 internal and 26 overseas arrivals per year supporting steady demand. Population has grown 15.1% over the past decade, indicating genuine long-term demand, but no development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, which limits near-term rental supply pressure. Rent-to-income at 13.2% is low, meaning tenants face little affordability stress, which helps retention but also caps rent growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
Demographics
Telina's median age of 39 is one year below the national figure of 40, making it slightly younger than average. Overseas-born residents account for 14.4% of the population, which is 7.2 percentage points below the national average, indicating a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English is the most common at 918 residents, followed by Irish (211) and Scottish (200). University qualifications reach just 19.0%, which is 11.1 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar, trade-skilled workforce. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure. Couples with children make up the largest family type at 816 families, and 27% of families are couples without children, pointing to a mix of families at different life stages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.3%
Houses
13.0%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Telina's housing stock is strongly oriented toward detached ownership. Separate houses make up 86.3% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 13% and apartments at a negligible 0.7%, lower than most regional Queensland suburbs. The ownership split shows 26.7% own outright, 40.8% carry a mortgage, and 32.5% rent, a profile typical of an aspirational working-family suburb where most households are actively building equity. Bedroom sizes lean large: 49.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 38.1% have 3 bedrooms, giving Telina one of the highest proportions of large family homes compared to state averages. The median house price of $366,000 sits alongside monthly mortgage repayments of $1,545, and at 18.5% of household income these repayments remain manageable relative to national benchmarks.
Mortgage / mo
$1,545
Rent / wk
$255
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$825
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.0%
Couples, no children
1,794
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manufacturing is Telina's dominant industry at 18.6% of the local workforce (129 workers), reflecting the suburb's position near Gladstone's industrial and port economy. Education follows at 11.5% (80 workers) and Healthcare at 11.2% (78 workers), together showing that services sectors are also significant. Construction accounts for 11.1% (77 workers) and Transport 8.5% (59 workers). By occupation, Professionals lead at 161 workers, followed closely by Machinery and Drivers at 135, Clerical at 133, and Labourers at 125, a spread consistent with a blue-collar community rather than a knowledge-economy hub. The unemployment rate is 5.9%, above the national average, while the full-time employment rate among those working is 66%. SEIFA decile scores show IEO at 2 and IRSAD at 3, indicating below-average education/occupation advantage compared to most Australian suburbs.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
3,874
Unemployed
169
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.0%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
61.2%
Employed
1,006
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.0%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
14.4%
Dwellings
856
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high in Telina: 92% of residents drive to work, and public transport use is not separately recorded, indicating negligible transit options typical of regional Queensland suburbs. Only 0.8% walk or cycle, well below the national figure. The IRSAD decile of 3 places the suburb in the lower third nationally for socioeconomic advantage, while the IER decile of 5 (economic resources) sits closer to the median, reflecting that residents hold physical assets (mainly their homes) even if incomes and education are more modest. Rent-to-income at 13.2% means tenants face no housing affordability stress. About 5.4% of residents (115 people) require daily assistance, roughly in line with the national average given the median age of 39. No schools are recorded within Telina's boundaries, so families rely on nearby Gladstone area schools.
Drive
92.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.39%/yr
(+95 people/yr)
EstablishedTelina's population grew 15.1% over the past decade, above the national average for established suburbs, reaching 2,197 in 2025. Annual growth is trending at 1.39% per year, adding around 95 residents annually. The broader SA2 area (which includes Telina) had a historical population of 6,637 in 2023, rising to 6,828 in 2025, and medium forecasts project continued growth to around 7,491 by 2031. Net overseas migration averages 26 arrivals per year and internal migration adds 19, giving a balanced growth driver rather than reliance on one channel alone. The gentrification score is low at 7 out of 100, classifying the suburb as not gentrifying, so price appreciation is expected to track regional economic conditions rather than speculative uplift. The aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 4.3 points over the decade, signals a gradual demographic shift that may affect future housing demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+26
Net Internal / yr
+19
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +20% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Telina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Telina a good suburb to live in?
Telina offers affordable living with a median house price of $366,000 and mortgage repayments at just 18.5% of household income, well below the stress threshold. Household income sits in the 72nd percentile nationally. The main limitations are high car dependency (92% drive to work), a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3 indicating below-average socioeconomic advantage, and a 6.5% vacancy rate pointing to some rental oversupply.
What is the median house price in Telina?
The median house price in Telina is approximately $366,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $255 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,545, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.5%. This is significantly below the Australian national median for detached houses.
What schools are in Telina?
No schools are recorded inside Telina's 1.54 square kilometre boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Gladstone suburbs. University qualifications among local adults reach 19.0%, which is 11.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the area's trade and industry workforce.
Is Telina safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Telina in this dataset. As a proxy, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the lower-middle range nationally. About 5.4% of residents (115 people) require daily assistance, roughly in line with the national average for a suburb with a median age of 39.
Is Telina good for property investment?
Telina has grown 15.1% in population over the past decade and annual growth is running at 1.39%. However, the 6.5% vacancy rate is elevated above the healthy sub-3% range, and weekly rent of $255 against a $366,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.6%. Net migration is balanced at 26 overseas and 19 internal arrivals per year, providing steady but not exceptional demand.
How is Telina's population changing?
Telina's population grew 15.1% over the past decade and is currently expanding at 1.39% annually, adding around 95 residents each year. The broader SA2 area is forecast to reach 7,491 residents by 2031 under medium projections, up from 6,828 in 2025. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.3 points over the decade.
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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