Thabeban
Household income in the 22.6th percentile nationally tells the clearest story about Thabeban: this is an affordable, working-class suburb of Bundaberg where 87.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 40.3% of residents own their home outright, debt-free. With a population of 2,971 across 7.67 square kilometres, the suburb sits at a density of 387 people per km2, far below most Queensland metro areas. The personal weekly income of $570 is modest compared to the state average, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% and rent-to-income ratio of 25.6% both fall below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting residents manage costs comfortably on local wages.
Population
2,971
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,164/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$365K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $365,000 makes Thabeban one of the more affordable entry points in Queensland, far lower than the state median for comparable detached housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,257, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, Thabeban sits below the 30% stress line, making ownership achievable on a single income. Separate houses dominate at 87.3% of dwellings, with apartments at just 3.1%, so buyers have a wide choice of standalone homes. Bedrooms skew large: 50.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 35.8% have 4 or more, catering well to families. Outright owners make up 40.3% of households, significantly above national norms, indicating a mature, long-term resident base rather than a churn of recent purchasers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $365,000 makes Thabeban one of the more affordable entry points in Queensland, far lower than the state median for comparable detached housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,257, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, Thabeban sits below the 30% stress line, making ownership achievable on a single income. Separate houses dominate at 87.3% of dwellings, with apartments at just 3.1%, so buyers have a wide choice of standalone homes. Bedrooms skew large: 50.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 35.8% have 4 or more, catering well to families. Outright owners make up 40.3% of households, significantly above national norms, indicating a mature, long-term resident base rather than a churn of recent purchasers.
For Investors
A rental vacancy rate of 5.4% signals softer demand than the national benchmark of around 2-3%, which is worth factoring into entry decisions. Weekly rent averages $298, and with a median price of $365,000, the gross yield works out near 4.2%, more attractive than major capital city markets. The renter share at 34.2% provides a steady tenant pool, though the high 5.4% vacancy suggests supply currently exceeds active demand. Development activity is limited, with only 3 applications in the past 12 months, including a subdivision of 1 lot into 5, pointing to incremental rather than volume growth. The 24.2% household turnover rate means one in four households changed over in the period, providing regular re-let opportunities for landlords managing existing stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
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 Thabeban iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Thabeban State School
Prep-6 · 95 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, placing Thabeban squarely at the national midpoint. The overseas-born share at 11.4% is 10.2 percentage points below national, and English, Irish, Scottish and German ancestries account for the dominant heritage mix, reflecting a strongly Anglo-Celtic community. University qualifications reach only 13.3% of residents, which is 16.8 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the suburb's trade and service-sector employment base. Average household size of 2.5 aligns with the national figure. Couples with children (793 families) outnumber couples without children (729), a profile that fits the large-bedroom detached housing stock. Volunteering at 12.6% reflects moderate community participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.3%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Thabeban's housing stock is dominated by detached homes: 87.3% separate houses versus 3.1% apartments, a ratio that skews heavily toward low-density living compared to most Queensland urban areas. Tenure splits fairly evenly across outright owners (40.3%), renters (34.2%) and mortgage holders (25.5%), with outright ownership above what most newer suburbs record, reflecting long-established residents who have paid off their loans. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.5% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 35.8%, leaving very little 1-2 bedroom stock at just 13.7% combined. The median house price of $365,000 carries monthly mortgage costs of $1,257, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% that stays below stress levels. Rent-to-income at 25.6% is similarly manageable.
Mortgage / mo
$1,257
Rent / wk
$298
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$570
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
63
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.5%
Couples, no children
2,316
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 26.6% of local workers (170 people), more than double the share of any other sector, reflecting Bundaberg Hospital's influence as a regional employer. Construction and Education each account for 9.4%, followed by Retail at 9.2% and Manufacturing at 8.0%. By occupation, Labourers lead at 205 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service workers (180), Clerical and Admin (124) and Professionals (113). The unemployment rate of 7.9% is above the national average, and the labour force participation rate of 48.7% is below typical levels, partly because 1,013 residents are not in the labour force at all. Full-time employment among those working runs at 60.8%, while personal weekly income of $570 places household income in the 22.6th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.8%
Part-time
31.3%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
1,059
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.3%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
11.4%
Dwellings
1,107
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extremely high: 86.9% of residents drive to work, and only 0.6% use public transport, compared to higher transit use in coastal QLD hubs. Walking and cycling account for 2.4%. No schools are recorded within the Thabeban boundary in the dataset, so families rely on nearby Bundaberg institutions. Crime rate data is not available for this suburb. Housing stress indicators are positive: rent-to-income at 25.6% and mortgage-to-income at 24.9% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. Around 10.6% of residents (295 people) require assistance with daily activities, a figure that is notable for a suburb this size. The vacancy rate of 5.4% is above the typical 2-3% benchmark, indicating rental supply currently exceeds demand.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Thabeban compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thabeban a good suburb to live in?
Thabeban suits buyers and families who want space and affordability. With 87.3% detached houses and a median house price of $365,000, housing costs are manageable: the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.9%, below the 30% stress line. The main limitations are above-average unemployment at 7.9% and household income in the 22.6th percentile nationally, reflecting the regional Queensland wage base.
What is the median house price in Thabeban?
The median house price is $365,000, based on 2025 rent-derived estimates. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,257, and weekly rent is $298. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% and rent-to-income ratio of 25.6% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, making Thabeban one of the more affordable detached-housing options in Queensland.
What schools are in Thabeban?
No schools are recorded within the Thabeban boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Bundaberg suburbs. The suburb's university qualification rate is 13.3%, which is 16.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the trade and healthcare occupational base rather than an education gap in local schooling access.
Is Thabeban safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Thabeban in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 10.6% of residents (295 people) need assistance with daily activities, and the suburb has a stable long-term resident profile with 75.8% of households staying in place over the reference period, suggesting community continuity.
Is Thabeban good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is approximately 4.2%, calculated from $298 weekly rent against the $365,000 median, which is above typical yields in major capital city markets. However, the 5.4% vacancy rate is above the national benchmark of 2-3%, indicating current rental supply exceeds demand. Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, suggesting limited competition from new supply.
How is Thabeban's population changing?
Thabeban's current population is 2,971. Household turnover runs at 24.2%, meaning roughly 1 in 4 households changed over in the reference period, while 75.8% stayed in place, indicating a stable core base. Development activity is minimal at 3 applications in 12 months, pointing to slow rather than rapid population growth in the near term.
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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