The Palms
Stability defines The Palms more than growth: 80.9% of residents stayed put over the five-year Census period, one of the strongest retention figures you will find in regional Queensland. The population of 1,083 occupies 16.93 sq km at a density of 64 people per km2, making it rural in character rather than suburban. Household income sits at the 39.2nd percentile nationally, below the national median, yet housing stress is absent because mortgage and rent costs each represent just 21.8% of income. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, pointing to an established, older-family base that has largely paid down its debts: 45.8% own their home outright.
Local council: Gympie
Population
1,083
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,379/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Mortgage repayments average $1,300 a month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Every dwelling recorded in the suburb is a separate house (100%), and the bedroom profile skews large: 40.4% have four or more bedrooms and 44.9% have three, meaning buyers who want space have good options. Only 6.5% of residents rent, which is unusually low compared to Queensland averages, so competition for purchase stock is mainly from owner-occupiers rather than investors. The low renter share also signals that this is a community of committed, long-term residents rather than a transient market.
For Buyers
Mortgage repayments average $1,300 a month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Every dwelling recorded in the suburb is a separate house (100%), and the bedroom profile skews large: 40.4% have four or more bedrooms and 44.9% have three, meaning buyers who want space have good options. Only 6.5% of residents rent, which is unusually low compared to Queensland averages, so competition for purchase stock is mainly from owner-occupiers rather than investors. The low renter share also signals that this is a community of committed, long-term residents rather than a transient market.
For Investors
The investment picture is cautious. The renting population is only 6.5%, so demand for rental stock is thin and tenant turnover could be disruptive. Just 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming low new-supply pressure but also limited growth momentum. The household income at the 39.2nd percentile nationally constrains how far rents can rise. For investors, the affordability of entry and low mortgage stress of existing owners suggest price stability rather than strong capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
3
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
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national average, and couples without children account for 34.1% of families, reflecting a suburb past its family-formation peak. Overseas-born residents at 14.6% are 7 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominated: English (483), Irish (131), German (101) and Scottish (101) are the top groups. University qualifications reach only 14.3%, which is 15.8 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and services workforce. The occupational spread confirms this: Labourers (69 workers), Community/Personal service (60) and Sales (59) are the top three roles. Average household size of 2.6 is fractionally above the national figure, reflecting the couples-with-children families that make up another 40% of households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is exceptionally concentrated: 45.8% own outright and 47.6% hold a mortgage, leaving just 6.5% renting, a tenure profile that places The Palms well outside the national rental norm. Every dwelling is a detached house, with no apartments or semi-detached recorded, giving the suburb a uniform, low-density character across its 16.93 sq km. The bedroom split favours larger homes: 40.4% have four or more bedrooms and 44.9% have three, while two-bedroom dwellings make up just 10.8%. The vacancy rate of 4.7% is the main risk flag, sitting above the equilibrium threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $300.
$570
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $570 · units $440
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$590
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.7%
Unoccupied
19
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.1%
Couples with children
46.7%
Couples, no children
12.2%
Single parent
319
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 17.6% of the local workforce (50 workers), followed by Education at 12.3% (35) and Construction at 12% (34), a mix that reflects both regional service delivery and the area's building activity. Retail accounts for 9.5% and Manufacturing 8.5%. The full-time employment rate of 57.9% is moderate, with 239 full-time and 174 part-time workers, and unemployment sits at 5.7%, above the national rate. Labour force participation at 49.5% is low, which is consistent with the older median age of 46 and the 364 residents not in the workforce. The household income at the 39.2nd percentile nationally reflects a workforce concentrated in community, trades and retail roles rather than professional or managerial positions. Volunteering runs at 13.5%, indicating an engaged local community.
Unemployment
5.3%
Labour Force
472
Unemployed
25
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.5%
Part-time
38.9%
Participation
53.4%
Employed
447
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.3%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
384
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total at 89% of commuters, which is above the national average, with no recorded public transport usage, consistent with a rural suburb outside the Gympie bus network coverage area. Rent-to-income at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 21.8% keep housing costs well within comfortable bounds relative to the national 30% stress benchmark. About 9.4% of residents (97 people) require daily assistance, which is moderate, and the 5.7% unemployment rate is a livability constraint for working-age households. No schools are recorded within The Palms boundary in this dataset, meaning families rely on facilities in nearby Gympie. The combination of detached housing at 100%, large lot character and an extremely stable resident base (80.9% stayed) points to a quiet, rural community suited to buyers prioritising space and affordability over amenity and commuter access.
Drive
81.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
8.5%
Growth Outlook
Population and development signals both point to a stable rather than expanding suburb. Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, all residential in nature (a domestic outbuilding, a land reconfiguration and one new dwelling), indicating limited construction activity compared to fast-growing regional centres. The low turnover rate, with 80.9% of residents unchanged over five years, is unusually high and suggests the suburb attracts settlers rather than transient population. No formal growth forecast data is available for The Palms at this scale, but the combination of an aging population (median age 46, which is 6 years above national), low fertility-age household share and minimal development activity suggests flat or modestly declining population is more likely than growth over the medium term.
Population trend: Gympie council area
The Palms sits in the Gympie council area. These are the council area's residents, not The Palms's.
Residents 2025
58,487
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How The Palms compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Palms a good suburb to live in?
The Palms suits buyers seeking rural space and affordability. Housing costs are low: mortgage repayments average $1,300 a month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8% is well below the 30% stress threshold. The median age of 46 and 80.9% resident retention rate reflect a stable, settled community, though there are no schools recorded in the suburb boundary and car travel accounts for 89% of commutes.
What is the median house price in The Palms?
Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,300. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8% makes The Palms one of the more affordable owner-occupier markets in the Gympie region.
What schools are in The Palms?
No schools are recorded within The Palms suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 1,083 spread across 16.93 sq km, families rely on schools in nearby Gympie for primary and secondary education. The local education workforce is 12.3% of employed residents, suggesting some residents commute out to teach.
Is The Palms safe?
Specific crime rate data is not available for The Palms in this dataset. Indirect indicators suggest a low-risk environment: 80.9% of residents have stayed for five or more years, housing stress is absent with mortgage costs at 21.8% of income, and the suburb's rural, low-density character (64 people per sq km) is associated with lower crime rates than urban areas.
Is The Palms good for property investment?
However, the vacancy rate of 4.7% is above the 3% balanced-market threshold, and the renter pool is only 6.5% of residents, meaning tenant demand is thin. The 3 development applications in the past 12 months suggest limited supply pressure but also subdued market activity.
How is The Palms's population changing?
The Palms has a population of 1,083 across 16.93 sq km, and turnover is minimal: 80.9% of residents were in the same address five years prior, one of the strongest retention rates in the region. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, and with low development activity (3 applications in 12 months), the suburb is more likely to maintain or slowly decline in population than to grow.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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