Thursday Island
With 86.2% of residents renting and a median age of 30, ten years below the national figure, Thursday Island is one of Australia's most transient island communities. The public-sector economy is the backbone here, with Healthcare (30.6%), Public Administration (20.6%) and Education (15.8%) together accounting for two-thirds of local employment. Household income sits at the 81.5th percentile nationally, a surprisingly high rank for a remote island, because public servants and healthcare workers on remote loadings lift average earnings well above many mainland suburbs. The 15.0% vacancy rate and near-zero homeownership at 9.6% reflect a workforce community where most residents are posted rather than rooted.
Population
2,805
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,136/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$310K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at approximately $310,000, estimated from the $200 weekly rent market as of 2025, making Thursday Island affordable in dollar terms compared to mainland Queensland medians. However, only 4.2% of dwellings carry a mortgage and 9.6% are owned outright, because the 86.2% renter majority signals a market where purchase demand is structurally thin. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The dwelling stock splits into 57.9% separate houses, 30.2% semi-detached, and 10.8% apartments, with three-bedroom homes at 39.8% and four-plus at 21.8%, reflecting the larger-than-average household size of 3.2 persons, which is 0.7 above the national average.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at approximately $310,000, estimated from the $200 weekly rent market as of 2025, making Thursday Island affordable in dollar terms compared to mainland Queensland medians. However, only 4.2% of dwellings carry a mortgage and 9.6% are owned outright, because the 86.2% renter majority signals a market where purchase demand is structurally thin. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The dwelling stock splits into 57.9% separate houses, 30.2% semi-detached, and 10.8% apartments, with three-bedroom homes at 39.8% and four-plus at 21.8%, reflecting the larger-than-average household size of 3.2 persons, which is 0.7 above the national average.
For Investors
A vacancy rate of 15.0% is the primary caution signal for investors. Against a $310,000 median, $200 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 3.4%, moderate on paper, but the high vacancy means many properties sit empty for extended periods. The 86.2% renter share provides a deep tenant pool in occupied periods, but the pool is dominated by transient government workers rather than long-term residents. Turnover rate of 24.5% confirms that roughly one in four residents moves each year. The 15.0% vacancy is higher than most Queensland regional markets, reflecting an island economy where housing supply was built for a government workforce headcount that fluctuates seasonally.
Schools in Thursday Island iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School Waiben
Prep-6 · 131 students
Tagai State College
Prep-12 · 1261 students
Demographics
The median age of 30 is 10 years below the national figure, driven by a workforce population rather than a retirement or family-formation community. Overseas-born residents account for just 7.2%, which is 14.4 percentage points below the national average, reflecting limited international migration to this remote Torres Strait location. University qualifications reach 22.6%, which is 7.5 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce that includes many trades, health aides and government administration roles. Australian Indigenous languages are spoken by 583 residents, a significant share of the 2,805 population and a marker of the island's cultural identity as the administrative centre of the Torres Strait. Average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above national, pointing to multigenerational living.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
57.9%
Houses
30.2%
Townhouse
10.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure here is overwhelmingly rental: 86.2% rent, only 9.6% own outright and 4.2% hold a mortgage, a split unlike almost any mainland suburb of comparable income rank. Rent-to-income sits at just 9.4%, the lowest stress territory, because public-sector remuneration packages relative to low rents of $200 per week leave most residents with substantial disposable income. The separate house share of 57.9% is moderate, with semi-detached at 30.2% filling a larger role than in most Queensland towns. Bedroom distribution favours three-bedroom stock at 39.8%, followed by four-plus at 21.8%, supporting the 3.2-person average household. The 15.0% vacancy rate is well above the Queensland average, reflecting the mismatch between government-provided housing supply and variable occupancy linked to postings.
Mortgage / mo
$1,408
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$902
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.0%
Unoccupied
131
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
9.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
14.6%
Couples, no children
2,063
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 30.6% of employment (266 workers), well above its national industry share, because Thursday Island is the regional health hub for the Torres Strait. Public Administration follows at 20.6% (179 workers) and Education at 15.8% (137 workers), together forming a government-sector triad that accounts for two-thirds of jobs. By occupation, Professionals lead at 295 workers, Community and Personal Services at 206, and Clerical and Administrative at 185. The full-time employment rate is 73.4% and unemployment is 5.3%. The labour participation rate of 56.7% is below the national norm, with 555 residents not in the labour force, partly reflecting a student and youth population consistent with the 30-year median age. Construction at 8.6% suggests ongoing infrastructure investment in this island centre.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
73.4%
Part-time
21.3%
Participation
56.7%
Employed
1,098
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.6%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
7.2%
Dwellings
732
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling are unexpectedly prominent transport modes, with 33.0% of residents getting around on foot or by bike, far above the national rate, because the island's compact 3.72 square kilometre footprint makes car-free commuting practical for many. Only 0.6% use public transport, consistent with the absence of a bus or rail network. Crime data is not available for this suburb. No schools are recorded in this dataset for Thursday Island, though the island is known as an education service point for the Torres Strait region. Housing stress is low: rent-to-income at 9.4% and mortgage-to-income at 15.2% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds. The volunteering rate of 15.2% and 3.8% needing daily assistance reflect an active, relatively young community.
Drive
50.5%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
33.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Thursday Island compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thursday Island a good suburb to live in?
Thursday Island suits those working in government, health or education in the Torres Strait. Household income sits at the 81.5th percentile nationally, rent-to-income is a low 9.4%, and the compact 3.72 km2 island makes walking practical for 33% of residents. The main trade-offs are a 15.0% vacancy rate, limited private-sector employment, and isolation as a remote island community.
What is the median house price in Thursday Island?
The median house price is approximately $310,000, estimated from the $200 weekly rental market as of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 15.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Only 4.2% of dwellings carry a mortgage, reflecting thin buyer demand in this predominantly renter community where 86.2% of residents rent.
What schools are in Thursday Island?
No schools are recorded inside the Thursday Island boundary in this dataset. Thursday Island is nonetheless recognised as an educational services hub for the Torres Strait region. The local population includes 22.6% with university qualifications and 583 speakers of Australian Indigenous languages, reflecting a community with both formal and cultural educational dimensions.
Is Thursday Island safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Thursday Island in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the unemployment rate of 5.3% is moderate, and housing stress is low with rent-to-income at just 9.4%. The 15.2% volunteering rate reflects community engagement. Only 3.8% of the 2,805 residents (99 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a young, active population with a median age of 30.
Is Thursday Island good for property investment?
Investment conditions are mixed. The $200 weekly rent against a $310,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.4%, moderate by Queensland regional standards. However, the 15.0% vacancy rate is well above average and reflects an island economy tied to government posting cycles. Turnover runs at 24.5% annually, meaning tenant churn is high and periods of vacancy are common.
How is Thursday Island's population changing?
Thursday Island's population of 2,805 reflects a stable but transient government workforce community. The 24.5% annual turnover rate means roughly 1 in 4 residents moves each year, while 75.5% stay. The median age of 30 is 10 years below the national figure, pointing to a young workforce rather than a declining or aging community. Growth will likely track federal and state service delivery commitments to the Torres Strait.
What industries employ people in Thursday Island?
Healthcare is by far the largest employer at 30.6% of jobs (266 workers), reflecting Thursday Island's role as the Torres Strait regional health hub. Public Administration accounts for 20.6% (179 workers) and Education 15.8% (137 workers). These 3 sectors together cover about two-thirds of local employment. Construction at 8.6% (75 workers) and Hospitality at 4.7% (41 workers) round out the main industries.
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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