Tin Can Bay
At a median age of 65, Tin Can Bay sits 25 years above the national figure, making it one of Queensland's oldest resident bases. That demographic reality shapes nearly everything else: household incomes land in the 3.1st percentile nationally because 1,399 of the 2,293 residents are not in the labour force, the participation rate is just 23.3%, and 60% of dwellings are owned outright by long-settled retirees. The median house price sits at $342,000, well below the Queensland state median, reflecting both low incomes and a large 17.9% vacancy rate across a 235 square kilometre coastal area.
Population
2,293
Median Age
65.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$734/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$342K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $342,000 median house price is substantially lower than the Queensland coastal average, making entry costs accessible by most state benchmarks. Separate houses dominate at 78.7% of stock, with apartments at just 7.3% and semi-detached at 6.8%, so buyers are overwhelmingly choosing detached homes. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 47.9% of the housing mix, with 4-plus bedrooms at 17.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but mortgage-to-income runs at 40.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, because personal weekly income averages only $456. Outright owners at 60% outnumber mortgage holders at 11.3%, a profile that reflects decades of ownership by retirees rather than active buyers stretching to enter the market.
For Buyers
The $342,000 median house price is substantially lower than the Queensland coastal average, making entry costs accessible by most state benchmarks. Separate houses dominate at 78.7% of stock, with apartments at just 7.3% and semi-detached at 6.8%, so buyers are overwhelmingly choosing detached homes. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 47.9% of the housing mix, with 4-plus bedrooms at 17.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but mortgage-to-income runs at 40.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, because personal weekly income averages only $456. Outright owners at 60% outnumber mortgage holders at 11.3%, a profile that reflects decades of ownership by retirees rather than active buyers stretching to enter the market.
For Investors
The rental case in Tin Can Bay is constrained by two linked factors: weekly rent of $260 is low in absolute terms, and the 17.9% vacancy rate is high, pointing to excess supply relative to the renter population of 28.7%. Rent-to-income at 35.4% indicates tenants are already under pressure despite low rents, because incomes in the 3.1st percentile nationally are thin. Only 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming that no significant new supply is entering the market. With a participation rate of just 23.3% and 1,399 residents not in the labour force, tenant demand depends heavily on welfare income rather than employment growth, limiting rental upside compared with higher-income coastal markets.
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
Schools in Tin Can Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Tin Can Bay State School
Prep-10 · 294 students
Demographics
The median age of 65 is 25 years above the national median, placing Tin Can Bay among the oldest-skewing suburbs in Queensland. The household structure mirrors this: 67.2% of families are couples without children, average household size is 1.8 against a national average of 2.5, and one-parent families are effectively absent. Overseas-born residents account for 15.0% of the population, 6.6 percentage points below the national rate. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,077), Scottish (285) and Irish (274). University qualifications reach only 12.5%, which is 17.6 points below the national figure, consistent with a trade and labouring workforce rather than a professional class. Volunteering is notable at 17.7% of residents, likely reflecting the older, retired demographic with available time.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.7%
Houses
6.8%
Townhouse
7.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is skewed heavily toward outright ownership: 60.0% own without a mortgage, compared with 11.3% carrying a mortgage and 28.7% renting. That 60% figure is more than double typical national rates, because the median age of 65 means most residents have had decades to pay off debt. The stock is 78.7% separate houses across a 235 square kilometre area, with apartments at 7.3% and semi-detached at 6.8%. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant configuration at 47.9%, followed by 2-bedroom at 21.7% and 4-plus bedroom at 17.9%. The 17.9% vacancy rate is elevated, suggesting a meaningful share of dwellings serve as holiday or seasonal properties rather than permanent residences, which is common in coastal Queensland towns of this type.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$456
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.9%
Unoccupied
245
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
40.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
67.2%
Couples, no children
1,465
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.9% of the local workforce (54 workers), followed by Retail and Education each at 10.1% (29 workers), and Hospitality and Construction each near 9%. By occupation, Labourers are the largest group at 93 workers, followed by Community and Personal services at 70 and Professionals at 61. The unemployment rate is 7.6%, above the national average, but the more telling number is the participation rate of just 23.3%, which is extremely low and reflects that 1,399 residents, the majority of the population, are not in the labour force. Total employed stands at 463 people against the full 2,293 population. Household income sits in the 3.1st percentile nationally, well below state and national medians, because the economy is structured around retirement and services rather than full-time employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.6%
Part-time
43.8%
Participation
23.3%
Employed
463
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.5%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
1,087
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 80.1% of residents driving and only 1.5% using public transport, which is typical for a rural coastal town covering 235 square kilometres without a major transit network. Walking and cycling account for 11.3% of trips, higher than many comparable regional towns, likely due to the flat coastal geography. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children travel to neighbouring centres. The need-for-assistance rate is 13.3%, representing 281 residents, which is elevated compared with the national average and consistent with an older population where 65 is the median age. Mortgage stress at 40.9% and rent stress at 35.4% affect both owner and renter cohorts despite low absolute housing costs, because incomes in the 3.1st percentile nationally leave little buffer.
Drive
80.1%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
11.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tin Can Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tin Can Bay a good suburb to live in?
Tin Can Bay suits retirees and those seeking low-cost coastal living. The $342,000 median house price is well below the Queensland state median, 60% of homes are owned outright, and the volunteering rate is 17.7%. The trade-offs are limited employment (participation rate 23.3%), no schools within the suburb, and household income in the 3.1st percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Tin Can Bay?
The median house price is approximately $342,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $260 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. Despite low prices, the mortgage-to-income ratio runs at 40.9% because personal incomes average only $456 per week.
What schools are in Tin Can Bay?
No schools are recorded within the Tin Can Bay suburb boundary in this dataset, so students travel to schools in neighbouring localities. University qualifications among residents reach just 12.5%, which is 17.6 points below the national figure, reflecting the older and trade-oriented population profile.
Is Tin Can Bay safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Tin Can Bay in this dataset. As a context indicator, 17.7% of residents volunteer and the community is predominantly long-settled, with 72.3% having stayed at the same address. The population of 2,293 is small by Queensland coastal town standards, which typically correlates with lower crime rates than urban centres.
Is Tin Can Bay good for property investment?
The investment case is cautious. Weekly rent of $260 against a $342,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, but the 17.9% vacancy rate signals real excess supply. Tenant demand is thin because the participation rate is only 23.3% and incomes sit in the 3.1st percentile nationally. Only 2 development applications were lodged in 12 months, so supply is static but demand is also limited.
How is Tin Can Bay's population changing?
Tin Can Bay shows the profile of a stable, slowly aging population rather than a growing one. Residential mobility is low, with 72.3% of residents staying at the same address. The median age of 65 is 25 years above the national figure, and the dominant household type is couples without children at 67.2%, suggesting natural decline is more likely than growth over the coming 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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