Toogoolawah
With a median age of 56, Toogoolawah sits 16 years above the national median, making it one of Queensland's most age-skewed communities. At a population of roughly 1,200 across 43 square kilometres, the area is sparsely settled with just 27.6 residents per km2. Household income places at only the 11.8th percentile nationally, well below average, yet nearly half of residents own their homes outright at 49.6%, a pattern typical of rural communities where long-term owners have paid off their mortgages rather than traded up. Education and overseas-born shares are well below the national average, and the employment participation rate of 36.4% reflects the older demographic profile more than job scarcity.
Population
1,200
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$967/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$322K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $322,000, substantially lower than Queensland state and national medians, making Toogoolawah one of the more affordable entry points for buyers seeking detached housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers who can service the loan face manageable repayments compared to most other markets. Detached houses dominate at 93% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 45.9% of stock, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 27.8%. Only 26.5% of residents carry a mortgage versus 49.6% who own outright, suggesting much of the housing stock is long-held rather than frequently traded. The 15% vacancy rate is high, pointing to oversupply or seasonal use patterns that buyers should account for.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $322,000, substantially lower than Queensland state and national medians, making Toogoolawah one of the more affordable entry points for buyers seeking detached housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers who can service the loan face manageable repayments compared to most other markets. Detached houses dominate at 93% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 45.9% of stock, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 27.8%. Only 26.5% of residents carry a mortgage versus 49.6% who own outright, suggesting much of the housing stock is long-held rather than frequently traded. The 15% vacancy rate is high, pointing to oversupply or seasonal use patterns that buyers should account for.
For Investors
Rental yields in Toogoolawah carry both opportunity and risk. Weekly rent is $260 against a $322,000 median, implying a gross yield around 4.2%, higher than most capital city suburbs. However, the vacancy rate of 15% is elevated, signalling that demand for rental accommodation is limited relative to available stock. Only 23.9% of residents are renters, a low share compared to the national average, so the rental market is thin. Development activity recorded 13 applications in the past 12 months, a modest pipeline consistent with a slow-growth rural area. With household income at the 11.8th percentile nationally, rental affordability constraints cap achievable rents, and investors should weigh the high vacancy carefully before assuming the headline yield is realisable.
Development Activity
Total DAs
17
Last 12 Months
17
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 Toogoolawah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Toogoolawah State School
Prep-6 · 221 students
Toogoolawah State High School
7-12 · 303 students
Demographics
The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, placing Toogoolawah firmly at the older end of the demographic spectrum. Only 10.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 11 percentage points below the national share, reflecting the rural Queensland character of the area. University qualifications reach 16.1%, which is 14 percentage points below the national average, consistent with an occupational mix weighted toward trades, agriculture and community services rather than knowledge-sector professions. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below the national figure, driven by the predominance of couples without children, who make up 38.9% of families. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (519), Scottish (161), German (151) and Irish (144) the leading groups. Volunteering is notable at 21%, above average for a small community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.0%
Houses
4.9%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Toogoolawah's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93%, compared to the national mix where apartments and semi-detached dwellings make up a much larger share. The three-bedroom home at 45.9% and four-plus bedroom at 27.8% dominate, reflecting the rural family property style of the area. Tenure is weighted heavily toward outright ownership: 49.6% own their homes free and clear, well above the national average, versus just 26.5% with a mortgage and 23.9% renting. The $322,000 median is well below the national median house price, placing it among the more affordable markets in Queensland. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,127 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9% keep debt service within comfortable bounds for current owners, though the 15% vacancy rate signals that market depth is limited.
Mortgage / mo
$1,127
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$501
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.0%
Unoccupied
91
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.9%
Couples, no children
857
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education is the largest industry at 19.3% of employed residents, followed by Healthcare at 14.9% and Retail at 11.2%, with Construction at 10.4% and Agriculture at 7.6%. This mix is typical of small regional towns, where schools, hospitals and local services anchor employment rather than private-sector growth industries. By occupation, Community and Personal Services leads at 62 workers, followed by Labourers at 54, Managers at 51, Clerical at 48 and Professionals at 45. The labour participation rate of 36.4% is low compared to national levels, mainly because a large share of the population is past working age or not seeking work, with 562 residents not in the labour force. The unemployment rate is 5.5%, above the national average, though the absolute number of unemployed is only 21 people. Household income at the 11.8th percentile nationally signals limited economic capacity overall.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.7%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
36.4%
Employed
359
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.1%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
10.6%
Dwellings
515
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high in Toogoolawah, with 79.7% of residents driving to work, reflecting the rural setting with limited transit options. Public transport accounts for just 1.7% of commutes, well below the national average. An unusually high 14.6% walk or cycle, which may reflect short trip distances in a small township rather than active transport infrastructure. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring areas within the Somerset region. The rent-to-income ratio of 26.9% is below the 30% stress threshold, keeping rental costs manageable for the 23.9% of residents who rent. With 14.2% of residents needing assistance with daily activities, which is above the national share, the community has a notably high care-support demand consistent with the older population, placing pressure on local health and aged-care services.
Drive
79.7%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
14.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Toogoolawah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toogoolawah a good suburb to live in?
Toogoolawah suits buyers seeking affordable rural living, with a $322,000 median house price well below the national average and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the stress threshold. The median age of 56 and volunteering rate of 21% reflect a settled, community-oriented population. Limited public transport and no schools within the suburb boundary are practical trade-offs for the rural lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Toogoolawah?
The median house price is estimated at $322,000, well below Queensland and national medians. Weekly rent averages $260 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,127. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9% is below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments relatively manageable compared to most markets.
What schools are in Toogoolawah?
No schools are recorded inside the Toogoolawah suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Somerset region communities. University qualifications are held by 16.1% of residents, which is 14 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the predominantly trade and services workforce in the area.
Is Toogoolawah safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Toogoolawah in this dataset. As an indirect signal, 74.2% of residents have stayed at the same address over the census period, a high residential stability figure consistent with a settled, low-transience community. The low renter share of 23.9% and majority outright ownership at 49.6% further reflect a stable residential base.
Is Toogoolawah good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $260 against a $322,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, higher than most urban suburbs. However, the vacancy rate of 15% is elevated, signalling limited rental demand relative to supply. Only 23.9% of residents rent, a thin market compared to the national average, so investors should weigh the high vacancy against the headline yield before purchasing.
How is Toogoolawah's population changing?
Toogoolawah has a population of around 1,200 with a high residential stability rate of 74.2% staying at the same address over the census period, suggesting limited population turnover. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, indicating the community is aging in place rather than attracting younger in-migration. Development activity is modest at 13 applications in 12 months.
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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