Urraween
A median age of 55, which is 15 years above the national median, makes Urraween one of the most retirement-weighted suburbs in the Hervey Bay corridor. Over 53% of residents own their homes outright, higher than any mortgage-belt suburb in this cohort, while household incomes sit at just the 16th percentile nationally. Healthcare employs 38% of local workers, reflecting proximity to Hervey Bay Hospital. Both mortgage and rental stress flags are triggered (32.6% and 35.7% respectively), meaning despite low absolute prices, incomes are too low to comfortably service even a $454,000 property.
Population
7,951
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,063/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$454K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median of $454,000 (derived from 2025 rents) positions Urraween at the affordable end of the Hervey Bay market. Detached houses dominate at 93.3%, with almost no apartments (0.1%). The bedroom mix skews large: 48.7% have 4-plus bedrooms and 34.5% have 3, suiting retirees downsizing from capital city stock. However, mortgage stress is real at 32.6% of income ($1,500/month repayments on $1,063/week household income), above the 30% threshold. Buyers should note the 9.1% vacancy rate, which suppresses resale competition but also signals demand weakness.
For Buyers
The estimated median of $454,000 (derived from 2025 rents) positions Urraween at the affordable end of the Hervey Bay market. Detached houses dominate at 93.3%, with almost no apartments (0.1%). The bedroom mix skews large: 48.7% have 4-plus bedrooms and 34.5% have 3, suiting retirees downsizing from capital city stock. However, mortgage stress is real at 32.6% of income ($1,500/month repayments on $1,063/week household income), above the 30% threshold. Buyers should note the 9.1% vacancy rate, which suppresses resale competition but also signals demand weakness.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $380 against a $454,000 estimated median implies a gross yield of approximately 4.4%, above metro averages. However, the 9.1% vacancy rate is a serious concern, suggesting oversupply relative to tenant demand. The 22.8% renter share is modest, and with 53.4% owning outright, the owner-occupier dominance limits rental stock liquidity. Only 10 development applications were lodged in 12 months, indicating minimal supply pressure. Rental stress at 35.7% means tenants are already stretched, capping rent growth potential. The investment case depends on the healthcare employment anchor holding steady.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Urraween iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St James Lutheran College
Prep-12 · 754 students
Bayside Christian College Hervey Bay
Prep-12 · 631 students
Yarrilee State School
Prep-6 · 732 students
Demographics
At 55, the median age runs 15 years above the national median, the largest positive gap in this cohort. English ancestry is dominant (3,541), followed by Scottish (829), Irish (745), and German (573). Only 24.1% were born overseas, 2.5pp above the national rate. University education at 23.0% trails the national average by 7 percentage points. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below national, consistent with retiree couples. Couples without children make up 43.0% of families, compared to roughly 37% nationally, reinforcing the empty-nester profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.3%
Houses
6.6%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
No historical price series is available, so the $454,000 median is estimated from current rent levels. Detached houses at 93.3% and semi-detached at 6.6% leave virtually no apartment stock. Ownership tilts heavily to outright (53.4%), with mortgages at 23.9% and renters at 22.8%. The high outright ownership rate reflects retirees who sold in capital cities and bought in Hervey Bay debt-free. Three-bedroom stock (34.5%) and 4-plus bedrooms (48.7%) dominate. Both mortgage and rent stress flags are triggered (32.6% and 35.7%), a rare dual-stress situation that signals household incomes have not kept pace with even modest price appreciation.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$539
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
319
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.6% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.0%
Couples, no children
6,063
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 38.0% of employment (640 workers), more than double the national average for the sector and driven by Hervey Bay Hospital's proximity. Education (13.5%, 227) and Retail (7.7%, 129) follow. The occupational mix shows Professionals (590) leading, but Community/Personal Service (455) and Labourers (270) reflect the care economy orientation. Unemployment at 7.0% is above the national average, and the 36.8% participation rate means nearly two-thirds of working-age residents are outside the labour force, consistent with a retiree population. SEIFA data is unavailable for this suburb.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.0%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
36.8%
Employed
2,314
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.0%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
24.1%
Dwellings
3,177
Transport to Work
Three schools serve the area: St James Lutheran College (Combined, Independent, ICSEA 1,038, 754 students), Bayside Christian College Hervey Bay (Combined, Independent, ICSEA 1,010, 631 students), and Yarrilee State School (Primary, Government, ICSEA 965, 732 students). Two of three schools score above the ICSEA 1,000 benchmark. Public transport usage is negligible at 0.2%, and 87.8% drive, typical of a regional Queensland suburb. Walking and cycling at 3.4% is higher than many similarly sized towns, likely due to the flat terrain and retiree walking habits.
Drive
87.8%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Urraween compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Urraween a good suburb to live in?
Urraween suits retirees and downsizers seeking affordable detached housing at $454,000 median near Hervey Bay Hospital. Over 53% own outright, reflecting a settled community. Household incomes at the 16th percentile nationally mean both mortgage and rental stress are above threshold, so affordability is tight despite low absolute prices.
What is the median house price in Urraween?
The estimated median is $454,000 (derived from 2025 rent levels). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.6%, above the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $380.
What schools are in Urraween?
Urraween has 3 schools: St James Lutheran College (Combined, ICSEA 1,038, 754 students), Bayside Christian College (Combined, ICSEA 1,010, 631 students), and Yarrilee State School (Primary, ICSEA 965, 732 students). Two of three score above the national ICSEA 1,000 benchmark.
Is Urraween safe?
Crime data is not available for Urraween in the current dataset. The suburb's demographic profile (median age 55, 53% outright ownership) typically correlates with lower crime rates than younger or more transient suburbs. The 7.0% unemployment rate is above but not dramatically higher than the national average.
Is Urraween good for property investment?
The implied gross yield of 4.4% ($380/week on $454,000) is above metro averages, but the 9.1% vacancy rate is a major concern. Rental stress at 35.7% of income limits further rent increases. With only 10 development applications in 12 months, supply pressure is minimal, but demand fundamentals are constrained by the retiree demographic.
How is Urraween's population changing?
The current population is 7,951 with a median age of 55 (15 years above national). Couples without children make up 43% of families, indicating an empty-nester dominant profile. The 26.5% turnover rate and 13.0% needing assistance (981 people) reflect ongoing population ageing without significant younger inflow.
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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