Wandal
An 11.6% vacancy rate stands out in Wandal, a suburb of 3,949 people covering 3.6 square kilometres near Rockhampton's CBD. Household income sits at the 43.9th percentile nationally, below the national median, yet housing affordability has remained stable with rent-to-income at 18.7% and mortgage-to-income at 20.7%, both comfortably below stress thresholds. The suburb scores decile 1 on IEO (education and occupation advantage) and decile 3 on IRSAD, placing it in the lower tiers nationally for socioeconomic advantage. Healthcare dominates local employment at 28.4% of workers, more than double the Education sector at 13.1%, which reflects proximity to Rockhampton Hospital.
Population
3,949
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,447/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$349K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $349,000, well below the national average for established suburbs, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.7% that stays below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 88.3% of dwellings, with apartments at just 6.0% and semi-detached at 5.7%, making this a detached-house market. The bedroom split leans toward 3-bedroom homes at 44.0%, with 4-plus bedrooms at 24.7% and 2-bedroom dwellings at 23.4%. Outright ownership at 29.0% is lower than typical middle-ring suburbs, with 37.1% on mortgages and 33.8% renting. At these price levels compared to national medians, entry costs are accessible for first-home buyers targeting a house-and-land property.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $349,000, well below the national average for established suburbs, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.7% that stays below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 88.3% of dwellings, with apartments at just 6.0% and semi-detached at 5.7%, making this a detached-house market. The bedroom split leans toward 3-bedroom homes at 44.0%, with 4-plus bedrooms at 24.7% and 2-bedroom dwellings at 23.4%. Outright ownership at 29.0% is lower than typical middle-ring suburbs, with 37.1% on mortgages and 33.8% renting. At these price levels compared to national medians, entry costs are accessible for first-home buyers targeting a house-and-land property.
For Investors
Wandal's 33.8% renter share provides a reasonable tenant pool, but the 11.6% vacancy rate signals oversupply and warrants caution before committing. Weekly rent of $270 against a $349,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, higher than most eastern capitals, though soft vacancy conditions limit pricing power. Rent growth of 46.3% over the decade outpaced income growth of 19.5%, compressing affordability slightly. Population grew 20.2% over 10 years, with net internal migration averaging 98 people per year, the primary demand driver. Development activity is low at 3 applications in the past 12 months, mostly small residential works, so new supply is not a near-term headwind. The investment case rests on yield above major capital benchmarks and steady internal migration inflows rather than capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
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 Wandal iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 366 students
The Hall State School
Prep-6 · 309 students
Rockhampton State High School
7-12 · 1256 students
Demographics
The median age is 40, equal to the national figure, though the suburb shows an aging trajectory with the senior share up 3.3 points and young adult share down 3.1 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 9.0%, which is 12.6 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting a strongly Australian-born population. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic led by English (1,645), Irish (484) and Scottish (480). University qualifications reach 28.2%, which is 1.9 points below national. Average household size is 2.3 persons, 0.2 below the national figure, consistent with older households and the 28.2% couples-without-children share. Christianity accounts for 2,080 residents, with Hinduism (40) and Buddhism (26) present as smaller communities.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.3%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
6.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits across outright owners at 29.0%, mortgage holders at 37.1%, and renters at 33.8%, a balance typical of lower-median suburbs where purchase prices are accessible but income constraints still drive rental demand. The stock is 88.3% separate houses, unusually high compared to inner-city or high-density markets, giving the suburb a consistent residential character. Three-bedroom homes account for 44.0% of dwellings and 4-plus bedrooms 24.7%, suggesting families and upgraders are well served by existing stock. The $349,000 median house price, estimated from 2025 rent data, represents significant affordability compared to state capital markets. Mortgage-to-income at 20.7% and rent-to-income at 18.7% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning neither buyers nor renters face acute housing cost pressure at current income levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$270
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$803
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.6%
Unoccupied
214
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.2%
Couples, no children
2,817
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 28.4% of employed residents (351 workers), nearly double Education at 13.1% (162 workers), reflecting Wandal's proximity to the Rockhampton Hospital precinct. Construction follows at 8.3%, Public Admin at 7.1%, and Professional/Tech at 5.8%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 424 workers, followed by Community/Personal service workers at 265 and Clerical/Admin at 232. The unemployment rate is 5.1% against a participation rate of 56.9%, the latter below the national average, partly because 1,070 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment rate is 68.4% among those employed. The SEIFA IEO decile of 1 indicates the workforce skews toward lower-education-and-occupation tiers nationally, consistent with the service and trade-oriented industry mix. Real income growth of 19.5% over the decade lags the 46.3% rent increase, creating affordability pressure on renters in lower-income brackets.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
3,371
Unemployed
106
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.4%
Part-time
26.5%
Participation
56.9%
Employed
1,785
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.2%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
9.0%
Dwellings
1,628
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high with 86.3% of residents commuting by car, compared to just 1.1% using public transport and 5.0% walking or cycling. This reflects Rockhampton's limited public transit network rather than Wandal specifically. The suburb scores decile 4 on IRSD (relative disadvantage) and decile 3 on IRSAD (advantage and disadvantage combined), placing it below the national median on both measures. Volunteering is healthy at 15.7% of residents, above what the SEIFA profile might suggest. Need for assistance stands at 9.2% (342 residents), somewhat elevated compared to lower-disadvantage suburbs, consistent with the aging trajectory and lower-income profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding Rockhampton suburbs. Rent stress is absent at 18.7% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress is absent at 20.7%, giving residents reasonable financial breathing room.
Drive
86.3%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.47%/yr
(+104 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has grown 20.2% over the past decade, reaching an estimated 6,919 in 2024 and 7,094 in 2025. Annual growth sits at 1.47%, adding around 104 people per year. Medium forecasts project the population reaching 7,599 by 2031, a continuation of the current trend. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 98 people per year, with overseas migration contributing 18 annually. The gentrification score of 37 and stage of Early signs, with population up 28% since 2011 and internal migration accelerating, suggests incremental reinvestment is occurring. Affordability has remained stable at 59.0% in 2021 compared to 59.3% in 2011, showing no deterioration over the decade. The 28.0% residential turnover rate means nearly one-in-three residents moved in the five years prior to the 2021 Census, indicating above-average mobility for an aging-trajectory suburb.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
+98
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +28% since 2011, Net internal migration +98/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 20%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wandal compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wandal a good suburb to live in?
Wandal suits buyers and renters prioritising affordability over prestige. The median house price is around $349,000, well below the national average, and both rent-to-income (18.7%) and mortgage-to-income (20.7%) sit below financial stress thresholds. The suburb scores decile 1 on IEO and decile 3 on IRSAD, placing it in the lower tiers nationally for socioeconomic advantage. Healthcare and education services are nearby, reflecting proximity to Rockhampton's CBD.
What is the median house price in Wandal?
The median house price is estimated at $349,000 based on 2025 data. Weekly rent averages $270 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,300. At these levels, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making Wandal one of the more affordable established suburbs in Queensland.
What schools are in Wandal?
No schools are recorded within the Wandal suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Rockhampton suburbs. The local population has university qualifications at 28.2%, which is 1.9 percentage points below the national figure, and the dominant industries are Healthcare (28.4%) and Education (13.1%) reflecting the wider precinct's service focus.
Is Wandal safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wandal in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on IRSD (relative disadvantage) and decile 3 on IRSAD, placing it below the national median on socioeconomic advantage. Around 9.2% of residents (342 people) need daily assistance, somewhat elevated compared to lower-disadvantage suburbs, consistent with the aging demographic trajectory.
Is Wandal good for property investment?
The rental yield is attractive relative to eastern capitals: weekly rent of $270 against a $349,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%. However, the 11.6% vacancy rate signals oversupply risk. Population grew 20.2% over the decade and net internal migration averages 98 per year, supporting steady demand. Rent growth of 46.3% over the decade has outpaced real income growth of 19.5%, providing some yield uplift for landlords.
How is Wandal's population changing?
Population is growing at 1.47% annually, adding around 104 people per year. The broader area reached an estimated 7,094 residents in 2025 and forecasts project 7,599 by 2031. Internal migration averaging 98 net arrivals per year is the primary driver. The suburb shows Early signs of gentrification with population up 28% since 2011, though the demographic trajectory is aging with the senior share rising 3.3 points over the 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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