West Woombye
Household income in the 80th percentile nationally sits alongside a median house price estimated at $534,000 and a vacancy rate of 5.9%, making West Woombye one of the more affordable owner-occupier pockets on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. With 98.7% separate houses and 56.6% of dwellings carrying four or more bedrooms, the suburb is overwhelmingly built for families rather than renters. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and 44.7% of residents own their home outright, which is well above the national average and points to an established, long-settled community with relatively low debt exposure.
Population
1,083
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,115/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$534K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $534,000, derived from rental data for 2025, placing West Woombye meaningfully lower than many coastal Sunshine Coast markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,946, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely detached housing at 98.7%, with 56.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, making this one of the most family-sized housing profiles in the region. Owner-occupiers dominate: 44.7% own outright and 43.7% are purchasing with a mortgage, compared to just 11.6% renting. Buyers seeking space at a price point lower than coastal Sunshine Coast suburbs will find the value case compelling here.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $534,000, derived from rental data for 2025, placing West Woombye meaningfully lower than many coastal Sunshine Coast markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,946, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely detached housing at 98.7%, with 56.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, making this one of the most family-sized housing profiles in the region. Owner-occupiers dominate: 44.7% own outright and 43.7% are purchasing with a mortgage, compared to just 11.6% renting. Buyers seeking space at a price point lower than coastal Sunshine Coast suburbs will find the value case compelling here.
For Investors
The renter share is just 11.6%, which is low compared to most Queensland suburbs, and weekly rent sits at $420. Against the $534,000 median, that implies a gross yield around 4.1%, reasonable for a hinterland location. The vacancy rate of 5.9% is elevated and warrants attention, as it suggests the thin rental market can take time to absorb new listings. Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating very limited new supply pressure. The low turnover rate of 18% and high outright ownership suggest residents stay long-term, which keeps rental demand concentrated among a small pool. Investors should treat this as a low-yield, capital-growth play rather than a high-income market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7.0 years above the national figure, making West Woombye one of the older-skewing suburbs in its region. Only 14.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 6.7 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (478 residents), Scottish (151) and Irish (110) are the top three ancestries. University qualifications reach 24.1%, which is 6.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and service-oriented workforce. Average household size is 3.1, which is 0.6 above the national average, pointing to multi-generational or larger family households despite the older median age. Volunteering is strong at 20.7% of the population, above typical community benchmarks.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.7%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
West Woombye is one of the most detached-house-dominant suburbs in Queensland, with 98.7% separate houses and only 1.3% apartments. Four-plus bedroom dwellings account for 56.6% of the stock, with three-bedroom at 30.1%, making small or compact dwellings rare. Tenure is heavily owner-occupier: 44.7% own outright and 43.7% are on a mortgage, while only 11.6% rent. The outright ownership rate is well above the national average, indicating long-held properties and limited debt exposure. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,946 against a household weekly income of $2,115, producing a manageable mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%. The rent-to-income ratio is 19.9%, below the 25% stress level, so housing costs are not a significant burden for either owners or renters here.
Mortgage / mo
$1,946
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$696
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
20
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.0%
Couples, no children
873
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 20.8% of residents (75 workers), followed by Education at 15.6% (56) and Construction at 15.0% (54). Agriculture accounts for 6.9% (25), reflecting the hinterland rural setting. By occupation, Professionals lead at 112 workers, ahead of Managers (77) and Labourers (62). The unemployment rate is 2.9%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 55.5%. Labour force participation is 51.9%, which is low relative to national norms, because the older median age of 47 means a large share of the 1,083 residents are retired or not seeking work. The top three sectors together account for more than half the workforce, making the local economy relatively concentrated in services rather than commercial or industrial activity.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.5%
Part-time
41.6%
Participation
51.9%
Employed
461
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.1%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
14.9%
Dwellings
317
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 93.2% of commuters driving, well above the national figure, which is expected given the rural hinterland setting with limited public transport infrastructure. Only 2.5% walk or cycle to work. No schools are recorded within the West Woombye boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Woombye and Palmwoods facilities. Crime statistics are not available for West Woombye at the suburb level. Housing stress is low on both measures: mortgage-to-income at 21.2% and rent-to-income at 19.9% both sit below standard stress thresholds, which is above average for a Queensland hinterland suburb of this income profile. The need-for-assistance rate is 5.2%, slightly above average, consistent with the older median age of 47.
Drive
93.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Woombye compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Woombye a good suburb to live in?
West Woombye suits families seeking large homes at a price point lower than coastal Sunshine Coast suburbs. Household income sits at the 80th percentile nationally, housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 21.2%, and 44.7% of residents own outright. Car dependency is high at 93.2% and public transport access is limited, so a vehicle is essential.
What is the median house price in West Woombye?
The median house price is estimated at $534,000 based on rental data for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,946 at this price point, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $420.
What schools are in West Woombye?
No schools are recorded within the West Woombye boundary in this dataset. Residents typically access schools in nearby Woombye and Palmwoods. University qualifications in West Woombye reach 24.1%, which is 6.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade-oriented workforce profile.
Is West Woombye safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for West Woombye in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the housing stress rate is low, with mortgage-to-income at 21.2% and rent-to-income at 19.9%, and household income sits at the 80th percentile nationally, all factors associated with lower disadvantage and lower crime risk.
Is West Woombye good for property investment?
The rental market is thin, with only 11.6% of residents renting and a vacancy rate of 5.9%, higher than ideal. Weekly rent of $420 against a $534,000 median gives a gross yield around 4.1%. Development activity is very low at 3 applications in 12 months, limiting new supply. Returns are likely to depend on capital growth rather than rental income.
How is West Woombye's population changing?
West Woombye has a population of 1,083 across 11.97 square kilometres, with a density of 90.5 people per km2. The median age of 47 is 7.0 years above the national figure, and 82.0% of residents stayed at the same address over the census period, indicating a stable, slow-moving community rather than a high-growth suburb.
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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