Wilsonton Heights
With every SEIFA index landing in decile 1, the bottom 10% nationally, Wilsonton Heights is one of Toowoomba's most affordable and most disadvantaged suburbs in a single profile. The median house price sits around $357,000, well below Queensland state and national medians, and weekly rent of $280 puts it within reach of lower-income households. Income ranks in the 21st household income percentile nationally. Population grew 9.2% over the decade at a measured pace, with 74.9% of residents staying year on year, signalling a stable but low-turnover community.
Population
2,747
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,126/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$357K
Estimated from rent (2025)
A median house price of around $357,000 places Wilsonton Heights firmly below Queensland and national house price averages, making it accessible to buyers priced out of larger centres. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 88.3%, so buyers have clear choices without competing against apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 62.7%, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings accounting for another 25.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.7%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 27.5%, with 25.1% carrying a mortgage, suggesting a mix of long-term holders and recent entrants. The low entry price compared to state medians means buyers gain higher relative purchasing power per dollar spent.
For Buyers
A median house price of around $357,000 places Wilsonton Heights firmly below Queensland and national house price averages, making it accessible to buyers priced out of larger centres. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 88.3%, so buyers have clear choices without competing against apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 62.7%, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings accounting for another 25.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.7%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 27.5%, with 25.1% carrying a mortgage, suggesting a mix of long-term holders and recent entrants. The low entry price compared to state medians means buyers gain higher relative purchasing power per dollar spent.
For Investors
A 47.4% renter share is markedly higher than the national rental average and signals strong ongoing tenant demand in Wilsonton Heights. Weekly rent of $280 against an estimated $357,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, more competitive than most metro markets. The vacancy rate of 7.3% is elevated, pointing to some competition among landlords for tenants, so maintaining below-market rents or property condition is important. Net overseas migration adds 62 residents a year and internal migration contributes 14, keeping demand above zero. Rent grew 28.3% over the measurement period, outpacing the 3.0% real income growth, which shows rents have risen faster than local wages. Development activity is low at 1 application in the past 12 months, meaning existing stock faces little new competition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
1
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 Wilsonton Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wilsonton State High School
7-12 · 904 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, placing Wilsonton Heights in younger territory compared to the Australian average. Overseas-born residents at 11.7% run 9.9 percentage points below national, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born, Anglo-Celtic community. The top ancestry groups are English (1,096), Irish (280), German (270) and Scottish (241). University qualifications at 13.5% are 16.6 points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and service-sector workforce. Average household size of 2.4 is marginally below national norms. The volunteer rate stands at 12.0%, and 10.1% of residents need daily assistance, indicating a community with moderate care needs relative to its size of 2,747 people.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.3%
Houses
5.2%
Townhouse
6.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 88.3% of dwellings, well above the national proportion, giving the suburb a firmly suburban character. Apartments make up only 6.4% and semi-detached homes 5.2%, so the market is almost entirely defined by the detached house segment. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 62.7%, and 4-plus bedroom homes add 25.0%, pointing to a family-oriented stock profile. Tenure splits to 27.5% owning outright, 25.1% under mortgage and 47.4% renting, with the renter share significantly above average for the area type. Rent-to-income at 24.9% sits below the 30% stress threshold. Compared to Queensland state medians, the $357,000 house price represents a substantial affordability discount, which explains the high renter concentration among residents who cannot yet access ownership.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$571
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
83
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.8%
Couples, no children
2,088
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 25.7% of employed residents (149 workers), well above its national employment share, followed by Education at 11.9% (69 workers), Retail at 9.3% and Construction at 8.5%. By occupation, Labourers lead at 190 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service at 172 and Clerical and Admin at 123. This occupational structure is consistent with the SEIFA decile 1 scores on all four indexes, reflecting a local economy weighted toward lower-wage service and manual roles. Unemployment runs at 10.5%, meaningfully higher than the national average, and the participation rate of 48.5% is low because 929 residents are not in the labour force. Personal weekly income of $571 is below state and national benchmarks, which places household income in the 21st percentile nationally.
Unemployment
6.6%
Labour Force
6,516
Unemployed
433
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.6%
Part-time
25.9%
Participation
48.5%
Employed
946
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.5%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
11.7%
Dwellings
1,055
Transport to Work
Car dependence is pronounced: 88.9% of residents drive to work, while public transport use is minimal at 1.2% and active transport accounts for only 0.6%, well below national averages in both categories. No schools are recorded within the Wilsonton Heights boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in adjacent Toowoomba suburbs. The IRSAD decile 1 ranking places the suburb in the bottom 10% nationally on the combined advantage-disadvantage index, meaning residents face above-average barriers to resources and opportunity. Rent stress is absent at 24.9% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress is below the threshold at 26.7%, which moderates financial pressure despite low incomes. The vacancy rate of 7.3% suggests some softness in the rental market, giving tenants slightly more negotiating power than in tighter markets.
Drive
88.9%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.65%/yr
(+96 people/yr)
EstablishedWilsonton Heights grew 9.2% over the decade with a current annual rate of 0.65%, adding around 96 residents a year. The medium forecast puts the broader SA2 population reaching 15,251 by 2031, up from 14,669 in 2025. Migration is balanced: overseas arrivals contribute 62 residents a year on average, and internal migration adds 14, making overseas arrivals the primary driver of net growth. The age trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 8.0 points and the working-age share fell 3.9 points since 2011, a trend that is steeper than many comparable QLD suburbs. Affordability at 47.5% in 2021 is marginally higher than the 46.9% recorded in 2011, classified as stable rather than worsening. The gentrification score of 21 places the suburb in the early signs stage rather than active gentrification.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+62
Net Internal / yr
+14
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wilsonton Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilsonton Heights a good suburb to live in?
Wilsonton Heights offers genuine affordability, with a median house price around $357,000 and rent-to-income at 24.9%, well below the stress threshold. The trade-off is a SEIFA IRSAD decile 1 ranking, placing it in the bottom 10% nationally on advantage. Separate houses make up 88.3% of dwellings, giving families space, though public transport is minimal at 1.2%.
What is the median house price in Wilsonton Heights?
The median house price is estimated at $357,000, significantly below Queensland and national medians. Weekly rent averages $280, implying a gross rental yield near 4.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7% stays below the 30% stress level.
What schools are in Wilsonton Heights?
No schools are recorded inside the Wilsonton Heights boundary in this dataset. Families use schools in neighbouring Toowoomba suburbs. Locally, university qualifications are held by 13.5% of residents, which is 16.6 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the suburb's trade and service-sector workforce.
Is Wilsonton Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wilsonton Heights in this dataset. As a proxy, the suburb scores decile 1 on the SEIFA IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the lowest tier nationally, which correlates with higher area-level disadvantage. Unemployment at 10.5% and low participation rates are indicators worth considering alongside any formal crime data.
Is Wilsonton Heights good for property investment?
The 47.4% renter share and $280 weekly rent against a $357,000 median imply a gross yield near 4.1%, higher than most metro markets. Rent grew 28.3% over the measurement period. The 7.3% vacancy rate is elevated though, so investors should price competitive rents. Net annual migration of 76 residents supports steady demand.
How is Wilsonton Heights's population changing?
The suburb grew 9.2% over the past decade at an annual rate of 0.65%, adding around 96 residents per year. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching 15,251 by 2031. Overseas arrivals account for 62 new residents a year on average, making them the primary growth driver. The age profile is aging, with the senior share up 8.0 points since 2011.
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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