Wilsonton
Four SEIFA indexes all land in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and that single fact frames most of what follows in this Toowoomba suburb of 5,891 people. Household income sits in the 17.8th percentile nationally, well below the middle of the pack, yet the $364,000 median house price keeps buying within reach for incomes that elsewhere would be locked out. The housing is overwhelmingly detached, with separate houses at 77.4% against just 7.5% apartments. The median age of 42 runs two years above national, and the trajectory is aging as the senior share has climbed 8.0 points over the decade.
Population
5,891
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,107/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
22
Median House
$364K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $364,000 median, Wilsonton is far below most metropolitan markets and accessible to buyers priced out of capital cities. The stock is built for families, with separate houses making up 77.4% of dwellings and apartments only 7.5%, and three-bedroom homes dominating at 51.8% with another 21.2% offering four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average about $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, which stays under the 30% stress threshold even though local incomes rank in the 17.8th percentile nationally. That affordability is the suburb's core draw: the low price relative to household budgets means buyers carry manageable debt rather than stretching, a contrast with higher-priced markets where the same income tier would face stress.
For Buyers
At a $364,000 median, Wilsonton is far below most metropolitan markets and accessible to buyers priced out of capital cities. The stock is built for families, with separate houses making up 77.4% of dwellings and apartments only 7.5%, and three-bedroom homes dominating at 51.8% with another 21.2% offering four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average about $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, which stays under the 30% stress threshold even though local incomes rank in the 17.8th percentile nationally. That affordability is the suburb's core draw: the low price relative to household budgets means buyers carry manageable debt rather than stretching, a contrast with higher-priced markets where the same income tier would face stress.
For Investors
Renters make up 39.7% of households, a tenant pool slightly above the national third, and weekly rent of $290 against the $364,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, far stronger than the sub-2% yields common in capital-city suburbs. The trade-off is a 6.6% vacancy rate, higher than a tight market would show, which signals that tenants have choice and landlords compete on price. Development activity is modest at 21 applications in 12 months, all operational works rather than new dwelling supply, so the existing detached stock is unlikely to be diluted soon. Net overseas migration of 62 a year outpaces internal migration of 14, giving balanced rather than surging demand. The case here rests on yield and affordability more than capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
88
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+69.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wilsonton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Fairview Heights State School
Prep-6 · 342 students
Wilsonton State School
Prep-6 · 438 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, and the population is aging: the senior share rose 8.0 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.9 points. Only 12.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.6 points below national, making this a notably Anglo-leaning population led by English (2,446), Irish (706), German (689) and Scottish (593) ancestry. University qualifications reach 17.2%, fully 12.9 points below the national rate, reflecting a workforce weighted toward trades and service roles rather than knowledge sectors. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, consistent with the older profile where couples without children make up 32.3% of families, roughly matching the 32.0% who are couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.4%
Houses
15.2%
Townhouse
7.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is more balanced than the income profile might suggest: 34.8% own outright, 25.5% carry a mortgage and 39.7% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to a settled, debt-free older base rather than a churn of recent buyers. The stock is 77.4% separate houses with apartments at just 7.5% and semi-detached dwellings at 15.2%, so the market is essentially a detached-house market. Three-bedroom homes lead at 51.8%, with four-plus bedroom homes at 21.2% and two-bedroom at 24.1%. Against the $364,000 median and incomes in the 17.8th percentile, the price-to-income gap stays modest by national standards, which is why both rent-to-income at 26.2% and mortgage-to-income at 27.1% hold below the 30% stress line.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$638
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
184
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.3%
Couples, no children
4,328
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors the local workforce at 22.8% (325 workers), well above its national share, followed by Education at 12.7% (181), Retail at 9.6% (137), Construction at 9.3% (133) and Manufacturing at 8.8% (125). By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers lead at 394, ahead of Labourers (354), Clerical and Admin (316) and Professionals (292), a mix that explains the below-average university rate. All four SEIFA deciles read 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, with IRSAD at 869 and IEO at 875. Unemployment runs at 7.5%, above the national average, and participation is low at 50.8% because 2,043 residents are not in the labour force, a figure inflated by the aging, retiree-heavy population.
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
64.7%
Part-time
27.8%
Participation
50.8%
Employed
2,298
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.2%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
12.0%
Dwellings
2,600
Transport to Work
Wilsonton is heavily car-dependent, with 88.8% of commuters driving and only 0.5% using public transport, well below national active-transport levels, and 3.2% walking or cycling. That reliance reflects an outer Toowoomba location with limited transit. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD and IRSD, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and 9.8% of residents (553 people) need daily assistance, above what a younger area would show, consistent with the median age of 42. Volunteering runs at 12.7%. No schools are recorded inside the 5.13 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Toowoomba suburbs. Detailed crime data is not available here, so the SEIFA disadvantage reading is the main socioeconomic indicator.
Drive
88.8%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.65%/yr
(+96 people/yr)
EstablishedWilsonton is an established suburb growing slowly, with annual population growth around 0.65% and a 9.2% rise over the past decade. Migration is balanced rather than booming: net overseas inflow of 62 a year sits ahead of net internal migration of 14, so demand is steady but not surging. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying, scoring just 3, with the only signal being the 10% population rise since 2011, which fits a low-income, decile 1 suburb with little upward pricing pressure. Affordability has stayed broadly stable, moving only from 46.9% in 2011 to 47.5% in 2021, while rent grew 28.3% and real incomes rose a modest 3.0% over the same period. The aging trajectory, with the senior share up 8.0 points, is the defining demographic shift.
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilsonton a good suburb to live in?
Wilsonton scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and household income sits in the 17.8th percentile. The main appeal is affordability, with a $364,000 median house price and 77.4% detached homes, suiting budget-conscious families priced out of dearer markets.
What is the median house price in Wilsonton?
The median house price is about $364,000, far below most metropolitan markets and well within reach for the local 17.8th-percentile incomes. Weekly rent averages $290 and monthly mortgage repayments run near $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress line.
What schools are in Wilsonton?
No schools are recorded inside the 5.13 km2 Wilsonton boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Toowoomba suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 17.2%, which is 12.9 points below the national figure, reflecting a trades-weighted workforce.
Is Wilsonton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wilsonton in this dataset. As an indirect socioeconomic indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the lowest tier, and 9.8% of its 5,891 residents need daily assistance, both pointing to a high-disadvantage profile.
Is Wilsonton good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $290 against a $364,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, well above the sub-2% typical in capital cities. The 6.6% vacancy rate is higher than a tight market, and renters make up 39.7% of households, so the case rests on yield rather than rapid capital growth.
How is Wilsonton's population changing?
Population growth is around 0.65% annually, a 9.2% rise over 10 years, classing Wilsonton as an established, slow-growth suburb. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 8.0 points and the working-age share down 3.9 points over the decade, while net overseas migration of 62 a year leads demand.
How much development is happening in Wilsonton?
There were 21 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, all operational works such as road reserve and stormwater works rather than new dwelling supply. That is modest activity, consistent with an established suburb where 77.4% of dwellings are existing separate houses.
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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