Winston
At 21.4%, Winston's vacancy rate is the standout feature of a compact Mount Isa suburb with 1,084 residents, a median age of 33, and 55.1% renting. That age is 7 years below the national comparison, while household income sits at the 82.9th percentile. The profile is more transient than an owner-led neighbourhood, with 31.2% turnover and 68.8% staying at the same address. Compared with nearby Pioneer and Parkside, buyers should inspect each street's tenure and maintenance because a small 0.8 sq km area can hide substantial variation.
Local council: Mount Isa
Population
1,084
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,177/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers face an unusual affordability read because no median sale price is available, so current comparable listings matter more than a headline suburb figure. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,550, equal to 16.4% of household income, while weekly rent is $261. Housing is mixed: 58.1% separate houses and 35.1% semi-detached dwellings, with 42.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 19.4% having 4 or more. Only 20.6% is owned outright versus 55.1% rented. Compared with Pioneer and Parkside, compare the exact dwelling, tenure costs and resale evidence, particularly because vacancy reaches 21.4%.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face an unusual affordability read because no median sale price is available, so current comparable listings matter more than a headline suburb figure. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,550, equal to 16.4% of household income, while weekly rent is $261. Housing is mixed: 58.1% separate houses and 35.1% semi-detached dwellings, with 42.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 19.4% having 4 or more. Only 20.6% is owned outright versus 55.1% rented. Compared with Pioneer and Parkside, compare the exact dwelling, tenure costs and resale evidence, particularly because vacancy reaches 21.4%.
For Investors
Winston's 55.1% renter share creates a broad tenant pool, but the 21.4% vacancy rate is a material counterweight because it can lengthen letting periods or increase competition between properties. Weekly rent is $261, and rent growth has reached 23.3%, while development activity recorded 0 items in the past 12 months. Growth is forecast at 0.28% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Compared with a tighter-rental suburb, the vacancy figure deserves more weight than rent growth alone. Investors should test achievable rent, vacancy allowances, insurance and repairs at the dwelling level, with mortgage repayments of $1,550 as a useful affordability reference.
Demographics
Winston has a young profile: median age 33, or 7 years below the national comparison, and 25.7% university educated, 4.4 percentage points below the national figure. English ancestry leads at 342 people, followed by Other at 125, Scottish at 112 and Irish at 99. Christianity counts 538 residents and no religion 414, with Islam at 15. Households average 2.4 people, or 0.1 below the national comparison; couples with children account for 41.2% of families, while couples without children represent 40.8%. Compared with Pioneer and Parkside, household composition should be checked at street level, as Winston's 1,084 residents make small shifts more visible.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
58.1%
Houses
35.1%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Winston is weighted toward renters and compact formats rather than outright ownership. Renting accounts for 55.1%, compared with 20.6% owned outright and 23.3% mortgaged. Separate houses make up 58.1%, while semi-detached homes are 35.1%; the bedroom mix is concentrated in 3-bedroom dwellings at 42.4%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 24.5%. Average household size is 2.4, rent takes 12.0% of household income and mortgage repayments take 16.4%, with both stress flags recorded as false. Compared with Pioneer and Parkside, inspect dwelling condition and tenure because the local mix can differ across a 0.8 sq km area.
Mortgage / mo
$1,550
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$261
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,190
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.4%
Unoccupied
116
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.2%
Couples with children
40.8%
Couples, no children
15.0%
Single parent
260
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining leads Winston's industries at 28.0% or 112 workers, followed by healthcare at 17.8% (71), education at 12.0% (48), public administration at 8.8% (35) and construction at 4.8% (19). Occupations are led by trades at 135, professionals at 107, machinery and drivers at 100, community and personal service at 75, and clerical and administration at 59. Unemployment is 3.3%, participation is 74.7%, and full-time work is 74.2%. Compared with national conditions, SEIFA deciles are high at IEO 8, IER 10, IRSD 9 and IRSAD 9, reflecting strong income and employment, though mining concentration leaves exposure to resource-cycle shifts.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
657
Unemployed
22
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.2%
Part-time
18.3%
Participation
74.7%
Employed
635
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.7%
Postgraduate
6.1%
Born Overseas
19.0%
Dwellings
425
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 82.7% drive to work, compared with 0.7% using public transport and 5.2% walking or cycling. Work from home is only 1.7%, fitting the mining, healthcare, education and public administration base. At 1,347.9 people per sq km across 0.8 sq km, local access can be practical, but families should confirm exact school catchments, nearby options and sector mix for each address. Socioeconomic indicators sit above the middle range, with IEO decile 8, IER 10, IRSD 9 and IRSAD 9. Compared with a less car-dependent setting, transport costs and school travel time deserve more attention than walkability alone. Check current local safety updates and visit at different times before deciding.
Drive
82.7%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
1.7%
Growth Outlook
Growth is measured rather than rapid. The annual trend is 0.28%, and population change across the wider area is 8.1% over 10 years, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The shift profile is Mixed: rent growth is 23.3%, real income growth is 9.7%, the working-age share has fallen 3.5 percentage points and the senior share has risen 2.2 points. Gentrification signals conflict: the shift score is 27 at Early signs, while the current gentrification score is 0, Not gentrifying. Compared with a faster-growth suburb, Winston's established status means demand is more likely to follow employment and rental conditions than a large development pipeline, which recorded 0 items in 12 months.
Population trend: Mount Isa council area
Winston sits in the Mount Isa council area. These are the council area's residents, not Winston's.
Residents 2025
18,585
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Winston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Winston a good suburb to live in?
That depends on priorities. Winston suits residents comfortable with a car-led, rental-heavy setting: 82.7% drive to work, 55.1% rent, and the median age is 33, which is 7 years below the national comparison. The 21.4% vacancy rate may support choice, but it can also signal variable demand between properties.
What is the median house price in Winston?
A suburb median house price is not currently available for Winston. The useful local benchmarks are $261 weekly rent and $1,550 monthly mortgage repayments, but neither replaces a sale median. Check current comparable sales and the exact dwelling condition before making an offer.
What schools are in Winston?
School choice should be checked against the exact Winston address, enrolment zone and travel route, including nearby Mount Isa options and their sector. Winston has 260 families, including 41.2% couples with children, so catchment planning matters for households with children. Confirm current availability directly before signing a lease or contract.
Is Winston safe?
Safety should be assessed using current local incident updates, the exact street and visits at different times, because conditions can vary within a compact 0.8 sq km suburb. Winston's setting of 1,347.9 people per sq km makes street context important. Check lighting, parking, building access and the route to work or school before deciding.
Is Winston good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed. Renting is 55.1%, weekly rent is $261 and rent growth is 23.3%, but vacancy is a high 21.4% and development activity was 0 over 12 months. Growth is only 0.28% annually, with overseas migration the main driver, so cash-flow assumptions should allow for longer vacancies and property-specific maintenance.
How is Winston's population changing?
Winston's local population is 1,084, with a median age of 33. The wider area's forecast trend is 0.28% annually and 10-year population change is 8.1%, driven primarily by overseas migration. The shift is Mixed, with the senior share up 2.2 points and working share down 3.5 points, indicating gradual change rather than rapid turnover.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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