Witta
At a median age of 54, Witta sits 14 years above the national figure, making it one of the most age-advanced rural communities in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Spread across 35.91 square kilometres, the suburb holds just 1,296 residents at a density of 36.1 people per km2. Household income lands in the 25th percentile nationally, well below average, yet 53.7% of homes are owned outright, the highest tenure marker in the dataset. That combination, older residents with low incomes but mortgage-free properties, explains the suburb's economic identity more than any single statistic. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99%, and the vacancy rate of 10.9% is elevated, pointing to seasonal or part-time occupancy across portions of the rural landholdings.
Population
1,296
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,205/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$484K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $484,000, derived from weekly rent of $368 and local rental yield data for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 35.3%, which is above the 30% stress threshold compared to the national benchmark. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses, with 99% of dwellings being separate houses and zero semi-detached recorded. Bedroom distribution skews larger: 35% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 47.2% have three, so buyers should expect sizeable acreage properties rather than compact urban lots. With 53.7% of homes owned outright versus 34.8% carrying a mortgage, the suburb has a strong incumbent ownership base. First-time buyers face a market where stock is illiquid and turnover is low at 18.5% annual resident movement.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $484,000, derived from weekly rent of $368 and local rental yield data for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 35.3%, which is above the 30% stress threshold compared to the national benchmark. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses, with 99% of dwellings being separate houses and zero semi-detached recorded. Bedroom distribution skews larger: 35% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 47.2% have three, so buyers should expect sizeable acreage properties rather than compact urban lots. With 53.7% of homes owned outright versus 34.8% carrying a mortgage, the suburb has a strong incumbent ownership base. First-time buyers face a market where stock is illiquid and turnover is low at 18.5% annual resident movement.
For Investors
A renter share of just 11.5% keeps the tenant pool narrow, and a vacancy rate of 10.9% is high compared to metropolitan benchmarks, signalling that rental demand does not fully absorb available supply. Weekly rent of $368 against a $484,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.95%, modest for a rural market. Rent-to-income at 30.5% indicates rental stress for existing tenants, yet low renter numbers mean this is a thin market. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so there is no near-term new supply pressure. The population of 1,296 is small, which amplifies volatility: a handful of household departures can shift vacancy materially. Investors drawn by the affordable entry price below the state median should weigh the limited rental depth and the aging demographic base as factors that constrain longer-term yield growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, the clearest signal that Witta attracts tree-changers and retirees rather than young families. Overseas-born residents make up 21.9%, which is 0.3 percentage points above the national rate, a negligible difference compared to most peri-urban communities. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (589), Irish (199) and Scottish (190) are the top three groups, with German (109) the only sizeable non-British heritage. University qualifications at 29.8% match the national average almost exactly, at just 0.3 points below, suggesting a well-educated but not elite professional cohort. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national figure. Couples without children account for 42.3% of families, consistent with post-family-stage residents. Volunteering runs at 24.6%, above typical metropolitan rates, reflecting the community-oriented character of small hinterland towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by outright ownership: 53.7% of residents own their home free of debt, compared to 34.8% carrying mortgages and only 11.5% renting. This pattern, where outright owners outnumber mortgage holders by more than 1.5 to 1, reflects the older median age of 54 and decades of accumulated equity. The stock is nearly uniform: 99% of dwellings are separate houses and 1% are apartments, with no semi-detached recorded. Larger floorplans are the norm, with 35% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 47.2% having three. Mortgage stress is flagged at 35.3% of income, and rent stress is also above the 30% threshold at 30.5%, meaning both tenure groups under financial pressure in this market face difficulty despite the relatively affordable $484,000 median price when compared to the Sunshine Coast coast.
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wk
$368
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$594
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.9%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.5% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.3% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.3%
Couples, no children
999
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 23% of workers (79 people), followed by Education at 12.2% (42) and Construction at 10.5% (36). Professionals are the largest occupation group at 118, ahead of Managers at 79, which is consistent with the 29.8% university qualification rate. The unemployment rate is 7.7% against 36 unemployed residents, and the participation rate is low at 42.3%, because 478 residents are outside the labour force entirely. That low participation rate is a function of the older age profile rather than economic disadvantage. Full-time employment accounts for 50.5% of those in work, with part-time close behind at 214 workers, suggesting many hinterland residents balance flexible schedules with rural property management. Household income sits in the 25th percentile nationally, lower than the national and state averages, partly because many older residents draw superannuation and investment income not captured in wage figures.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.5%
Part-time
41.8%
Participation
42.3%
Employed
432
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.8%
Postgraduate
7.9%
Born Overseas
21.9%
Dwellings
492
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 86.6% of residents drive to work, while only 1.3% use public transport, compared to a national average that includes far higher transit rates in cities. Walking and cycling account for 2.9%, consistent with a low-density rural setting where distances preclude active commuting. No schools are recorded within the Witta boundary, so families commute to nearby Montville, Maleny or Landsborough for schooling. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset, so a direct rate comparison cannot be made. Assistance needs affect 6.6% of residents (78 people), slightly above what the income level alone would predict, and the elevated rate is consistent with an older population where age-related assistance requirements are higher than the national average. The 24.6% volunteering rate stands above metropolitan norms and points to social cohesion in a small, stable hinterland community.
Drive
86.6%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Witta compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Witta a good suburb to live in?
Witta suits residents who prioritise rural acreage, quiet and established community over urban amenity. The suburb has a median age of 54, a 24.6% volunteering rate and 53.7% outright home ownership, all above national norms. Trade-offs include very limited public transport at 1.3%, no recorded schools within the boundary and household income in the 25th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Witta?
The median house price in Witta is estimated at $484,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $368 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,842. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 35.3%, above the 30% stress threshold. Nearly all dwellings are separate houses, with 35% having 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Witta?
No schools are recorded within the Witta suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schooling in nearby Montville, Maleny or Landsborough. The local population is reasonably educated, with 29.8% holding university qualifications, which is 0.3 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Witta safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Witta in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 6.6% of residents (78 people) require daily assistance, slightly above what income alone would suggest. The suburb has an 81.5% residential stability rate, meaning most residents remain in place year to year, which is generally associated with low community disorder.
Is Witta good for property investment?
The entry price of $484,000 is accessible compared to the broader Sunshine Coast region, but the rental market is thin: only 11.5% of residents rent, and the vacancy rate is 10.9%, higher than metropolitan benchmarks. Gross yield is around 3.95% based on $368 weekly rent. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so supply competition is low.
How is Witta's population changing?
No official population forecast is available for Witta, but the current 1,296 residents have a residential stability rate of 81.5%, meaning turnover is low. The median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, and with limited younger in-migration the population profile is aging rather than growing. Density sits at just 36.1 residents per km2 across 35.91 square kilometres.
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.
Explore Witta on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map