Wondai
At 53, the median resident age in Wondai sits 13 years above the national figure, making it one of Queensland's more age-advanced rural towns. The estimated median house price of $281,000 places it well below state and national medians, reflecting an economy anchored in Healthcare (27.5% of jobs) and Education (14.5%) rather than higher-wage professional sectors. Household income lands in the 11.2nd percentile nationally, yet mortgage-to-income at 24.1% and rent-to-income at 23.5% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, a consequence of low purchase prices. A 10.5% vacancy rate and zero DA lodgements in the past 12 months signal a market with limited speculative pressure but also thin demand growth.
Population
1,975
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$957/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$281K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $281,000 is well below the national median, and monthly mortgage repayments of $997 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. This makes outright ownership accessible by income standards: 42.8% of dwellings are owned outright, compared to lower rates seen in high-cost urban markets. Separate houses dominate at 91.5% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 51.3% and 4-plus at 24.2%. The main trade-off is a 10.5% vacancy rate, which points to subdued underlying demand. Buyers who value affordability and detached housing over growth trajectory will find the price-to-income equation more favourable here than in most Queensland coastal or metropolitan markets.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $281,000 is well below the national median, and monthly mortgage repayments of $997 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. This makes outright ownership accessible by income standards: 42.8% of dwellings are owned outright, compared to lower rates seen in high-cost urban markets. Separate houses dominate at 91.5% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 51.3% and 4-plus at 24.2%. The main trade-off is a 10.5% vacancy rate, which points to subdued underlying demand. Buyers who value affordability and detached housing over growth trajectory will find the price-to-income equation more favourable here than in most Queensland coastal or metropolitan markets.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $225 against an estimated median house price of $281,000 implies a gross yield of around 4.2%, higher than most capital city benchmarks. However, the 10.5% vacancy rate is a material risk, reflecting the limited tenant pool in a town of 1,975 people. The participation rate of 40.1% and unemployment rate of 6.2% indicate a labour market weaker than the national average, which constrains rental demand. Internal migration data is not available, but the 75.8% of residents who stayed at the same address over five years suggests a stable but static population rather than inbound growth. Zero development applications in the past 12 months means no new supply, which at least protects existing landlords from immediate competition.
Schools in Wondai iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wondai State School
Prep-9 · 141 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13.0 years above the national figure, the result of decades of outmigration by younger residents seeking employment elsewhere. Only 9.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (760), German (208), Irish (208) and Scottish (187) are the top four groups. University qualifications reach 16.2%, which is 13.9 points below national, while the largest occupational groups are Labourers (127) and Community/Personal workers (105). Couples without children make up 37.6% of families, above the national share, which aligns with the older median age. About 12.7% of residents (231 people) need daily assistance, a rate associated with aging populations.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.5%
Houses
5.8%
Townhouse
1.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 91.5% of dwellings, higher than the national average, with only 5.8% semi-detached and 1.8% apartments. The 3-bedroom type dominates at 51.3%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 24.2% and 2-bedroom at 17.7%. Ownership rates favour outright holders: 42.8% own their homes without a mortgage, 28.5% carry a mortgage and 28.7% rent. The average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national figure, consistent with an older demographic where couples without children and single-person households are more common. The estimated median price of $281,000 (derived from rental data, 2025) sits significantly below both the Queensland and national medians, making entry-level purchase achievable on local incomes despite household income sitting in the 11.2nd percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$997
Rent / wk
$225
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$527
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
97
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.6%
Couples, no children
1,361
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 27.5% of the local workforce (114 workers), a share well above the national average for small regional towns and reflecting Wondai's role as a service centre for the South Burnett region. Education employs 14.5% (60 workers), Construction 9.7% (40), Retail 9.4% (39) and Public Administration 8.5% (35). The top occupations are Labourers (127), Community and Personal Service workers (105) and Professionals (100). The unemployment rate of 6.2% is above the national benchmark, and the participation rate of 40.1% is substantially below average, largely because the older age profile leaves 827 residents not in the labour force. Weekly household income of $957 places the suburb in the 11.2nd income percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.6%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
40.1%
Employed
636
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.2%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
9.2%
Dwellings
815
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme: 86.8% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average, and only 0.5% use public transport, reflecting the limited bus and rail connectivity typical of South Burnett towns. Walking and cycling account for 6.2% of commute mode, above what might be expected for a rural town, possibly reflecting short trip distances in a low-density area of 49.2 residents per km2. No schools are recorded within the Wondai boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in the broader region. Crime data is not available for Wondai. The volunteering rate of 17.7% indicates strong community participation relative to many regional centres. Rent-to-income at 23.5% and mortgage-to-income at 24.1% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, making the day-to-day cost of housing manageable for current residents.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wondai compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wondai a good suburb to live in?
Wondai suits residents who prioritise affordability and a quiet rural setting. The estimated median house price of $281,000 is well below Queensland and national medians, and mortgage-to-income at 24.1% stays below the stress threshold. The trade-offs are a 6.2% unemployment rate above the national average, limited public transport with 86.8% car dependence, and a 10.5% housing vacancy rate reflecting low demand growth.
What is the median house price in Wondai?
The estimated median house price is $281,000 (derived from rental data, 2025), well below the Queensland and national medians. Weekly rent averages $225 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $997, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.1%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Wondai?
No schools are recorded within the Wondai suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the broader South Burnett region. Locally, 16.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 13.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the blue-collar and agricultural character of the area.
Is Wondai safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wondai in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a low population of 1,975, a 17.7% volunteering rate suggesting strong community engagement, and 75.8% of residents stayed at the same address over 5 years, pointing to a settled community. Household income sits in the 11.2nd percentile nationally, which can correlate with higher regional crime rates in other contexts.
Is Wondai good for property investment?
At $225 weekly rent against an estimated median of $281,000, the gross yield is around 4.2%, higher than most capital city benchmarks. However, the 10.5% vacancy rate and a population of just 1,975 create real letting risk. The unemployment rate of 6.2% is above the national average and no development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, signalling flat speculative interest.
How is Wondai's population changing?
Population forecast data is not available for Wondai, but structural indicators point to slow decline. The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, with 12.7% of residents (231 people) needing daily assistance. The 75.8% address stability rate suggests low inbound migration, and the 10.5% vacancy rate indicates housing supply already exceeds current demand.
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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