Wongaling Beach
A vacancy rate of 22.3% is the most telling number in Wongaling Beach: one in five dwellings sits empty, signalling a holiday and seasonal-use market rather than a year-round residential one. The suburb of 1,323 people sits at the 28th income percentile nationally, with a median age of 48, which is 8 years above the national figure. Despite the low income position, housing stress is absent, with rent-to-income at 21.7% and mortgage-to-income at 27.9%, both below the stress threshold compared to many coastal QLD suburbs. The population is predominantly detached-house owner-occupiers, with 43.3% owning outright and 75.1% of dwellings being separate houses.
Population
1,323
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,256/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$376K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $376,000 sits well below state and national coastal benchmarks, reflecting the suburb's 28th income percentile position. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, buyers are not in stress territory compared to the 30% threshold. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 36.9% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes account for 24.0%, giving buyers real detached-house choice since 75.1% of the stock is separate houses. Outright ownership at 43.3% is high relative to mortgage holders at 24.8%, suggesting a mature owner base rather than a churn of leveraged buyers. The 22.3% vacancy rate is a caution signal: a large share of supply is inactive, which can soften price growth.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $376,000 sits well below state and national coastal benchmarks, reflecting the suburb's 28th income percentile position. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, buyers are not in stress territory compared to the 30% threshold. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 36.9% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes account for 24.0%, giving buyers real detached-house choice since 75.1% of the stock is separate houses. Outright ownership at 43.3% is high relative to mortgage holders at 24.8%, suggesting a mature owner base rather than a churn of leveraged buyers. The 22.3% vacancy rate is a caution signal: a large share of supply is inactive, which can soften price growth.
For Investors
The rental market in Wongaling Beach shows a 31.9% renter share with weekly rent of $273, giving an estimated gross yield around 3.8% against the $376,000 median price, which is higher than many coastal markets with similar price points. However, the 22.3% vacancy rate is a major risk factor for landlords, indicating elevated competition from competing rental properties or holiday lets. Only 6 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal. The income base at the 28th percentile nationally is lower than state averages, which caps rent growth potential. Investors seeking yield over capital growth will find the rent-to-income ratio of 21.7% shows existing tenants are not stressed, supporting stable tenancy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
10
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 Wongaling Beach iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mission Beach State School
Prep-6 · 296 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, placing Wongaling Beach firmly in the aging-resident category. Overseas-born residents at 23.8% are 2.2 percentage points above the national average, a modest but consistent international thread. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English (517), Irish (146), and Scottish (120) lead, consistent with broader Far North QLD coastal settlement patterns. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below the national figure, which aligns with the high proportion of couples without children: 42.6% of families are couples with no children, compared to the national norm. University qualifications at 23.9% are 6.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the blue-collar and agricultural employment base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.1%
Houses
8.5%
Townhouse
14.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Wongaling Beach skews heavily toward ownership: 43.3% own outright and 24.8% hold a mortgage, while 31.9% rent, a lower renter share than many QLD coastal towns. Separate houses make up 75.1% of dwellings, with apartments at 14.8% and semi-detached at 8.5%, making this a strongly detached-house market. Three-bedroom homes at 36.9% are most common, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 24.0% and two-bedroom at 32.0%. The estimated median house price of $376,000 is affordable relative to national coastal medians. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,517 represent a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. The high outright-ownership rate compared to mortgage holders points to long-term residents rather than new entrants.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$273
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$699
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.3%
Unoccupied
144
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.6%
Couples, no children
854
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 14.2% of workers (51 people), followed by Education at 12.3% (44), Agriculture at 11.5% (41), Hospitality at 10.9% (39), and Construction at 10.6% (38), a spread that reflects the service, farming and tourism economy of the Mission Beach corridor. By occupation, Professionals and Labourers are tied at 96 workers each, with Managers close behind at 94, a flat occupational pyramid consistent with a small regional centre. The unemployment rate is 5.1%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 49.2% is low, partly because 399 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the older median age of 48. Weekly personal income of $699 places the suburb at the 28th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
31.5%
Participation
49.2%
Employed
517
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.9%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
23.8%
Dwellings
493
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high in Wongaling Beach: 81.9% drive to work and only 6.5% use public transport, which is below the state average for regional QLD towns, reflecting limited transit infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 4.8% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in adjacent Mission Beach and Cassowary Coast communities. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. The 19.8% volunteering rate is notable, suggesting a community-minded resident base. Housing stress indicators are positive: rent-to-income at 21.7% and mortgage-to-income at 27.9% are both below the 30% threshold, meaning residents are not financially strained relative to their incomes. Household assistance needs are low at 3.9% of the population.
Drive
81.9%
Public Transport
6.5%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wongaling Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wongaling Beach a good suburb to live in?
Wongaling Beach suits retirees and owner-occupiers more than young families. The median age is 48, which is 8 years above the national average, and 43.3% own their home outright. Housing affordability is reasonable: rent-to-income is 21.7% and mortgage-to-income is 27.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The 22.3% vacancy rate and limited public transport are trade-offs to consider.
What is the median house price in Wongaling Beach?
The estimated median house price is $376,000, based on 2025 rent data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and weekly rent averages $273. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, making Wongaling Beach affordable compared to many Australian coastal markets.
What schools are in Wongaling Beach?
No schools are recorded within the Wongaling Beach suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Mission Beach and wider Cassowary Coast communities. The suburb's university qualification rate is 23.9%, which is 6.2 percentage points below the national average.
Is Wongaling Beach safe?
Detailed crime rate statistics are not available for Wongaling Beach in this dataset. As indirect indicators, housing stress is absent with rent-to-income at 21.7% and mortgage-to-income at 27.9%, and only 3.9% of the 1,323 residents require daily assistance, both consistent with a stable, low-stress community.
Is Wongaling Beach good for property investment?
The 31.9% renter share and $273 weekly rent against a $376,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.8%, higher than many coastal markets. However, the 22.3% vacancy rate signals significant competition among rental properties. Only 6 development applications were lodged in 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term threat. Returns depend on the holiday-let market dynamics.
How is Wongaling Beach's population changing?
The current population is 1,323, spread across 8.78 square kilometres at a density of 150.6 per square kilometre. Resident stability is high: 71.9% of residents stayed in place over the five-year survey period. The aging median age of 48, which is 8 years above the national figure, and the low development activity of just 6 applications in 12 months point to slow organic growth.
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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