Yeppoon
At a median age of 47, Yeppoon runs 7 years older than the national figure, and that aging profile shapes nearly everything about this Capricorn Coast town. Population has climbed 34% since 2011 and continues at 1.85% per year, driven almost entirely by internal migration of around 370 people annually rather than overseas arrivals at 86. The gentrification score of 51 marks an active stage, with growth accelerating from 10% to 21%, yet the $400,000 median house price sits at the affordable end and household incomes rank in just the 26.5th percentile nationally. The result is a coastal lifestyle destination pulling in domestic movers, including retirees and remote workers, faster than its modest local economy alone would explain.
Population
7,037
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,221/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$400K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $400,000 estimated median makes Yeppoon markedly cheaper than most of coastal Australia, and the stock is firmly suburban: 72.7% separate houses against only 11.9% apartments. Three-bedroom homes lead at 39.1% and four-plus bedrooms follow at 30.1%, so buyers find space rather than density. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,553, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.4%, which sits just under the 30% stress threshold because local incomes are modest at $1,221 household weekly, in the 26.5th percentile. Ownership is balanced, with 32.1% owning outright and 32.2% holding a mortgage. The affordability trend has improved since 2011, moving from 48.7% to 44.5%, so entry costs remain more reasonable here than in comparable lifestyle towns.
For Buyers
The $400,000 estimated median makes Yeppoon markedly cheaper than most of coastal Australia, and the stock is firmly suburban: 72.7% separate houses against only 11.9% apartments. Three-bedroom homes lead at 39.1% and four-plus bedrooms follow at 30.1%, so buyers find space rather than density. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,553, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.4%, which sits just under the 30% stress threshold because local incomes are modest at $1,221 household weekly, in the 26.5th percentile. Ownership is balanced, with 32.1% owning outright and 32.2% holding a mortgage. The affordability trend has improved since 2011, moving from 48.7% to 44.5%, so entry costs remain more reasonable here than in comparable lifestyle towns.
For Investors
Renters make up 35.7% of households, a smaller tenant pool than capital-city markets, and weekly rent of $300 against a $400,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, stronger than most metropolitan suburbs. The headline caution is a 15.0% vacancy rate, which signals oversupply or a high holiday-let share typical of coastal towns and can sit alongside genuine rental demand. Rent has grown 25.0% recently, and net internal migration of 370 per year is the primary demand driver, well above overseas migration at 86. Development activity registered zero approvals in the past 12 months, so new supply is limited near term. Rent-to-income at 24.6% leaves tenants headroom below the stress line, supporting payment stability.
Schools in Yeppoon iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Benedict's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 370 students
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 552 students
St Ursula's College
7-12 · 606 students
St Brendan's College
7-12 · 1034 students
Yeppoon State High School
7-12 · 1062 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national median, and the senior share has grown 4.7 points while the young share fell 2.1 points, confirming an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents at 14.1% sit 7.5 points below national, making this a strongly Anglo-leaning population: English ancestry leads at 2,965, followed by Irish at 884 and Scottish at 793. University qualifications at 20.6% run 9.5 points under the national rate, consistent with a trades and services workforce rather than a knowledge economy. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, and couples without children at 36.3% outnumber couples with children at around 31.8%, a household mix that reflects both retirees and empty-nesters settling on the coast.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.7%
Houses
14.2%
Townhouse
11.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits almost evenly: 32.1% own outright, 32.2% carry a mortgage and 35.7% rent, a balance that leans more toward ownership than renter-dominated metro markets. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 72.7%, with semi-detached at 14.2% and apartments at just 11.9%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 39.1% and four-plus bedrooms reach 30.1%, while one-bedroom dwellings are scarce at 9.0%, so the housing fabric is family and downsizer oriented rather than compact. The $400,000 median keeps the price-to-income ratio low given the $1,221 weekly household figure, which explains why mortgage-to-income stays at 29.4% despite modest earnings. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places Yeppoon squarely mid-range nationally on combined advantage.
Mortgage / mo
$1,553
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$671
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.0%
Unoccupied
496
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.3%
Couples, no children
4,687
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.8% (347 workers), followed by Education at 15.4% (285), Mining at 9.5% (175), Construction at 9.3% (172) and Public Admin at 9.2% (171). The mining presence reflects the broader Central Queensland resources catchment, while healthcare and education anchor the local service base for an aging population. Professionals top occupations at 530, with Community and Personal Service workers second at 413, ahead of Labourers at 322. The participation rate of 48.1% sits well below national, a direct consequence of the older age profile and 2,380 residents not in the labour force. Unemployment runs at 6.5%, above average, and the SEIFA IEO decile of 4 reflects the lower formal-education base, even as the IER decile of 6 shows mid-range economic resources.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
12,064
Unemployed
274
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
48.1%
Employed
2,686
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.6%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
14.1%
Dwellings
2,783
Transport to Work
Yeppoon is heavily car-dependent, with 85.6% driving to work against just 1.9% using public transport and 5.1% walking or cycling, reflecting a dispersed coastal layout where active transport is limited. The volunteering rate of 15.5% points to an engaged resident base, and 72.3% of residents stayed put over the census period, a turnover of 27.7% that is lower than transient holiday towns and signals settled, long-term households. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places overall advantage at the national midpoint, while 10.1% of residents need assistance with core activities, above-average and consistent with the older median age of 47. Rent-to-income at 24.6% sits below the stress threshold, so housing costs remain manageable for the typical household here.
Drive
85.6%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.85%/yr
(+416 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 1.85% per year, around 416 persons, classified as established rather than booming, but the cumulative 23.7% rise over the past decade is substantial. Net internal migration of 370 per year is the dominant driver, dwarfing overseas migration at 86, which marks Yeppoon as a domestic relocation destination rather than an immigration gateway. Medium forecasts project the SA2 catchment moving from 22,522 in 2025 toward 24,903 by 2031, continuing the trend. The gentrification score of 51 places the area in an active stage, with signals including a 34% population gain since 2011 and acceleration from 10% to 21%. Real income grew 11.1% over the decade, below the pace seen in fast-gentrifying metro suburbs, so affordability has held while the population aged.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+86
Net Internal / yr
+370
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +34% since 2011, Net internal migration +370/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Yeppoon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yeppoon a good suburb to live in?
Yeppoon suits those wanting an affordable coastal lifestyle, with a $400,000 median house price well below most of coastal Australia and a settled population where 72.3% of residents stayed put over the census period. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 is mid-range nationally. The trade-offs are heavy car dependence at 85.6% and a participation rate of just 48.1%, reflecting an older median age of 47.
What is the median house price in Yeppoon?
The estimated median house price is $400,000 (2025), which sits at the affordable end for coastal Queensland. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,553 and weekly rent is around $300, implying a gross yield near 3.9%, higher than most metropolitan markets. Affordability has improved since 2011, moving from 48.7% to 44.5%.
What schools are in Yeppoon?
School-level data is not available in this dataset for Yeppoon, so individual campuses and ICSEA scores cannot be listed here. As context, Education is the second-largest local industry, employing 15.4% of the workforce (285 people), which indicates a sizeable education sector serving the town and its surrounding Capricorn Coast catchment.
Is Yeppoon safe?
Verified crime-rate data is not available in this dataset for Yeppoon, so a precise safety figure cannot be quoted. Indirect indicators include a low residential turnover of 27.7%, meaning 72.3% of residents stayed put, and an engaged community with a volunteering rate of 15.5%, both consistent with a settled, stable coastal town rather than a transient one.
Is Yeppoon good for property investment?
Yeppoon offers a gross yield near 3.9% ($300 weekly rent on a $400,000 median), stronger than most capital-city suburbs. Net internal migration of 370 per year drives demand, far above overseas migration at 86. The key risk is a 15.0% vacancy rate, which can reflect holiday-let supply, though rent grew 25.0% recently and rent-to-income of 24.6% supports tenant stability.
How is Yeppoon's population changing?
Population is growing at 1.85% per year, about 416 persons, with a 23.7% rise over the past decade. The driver is internal migration of 370 per year, well above overseas migration at 86. The median age of 47 is 7 years above national, and the senior share grew 4.7 points, confirming an aging coastal community attracting domestic movers.
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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