Yungaburra
A vacancy rate of 20.4% in a suburb of only 1,272 people is Yungaburra's standout number, signalling an unusually large pool of unoccupied dwellings for a small Atherton Tablelands town. Household income sits at the 30.7th percentile nationally, yet 52.7% of residents own their home outright, well above the national average, because the median age of 53 is 13.0 years above national and many long-term owners are debt-free. Population has risen 12.8% over 10 years, driven by internal migration of 120 net arrivals annually, indicating the area draws lifestyle-seekers from elsewhere in Australia rather than growing through local demographic momentum.
Population
1,272
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,296/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$386K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $386,000 is well below Queensland and national medians, making Yungaburra an affordable entry point for buyers seeking detached housing in Far North Queensland. Separate houses account for 96.9% of stock, so buyers are almost exclusively purchasing freestanding homes. Three-bedroom configurations are most common at 46.7%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 31.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,495, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 52.7% is above national averages because many residents are older, debt-free owner-occupiers, leaving mortgage holders at only 25.3% of households.
For Buyers
The median house price of $386,000 is well below Queensland and national medians, making Yungaburra an affordable entry point for buyers seeking detached housing in Far North Queensland. Separate houses account for 96.9% of stock, so buyers are almost exclusively purchasing freestanding homes. Three-bedroom configurations are most common at 46.7%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 31.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,495, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 52.7% is above national averages because many residents are older, debt-free owner-occupiers, leaving mortgage holders at only 25.3% of households.
For Investors
The investment case carries caution signals. The vacancy rate of 20.4% is extremely high compared to the national benchmark, indicating oversupply relative to demand. Weekly rent of $290 against a $386,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, modest given the vacancy risk. Renters are only 22.0% of households, a thin tenant base. Internal migration brings 120 net arrivals annually, providing some demand support, but development activity is low at just 7 applications in 12 months. Rent grew 23.8% in the recent period, a positive signal, but the high vacancy rate tempers near-term rental income assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
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 Yungaburra iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Yungaburra State School
Prep-6 · 217 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 places Yungaburra 13.0 years above the national figure. The senior share rose 7.9 points while the working-age share fell 5.2 points over the decade, reinforcing an aging trajectory that has pushed the participation rate to 49.9%, well below national norms. Overseas-born residents at 17.3% are 4.3 points below national, reflecting a predominantly locally-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (602), Irish (212) and Scottish (149). University qualifications reach 29.4%, within 0.7 points of the national figure, indicating the professional class is proportionally represented despite the income level sitting at the 30.7th percentile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.9%
Houses
2.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure is dominated by outright owners at 52.7%, above national averages and explained by the older resident base where many long-term owners have paid off mortgages. Mortgage holders represent 25.3% and renters 22.0%, both below state and national comparisons. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 96.9%, with semi-detached at 2.2% and no apartments. Three-bedroom homes at 46.7% are the largest segment, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 31.2%. Average household size of 2.2 is slightly below the national figure. The median house price of $386,000 and weekly rent of $290 keep housing costs manageable, with rent-to-income at 22.4% below the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,495
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$722
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.4%
Unoccupied
136
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.7%
Couples, no children
944
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education and Healthcare each employ 17.2% of the local workforce (69 workers each), together accounting for over a third of all employment, reflecting a regional service economy. Construction follows at 10.0% and Public Administration at 9.2%. By occupation, Professionals (122) and Managers (89) are the two largest groups, explaining why university qualifications at 29.4% hold close to the national average despite income at the 30.7th percentile. The unemployment rate is low at 3.1%, but the participation rate of 49.9% is the more significant constraint, as 439 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a predominantly retired population at median age 53. The IRSAD decile of 4 places the suburb in the lower-middle range nationally.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
4,676
Unemployed
179
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.2%
Part-time
33.7%
Participation
49.9%
Employed
525
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.4%
Postgraduate
5.7%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
511
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 85.2% of residents commuting as drivers, above national averages, while public transport sits at just 1.7%, reflecting the regional Atherton Tablelands setting. Walking and cycling at 6.9% is above many comparable rural towns, likely because of the compact township layout. Crime data is not available in this dataset; the IRSAD decile of 4 places the suburb in the lower-middle advantage range nationally. Volunteering is notably high at 27.7%, more than double many urban benchmarks, pointing to an engaged community culture. Only 6.0% of residents (73 people) need daily assistance, though that figure will bear watching as the median age of 53 continues to rise.
Drive
85.2%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.93%/yr
(+90 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 12.8% over the decade to reach 1,272, with annual growth at 0.93%, or roughly 90 additional people per year. The primary mechanism is internal migration averaging 120 net arrivals annually, as lifestyle and retirement-oriented households relocate from urban centres. Overseas migration adds 29 residents a year. Gentrification shows early signs: population is up 18% since 2011, real income grew 15.6% and rent rose 23.8%. The senior share rose 7.9 points while the young-adult share declined 2.1 points, so growth concentrates in the retirement cohort, shaping future demand toward lifestyle amenity rather than family formation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+29
Net Internal / yr
+120
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal migration +120/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Yungaburra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yungaburra a good suburb to live in?
Yungaburra suits lifestyle-oriented residents and retirees rather than career-stage households. Housing is affordable at a $386,000 median, ownership rates are high at 52.7% outright, above national averages, and volunteering at 27.7% points to strong community participation. Trade-offs include low incomes at the 30.7th percentile nationally, limited public transport at 1.7%, and a high vacancy rate of 20.4%.
What is the median house price in Yungaburra?
The median house price is approximately $386,000, estimated from rental data as of 2025. Weekly rent averages $290 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,495. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6% is below the 30% stress threshold, making purchase costs manageable relative to local income levels at the 30.7th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Yungaburra?
No schools are recorded inside the Yungaburra suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Atherton or Malanda, given the small population of 1,272 and the regional setting. University qualifications locally reach 29.4%, within 0.7 points of the national figure, suggesting educated households rely on surrounding townships for schooling.
Is Yungaburra safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Yungaburra in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, at the national median. Only 6.0% of residents (73 people) need daily assistance, and the volunteering rate of 27.7% suggests a socially engaged community.
Is Yungaburra good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Rent grew 23.8% in recent years and the weekly rent of $290 against a $386,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%. However, a vacancy rate of 20.4% is very high compared to national benchmarks, and the rental pool is only 22.0% of households. Internal migration of 120 net arrivals annually provides demand support, but the thin tenant base limits confidence.
How is Yungaburra's population changing?
Population grew 12.8% over the past decade, reaching 1,272 residents, with annual growth of approximately 0.93%, or 90 people per year. Internal migration averaging 120 net arrivals annually is the primary driver. The senior share rose 7.9 points and the working-age share fell 5.2 points, concentrating growth in the older cohort rather than working-age family formation.
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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