Alice River is a suburb in Queensland, 1,371 km from Brisbane CBD, around 15 hours 40 minutes by car. Population is 2,685; the median age is 38 and the median household income is $128,336 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the top 40% nationally. The suburb grew 10.7% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $415 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,000. Alice River is characterised by high bushfire risk. Walkability is low.
Is Alice River a good suburb?
Alice River scores a D (31/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on community, weaker on transit and safety.
Car-dependent
Walkability 0/100 · 1370.6 km · 939 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $885K
High bushfire risk
Fire 79/100 · Crime 32/100
Advantaged
SEIFA decile 8/10 · median age 38 · 2,685 residents
Liveability Rating
31 / 100 · Ranked #922 in QLDEach bar is Alice River's rank among QLD suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
Flood data for Queensland covers only the areas mapped there — a blank here is not an all-clear.
How do you rate the liveability in Alice River?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
31 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataAlice River's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $885,000, roughly 24% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$885,000
18% above its 3 neighbours (median $749,500)
Based on 89 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 29 days — median across 17 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 16 sales $825K
- 4 bed 58 sales $885K
- 5 bed 13 sales $990K
Land
$405,000
Based on 24 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 20 days — median across 4 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Alice River are currently listed at around $1.08 million on average. Based on 13 houses listed in the past six months.
$1.08M
13 houses listed in the last 6 months.
13 of the suburb's 855 dwellings (1.5%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Alice River rent for around $925 a week on average, based on 4 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$925/wk
4 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
4 rentals advertised against an estimated 62 rented homes (6.5%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025111 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 27% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4817.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$925/week ($48,000 a year) on a $1.08 million median
Based on a small sample (4 listings) — indicative only.
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Is Alice River safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Alice River sits in the low band, with 16 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 53% on the prior year.
16 offences
52.9% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–20248 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 1 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Alice River is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Alice River.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 59%
- Premises covered
- 1,050
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Townsville: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 8 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 5 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Alice River is home to about 2,700 residents, with a median age of 38, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $128,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.7%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
2,685
Median Age
38
Median Household Income
$128,336/yr
Census Median Rent
$415/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,000/mo
Avg Household Size
3.1
Median Personal Income
$51,792/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Unoccupied Dwellings
4.0%
Total Dwellings
855
Owner-Occupier Rate
92.8%
Houses
99.1%
Rental Stress
16.8%
Mortgage Stress
18.7%
Work From Home
7.1%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 88.5%
- English Spoken at Home
- 95.9%
- Employment Rate
- 71.1%
- Completed Year 12
- 39.5%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
7 residents (0.3%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
2.7% of residents (68) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Sydney (25).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 2,518 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,810 a year through Townsville based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Townsville
In the year to August 2026, 1,096 new dwellings were approved across Townsville. That mix is 991 houses and 105 units. Approvals are down 22.3% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this suburb: 173 to 650 homes
- In 2 to 5 years 21 to 50 homes
- In 5 to 10 years 51 to 100 homes
- In 10 years or more 101 to 500 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (3 parcels), by when it expects lots to be registered. Yields are published in ranges, so these are too.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Gurambilbarra Wulgurukaba People.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. A native title claim over this area is registered with the Federal Court.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 6 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³). 1 day exceeded the daily threshold of 25 µg/m³.
PM10 averaged 15.6 µg/m³ · NO₂ averaged 0.25 pphm. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 1 · NO₂ 0.
From the North Ward (Townsville, North Queensland) monitoring station, 22.4 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Townsville Aero, 18.7 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 47 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 18.3 km
- Annual rainfall
- 1,304 mm
- 65 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 31.8°C
- 5 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 15.0°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
2 facilities within 5 km- 4.8 kmWaste Treatment and Disposal ServicesTop reported: Chlorine & compounds · Ammonia (total) · Total Volatile Organic Compounds
- 4.8 kmWaste Remediation and Materials Recovery ServicesTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen · Sulfur dioxide
EV adoption
In postcode 4817, 97 of 24,485 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.8% (694 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 3.2%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4817, 8,836 rooftop-solar systems totalling 58.6 MW have been installed since 2001, against 11,576 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 624 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$30,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
$30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, with no end date. IT DID NOT REVERT TO $15,000: the tier was due to end 30 June 2026 and the 2026-27 Queensland Budget (23 June 2026) continued it for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. This file carried a "due to revert" note until 2026-09-18 — it was never true, and a note predicting a change is not the same as a change. Cap is "less than $750,000" including land and contract variations — less than, not up to. New homes only: "There are no home owner grants for established homes."
Mortgage repayments
1 mortgage broker is registered in postcode 4817.
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Queensland Revenue Office
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $30,000 — see what qualifies with Queensland Revenue Office.
At $885,000 this is $135,000 above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $30,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Queensland Revenue Office.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Bob Katter Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bob Katter | 40.7% | 59.3% | +0.8 |
| 2022 | Bob Katter | 39.8% | 60.2% | -4.3 |
| 2019 | Bob Katter | 35.5% | 64.5% | +7.8 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Wayde Chiesa Liberal National Party of Queensland — elected at the Nov 2025 by-election, after the results below
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nick Dametto KAP | 63.2% |
| 2020 | Nick Dametto KAP | 64.8% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Alice River?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 2,685 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Featured in
- #2 in Townsville's highest-income suburbs
- #8 in Townsville suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
- #9 in Townsville suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021
- #9 in Townsville suburbs where the most homes are owned outright
- #9 in The safest suburbs in Townsville
- #9 in Townsville suburbs where young families live
- #15 in Townsville's most owner-occupied suburbs
Nearby suburbs
Bohle Plains QLD 4817
Black River QLD 4818
Rangewood QLD 4817
Hervey Range QLD 4817
Gumlow QLD 4815
Pinnacles QLD 4815
Compare Alice River to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Alice River
Is Alice River a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Alice River is low (32/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Alice River?
Alice River has a high recorded bushfire history (79/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Alice River a good place to live?
Alice River has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (31/100), ranked against other QLD suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Alice River?
Alice River, QLD had a population of 2,685 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Alice River, QLD?
The postcode for Alice River, QLD is 4817.
How far is Alice River from Brisbane?
Alice River is 1,371 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 939 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Alice River?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Alice River was $128,336 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Alice River?
The median advertised rent in Alice River is $925 a week for houses (4 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Alice River?
The median age of residents in Alice River was 38 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Alice River at risk of bushfire?
Alice River has a high recorded bushfire history (79/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the suburb relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
What is the air quality in Alice River?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Alice River (North Ward (Townsville, North Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 6.0 µg/m³ and PM10 of 15.6 µg/m³. That puts Alice River below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Alice River?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Alice River, Townsville Aero (18.7 km away), summer days average 31.8°C, winter nights 15°C, 1,304 mm of rain a year over 65 rainy days, and 5 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Alice River?
First-home buyers in QLD may be eligible for $30,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by Queensland Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Alice River belong to?
Alice River sits within the Townsville local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Alice River?
The average residential rates bill through Townsville is $1,810 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Alice River?
Across Townsville, 1,096 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 22.3% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Alice River in?
Alice River sits within the federal Division of Kennedy, currently held by Bob Katter (Katter's Australian Party (KAP)).
Search another suburb or address
Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
Was the information on this page useful to you?
Thanks! Anything we could improve?
We hate spam as much as you do — we'll never use your email for marketing, and we might not be able to reply to everyone.
Thanks for your feedback! 🙏
Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.