El Arish sits 1,576 km from Brisbane CBD in Queensland, around 17 hours 55 minutes by car. Census data records 337 residents with a median age of 47 and a median household income of $59,696 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the bottom 20% nationally. The locality fell 2.0% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $273 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,170. El Arish is characterised by no recorded bushfire exposure. 1 school sits within the locality boundary, and walkability is low.
This locality is too small to rate.
The Liveability Rating is calculated for suburbs of 500 residents or more, and this one has 337. Below that the school, census and safety figures behind the score cover too few people to rank fairly against the rest of the state. The individual measures further down this page are still shown.
How do you rate the liveability in El Arish?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
Not enough data to score this locality.
Residents say
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Median House Price
Public listings dataThe median house sale price in El Arish sits at $440,000, broadly flat year-on-year. That said, only three sales settled in the quarter, so the median is a noisy signal — treat it as a direction rather than a level.
$440,000
Based on only 3 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Is El Arish safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in El Arish sits in the low band, with 12 incidents recorded in 2025 — up roughly 500% on the prior year.
12 offences
500.0% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–20245 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
One school serve El Arish, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 32 students in one school (avg 32)
Primary
Walkability
El Arish is very car-dependent on foot — at 23/100, 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 El Arish.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 163
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
Cassowary Coast: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
El Arish is home to 337 residents, with a median age of 47, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $60,000 a year, with unemployment at 7.4%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
337
Median Age
47
Median Household Income
$59,696/yr
Census Median Rent
$273/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,170/mo
Avg Household Size
2.3
Median Personal Income
$33,904/yr
Unemployment Rate
7.4%
Unoccupied Dwellings
15.3%
Total Dwellings
131
Owner-Occupier Rate
76.2%
Houses
88.5%
Rental Stress
23.8%
Mortgage Stress
23.5%
Work From Home
4.3%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 81.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 86.1%
- Employment Rate
- 49.6%
- Completed Year 12
- 26.1%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
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 $1,829 a year through Cassowary Coast based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Cassowary Coast
In the year to August 2026, 186 new dwellings were approved across Cassowary Coast. That mix is 128 houses and 58 units. Approvals are up 68.4% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this locality: 1 to 5 homes
- No timeframe set 1 to 5 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (1 parcel), 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 Djiru People #2.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. Native title over this area has been determined.
Climate & Setting
from South Johnstone Exp Stn, 21.8 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 18 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 8.8 km
- Annual rainfall
- 3,534 mm
- 132 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 31.4°C
- 5 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 16.5°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the locality 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.
EV adoption
In postcode 4855, 0 of 785 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.4% (11 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.4%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4855, 191 rooftop-solar systems totalling 1.4 MW have been installed since 2001, against 341 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 13 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
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 $440,000 this is under 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 locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Shane Knuth Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Shane Knuth KAP | 63.7% |
| 2020 | Shane Knuth KAP | 72.5% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in El Arish?
Every figure above is a locality 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 337 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.
Nearby suburbs
Compare El Arish 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 El Arish
Is El Arish a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in El Arish is low (34/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect El Arish?
El Arish has no recorded bushfire history. These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of El Arish?
El Arish, QLD had a population of 337 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for El Arish, QLD?
The postcode for El Arish, QLD is 4855.
How far is El Arish from Brisbane?
El Arish is 1,576 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 1073 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in El Arish?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in El Arish was $59,696 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 El Arish?
There are too few current rental listings in El Arish for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $273, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in El Arish?
The median age of residents in El Arish was 47 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in El Arish?
There is 1 school inside the El Arish boundary: 1 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is El Arish walkable?
El Arish scores 23/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in El Arish?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to El Arish, South Johnstone Exp Stn (21.8 km away), summer days average 31.4°C, winter nights 16.5°C, 3,534 mm of rain a year over 132 rainy days, and 5 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in El Arish?
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 El Arish belong to?
El Arish sits within the Cassowary Coast local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in El Arish?
The average residential rates bill through Cassowary Coast is $1,829 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near El Arish?
Across Cassowary Coast, 186 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 68.4% 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 El Arish in?
El Arish sits within the federal Division of Kennedy, currently held by Bob Katter (Katter's Australian Party (KAP)).
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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
- 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.
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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.