Howard QLD 4659
Howard sits 278 km from Brisbane CBD in Queensland, around 3 hours 15 minutes by car. Census data records 1,394 residents with a median age of 56 and a median household income of $44,408 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 2.6% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $248 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,062. The area shows no recorded bushfire exposure. 1 school sits within the town boundary, and walkability is low.
Is Howard a good town?
Howard scores a D (31/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — weaker on transit and community.
Mixed results
1 school
Car-dependent
Walkability 0/100 · 278 km · 193 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $600K
Moderate crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 56/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 1/10 · median age 56 · 1,394 residents
Liveability Rating
31 / 100 · Ranked #921 in QLDEach bar is Howard'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 Howard?
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 dataHoward's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $600,000, roughly 26% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$600,000
Based on 41 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 38 days — median across 10 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 9 sales $500K
- 3 bed 22 sales $608K
- 4 bed 7 sales $700K
Land
$320,000
Based on only 5 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Howard are currently listed at around $699,000 on average. Based on 13 houses listed in the past six months.
$699K
13 houses listed in the last 6 months.
13 of the suburb's 612 dwellings (2.1%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Is Howard safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Howard sits in the moderate band, with 21 incidents recorded in 2025 — down about 9% on the prior year.
21 offences
8.7% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202411 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the town 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 Howard, and performance is broadly on par with peer-suburb schools.
- • 163 students in one school (avg 163)
Primary
Walkability
Howard 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 Howard.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 19%
- Premises covered
- 752
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
Fraser Coast: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this town alone — this town's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 4 small areas inside this town and averages them into the single decile above. Every one of them ranks in that same decile, so the average describes the whole town.
Howard is home to about 1,400 residents, with a median age of 56 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $44,000 a year, with unemployment at 11.2%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
1,394
Median Age
56
Median Household Income
$44,408/yr
Census Median Rent
$248/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,062/mo
Avg Household Size
2.2
Median Personal Income
$23,712/yr
Unemployment Rate
11.2%
Unoccupied Dwellings
10.3%
Total Dwellings
612
Owner-Occupier Rate
75.9%
Houses
94.0%
Rental Stress
29.0%
Mortgage Stress
28.7%
Work From Home
8.1%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
15 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 17 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 141 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 81.4%
- English Spoken at Home
- 93.1%
- Employment Rate
- 31.9%
- Completed Year 12
- 24.2%
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.
0 residents (0.0%) 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.
6.9% of residents (92) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Brisbane (43).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 1,339 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 $1,576 a year through Fraser Coast based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Fraser Coast
In the year to August 2026, 1,578 new dwellings were approved across Fraser Coast. That mix is 1,395 houses and 183 units. Approvals are down 8.2% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this town: 556 to 2,295 homes
- Within 2 years 107 to 520 homes
- In 2 to 5 years 107 to 520 homes
- No timeframe set 342 to 1,255 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (56 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 Butchulla People Land & Sea Claim #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.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 5.5 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 14 µg/m³. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 0.
From the Maryborough (Wide Bay-Burnett) monitoring station, 25.3 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Maryborough, 26.6 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 29 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 14.7 km
- Annual rainfall
- 1,074 mm
- 91 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 31.0°C
- 5 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 9.7°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the town 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 4659, 12 of 5,579 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.1% (63 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.3%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4659, 2,499 rooftop-solar systems totalling 13.8 MW have been installed since 2001, against 2,668 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 197 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 $600,000 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 David Batt Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | David Batt | 43.7% | 56.3% | +3.8 |
| 2022 | Keith Pitt | 39.9% | 60.1% | -4.4 |
| 2019 | Keith Pitt | 35.5% | 64.5% | +6.1 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact town's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by John Barounis Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | John Barounis LNP | 52.8% |
| 2020 | Bruce Saunders ALP | 61.9% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this town's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Howard?
Every figure above is a town 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 1,394 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 Howard 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 Howard
Is Howard a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Howard is moderate (56/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Howard?
Howard has no recorded bushfire history. These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Howard a good place to live?
Howard 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 Howard?
Howard, QLD had a population of 1,394 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Howard, QLD?
The postcode for Howard, QLD is 4659.
How far is Howard from Brisbane?
Howard is 278 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 193 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Howard?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Howard was $44,408 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 Howard?
There are too few current rental listings in Howard for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $248, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Howard?
The median age of residents in Howard was 56 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Howard?
There is 1 school inside the Howard boundary: 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
What is the air quality in Howard?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Howard (Maryborough (Wide Bay-Burnett)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.5 µg/m³ and PM10 of 14.0 µg/m³. That puts Howard 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 Howard?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Howard, Maryborough (26.6 km away), summer days average 31°C, winter nights 9.7°C, 1,074 mm of rain a year over 91 rainy days, and 5 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Howard?
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 Howard belong to?
Howard sits within the Fraser Coast local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Howard?
The average residential rates bill through Fraser Coast is $1,576 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Howard?
Across Fraser Coast, 1,578 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 8.2% 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 Howard in?
Howard sits within the federal Division of Hinkler, currently held by David Batt (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
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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
- 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.
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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.