River Heads sits 293 km from Brisbane CBD in Queensland, around 3 hours 30 minutes by car. Census data records 2,044 residents with a median age of 54 and a median household income of $64,636 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 32.8% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $350 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,400. The area shows high coastal erosion risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. Walkability is low.
Is River Heads a good town?
River Heads scores a C (41/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on safety, weaker on transit and community.
Car-dependent
Walkability 0/100 · 293 km · 211 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $830K
Low all-round risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 36/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 2/10 · median age 54 · 2,044 residents
Liveability Rating
41 / 100 · Ranked #738 in QLDEach bar is River Heads'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 River Heads?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
41 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataRiver Heads's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $830,000, roughly 11% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$830,000
Based on 133 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 49 days — median across 39 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 23 sales $635K
- 3 bed 56 sales $766K
- 4 bed 40 sales $912K
- 5 bed 10 sales $1.08M
Land
$399,000
Based on 41 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 74 days — median across 11 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in River Heads are currently listed at around $899,000 on average. Based on 46 houses listed in the past six months.
$899K
46 houses listed in the last 6 months.
46 of the suburb's 789 dwellings (5.8%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in River Heads rent for around $670 a week on average, based on 14 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$670/wk
14 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
14 rentals advertised against an estimated 130 rented homes (10.8%) in the last 6 months.
Rent agreed on new leases
Jul–Sep 2026- All rentals
- $700/wk
- 11 bonds
- +71% since 2021
Median weekly rent on bonds lodged for new tenancies. Change since 2021 compares the median of the first four quarters with the last four. Asking rents above come from advertised listings.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025104 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4655.
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$670/week ($35,000 a year) on a $899,000 median
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 River Heads safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in River Heads sits in the low band, with 14 incidents recorded in 2025 — up about 8% on the prior year.
14 offences
7.7% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–20241 crash
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 1 of them fatal
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.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1989–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 742 m
- Rate
- -1.40 m/yr
- Net Movement
- -11.0 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
Walkability
River Heads 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 River Heads.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 58%
- Premises covered
- 1,070
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. They fall into 4 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this town rank well above the average and parts well below it.
River Heads is home to about 2,000 residents, with a median age of 54 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $65,000 a year, with unemployment at 9.5%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
2,044
Median Age
54
Median Household Income
$64,636/yr
Census Median Rent
$350/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,400/mo
Avg Household Size
2.4
Median Personal Income
$28,236/yr
Unemployment Rate
9.5%
Unoccupied Dwellings
11.4%
Total Dwellings
789
Owner-Occupier Rate
83.5%
Houses
97.2%
Rental Stress
28.2%
Mortgage Stress
26.0%
Work From Home
13.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 78.0%
- English Spoken at Home
- 93.6%
- Employment Rate
- 44.1%
- Completed Year 12
- 33.3%
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.
17 residents (0.8%) 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.
15.7% of residents (309) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Brisbane (189).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 1,974 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
1% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (7 of 786).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of 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: 319 to 1,420 homes
- Within 2 years 8 to 30 homes
- In 2 to 5 years 21 to 50 homes
- In 5 to 10 years 101 to 500 homes
- In 10 years or more 189 to 840 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (44 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, 25.1 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Maryborough, 22.7 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 29 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 713 m
- 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 4655, 247 of 58,175 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.1% (1,209 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.5%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4655, 23,481 rooftop-solar systems totalling 136.6 MW have been installed since 2001, against 29,093 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 1,605 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 this town, 15 across postcode 4655.
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 $830,000 this is $80,000 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 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 David Lee Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | David Lee LNP | 58.4% |
| 2020 | Adrian Tantari ALP | 52.0% |
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 River Heads?
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 2,044 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.
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Common questions about River Heads
Is River Heads a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in River Heads is low (36/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect River Heads?
River Heads has no recorded bushfire history. These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is River Heads a good place to live?
River Heads has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of C (41/100), 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 River Heads?
River Heads, QLD had a population of 2,044 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for River Heads, QLD?
The postcode for River Heads, QLD is 4655.
How far is River Heads from Brisbane?
River Heads is 293 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 211 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in River Heads?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in River Heads was $64,636 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 River Heads?
The median advertised rent in River Heads is $670 a week for houses (14 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in River Heads?
The median age of residents in River Heads was 54 at the 2021 ABS Census.
What is the air quality in River Heads?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to River Heads (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 River Heads 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 River Heads?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to River Heads, Maryborough (22.7 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 River Heads?
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 River Heads belong to?
River Heads 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 River Heads?
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 River Heads?
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 River Heads in?
River Heads 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.