Tara QLD 4421
Located in Queensland, Tara sits 303 km from Brisbane CBD, around 3 hours 40 minutes by car. The town has 1,980 residents, a median age of 48, and a median household income of $45,084 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population fell 13.8% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $180 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $758. The area shows high crime risk. 2 schools sit within the town boundary, and walkability is low.
Is Tara a good town?
Tara scores a D (13/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — weaker on transit, safety, and community.
Mixed results
2 schools
Car-dependent
Walkability 4/100 · 302.8 km · 221 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $250K
High crime risk
Fire 29/100 · Crime 86/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 1/10 · median age 48 · 1,980 residents
Liveability Rating
13 / 100 · Ranked #1069 in QLDEach bar is Tara'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 Tara?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
13 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataTara's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $250,000, roughly 48% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$250,000
Based on 25 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 48 days — median across 8 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 12 sales $238K
- 4 bed 6 sales $404K
Land
$99,025
Based on 22 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 72 days — median across 14 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Tara are currently listed at around $357,000 on average. Based on 10 houses listed in the past six months.
$357K
10 houses listed in the last 6 months.
10 of the suburb's 765 dwellings (1.3%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Is Tara safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Tara sits in the high band, with 101 incidents recorded in 2025 — down about 4% on the prior year.
101 offences
3.8% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202425 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 2 of them fatal
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
Two schools serve Tara, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 405 students across 2 schools (avg 202)
- • Sectors: 1 Catholic, 1 Government
- • ICSEA 842-843, median 842 (below the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Tara Shire State College (353 students)
Primary
Combined
Walkability
Tara is very car-dependent on foot — at 4/100, 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 Tara.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 1,012
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
Western Downs: 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 6 small areas inside this town and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 2 different deciles — a narrow range, so the average describes the town closely.
Tara is home to about 2,000 residents, with a median age of 48, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $45,000 a year, with unemployment at 17.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
1,980
Median Age
48
Median Household Income
$45,084/yr
Census Median Rent
$180/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$758/mo
Avg Household Size
2.2
Median Personal Income
$24,908/yr
Unemployment Rate
17.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
41.8%
Total Dwellings
765
Owner-Occupier Rate
74.4%
Houses
94.1%
Rental Stress
20.8%
Mortgage Stress
20.2%
Work From Home
12.7%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
17 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 4 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 183 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 79.7%
- English Spoken at Home
- 86.5%
- Employment Rate
- 34.2%
- Completed Year 12
- 23.2%
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.
8 residents (0.4%) 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.
8.8% of residents (165) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Brisbane (145).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 1,883 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 $1,238 a year through Western Downs based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Western Downs
In the year to August 2026, 53 new dwellings were approved across Western Downs. That mix is 47 houses and 6 units. Approvals are down 40.0% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this town: 203 to 735 homes
- In 2 to 5 years 58 to 125 homes
- No timeframe set 145 to 610 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (8 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 Barunggam People.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. No native title claim is currently registered here, so the last registered claimant remains the Aboriginal party.
Setting
- Elevation
- 308 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
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 4421, 4 of 2,427 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 0.4% (10 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 0.6%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4421, 548 rooftop-solar systems totalling 3.8 MW have been installed since 2001, against 1,179 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 50 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 $250,000 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 Littleproud Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | David Littleproud | 26.0% | 74.0% | -1.8 |
| 2022 | David Littleproud | 27.9% | 72.1% | -3.3 |
| 2019 | David Littleproud | 24.6% | 75.4% | +7.9 |
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 Ann Leahy Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ann Leahy LNP | 77.8% |
| 2020 | Ann Leahy LNP | 73.2% |
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 Tara?
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 1,980 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 Tara 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 Tara
Is Tara a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Tara is high (86/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Tara?
Tara has a low recorded bushfire history (29/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Tara a good place to live?
Tara has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (13/100), 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 Tara?
Tara, QLD had a population of 1,980 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Tara, QLD?
The postcode for Tara, QLD is 4421.
How far is Tara from Brisbane?
Tara is 303 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 221 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Tara?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Tara was $45,084 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 Tara?
There are too few current rental listings in Tara for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $180, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Tara?
The median age of residents in Tara was 48 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Tara at risk of bushfire?
Tara has a low recorded bushfire history (29/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the town 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.
How are the schools in Tara?
There are 2 schools inside the Tara boundary: 1 at and 1 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Tara walkable?
Tara scores 4/100 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.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Tara?
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 Tara belong to?
Tara sits within the Western Downs local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Tara?
The average residential rates bill through Western Downs is $1,238 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Tara?
Across Western Downs, 53 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 40.0% 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 Tara in?
Tara sits within the federal Division of Maranoa, currently held by David Littleproud (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
- 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.