Moving to Atherton QLD 4883
What the official numbers say about living in Atherton — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $280 a week, against a median household income of $1,099 a week.
About 61% of homes are owner-occupied and 38% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Atherton grew 6% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,287 → 7,724 people).
Around 62% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Italy; most spoken languages besides English: Italian, Australian Indigenous, German.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Atherton scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (84% of workers), while 9% work from home.
Nearest airport: Mareeba Airport, 22.6 km north.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 1374 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 11 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 11 parks — see them all on the Atherton profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Atherton State School 450 m · St Joseph's School 550 m · Atherton High School 750 m · Jubilee Christian College 1.1 km · Tolga Primary School 4.6 km
Groceries: Woolworths 550 m · IGA 1.1 km
Parks and reserves: Atherton Showgrounds 400 m · Lions Park 550 m · Atherton Skate Park 550 m · Circus Park 650 m · Evans Park 950 m · Cuda Park 1000 m · Collins Park 1.2 km · Hallorans Hill Park 1.2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Atherton, most often seen first: Australasian Purple Swamphen · Pacific Black Duck · Australasian Grebe · Hardhead · Plumed Whistling-duck · Willie Wagtail.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Atherton, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atherton here | 7,724 | — | 2/10 | 19% |
| Tolga | 3,177 | — | 4/10 | 24% |
| Yungaburra | 1,272 | — | 6/10 | 16% |
| Peeramon | 778 | — | 7/10 | 14% |
| Malanda | 2,000 | — | 2/10 | 15% |
| Herberton | 895 | — | 1/10 | 56% |
| Mareeba | 11,825 | — | 2/10 | 45% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Tablelands — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Kennedy — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4883 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Atherton profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $280 a week, and about 38% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 6% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,287 people to 7,724. It sits about 1374 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Tablelands council, and the federal seat is Kennedy.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: Tolga · Yungaburra · Peeramon · Malanda · Herberton · Mareeba.
Keep an eye on Atherton
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