Moving to Emerald QLD 4720
What the official numbers say about living in Emerald — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $300 a week, against a median household income of $2,202 a week.
About 54% of homes are owner-occupied and 44% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Emerald grew 7% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (13,884 → 14,904 people).
Around 74% of households are families, averaging 2.7 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: Afrikaans, Tagalog, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Emerald sits around the national average (decile 5 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (85% of workers), while 5% work from home.
Nearest train station: Emerald, 400 m north.
Nearest airport: Emerald Airport, 4.6 km south.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 656 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 6 schools · 12 cafes & restaurants · 3 supermarkets · 16 parks — see them all on the Emerald profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Emerald State School 700 m · Capricornia School of Distance (Emerald Campus) 800 m · St Patricks School 900 m · Marist College 1.6 km · Emerald State High School 1.9 km · Emerald North State School 2.1 km
Groceries: Coles 550 m · IGA Emerald 1.2 km · Woolworths 1.6 km
Parks and reserves: McIndee Park 450 m · Kipling Park 450 m · Emerald Botanic Gardens 750 m · Emerald Botanical Gardens 900 m · Morton Park 900 m · Lions Park 950 m · Roberts Street Park 950 m · Rundle Park 1.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Emerald, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Magpie-lark · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Crested Pigeon · Laughing Kookaburra · Black Kite.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Emerald, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald here | 14,904 | — | 5/10 | 12% |
| Sapphire Central | 1,214 | — | 1/10 | 15% |
| Capella | 974 | — | 2/10 | 6% |
| Tieri | 732 | — | 6/10 | 39% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Central Highlands (Qld) — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Flynn — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4720 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Emerald profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $300 a week, and about 44% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 7% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 13,884 people to 14,904. It sits about 656 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Emerald station is roughly 0.4 km away. Local government is Central Highlands (Qld) council, and the federal seat is Flynn.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: Sapphire Central · Capella · Tieri.
Keep an eye on Emerald
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