Moving to Malanda QLD 4885
What the official numbers say about living in Malanda — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $250 a week, against a median household income of $1,120 a week.
About 70% of homes are owner-occupied and 29% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Malanda shrank 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,052 → 2,000 people).
Around 68% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, Germany; most spoken languages besides English: Japanese, German, Australian Indigenous.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Malanda scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (80% of workers), while 12% work from home.
Nearest airport: Mareeba Airport, 36.9 km north-west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 1359 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 2 schools · 2 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 2 parks — see them all on the Malanda profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Malanda State School 800 m · Malanda State High School 800 m
Groceries: Spar 850 m
Parks and reserves: Dungavell Park 750 m · Eacham Memorial Park 850 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Malanda, most often seen first: Australian Brush-turkey · Lewin's Honeyeater · Grey-headed Robin · Spotted Catbird · Macleay's Honeyeater · Victoria's Riflebird.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Malanda, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malanda here | 2,000 | — | 2/10 | 15% |
| Peeramon | 778 | — | 7/10 | 14% |
| Yungaburra | 1,272 | — | 6/10 | 16% |
| Atherton | 7,724 | — | 2/10 | 19% |
| Millaa Millaa | 523 | — | 2/10 | 32% |
| Tolga | 3,177 | — | 4/10 | 24% |
| Herberton | 895 | — | 1/10 | 56% |
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 4885 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Malanda profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $250 a week, and about 29% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,052 people to 2,000. It sits about 1359 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Tablelands council, and the federal seat is Kennedy.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Malanda vs Yungaburra.
Nearby guides: Peeramon · Yungaburra · Atherton · Millaa Millaa · Tolga · Herberton.
Keep an eye on Malanda
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