Moving to River Heads QLD 4655
What the official numbers say about living in River Heads — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $350 a week, against a median household income of $1,243 a week.
About 82% of homes are owner-occupied and 16% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
River Heads grew 58% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,294 → 2,044 people).
Around 79% of households are families, averaging 2.4 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: German, Mandarin, Filipino.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), River Heads scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (84% of workers), while 13% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Hervey Bay Airport, 9.4 km north.
Nearest ferry wharf: River Heads Ferry, 3.5 km south-east.
Nearest airport: Hervey Bay Airport, 9.4 km north.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 230 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 2 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 1 park — see them all on the River Heads profile.
What's actually nearby
Groceries: Spar Express 2.4 km
Parks and reserves: River Heads Reserve 800 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around River Heads, most often seen first: Great Knot · Variegated Fairy-wren · Australian White Ibis · Lewin's Honeyeater · Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to River Heads, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Heads here | 2,044 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
| Booral | 1,636 | — | 2/10 | 47% |
| Wondunna | 3,315 | — | 6/10 | 33% |
| Urangan | 10,988 | — | 2/10 | 24% |
| Kawungan | 5,460 | — | 2/10 | 16% |
| Nikenbah | 1,234 | — | 7/10 | 18% |
| Torquay | 6,533 | — | 1/10 | 14% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Fraser Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Hinkler — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4655 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full River Heads profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $350 a week, and about 16% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 58% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,294 people to 2,044. It sits about 230 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Fraser Coast council, and the federal seat is Hinkler.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: River Heads vs Booral · River Heads vs Wondunna.
Nearby guides: Booral · Wondunna · Urangan · Kawungan · Nikenbah · Torquay.
Keep an eye on River Heads
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