Skip to content
Suburb profile ·Fraser Coast LGA · QLD ·4659

Howard QLD 4659

Howard is in Fraser Coast LGA, QLD, postcode 4659, with population 1,394.

The read

Verify-first

The page has enough signal to be useful, but the story is mixed rather than decisive. Use compare mode to pressure-test it against stronger nearby options, then use the calculator if it still makes the shortlist.

Why it fits

Population movement supports a growth-led read.

What to check

Evidence depth is verify-heavy, so the profile should be treated as provisional.

Median house
No local house series
Median rent
$248/wk
Market rent signal
D4 vs AU
Gross yield
Need rent + price
Population
1,394
1K local footprint
D8 vs AU
Schools
1
Matched school context
D1 vs AU
Drive to city
3h 41m
283.9 km to Brisbane CBD · free-flow
Solar
2,446
187 added 12mo · 13MW

Price history

No price history available

Price series isn't recorded for this suburb. Census housing data is shown instead.

Median mortgage · mth$1,062
Median rent · wk$248
Investor profile

Who invests in Howard

Owner-occupied 76%Rented 24%
Investor activityATO
Negatively geared4.3%
115 of 282 landlords
Avg rental loss$6,327/yr
Landlords (rental income)282
Reported capital gains204
The read

Owner-occupier stronghold

72% of homes here are owner-occupied and 23% rented, with 4% of landlords negatively geared.

Why it fits

72% owner-occupied — owner-occupiers hold longer and absorb rate shocks, supporting price stability.

ABS Census 2021 tenure (G37), ATO postcode rental statistics, and QuickProperty's investor-exposure index. Owner-occupied = owned outright + with a mortgage.

Affordability

29%
median weekly rent as a share of gross household income (the 30% rule)
Manageable

Owners with a mortgage repay a median of $1,062/mo, while renters pay about $1,075/mo — renting runs $13/mo higher on these medians.

Household income · yr
$44K
Median rent · wk
$248
Owner mortgage · mo
$1,062

Household income

$44K household · yr-44.2% vs QLD suburb median
Personal
$24K
Family
$54K
Household
$44K
Household income distribution (ABS Census 2021 · weekly)
Under $300
33
$300-649
146
$650-999
139
$1,000-1,499
109
$1,500-1,999
56
$2,000-2,999
42
$3,000-3,999
20
$4,000+
5

At the median asking rent, about 48% of households here would spend more than 30% of income on rent (rent stress line: $827/wk income).

Housing stock and tenure

Tenure (612 households)5.2% social housing
Owned outright
48%
Owned with mortgage
25%
Rented
23%
Dwelling structure9.4% of dwellings unoccupied on census night
Separate house
94%
Townhouse / semi
0%
Flat / apartment
5%

Getting to work: 83% drive, 0% public transport, 6% walk or cycle, 8% worked from home (2021 Census, taken during COVID-era work-from-home arrangements).

Schools

Total1
Avg ICSEA894
Students163
Government1
  • Howard State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 894

Livability

28/ 100 livability index

Top 72% most liveable of 4,565Australian suburbs.

Peer distributionstronger than 28% of Australian suburbs
WeakerTypicalStronger
Everyday access52
Public transport0
Schools & hospitals25

Bar = this suburb's percentile · tick = typical (median) peer

Suburb-level access-density index (not an address-level walk-time score), normalised within Australian suburbs. Method based on the Urban Liveability Index (Higgs et al. 2019) and Walk Score — three equal-weighted domains combined with an imbalance penalty.

Crime Year ending May 2026
5,526
5,526 per 100k
D7 vs AU

Crime

Rate · per 100k5,526
Total incidents5,526· Year ending May 2026
  • Assault91330%
  • Break And Enter50817%
  • Drug Offences1,23441%
  • Fraud38313%

Development screen

Could a secondary dwelling be worth investigating?

secondary dwelling / granny flat screening context Low broad constraint context

Policy position

Official source access limited

The official state policy page could not be reliably re-verified automatically in the latest review. Treat this screen as preliminary and confirm the current planning and building requirements with the state source and local council.

Rental use: State rental-law changes allow secondary dwellings to be rented more broadly, but implementation depends on an approved lawful dwelling and local planning/building requirements.

Open official policy source

Separate houses

85.4%

Suburb share of occupied private dwellings recorded as separate houses.

6.2 pp above the state median

State median 79.3% · 838 valid suburbs

Residential-zone context

Not staged

A comparable planning-zone layer is not staged for this state.

Rental households

23.0%

Demand context only; it does not establish permission to rent a secondary dwelling.

6.7 pp below the state median

State median 29.7% · 838 valid suburbs

Mapped hazards

No mapped bushfire exposure

The staged suburb layer shows no mapped exposure; this is not a property-level clearance. No broad-area layer staged for this suburb.

Approval pathway

Four checks, each with a different evidence threshold.

This is an investigation sequence, not a guarantee that every step applies or that approval will be granted.

  1. 01 Verify current source

    State policy position

    The current secondary dwelling / granny flat position needs direct confirmation before relying on this screen.

  2. 02 Property dependent

    Planning pathway

    Confirm zoning, lot controls, overlays, setbacks, site coverage and whether planning approval is required.

  3. 03 Design dependent

    Building approval

    Confirm the building approval route after the design, site classifications, services and construction requirements are known.

  4. 04 Check separately

    Intended use

    Confirm long-term rental, short-stay or family-use rules separately from permission to construct the dwelling.

Property due diligence

Turn the suburb screen into a property checklist.

Every check starts unconfirmed. Progress stays in this browser and suburb evidence never clears an address-level requirement.

0evidence acquired
0evidence missing
0reviews due
0consultant questions

Active record: Howard unnamed property

0/14checked
0issues found

Site controls

Lot area and dimensions

Confirm title dimensions, usable site area and any minimum lot threshold.

Status for Lot area and dimensions
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Setbacks and site coverage

Test setbacks, private open space, landscaping and maximum site coverage against a concept plan.

Status for Setbacks and site coverage
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Slope and ground conditions

Check survey levels, soil classification, retaining needs and likely earthworks.

Status for Slope and ground conditions
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Title and planning

Zoning and overlays

Obtain current property-level zoning, overlays and applicable planning controls.

Status for Zoning and overlays
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Title, easements and covenants

Review the title for easements, covenants, restrictions and common property.

Status for Title, easements and covenants
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Services and access

Sewer and stormwater

Locate assets and connection points, then confirm capacity, clearances and discharge requirements.

Status for Sewer and stormwater
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Power, water and metering

Confirm service routes, upgrade needs and whether separate metering is permitted or practical.

Status for Power, water and metering
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Vehicle access and parking

Test driveway width, gradients, turning, parking and emergency access requirements.

Status for Vehicle access and parking
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Construction constraints

Bushfire exposure

Order an address-level bushfire assessment and determine any BAL construction response.

Status for Bushfire exposure
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Flood and overland flow

Obtain property flood information and check floor levels, flow paths and drainage constraints.

Status for Flood and overland flow
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Wind, corrosion and termite

Confirm site classifications that affect structural design, materials and durability.

Status for Wind, corrosion and termite
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Approval and use

Planning approval pathway

Confirm exemption, complying pathway or permit requirements with the responsible authority.

Status for Planning approval pathway
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Building approval and consultants

Identify required survey, design, engineering, energy, certification and inspection evidence.

Status for Building approval and consultants
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Rental and intended use

Confirm occupation, rental, short-stay and family-use rules plus insurance and tax implications.

Status for Rental and intended use
Evidence packMissing

Metadata only. QuickProperty does not store or upload the underlying document.

Howard, QLD 4659 · Local browser record

Investigation aid only. Confirm current planning, building, title, service and hazard requirements with qualified professionals and responsible authorities.

Building due diligence

Construction requirements can change by location.

The National Construction Code is the baseline. Local hazards and site classifications can change the required structure, materials, fixings, insulation and detailing.

Known here

SUBURB CONTEXT

Bushfire-prone land

No mapped bushfire exposure

About 0.0% of the suburb intersects mapped bushfire-prone land.

May affect: External construction · Roof and wall systems · Openings, screens and decks

Check the property

ADDRESS + DESIGN

NCC climate zone

Check the property

Confirm the NCC climate zone used for the building design and energy provisions.

May affect: Insulation and glazing · Condensation control · Roof-space ventilation

Wind class and BAL

Site assessment required

A suburb layer cannot determine the site wind classification or Bushfire Attack Level.

May affect: Structure and tie-downs · Cladding and fixings · Openings and bushfire detailing

Corrosion and termite exposure

Check the property

Confirm marine or corrosive exposure and the applicable termite-management requirements.

May affect: Fasteners and connectors · Roofing and coatings · Termite management

This screen identifies investigation triggers, not building quality or property compliance. Confirm the address, design and current jurisdiction rules with the council, building surveyor or certifier, designer and engineer.

NCC 2022 Housing Provisions: how to use · NCC 2022 Volume Two and Housing Provisions

Bushfire exposure

No mapped exposure ~0.0%
~0.0% of the suburb is Bush Fire Prone Land

Estimated exposure to NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land (CC BY), point-sampled across the suburb. This shows how much of the suburb sits within the official hazard layer — it is not a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating or a property-level assessment. Obtain a BAL assessment (AS 3959) for an individual property.

Population outlook

11,052 people · 202212,328 by 2032 (+11.5%)

ABS population projection (2022 base) for the Burrum - Fraser SA2 statistical area — the finest official projection grain available; suburb-level projections do not exist.

Full data detail Census · ATO · ABS · state datasets
Howard QLD — Property Data and Demographics

Located in Queensland within the Fraser Coast local government area, Howard is a close-knit residential community (postcode 4659). The area has roughly 1,394 residents and an older demographic, with a median age of 56. Households earn a median income of $44K per year, with an average household size of 2.2 people. Recent annual estimates show population movement into the broader catchment, with population growth running at +2.1% year-on-year at the LGA level. QLD employment has moved +1.5% year-on-year in the official ABS Labour Force trend series, which provides the broader jobs backdrop for this suburb. QLD also had 35 Commonwealth-backed major projects under construction, 16 underway, and 30 in planning as at 2025-09-01, which is useful as a broader delivery backdrop rather than a suburb-specific project count. The most common occupations are sales, labourers, community & personal service. Employment in the area leans toward healthcare and retail trade. The top ancestries reported are English, Australian, Irish.

The median weekly rent is $248 (Census 2021). The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,062.

Howard is served by 1 school, including 1 primary. The average ICSEA score is 894, which is well below the national average of 1,000. The crime rate in the Fraser Coast LGA is moderate at 5,526 incidents per 100,000 population.

From an investment perspective, Population growth of +2.1% year-on-year points to strong growth demand fundamentals. Building approvals have changed +0% year-on-year, indicating steady development activity.

Market & money
Investment signalsHeuristics
Pop. Growth+2.1% Strong Growth
Development+0%· Steady
InvestmentQLD
Mortgage · mth$1,062
Rent · wk(Census)$248
Population growth · Fraser Coast LGAABS ERP
Population (2025)122,924
5-year growth+2.3% CAGR
YoY change+2.1%
20012025
Development · Fraser Coast LGAABS Approvals
Approvals (2026)1,500
Houses 87%Units 13%
YoY change+0%
Employment · Fraser Coast LGASALM
Unemployment (Dec-25)5.4%
YoY change+0pp
Dec-10Dec-25
Property investors · Postcode 4659ATO
Negatively geared4.3%
115 of filers
Avg rental loss$6,327/yr
Landlords (rental income)282
Reported capital gains204
People & prosperity
DemographicsCensus 21
Population1,394
Median age56
Household size2.2
HH income · wk$854
Personal income · wk$456
Persons / bedroom0.8
SEIFA indexABS
Advantage (IRSAD)1/10
Education (IEO)1/10
Economic (IER)1/10
Disadvantage (IRSD)1/10
Income momentumCensus 16→21
HH income · wk$770 → $854
Change+10.9%
vs QLD median-7.1 pp
Median rent+12.7%
softeningvs QLD 2016–21
Area & amenity
Local amenitiesOSM
Supermarkets1
Pharmacies1
GP / clinics0
Fuel stations0
Cafes & dining1
iga1
Hospitals · Fraser Coast LGAAIHW
Public2
Private2
Hervey Bay Hospitalpublic
Maryborough Hospitalpublic
Hervey Bay Surgical Hospitalprivate
St Stephen's Hospital [Hervey Bay]private
Aged care · Fraser Coast LGAGEN
Facilities14
Residential places1,434
Maryborough Community Aged Care185 places
Ozcare - Hervey Bay154 places
Estia Health Hervey Bay145 places
Torbay134 places
Bolton Clarke Baycrest101 places
Churches of Christ Fair Haven Aged Care Service Maryborough100 places
+8 more in Fraser Coast LGA
Childcare · Fraser Coast LGAACECQA
Services48
Approved places3,361
Exceeding NQS8
Little Gems Child Care and Early Learning Centre150 places
Helping Hands Kawungan120 places
Seedlings & Co. Eli Waters112 places
Bay Explorers Early Learning, Urraween109 places
Goodstart Early Learning Maryborough 2107 places
Helping Hands Tinana105 places
+42 more in Fraser Coast LGA
Shortlist workspace

Save suburbs here while you browse. Once the shortlist has two or more names, hand it straight into compare.

Current status
Add Howard if it deserves a shortlist slot.

No saved AU suburbs yet.

EMPTY SET

No saved suburbs yet. Start with one ranking or suburb page, then compare once you have two candidates.

Open rankings to save the first candidates.

Sources & freshness
Verify-heavy evidence

Much of Howard rests on evidence that should be verified before a decision.

QuickProperty mixes release files, Census baselines, and matched local services on this page. Read the status panel before treating every metric as equally fresh.

PRICE POSTURE
Prices come from release-based suburb series.

QVAS residential dwelling sales aggregated to SA2 and mapped to suburb pages

RENT POSTURE
Rent is falling back to Census, not a market feed.

This gives you directional coverage, but it is weaker than a current rent release.

SERVICE POSTURE
Service coverage is matched locally, not inferred nationally.

Schools, transport, and hospitals are useful as presence signals, but they still have different source cadences.

Data status
Property prices
QGSO Housing Profiles · QVAS residential dwelling sales aggregated to SA2 and mapped to suburb pages
medium stability · automated · every update · quarterly
Missing
Market rent
ABS Census 2021 · Using Census rent fallback
stable source · manual file · snapshot · census-cycle
Verify
Crime
State crime dataset · Year ending May 2026 · Area-level release dataset
Available
Schools
ACARA 2025 · 1 schools matched
stable source · automated · every update · annual
Available
Hospitals
AIHW · No linked local hospital coverage
medium stability · manual file · snapshot · mixed
Missing
Transport
GTFS feeds · No matched local transport stops
medium stability · manual file · snapshot · mixed
Missing
Population growth
ABS ERP · 2025 · Annual estimate series
stable source · automated · every update · annual
Available
Building approvals
ABS Building Approvals · 2026 · Annual release series
stable source · automated · every update · monthly
Available
Available means a direct local dataset is linked. Verify means coverage exists but freshness or precision is weaker, such as ABS price fallback, Census rent fallback, or low-confidence hospital matching.

Howard FAQ

Common questions
  1. What LGA is Howard in?

    Howard is in the Fraser Coast Local Government Area, QLD, postcode 4659. Council-level context for Fraser Coast LGA (suburb mix, population, rent, and price coverage) is available on the QuickProperty LGA page.

  2. What is the typical weekly rent in Howard?

    The median weekly rent in Howard is $248/wk, based on ABS Census 2021 rent fallback.

  3. Is Howard a good investment?

    QuickProperty's investment signals for Howard show: Strong Growth, Steady. These are computed from price, rent, income, and population data — not an opaque score.

  4. Where does QuickProperty get its data for Howard?

    Property prices come from state Valuers General offices and ABS Data by Region. Demographics are from ABS Census 2021. School ICSEA scores are from ACARA. Crime statistics are from state police agencies. Transport data is sourced from GTFS feeds.

  5. How often is the Howard data updated?

    Property prices update quarterly. RBA macro indicators update with each deploy. Demographics are from Census 2021. School ICSEA scores are from ACARA 2025.