Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Toowoomba Council
Darling Heights, 4350
Est. population · Jun 2025
5,771
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+9.6%
Median age
30
Median income
$1,469/wk
Employment rate
60.3%
Languages at home
27.1%non-English
Most common: Arabic, Nepali, Malayalam
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- Cycling
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Toowoomba Council, Darling Heights is a mid-sized suburb with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. A younger crowd gives the area energy, with family life visible on every street. The suburb has a clear multicultural mix alongside longer-term local households.
Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Desirability sits around average overall, with safety the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Darling Heights snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$400/wk
Population (ERP)
5,771
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.9%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#54
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
76th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
74th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
21st
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 46.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 38% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 2674th in Australia
- State rank
- 570th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #54 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #210 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 73%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $400
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Mar 2026 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
5,771(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +9.6% over 5 years · 74th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +9.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +107
- Change in 5 years
- +506
- Growth rank in QLD
- 74th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~6,300), extrapolated at +1.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,157
- Median age
- 30
- Median household income / week
- $1,469
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 141 of 1,780
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,347
- Employment rate
- 60.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,298 / 133 / 198
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
- 385
- Against the person
- 76
- Against property
- 184
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 68 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +7.9%
Most common offence types
- Drug Offences1315
- Good Order Offences973
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)2115
- Traffic And Related Offences674
- Unlawful Entry730
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 936.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 21th
School list
- Darling Heights State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 944 · 23th percentile · LBOTE 55% · 607 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Drayton State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 929 · 18th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 165 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Grow Early Education Darling HeightsPlatz Streetkindergarten
- Mirambeena Children's Centrechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Amenities
97 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 cafes · 1 libraries · 1 places of worship · 7 playgrounds · 1 dog parks · 2 sports centres · 3 swimming pools · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 14 parks mapped in suburb, 7 playgrounds nearby
- Strong local sport and recreation — 20 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 17/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.58
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.58
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.71
Food & drink(3)
- Bounce Hub CafeCafe
- UniSQ CaféCafe
- UniSQ FreshCafe
Community(3)
- Mirambeena Children's CentreChildcare
- UniSQ LibraryLibrary
- Darling Heights State SchoolSchool
Wuth Street, Darling Heights
Sport & outdoors(29)
- Thiess Dog ParkDog park
Rosentengel Street, Darling Heights
- Birch Court ParkPark
- Gorman Street ParkPark
- Jack Street ParkPark
- Magann Court ParkPark
- Platz Street ParkPark
- Thiess Park (central)Park
- Thiess Park (north)Park
- Thiess Park (south)Park
- Woonga Street ParkPark
- Playground (7)
- Clive Berghofer Recreation CenterSports centre
20 Baker Street, Darling Heights
- Toowoomba Regional Tennis CentreSports centre
- Oval N0.1Sports field
- Oval N0.2Sports field
- Oval N0.3Sports field
- Oval N0.5Sports field
- Oval N0.6Sports field
- Oval No.4Sports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (3)
Entertainment(2)
- UniSQ Concert HallTheatre
- UniSQ TheatreTheatre
West Street, Darling Heights
Transport(7)
7 bus stops
Other(43)
- Toowoomba Regional CouncilBicycle Parking
- U3 - Bicycle FacilityBicycle Parking
- U4 - Bicycle FacilityBicycle Parking
- University of Southern QueenslandBicycle Parking
- UniSQ A Block Art GalleryGallery
- UniSQ B Block Art GalleryGallery
- Garden (2)
- Gumbi Gumbi GardensGarden
- Japanese GardensGarden
Darling Heights
- Overflow Car ParkingParking
- Parking (2)
- Parking 10Parking
- Parking 11Parking
- Parking 11AParking
- Parking 11BParking
- Parking 12Parking
- Parking 12AParking
- Parking 13Parking
- Parking 14AParking
- Parking 14BParking
- Parking 1AParking
- Parking 1BParking
- Parking 2Parking
- Parking 3Parking
- Parking 3AParking
- Parking 4Parking
- Parking 5Parking
- Parking 6Parking
- Parking 7Parking
- Parking 9Parking
- Reserved Parking 1Parking
- Reserved Parking 2Parking
- Reserved Parking 3Parking
- Student VillageParking
- University of Southern QueenslandParking
- Parking Space (7)
- Toowoomba International Christian ChurchPlace of worship
43-45 Gorman Street, Darling Heights
- Australia Post - Darling Heights LPOPost office
- Public toilets
- Shelter (3)
- Oak Tree Retirement Village Baker StreetSocial Facility
- University of Southern QueenslandUniversity
West Street, Darling Heights
- Waste CompoundWaste Transfer Station
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
14 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Birch Court ParkPark
- Collingwood ParkPark
- Gorman Street ParkPark
- Heidi Court ParkPark
- Jack Street ParkPark
- Magann Court ParkPark
- Platz Street ParkPark
- Salisbury Street ParkPark
- Thiess Park (central)Park
- Thiess Park (north)Park
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 16
- Parks (OSM)
- 14
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Toowoomba International Christian Church
43-45 Gorman Street, Darling Heights
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Toowoomba Hospice Association (4.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 199
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.5
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 29° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 287 mm · ~36 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 153 mm · ~19 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 194 mm · ~24 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Groom
- Member of Parliament
- Garth HAMILTON (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 119,008
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 63.4%Labor 36.6%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.5 km away).
Coalition 55.1%Labor 44.9%
8.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Darling HeightsLabor 48.5% · Coalition 51.5% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- DraytonLabor 40.8% · Coalition 59.2% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Harristown SouthLabor 49.5% · Coalition 50.5% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Middle RidgeLabor 38.8% · Coalition 61.2% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- HarristownLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Toowoomba Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.