QLD · Toowoomba Council

Middle Ridge, 4350

Est. population · Jun 2025

8,123

Growth (1 yr)

+0.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+7.4%

Median age

43

Median income

$2,177/wk

Employment rate

59.2%

Languages at home

15.5%non-English

Most common: Mandarin, Malayalam, Arabic

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

56.3/100
Good

Top 21% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 73% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
  • National parks
  • Education hub
  • Heritage area
What Middle Ridge is known for: Green suburb, High desirability, National parks, Education hub, Heritage area

Suburb profile

Set among the hills of Toowoomba Council, Middle Ridge is a mid-sized suburb with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Neighbouring centres cover more of the weekly rhythm than the distant capital does. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix.

Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.

Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.

Against similar regional towns, community and employment, plus schools and education stand out and the overall desirability rating is good, with safety less decisive.

At a glance

Middle Ridge snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$680/wk

Population (ERP)

8,123

+0.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

5.8%

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

#33

among Country & regional · Established

Safety

76th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

24th

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

66th

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
56.3/100 — Good
State standing
Top 21% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
1413th in Australia
State rank
319th in QLD
Peer rank
#33 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#78 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
73%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$680

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

Population

Estimated resident population

8,123(June 2025)

+0.2% annual · +7.4% over 5 years · 24th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.2%
5-year growth
+7.4%
Change in 1 year
+19
Change in 5 years
+562
Growth rank in QLD
24th 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 (~8,650), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
7,595
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$2,177
Dwelling vacancy
5.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
160 of 2,768
Median monthly mortgage
$1,950
Employment rate
59.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,422 / 92 / 90

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian 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)
542
Against the person
107
Against property
260
Rate per 1,000 residents
66.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 71 residents
State safety percentile
76.3th (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 MapQueensland 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
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
1,044
Median ICSEA percentile
66th
School list
  • Middle Ridge State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1044 · 66th percentile · LBOTE 39% · 735 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
  • Gabbinbar State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1010 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 29% · 356 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Highlands Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1060 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 670 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Goodstart Early Learning Middle Ridgekindergarten
  • Kate's Placekindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Amenities

72 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 supermarkets · 6 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 2 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life30 parks mapped in suburb, 6 playgrounds nearby
  • Strong local sport and recreation10 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
27/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.95
Shopping(2)
  • FoodworksConvenience store
  • SparSupermarket
Community(4)
  • Goodstart Early Learning Middle RidgeKindergarten
  • Kate's PlaceKindergarten
  • Agnew SchoolSchool
  • Middle Ridge State SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(34)
  • Dipple Street ParkPark
  • Dunsdon ParkPark
  • Flagstone Creek ParkPark
  • Fred Saal ParkPark
  • Glen Lomond ParkPark
  • Glenfield Court ParkPark
  • Grinke Drive ParkPark
  • John "Cracker" McDonald Sports ComplexPark
  • Maggie ParkPark
  • Menzies Street ParkPark
  • Park (7)
  • Ramsay St ParkPark
  • Ramsay Street Detention BasinPark
  • Sir Hugh Nelson ParkPark
  • Snapdragon Street ParkPark
  • Stenner Street ParkPark
  • Story Farm Park NorthPark
  • Willims ParkPark
  • Playground (6)
  • Echo Valley RacewaySports centre

    90 Nelson Street, Middle Ridge

  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (2)
Transport(1)

1 bus stops

Other(12)
  • Alcohol
  • Bench
  • EQ-Middle Ridge State SchoolBicycle Parking
  • Garden (9)
  • Information
  • Outdoor Seating (2)
  • EQ- Middle Ridge State SchoolParking
  • Parking (9)
  • Shelter (3)
  • Blue Care Toowoomba Village Aged Care FacilitySocial Facility
  • St Vincent's Aged CareSocial Facility

    227 Spring Street

  • Track

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

22 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Culliford Drive ParkPark
  • Dipple Street ParkPark
  • Doilibi Bushland ParkPark
  • Dunsdon ParkPark
  • Flagstone Creek ParkPark
  • Fred Saal ParkPark
  • Glen Lomond ParkPark
  • Glenfield Court ParkPark
  • Grinke Drive ParkPark
  • John "Cracker" McDonald Sports ComplexPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
52
Parks (OSM)
30

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
St Vincent's Private Hospital (4.5 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
210
Participants per 1,000 residents
25.9

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

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 normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • GabbinbarState heritage place

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · current · Updated

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 overlaysState 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 4.0 km away).

Coalition 60.7%Labor 39.3%

2.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +0.8 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Middle RidgeLabor 38.8% · Coalition 61.2% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
  • GabbinbarLabor 33.5% · Coalition 66.5% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
  • Centenary Heights SouthLabor 37.6% · Coalition 62.4% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
  • RangevilleLabor 44.6% · Coalition 55.4% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
  • Centenary Heights NorthLabor 48.3% · Coalition 51.7% TPP (2025)3.2 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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

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.