Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Cow Bay suburb profile
Cow Bay, QLD · Postcode 4873
This Cow Bay suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Cow Bay, QLD (postcode 4873). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Cow Bay with nearby suburbs.
Cow Bay at a glance
Population
220
Median rent
$200/wk
Household income
$752/wk
Median age
52
Cow Bay trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+31.7% over 10 years
Population
220
was 202 in 2016
+18 · +8.9%
Median rent
$200/wk
was $175/wk in 2016
+$25 · +14.3%
Household income
$752/wk
was $725/wk in 2016
+$27 · +3.7%
Median age
52
was 52 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Cow Bay population growth · Cow Bay then and now
Cow Bay vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Cow Bay, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-45.9% vs area
- Cow Bay$200/wk
- Nearby$287.5/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
-56.3% vs area
- Cow Bay$752/wk
- Nearby$1,179/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
+33.3% vs area
- Cow Bay52
- Nearby41
- QLD39
Personal income
-39.6% vs area
- Cow Bay$478/wk
- Nearby$671/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Cow Bay compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Cow Bay sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2925.6
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2901
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2932.3
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3924.9
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Cow Bay on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Cow Bay, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Cow Bay people
- Population
- 220
- Median age
- 52
- Born overseas
- 14.5%
- Average household size
- 1.7
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Cow Bay income
- Median household income
- $752/wk
- Median personal income
- $478/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Cow Bay housing
- Median rent
- $200/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $867/mo
- Separate houses
- 62%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 38.6%
- Mortgaged
- 14.6%
- Rented
- 5.7%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 38.6%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Cow Bay work
- Employment to population
- 41.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 13.4%
- Year 12 or above
- 37.3%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4873)
Compare Cow Bay with nearby suburbs
Cow Bay in numbers
Cow Bay had 220 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 52, 30% above the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 1.7 people. 14.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 38.6% own their home outright, 14.6% are paying a mortgage, 5.7% rent. Separate houses make up 62% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $200/wk, 43% below the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $752/wk, 55% below the typical QLD suburb. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 8.9% (from 202 to 220). Median rent moved from $175/wk to $200/wk (+14.3%).
Cow Bay suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Cow Bay, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Cow Bay was $200/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Cow Bay, QLD?
- Cow Bay had 220 residents at the 2021 Census, up 8.9% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Cow Bay?
- Median household income in Cow Bay was $752/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Cow Bay?
- 5.7% of occupied homes in Cow Bay were rented, 38.6% were owned outright and 14.6% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Cow Bay suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Cow Bay. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology