QLD · Western Downs Council
Dalby, 4405
Current weather
14.7°CClear sky
82% humidity · 12.3 km/h wind · 20.7° / 10.3° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Dalby is a quieter established suburb in Western Downs, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Schools and education options in the area make family routines easier to manage. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space and transport and access holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 12,758
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,462
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 579 of 5,126
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 59.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 398 / 357 / 11
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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $500
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) · Period: Mar 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Jul 2026)
- 769
- Against the person
- 174
- Against property
- 252
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 60.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 73 residents
- State safety percentile
- 77.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
- -22.5%
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Assault67
- Drug Offences176
- Good Order Offences111
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)161
- Traffic And Related Offences143
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Period: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Jul 2026; Jan 2026 to Jul 2026 · Updated on site · Calendar-year aggregates
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 946
- Dalby Christian CollegeCombined
- Dalby South State SchoolPrimary
- Dalby State High SchoolSecondary
- Dalby State SchoolPrimary
- Our Lady of the Southern Cross CollegeCombined
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 · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
11 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Anzac ParkPark
- Bell ParkPark
- Children parkPark
- Gray ParkPark
- Myall Creek ParklandsPark
- The Ridges ParkPark
- Thomas Jack Memorial ParkPark
- Williams ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 12
- Emergency department
- On site
- Active Physiotherapyphysiotherapist
- Amcalpharmacy
- Better Movement Clinicphysiotherapist
- Dalby & District Friendly Society Dispensary Ltd.pharmacy
- Dalby Chiropracticalternative
- Dalby Family Dentaldentist
- Dalby Health Serviceshospital
- Dalby Hospital Accident and Emergencyhospital
- Eva's Placecounselling
- Eyecare Eyewareoptometrist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
7 state heritage places
- Dalby Fire StationState heritage place
- Dalby State High SchoolState heritage place
- Dalby Swimming Pool ComplexState heritage place
- Dalby Town Council Chambers and Offices (former)State heritage place
- Dalby War Memorial and GatesState heritage place
- St Columba's Convent (former)State heritage place
- St John's Anglican ChurchState heritage place
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- ABC Developmental Learning Centrechildcare
- Stuart Street Childcare and Kindergartenchildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 19
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 48.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 32% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 2104th in Australia
- State rank
- 475th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #120 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #166 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 77%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Assaultcrime67
- Drug Offencescrime176
- Good Order Offencescrime111
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)crime161
- Traffic And Related Offencescrime143
- ABC Developmental Learning Centrechildcarechildcare
- Stuart Street Childcare and Kindergartenchildcarechildcare
- Dalby Fire StationheritageState heritage place
- Dalby State High SchoolheritageState heritage place
- Dalby Swimming Pool ComplexheritageState heritage place
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Updated on site · Calendar-year aggregates
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
More in Western Downs Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.