Guide
Best suburbs to invest in regional Queensland: 5 affordable picks for 2026
Five suburbs in regional Queensland where a typical house costs less than the regional median of $861,601, picked on price growth, rent growth and rental yield. A shortlist to research, not a list to buy from.
By Mossy Taheri, licensed buyer’s agent · Updated
The short answer
Five affordable suburbs to research in regional Queensland: Mount Morgan, Blackwater, Granville, Home Hill, North Mackay. Each has a typical house price under $861,601. Mount Morgan has had the strongest growth, about 23.6% a year over five years, and Blackwater has the highest gross yield, about 6.5%.
The five suburbs at a glance
Houses, all bedroom sizes, to 31 October 2026. Growth figures are average yearly changes.
| Suburb | Typical house price | Weekly rent | Gross yield | Price growth (5 yrs, a year) | Rent growth (3 yrs, a year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Morgan Rockhampton Region | $393,698 | $435 | 5.7% | 23.6% | 8.8% |
| Blackwater Central Highlands | $363,245 | $457 | 6.5% | 14.5% | 10.4% |
| Granville Maryborough, Fraser Coast | $629,361 | $571 | 4.7% | 14.7% | 11.5% |
| Home Hill Burdekin | $450,499 | $404 | 4.7% | 16.4% | 10.9% |
| North Mackay Mackay | $658,376 | $625 | 4.9% | 13.1% | 11.3% |
Each suburb in brief
1. Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region
A former gold-mining town about 38 km south-west of Rockhampton, with the strongest 5-year growth on this list from a very low base. A small market, so resale can be slow.
Typical house price $393,698, rent about $435 a week (a gross yield of 5.7%). Prices grew about 23.6% a year over five years and 13.6% a year over ten; rents grew about 8.8% a year over three years.
2. Blackwater, Central Highlands
A Bowen Basin coal town with a yield above 6%. Mining towns can rise and fall quickly with the industry, so this is a higher-risk pick.
Typical house price $363,245, rent about $457 a week (a gross yield of 6.5%). Prices grew about 14.5% a year over five years and 11.9% a year over ten; rents grew about 10.4% a year over three years.
3. Granville, Maryborough, Fraser Coast
Across the Mary River from Maryborough's centre, with strong rent growth. Check the flood overlay for the street.
Typical house price $629,361, rent about $571 a week (a gross yield of 4.7%). Prices grew about 14.7% a year over five years and 11.0% a year over ten; rents grew about 11.5% a year over three years.
4. Home Hill, Burdekin
A sugar town south of Ayr, with strong growth and rent increases over three years.
Typical house price $450,499, rent about $404 a week (a gross yield of 4.7%). Prices grew about 16.4% a year over five years and 9.9% a year over ten; rents grew about 10.9% a year over three years.
5. North Mackay, Mackay
Close to Mackay's city centre, with rents up about 11% a year over three years. Mackay services the Bowen Basin mines, so its market moves with mining, and low-lying streets near the Pioneer River need a flood check.
Typical house price $658,376, rent about $625 a week (a gross yield of 4.9%). Prices grew about 13.1% a year over five years and 9.5% a year over ten; rents grew about 11.3% a year over three years.
How we chose them
- Affordable: a typical house price below the median house value for regional Queensland, $861,601 (Cotality Home Value Index, rest-of-state median house values, May 2026).
- Reliable: only suburbs with enough sales and rentals to give dependable figures.
- Ranked on four measures: price growth over five years, rent growth over three years, gross rental yield and, at half weight, price growth over ten years. 15 suburbs passed the first filters.
- Left out: island suburbs, very small or outlying towns with few buyers, suburbs with well-known flood exposure, and any third suburb from the same town (such as a third Elizabeth suburb in Adelaide), so the list isn't five versions of one place.
This is a shortlist for research, not a recommendation to buy in any of these suburbs. Past growth doesn’t predict future growth, and figures for a whole suburb hide big differences between streets and properties. General information only, not personal financial advice.
Before you buy in any of them
- Check the council's flood, bushfire and planning overlays for the street, not just the suburb.
- Look at the vacancy rate and how many rentals are listed, so you know tenants are there.
- Find out what's being built nearby: new estates and apartment blocks add supply and can slow growth.
- Get a building and pest inspection; many affordable suburbs have older homes.
- Run the numbers on the property itself, including interest, rates, insurance and management.
Our rental yield calculator and cash flow calculator help with the last step. For buying costs, see stamp duty.
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Cite this page: Rising Returns, “Best Suburbs to Invest in Regional Queensland 2026: Top 5”, data to 31 October 2026, https://risingreturns.com.au/best-suburbs-to-invest-regional-qld/
Thinking of buying in regional Queensland?
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Book a free discovery callInvesting in regional Queensland: common questions
What are the best affordable suburbs to invest in regional Queensland?
On our analysis of suburb data to 31 October 2026, our five picks are Mount Morgan, Blackwater, Granville, Home Hill and North Mackay. Each has a typical house price below $861,601, enough sales to give reliable figures, and a strong mix of price growth, rent growth and rental yield. They are a starting point for research, not a recommendation to buy in any of them.
What does affordable mean on this list?
A typical house price below Cotality's median house value for regional Queensland ($861,601). It is relative: an affordable suburb in Sydney still costs more than most regional towns.
Does past growth mean these suburbs will keep growing?
No. Growth figures show what has happened, not what will. Strong recent growth can mean a suburb has already had its run. Look at supply, jobs, infrastructure and vacancy rates as well, and check the individual property and street.
Why does the list only cover houses?
Houses usually hold more land value, which tends to drive long-term growth, and house data is more consistent between suburbs. Units and townhouses can suit some budgets and goals, but they need a separate comparison.
General information only. It doesn’t consider your personal circumstances and isn’t financial, tax, credit or legal advice. Speak to a licensed professional before you act.