Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Russell Island

Russell Island is a residential island with a relaxed maritime character and mangrove-lined foreshores. Accessible by passenger ferry and vehicle barge from the mainland, day-to-day life on the island revolves around boating, fishing and crabbing. Housing is a mix of older timber and fibro cottages and classic Queenslanders alongside more recent low-rise homes on generous lots, and some properties have direct water access. A small cluster of shops, foreshore parks and walking tracks support local life, while wider services are on the mainland for those willing to travel.

The community of 3,698 has a median age of 59 and a typical household income of $756 a week ($39,312 a year). Family types are dominated by couple families without children (59.0%), and most homes are owner-occupied (50.5% owned outright and 22.9% with a mortgage, combining to 73.4%). Several local projects are in train or planned, including a new passenger ferry terminal, boat ramp and barge-ramp upgrades, a funded Marine Centre of Excellence partnership, foreshore protection pilots and library and ferry car-park improvements. Whether Russell Island suits you will depend on how much you value a laid-back, coastal pace and ferry access to the mainland.

Buying a house on Russell Island sits well above what local households earned at the last Census. With a median house price of $547,500, that works out to about 13.9 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census (weekly household income $756 × 52 = $39,312), so buying is well above local incomes on these figures.

Renting a house would also take a large share of income: a house rent of $460 a week is about 60.8% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census. If you are renting rather than buying, that rent share is the figure that matters; whether it feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

House values on Russell Island rose 17.9% over the past year, a strong increase. Over the same period house rents increased 4.5%, a modest rise.

For someone weighing Russell Island as an investment, the value figure speaks to capital growth over the year while the rent figure speaks to rental income. On these numbers, capital growth has been the stronger performer for houses this year; which of those outcomes matters most will depend on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.