Queensland · Suburb Profile

Cooktown QLD — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Cooktown, Queensland. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Cooktown QLD is 2,746 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Cooktown is $678 per week ($35,256 per year). Median rent in Cooktown is $230 per week ($997 per month). Cooktown has a median age of 44 years, older than the national median of 38. Cooktown has a population density of 1.3 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Cooktown is England. The most common religion is No Religion (44% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cooktown is $1,300.

There were 683 recorded offences in Cooktown in 2025-26, a rate of 249 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (176 offences).

Cooktown Map

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Cooktown Population

residents (Census 2021)

Cooktown Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$678/wk

$35,256 per year

#5868 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$230/wk

$997 per month

#6811 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

44years

6 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,300/mo

Avg household size: 2.3 · 1 per bedroom

Cooktown Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.0% (1,400) Female 49.0% (1,347)

Population Density

1.3

people per km²

2,746 people · 2156.7 km²

Households

2.3

Avg household size

Persons per bedroom

$1,586

Family income/wk

Cooktown Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Cooktown Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

61.7% 336 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

38.3% 209 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Cooktown Country of Birth

Australia

96.2%

England

3.0%

Germany

0.5%

India

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Cooktown Religion

No Religion

44.2%

Not stated

19.1%

Catholic

13.4%

Anglican

10.5%

Lutheran

6.8%

Uniting Church

2.1%

Christian (other)

2.0%

Christinty Jehvahs Witnses

1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Cooktown Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

49.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

31.6%

Year 11 or equivalent

10.8%

Year 9 or equivalent

8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Cooktown Languages Spoken at Home

Other

42.9%

Australian Indigenous

41.1%

German

5.4%

SAL Tot

4.2%

SAL Oth

3.6%

Spanish

3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Cooktown Employment

💼

Employed full-time

37.4% 646 people

⏰

Employed part-time

17.4% 300 people

🔍

Unemployed

3.5% 60 people

🏠

Not in labour force

41.7% 720 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Cooktown Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

48.4%

Bachelor Degree

22.2%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

15.8%

Postgraduate Degree

5.3%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

4.6%

Certificate I/II

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Cooktown Occupation

Professionals

29.0%

Managers

14.8%

Community & Personal Service

14.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

13.6%

Clerical & Administrative

11.1%

Labourers

8.7%

Sales Workers

4.7%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Cooktown Field of Study

Engineering

17.6%

Health

16.7%

Education

14.4%

Management & Commerce

13.6%

Society & Culture

12.8%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

7.6%

Architecture & Building

6.9%

Agriculture & Environment

4.3%

Creative Arts

2.9%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.2%

Information Technology

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Cooktown Dwelling Types

Separate house

91.6%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

6.4%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Cooktown Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

3.1%

$1-$149/wk

0.9%

$150-$299/wk

1.3%

$300-$399/wk

4.6%

$400-$499/wk

10.2%

$500-$649/wk

6.3%

$650-$799/wk

7.9%

$800-$999/wk

8.7%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.3%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

4.5%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.2%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

12.6%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

4.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.1%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

2.7%

$4,000+/wk

6.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Cooktown Marital Status

💍

Married

34.6% 766

↔️

Separated

3.8% 84

📋

Divorced

13.9% 309

🕊️

Widowed

5.2% 115

👤

Never married

42.5% 942

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Cooktown Ancestry

Australian

28.8%

English

26.4%

Aboriginal Australianralian

13.0%

Irish

8.3%

Other

7.0%

Scottish

6.8%

German

4.5%

Italian

1.4%

Dutch

1.1%

Filipino

1.0%

New Zealander

0.9%

Maori

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Cooktown School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

34.9%

Secondary — Government

23.5%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

10.7%

Vocational Education

10.0%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

7.4%

Pre-school

6.0%

Primary — Catholic

4.2%

Secondary — Catholic

3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Cooktown Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

5.8% 269

✅

No need for assistance

94.2% 4,362

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Cooktown Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

21.6% 394

—

Not a volunteer

78.4% 1,433

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Cooktown Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

5.2%

$300-$449/mo

3.1%

$450-$599/mo

1.6%

$600-$799/mo

6.2%

$800-$999/mo

15.0%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

25.4%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

16.6%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

16.6%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

5.2%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Cooktown How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

67.3%

Did not go to work

11.3%

Walked only

9.3%

Car (passenger)

9.1%

Truck

0.9%

Other

0.8%

Bicycle

0.5%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.4%

Bus

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Cooktown Car Ownership

0 vehicles

7.4%

1 vehicle

41.2%

2 vehicles

34.2%

3 vehicles

12.1%

4+ vehicles

5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Cooktown Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

15.0%

2 bedrooms

30.0%

3 bedrooms

37.9%

4 bedrooms

14.7%

5 bedrooms

1.9%

6+ bedrooms

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Cooktown Population Mobility

21.3%

moved in the last year

48.7%

moved in the last 5 years

5.4%

unemployment rate (Census)

50.6%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Cooktown Indigenous Population

20.0%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

934

Indigenous residents

3,729

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Cooktown Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

168

Arthritis

Diabetes

Lung condition

Heart disease

Asthma

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Cooktown Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

8.6%

$1-$149/wk

4.1%

$150-$299/wk

5.9%

$300-$399/wk

7.2%

$400-$499/wk

7.9%

$500-$649/wk

5.5%

$650-$799/wk

9.3%

$800-$999/wk

10.5%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

11.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.4%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.0%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

7.0%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.2%

$3,500+/wk

1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Cooktown Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

40.1%

Couple — no children

31.6%

One parent — children under 15

13.6%

Couple — no children under 15

9.4%

One parent — no children under 15

5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Cooktown Military Service

🏅

Previously served

5.8% 106

👤

Never served

94.2% 1,730

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Cooktown Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

11.1% 200

—

Did not provide

88.9% 1,605

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Cooktown Children Ever Born

No children

30.9%

1 child

11.9%

2 children

28.4%

3 children

18.0%

4 children

8.5%

5+ children

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Cooktown When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Cooktown Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

18.8%

5–14 hours

30.2%

15–29 hours

12.6%

30+ hours

11.3%

Did not do domestic work

27.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Cooktown Household Size

1 person

33.8%

2 persons

34.5%

3 persons

11.6%

4 persons

12.0%

5 persons

4.9%

6+ persons

3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Cooktown Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,785

Moved — same area (SA2)

214

Moved from QLD

197

Moved from WA

Moved from NSW

Moved from SA

Moved from NT

Moved from overseas

Moved from TAS

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Cooktown Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

77.7%

Step family — no other children

12.7%

Blended family — no other children

3.9%

Other couple — children only

3.5%

Intact family — other children present

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Cooktown Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 683 total

Assault

176

Domestic Violence

146

Drug Offences

102

Theft

Property Damage

Break & Enter

Traffic

Weapons

Sexual Offences

Fraud

Robbery

Offence trend by year:

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: QLD Police Service — data.qld.gov.au

Cooktown Rent Prices & Affordability

19%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $1,215/wk

Median Rent $230/wk

Rent-to-Income 18.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Cooktown

Your weekly income

≈ $5,265/month

Median rent $230/wk

Left after rent $985/wk

Rent share 18.9%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Collinsville (Qld)

Income: $638/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $30/wk

Hughenden

Income: $770/wk Rent: $160/wk Save: $70/wk

Brandon

Income: $762/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $30/wk

Garbutt

Income: $643/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $10/wk

Charters Towers City

Income: $601/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $10/wk

Cunnamulla

Income: $591/wk Rent: $125/wk Save: $105/wk

Murgon

Income: $546/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $10/wk

Blackall

Income: $686/wk Rent: $157/wk Save: $73/wk

Cooktown vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in QLD

Hyde Park (Qld)

Pop: 1,374 Income: $848/wk Rent: $253/wk

Mount Nathan

Pop: 1,375 Income: $943/wk Rent: $600/wk

Doomadgee

Pop: 1,387 Income: $354/wk Rent: $120/wk

Normanton

Pop: 1,391 Income: $750/wk Rent: $170/wk

Howard

Pop: 1,394 Income: $456/wk Rent: $248/wk

Glenview

Pop: 1,396 Income: $803/wk Rent: $455/wk

Compare Cooktown

Cooktown vs Hyde Park (Qld) →Cooktown vs Mount Nathan →Cooktown vs Doomadgee →Cooktown vs Normanton →

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooktown

What is the population of Cooktown QLD?

The population of Cooktown QLD is 2,746 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 1.3 people per km².Cooktown is ranked #2,561 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Cooktown?

The median personal income in Cooktown QLD is $678 per week, or $35,256 per year.The median household income is $1,215 per week.Family income is $1,586 per week.Cooktown is ranked #5,868 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Cooktown?

Median rent in Cooktown QLD is $230 per week ($997 per month).Rent represents 18.9% of household income, which is considered affordable.Cooktown ranks #6,811 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Cooktown?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cooktown QLD is $1,300. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Cooktown?

The median age in Cooktown QLD is 44 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Cooktown a good suburb to live in?

Cooktown is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 2,746.The median income is $678/wk, which is below the QLD average of $759/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30675. All dollar figures in AUD.