Douglas Shire Council
Cow Bay
Cow Bay at a glance
Median house
$191,000
Median unit
$226,800
Walk score
0
Very car dependent
Population
220
Median age 52
About
Welcome to Cow Bay.
Cow Bay (4873) sits in the Douglas region of Queensland. The median house here is $191,000, well below the Queensland median of around $780K.
Cow Bay has roughly 220 residents, with a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are predominantly owner-occupied. Daily life is car-dependent: most residents drive to work, school and the shops.
Side by side
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Median, growth, schools, walkability, all in one view.
Houses change hands at $191,000 on a typical sale, well below the Queensland median. Units come in around $226,800, roughly -19% below the house median.
For buyers
A 20% deposit on the median house works out to roughly $38,000. Prices are well below the Queensland median, which keeps Cow Bay on the radar for first-home buyers and right-sizers.
Market
The price of a home here.
Median house price
$191,000
+0.0% over the past year. Median unit price $226,800.
Sales data as of May 2026· sales-qld
Rental and ownership
Weekly rent (house)
$260/wk
Weekly rent (unit)
$200/wk
Owner occupied
84%
Renter occupied
9%
At a deeper level
$191,000
$226,800
220
Median age: 52
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For investors
Investment overview.
Gross rental yield on houses sits at 7.08% (median rent $260/wk against a $191,000 price tag). Units yield 4.59% gross, often the better cash-flow play for first-time investors. Renter share is modest (9%), so the rental pool is smaller and tenant demand can be patchier than in higher-density suburbs.
Gross Yield (House)
Source: ABS Census 2021 (estimated) · May 20267.08%
Based on $191,000 median
Gross Yield (Unit)
Source: ABS Census 2021 (estimated) · May 20264.59%
Based on $226,800 median
Annual Growth (House)
Source: ABS Census 2021 (estimated) · May 2026–
Year-on-year capital growth
Annual Growth (Unit)
Source: ABS Census 2021 (estimated) · May 2026–
Year-on-year capital growth
Owner Occupancy
Source: ABS Census 2021 · May 202684%
Higher = more owner-occupier demand
Days on Market
Source: ABS Census 2021 (estimated) · May 2026–
Lower = higher buyer demand
Gross rental yield is annual rent divided by purchase price, before expenses. It does not account for vacancy rates, management fees, maintenance, or financing costs. Use this as a starting point for further research.
Who lives here
Demographics.
The 2021 Census put Cow Bay's population at 220, with a median age of 52. That sits as a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are predominantly owner-occupied (84% own, 9% rent), which shapes everything from school catchment stability to how often properties turn over. Lone-person households are notable here (54%), often a marker of unit-heavy stock and walkable infrastructure.
Population
220
Median age
52
Family households
40%
Lone person
54%
Demographics data as of May 2026· ABS 2021 Census
Day to day
What it’s like to live here.
Cow Bay scores 0/100 on walkability, which makes it car-dependent with limited public transport. Plan for two cars in a typical household, especially if work isn't local.
Summer days here average around 32°C (warm), winter mornings around 17°C (mild). Annual rainfall lands at about 2065mm. Data comes from the Bureau of Meteorology's Cairns Aero station, 97.0km away.
Schooling within or near the suburb covers 7 government primary, 1 government secondary, 1 Catholic.
Safety
Crime and safety.
LGA-wide data, not suburb-specific
QLD Police only publishes crime statistics at the local government area / region level. The numbers below cover the entire Douglas Shire Council, which may include suburbs with very different crime profiles. Quieter residential pockets within the LGA likely have lower rates than the total suggests; busier areas may have higher.
877
total offences in 2026 across the Douglas Shire Council LGA
Top offence categories
Crime statistics are reported at LGA level and may cover a broader area than this suburb.
Source: State Police Open Data
Getting around
Walkability.
0
0
0
Scores calculated from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
Walkability data as of May 2026· OpenStreetMap
Place
Location.
Amenities
Transport
Education
Schools in Cow Bay.
Local schools for Cow Bay
View the catchment for each school to find out more.
Government School Catchment
Alexandra Bay State School
Wonga Beach State School
Daintree State School
© ACARA, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Climate
Weather year-round.
Annual Rainfall
2065 mm
Hottest Month (avg max)
31.5°C
Coldest Month (avg min)
16.9°C
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Weather data from BOM station Cairns Aero (97 km away)
Climate data as of May 2026· Bureau of Meteorology
Frequently asked
About Cow Bay.
- What is the median house price in Cow Bay?
- The median house price in Cow Bay, QLD 4873 is $191,000. The median unit price is $226,800. Annual growth is +0.0%.
- What is the Cow Bay postcode?
- Cow Bay is in the 4873 postcode, in QLD, in the Douglas Shire Council region.
- What is the average rent in Cow Bay?
- The median weekly rent for houses is $260, for units it's $200.
- What schools are in Cow Bay?
- There are 9 schools serving Cow Bay on this page, including Alexandra Bay State School, Wonga Beach State School, Daintree State School.
- How walkable is Cow Bay?
- Cow Bay has a Walk Score of 0 out of 100, highly car-dependent. transit score 0, bike score 0.
- What suburbs are near Cow Bay?
- Cow Bay is close to Kimberley, Diwan, Forest Creek, Thornton Beach, Lower Daintree.
- What is the population of Cow Bay?
- Cow Bay has approximately 220 residents. The median age is 52.
Cow Bay
Guides
Surrounding Suburbs
Side by side
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Sources cited
Median, growth and rental data from state revenue offices and ABS. Census from ABS 2021. Climate from BoM. Hazard from Geoscience Australia. School data from ACARA. Crime from state police open data. Full methodology →
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