Alderley
A median house price of $541,000 sitting alongside household incomes in the 88.5th percentile nationally is what makes Alderley unusual, and the gap explains its appeal. Mortgage repayments consume only 21.9% of income and rent just 16.8%, both well below the 30% stress line, so this 2.57 km2 inner-Brisbane pocket buys affordability that its income level would not normally command. The population skews young at a median age of 35, five years below national, and 56.1% hold university qualifications, 26.0 points above the national figure. SEIFA reads decile 10 on IRSD and decile 9 on IRSAD, a high-advantage profile, while a gentrification score in the early-signs band reflects 16.1% growth over the decade.
Population
6,748
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,320/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
39
Median House
$541K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $541,000 median is affordable for an inner-Brisbane suburb, and the reason buyers can stretch is the income-to-cost gap: monthly repayments of $2,200 take only 21.9% of household income, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold despite incomes ranking in the 88.5th percentile. Stock favours houses, with 57.4% separate dwellings versus 28.5% apartments, so detached living is attainable rather than scarce. Bedroom mix is balanced, with three-bedroom homes at 33.9%, two-bedroom at 31.2% and four-plus at 28.3%, giving families and downsizers similar choice. Owner-occupiers split 23.3% outright and 35.0% with a mortgage, a higher mortgage share than outright that signals an active, working-age buyer base rather than long-settled retirees.
For Buyers
The $541,000 median is affordable for an inner-Brisbane suburb, and the reason buyers can stretch is the income-to-cost gap: monthly repayments of $2,200 take only 21.9% of household income, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold despite incomes ranking in the 88.5th percentile. Stock favours houses, with 57.4% separate dwellings versus 28.5% apartments, so detached living is attainable rather than scarce. Bedroom mix is balanced, with three-bedroom homes at 33.9%, two-bedroom at 31.2% and four-plus at 28.3%, giving families and downsizers similar choice. Owner-occupiers split 23.3% outright and 35.0% with a mortgage, a higher mortgage share than outright that signals an active, working-age buyer base rather than long-settled retirees.
For Investors
A renter share of 41.7% gives landlords a deep tenant pool, the largest tenure group ahead of the 35.0% on a mortgage. Weekly rent of $390 against the $541,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, stronger than the sub-2% returns common in premium Sydney suburbs. The vacancy rate of 6.6% points to some softness in the apartment segment, which is 28.5% of stock, so houses are the safer hold. Demand support is real: net overseas migration adds 93 residents a year against just 4 from internal moves, and population is forecast to climb 1.38% annually. Rent grew 14.5% over the measured period and development stayed modest at 35 applications in 12 months, so new supply is unlikely to flood the rental market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
112
Last 12 Months
39
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+56.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 35 runs 5.0 years below national, a young profile reinforced by 56.1% holding university degrees, which is 26.0 points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents reach 20.7%, slightly below national by 0.9 points, so the suburb is more locally born than the country average. Ancestry leans Anglo, led by English (2,743), Irish (1,158) and Scottish (956), and the small non-English language base is spread thinly across Nepali (28), Mandarin (26) and Cantonese (20). Average household size is 2.4, 0.1 below national, consistent with a mix of couples with children (2,255 families) and couples without (1,450). Turnover runs at 32.3%, meaning roughly a third of residents had moved within five years, a churn rate typical of a younger renting and early-buyer population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
57.4%
Houses
14.2%
Townhouse
28.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renters and recent buyers: 41.7% rent, 35.0% carry a mortgage and only 23.3% own outright, the reverse of established wealthy suburbs where outright ownership dominates. The stock is house-led at 57.4% separate dwellings, with apartments at 28.5% and semi-detached at 14.2%, so the market is not apartment-heavy. Three-bedroom homes lead at 33.9%, ahead of two-bedroom at 31.2% and four-plus at 28.3%, a spread that suits both families and smaller households. The $541,000 median against household income in the 88.5th percentile keeps both mortgage-to-income (21.9%) and rent-to-income (16.8%) under the 30% stress line. Affordability improved from 39.7% in 2011 to 33.0% in 2021, a rare easing that has helped sustain demand from younger buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,190
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
190
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.7%
Couples, no children
5,046
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in stable, high-skill sectors: Healthcare leads at 18.9% (608 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 16.0% (514) and Education at 13.1% (421), with Public Admin at 8.7% and Construction at 6.5%. By occupation, Professionals (1,571) and Managers (615) dominate, which aligns with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.3% and the full-time employment rate sits at 67.1%, with participation at 69.8%. One anomaly is the IER (economic resources) score at decile 7, below the decile 9 to 10 readings on the other SEIFA indexes, because the 41.7% renter base lowers aggregate household-wealth measures even though incomes rank in the 88.5th percentile. Real incomes grew 11.9% over the decade.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
4,958
Unemployed
216
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.1%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
69.8%
Employed
3,745
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.1%
Postgraduate
13.6%
Born Overseas
20.7%
Dwellings
2,695
Transport to Work
Car use dominates at 76.9% of commuters, above the level seen in transit-rich inner suburbs, while 12.4% take public transport and 4.8% walk or cycle, a pattern typical of a 2,625 per km2 density that is moderate rather than high-rise. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD, the top tier for relative disadvantage nationally, meaning very few residents face deprivation, and decile 9 on IRSAD for overall advantage. Volunteering runs at 19.1% and only 3.5% of residents (228 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a younger, healthier population at a median age of 35. No schools are recorded inside the 2.57 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families draw on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off offset by the compact, well-connected location.
Drive
76.9%
Public Transport
12.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.38%/yr
(+100 people/yr)
EstablishedAlderley is classified established but still expanding, with annual population growth of 1.38% adding about 100 residents a year and a 16.1% rise over the past decade. The population climbed from 7,058 in 2023 to 7,270 in 2025, and medium forecasts carry it to roughly 7,818 by 2031. The primary driver is overseas migration at 93 net arrivals a year, dwarfing the 4 from internal moves, so growth depends on Brisbane's intake rather than local relocation. The gentrification stage reads early signs, supported by accelerating growth and affordability improving from 39.7% to 33.0%, with real incomes up 11.9%. The young-share shift of negative 0.5 points and senior-share gain of 0.2 points indicate a stable rather than rapidly aging trajectory.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+93
Net Internal / yr
+4
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +23% since 2011, Accelerating: 6% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Alderley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alderley a good suburb to live in?
Alderley scores decile 10 on IRSD and decile 9 on IRSAD, a high-advantage profile, with household income in the 88.5th percentile nationally. Mortgage repayments take just 21.9% of income, well below the 30% stress line, and 56.1% of residents hold university degrees, 26.0 points above national.
What is the median house price in Alderley?
The median house price is $541,000, affordable for inner Brisbane given local incomes rank in the 88.5th percentile. Weekly rent averages $390 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,200, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Alderley?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.57 km2 Alderley boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 56.1%, which is 26.0 points above the national figure.
Is Alderley safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Alderley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 3.5% of its residents (228 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Alderley good for property investment?
Rent of $390 a week against a $541,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.7%, stronger than premium inner-city markets. Renters make up 41.7% of households, and net overseas migration of 93 a year supports demand, though the 6.6% vacancy rate signals some apartment softness.
How is Alderley's population changing?
Population is growing 1.38% a year, about 100 residents, and rose 16.1% over the decade to 7,270 in 2025. Medium forecasts reach roughly 7,818 by 2031. Overseas migration of 93 a year is the main driver, far ahead of the 4 from internal moves.
How much development is happening in Alderley?
There were 35 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, modest for an inner-Brisbane suburb. Recent samples are mostly building work and referral-agency siting responses rather than large new supply, consistent with an established area growing at 1.38% a year.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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