Berserker
Low rents and a detached housing mix define Berserker more than rapid growth: 7,020 people live across 4.71 square kilometres, producing a density of 1,491.3 people per square kilometre, while vacancy is 12.7%. The median age is 35, five years below the national comparison, and 80.9% of homes are separate houses. Household income sits at the 23.2nd percentile, so the suburb reads as a lower-income, practical market rather than a premium one. Berserker is more car-oriented and less university-qualified than the national profile, with university attainment at 15.2%. Nearby Park Avenue and North Rockhampton provide useful comparisons for services and housing choice. The 42.7% renting share and $260 weekly rent support accessibility, although high vacancy can signal softer demand.
Population
7,020
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,171/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
24
Homebuyers face a straightforward detached-house market, but a suburb-wide median sale price is not available, so value needs to be judged property by property. Separate houses account for 80.9% of dwellings, compared with 4.5% apartments and 14.0% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.1%, followed by two-bedroom stock at 29.7%, which suits smaller households averaging 2.3 people. The housing cost indicators are not flagged as stressed: the mortgage benchmark is $1,116 per month, mortgage payments equal 22.0% of household income, and rent is $260 per week at 22.2% of income. These conditions can help buyers who prioritise space over prestige, while the 12.7% vacancy rate warrants careful inspection of street and property quality.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a straightforward detached-house market, but a suburb-wide median sale price is not available, so value needs to be judged property by property. Separate houses account for 80.9% of dwellings, compared with 4.5% apartments and 14.0% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.1%, followed by two-bedroom stock at 29.7%, which suits smaller households averaging 2.3 people. The housing cost indicators are not flagged as stressed: the mortgage benchmark is $1,116 per month, mortgage payments equal 22.0% of household income, and rent is $260 per week at 22.2% of income. These conditions can help buyers who prioritise space over prestige, while the 12.7% vacancy rate warrants careful inspection of street and property quality.
For Investors
Berserker has a tenant-heavy base, with 42.7% renting compared with 25.1% owning outright and 31.0% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $260, while the 12.7% vacancy rate is a major caution because available stock can weaken leasing competition and limit rental growth. Rent growth is nevertheless recorded at 10.6%, so returns depend heavily on purchase price, upkeep and the exact street rather than rent alone. Development activity reached 24 applications in 12 months, including a two-dwelling dual-occupancy proposal, which may add local supply. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the area is classified as established and not gentrifying, so investors should prefer durable tenant demand over speculative uplift.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Berserker
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Berserker Street State School
Demographics
Berserker's 7,020 residents have a median age of 35, which is 5.0 years below the national comparison, and households average 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national figure. University attainment is 15.2%, or 14.9 percentage points below national, while 10.3% were born overseas, 11.3 points below national. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 2,719 people, followed by Irish at 679 and Scottish at 593. Christianity counts 3,141 people and no religion 2,921, creating a near split between those two responses. The profile helps explain demand for practical family and service housing, with 35.8% of families having children and 27.3% being one-parent families. Turnover is 27.6%, so 72.4% stayed at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.9%
Houses
14.0%
Townhouse
4.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached stock is the defining housing feature: 80.9% of dwellings are separate houses, higher than the 14.0% semi-detached share and 4.5% apartment share. The bedroom mix is concentrated in three-bedroom homes at 49.1%, with two-bedroom dwellings at 29.7%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes account for 15.0%. Tenure is less owner-heavy than a conventional family suburb, with 25.1% owned outright, 31.0% mortgaged and 42.7% rented. Rent is $260 weekly and the mortgage benchmark is $1,116 monthly; rent-to-income is 22.2% versus 22.0% for mortgages, with neither stress flag triggered. Affordability improved from 45.6% in 2011 to 38.5% in 2021, although the household income percentile of 23.2 remains below the national middle.
Mortgage / mo
$1,116
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $260.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $380
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$676
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.7%
Unoccupied
396
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.8%
Couples with children
33.9%
Couples, no children
27.3%
Single parent
1,691
Total families
Economy & Employment
Berserker's employment base is led by healthcare at 22.4% of workers, followed by education at 13.2%, construction at 8.2%, retail at 7.8% and public administration at 7.5%. This service and trades mix is reflected in the leading occupations: labourers number 493, community and personal service workers 492, trades 474, professionals 348 and sales workers 319. Labour-force participation is 57.3%, full-time employment 61.1% and unemployment 7.8%, indicating weaker labour-market attachment than a high-participation area. SEIFA results are consistently low, with IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD all at decile 1. The contrast between strong healthcare and education shares and a bottom-decile socioeconomic position suggests essential-service jobs coexist with constrained household resources, consistent with household income at the 23.2 percentile.
Unemployment
7.8%
Labour Force
3,217
Unemployed
251
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
57.3%
Employed
2,966
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.2%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
10.3%
Dwellings
2,728
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-based: 81.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.1% using public transport and 4.8% walking or cycling. That makes private-vehicle access important for work, shopping and services, while short local trips may be practical on foot or by bike depending on the address. Nearby schooling includes 1 identified government school, Berserker Street State School; families should check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can cut across suburb streets. The suburb's IRSAD decile is 1, below the middle of the national decile scale, so service access and household budgets matter when judging liveability. Work-from-home is 3.8%, lower than the car-driver share, reinforcing the commuter pattern. For safety, assess current local information and the specific route at different times.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
3.8%
Population Forecast
+0.03%/yr
(+2 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is close to flat: the annual trend is 0.03%, while population change across the wider area is -3.1% over 10 years. The forecast trajectory is Mixed and identifies overseas migration as the primary driver, so incoming households may offset broader ageing and turnover without creating a strong expansion cycle. The young share has fallen 1.4 points and the senior share has risen 0.6 points. Rent growth of 10.6% is much higher than the annual population trend, pointing to housing-demand pressure that is not matched by rapid resident growth. Gentrification remains Not gentrifying, with a gentrification score of 0, and the suburb is classified as established. Development activity of 24 applications in 12 months adds some renewal, but the overall outlook is slower than a high-growth corridor.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+32
Net Internal / yr
-33
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Berserker compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berserker a good suburb to live in?
It can suit buyers and renters seeking detached housing and low weekly rent, but the socioeconomic profile is below the national middle: household income sits at the 23.2nd percentile and IRSAD is decile 1. Rent is $260 a week, vacancy is 12.7%, and car use is 81.1%, so check the exact street and transport needs.
What is the median house price in Berserker?
A current median house price is not available. Compare individual homes using condition, land, tenure and nearby sales; 80.9% of dwellings are separate houses, while weekly rent is $260 and the mortgage benchmark is $1,116 per month. Those figures describe housing costs, not a sale median.
What schools are in Berserker?
Berserker Street State School is the identified local school and it is a government school. Compare the exact address with the current enrolment zone before signing, because 1 nearby school does not guarantee a place. Berserker's median age is 35 and average household size is 2.3.
Is Berserker safe?
Use current Queensland Police Service information and inspect the street in daylight and after dark rather than relying on a suburb label. Berserker's 81.1% car-driver share is higher than its 1.1% public transport share, but transport patterns are not a crime measure.
Is Berserker good for property investment?
It can be considered for income-focused research because 42.7% of dwellings are rented and weekly rent is $260, but the 12.7% vacancy rate is high compared with a tight rental market. Development activity reached 24 applications in 12 months and the primary migration driver is overseas migration, so test vacancy and maintenance assumptions before buying.
How is Berserker's population changing?
Change is slow rather than expansionary. The annual trend is 0.03%, while population change across the wider area is -3.1% over 10 years. The trajectory is Mixed, with overseas migration the primary driver; young share has fallen 1.4 points and senior share risen 0.6 points. Compared with a fast-growth suburb, Berserker is more stable but less dynamic.
What development is happening in Berserker?
Development activity reached 24 applications in 12 months, including a dual-occupancy proposal for 2 dwellings. That is more renewal activity than a no-application area, but it does not guarantee a large housing increase. Check approvals, construction timing and the effect on local vacancy, which is 12.7%.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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