Birkdale
A 43-year median age and an 84.0% separate-house share make Birkdale a family-oriented, established Redland City suburb rather than a compact apartment market. Its 14,816 residents sit in households at the 71.1 income percentile, while 73.3% drive to work and only 3.1% use public transport. Compared with nearby Capalaba's retail and employment hub and Wellington Point's bayside setting, Birkdale is defined more by established housing and car-based routines. Its 0.47% annual growth outlook reflects an aging trajectory and overseas migration, suiting buyers seeking larger homes who can manage transport dependence.
Population
14,816
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,903/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are choosing predominantly detached stock: 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 55.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, and only 4.7% are apartments. That layout favours families needing space, although larger homes can carry higher purchase and maintenance costs. The listed mortgage repayment is $2,000 monthly, while weekly rent is $435, and mortgage-to-income is 24.3%, higher than rent-to-income at 22.9%. Compared with a unit-led market, Birkdale requires a closer check of land, renovation and commute costs. Use recent sales for the exact street and dwelling type before setting a budget.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing predominantly detached stock: 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 55.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, and only 4.7% are apartments. That layout favours families needing space, although larger homes can carry higher purchase and maintenance costs. The listed mortgage repayment is $2,000 monthly, while weekly rent is $435, and mortgage-to-income is 24.3%, higher than rent-to-income at 22.9%. Compared with a unit-led market, Birkdale requires a closer check of land, renovation and commute costs. Use recent sales for the exact street and dwelling type before setting a budget.
For Investors
Rental conditions deserve a measured approach. Rent is $435 a week, the vacancy rate is 3.9%, and 19.3% of residents rent, below both outright ownership at 36.3% and mortgaged ownership at 41.6%. A predominantly owner-occupied market can reduce tenant churn, but it may also limit the depth of the renter pool for specialised stock. No developments were recorded in the past 12 months, so future rental supply may rely more on existing homes than new projects. Compared with a higher-growth, construction-heavy market, the 0.47% annual trend and overseas-migration driver point to a steadier strategy focused on dwelling quality, vacancy control and realistic rent assumptions.
Schools in Birkdale
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Mary MacKillop Primary School (Birkdale)
Birkdale South State School
Birkdale State School
Demographics
Birkdale has an older profile than Australia overall: the median age is 43, or 3 years above the national comparison. University qualification attainment is 28.1%, 2 percentage points below the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 23.4%, 1.8 points above it. English ancestry leads at 6,500 people, followed by Irish at 1,847 and Scottish at 1,751, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning cultural pattern without eliminating variety. Christianity counts 7,769 and no religion 5,742. Average household size is 2.7, 0.2 higher than national, and 80.2% stayed at the same address, supporting a relatively settled social base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.0%
Houses
11.3%
Townhouse
4.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly detached and family-sized. Separate houses account for 84.0% of dwellings, compared with 11.3% semi-detached and 4.7% apartments; 55.9% contain 4 or more bedrooms and 32.0% contain 3. This configuration supports couples with children, who make up 43.8% of families, but it can be less flexible for singles or downsizers than a higher-apartment suburb. Tenure is split between 36.3% owned outright, 41.6% mortgaged and 19.3% rented. Weekly household income is $1,903, at the 71.1 percentile, while mortgage burden is 24.3%, higher than rent burden at 22.9%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $435.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $700
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$813
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
218
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.8%
Couples with children
40.8%
Couples, no children
14.2%
Single parent
4,268
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by healthcare at 17.3% of industry jobs, followed by construction at 12.7%, education at 12.0%, professional and technical services at 8.1%, and public administration at 7.2%. That spread links demand to care, building, schooling and government services rather than one narrow sector. Key occupation groups are professionals at 1,392, clerical and administrative workers at 1,120, trades at 1,094 and managers at 971. Unemployment is 4.1%, participation is 61.7% and full-time work is 60.1%. SEIFA is mixed: economic resources are decile 8 and disadvantage decile 7, above education and occupation decile 5 and advantage/disadvantage decile 6. Household resources therefore rank higher than education and occupation.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
7,503
Unemployed
309
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
61.7%
Employed
7,194
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.1%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
23.4%
Dwellings
5,335
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical but car-dependent. About 73.3% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.1% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling, while 18.9% work from home. That pattern can make school runs and shopping easier by car, but commute planning matters for households without one. Birkdale has 3 nearby schools, comprising 2 government state schools and 1 Catholic non-state school, giving families a broader sector mix than a single-provider area; check enrolment zones against the exact address. An IRSAD decile of 6 is above the midpoint, and volunteering is 14.9%, supporting a generally connected setting. For safety, check current Queensland Police information and recent incidents at street level because conditions can vary across 11.27 square kilometres.
Drive
73.3%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
18.9%
Population Forecast
+0.47%/yr
(+75 people/yr)
EstablishedBirkdale's growth profile is established and restrained. The forecast trend is 0.47% annually, while population change across the wider area is 6.2% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, yet the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 7.0 points, the young share fell 1.9 points and the working share fell 2.6 points. This suggests demand may concentrate more on established homes, services and downsizer-friendly options than on rapid new-household formation. Compared with a high-growth corridor, Birkdale's 0.47% pace is lower and its gentrification score of 7 is labelled Not gentrifying, so investors should not assume a sharp uplift from demographic change alone.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+106
Net Internal / yr
+54
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +54/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Birkdale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birkdale a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Birkdale suits households seeking detached space and an established setting: 84.0% of homes are separate houses and the median age is 43, 3 years above national. It is more car-dependent than transit-led suburbs, with 73.3% driving and 3.1% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Birkdale?
No current median house price is quoted for Birkdale. Recent comparable sales should be reviewed, compared with the $2,000 monthly mortgage example and the 55.9% share of homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Dwelling size, land and renovation condition can materially change the result.
What schools are in Birkdale?
Birkdale has 3 schools: St Mary MacKillop Primary School, Birkdale South State School and Birkdale State School. The mix is 2 government schools and 1 Catholic non-state school. Families should check exact catchments and transport access, compared with nearby alternatives if needed.
Is Birkdale safe?
Street-level checking is the right approach. Review current Queensland Police information and recent incidents for the exact address, then compare the result with nearby streets rather than relying on suburb reputation. Birkdale covers 11.27 square kilometres and has 14,816 residents, so conditions may vary within it.
Is Birkdale good for property investment?
Birkdale can suit a steady, longer-term investor, but returns need testing. Weekly rent is $435, vacancy is 3.9%, and the development count was 0 over 12 months. Compared with a high-growth market, the 0.47% annual trend favours conservative assumptions on capital growth, vacancy and maintenance rather than a quick uplift.
How is Birkdale's population changing?
Population change is gradual rather than explosive: the annual trend is 0.47% and change across the wider area is 6.2% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 7.0 points. Compared with a younger growth corridor, Birkdale is likely to see more ageing-related demand than rapid household expansion.
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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