Booval
With 53.9% of residents renting and a vacancy rate of 10.5%, Booval's housing market is defined by high turnover and affordability, not ownership. At a median house price of around $345,000, it sits well below the Queensland state median, drawing in renters and first-home buyers priced out of surrounding areas. Household income lands in just the 12.7th percentile nationally, and the median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure. Healthcare and Education together employ one-third of the local workforce, anchoring steady employment demand in a suburb where 11.6% of the labour force is unemployed.
Population
2,723
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$994/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$345K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of approximately $345,000 makes Booval significantly more accessible than most southeast Queensland suburbs, sitting below state and national medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 30.2%, above the standard stress threshold, because household incomes are low, with the household income percentile at just 12.7 nationally. Separate houses make up 63.4% of dwellings, giving buyers more choice in traditional housing than the apartment-heavy inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant dwelling type at 40.5%, followed by two-bedroom at 32.6%. Only 24.9% of residents carry a mortgage, reflecting a renter-majority suburb where outright ownership at 21.2% is also relatively limited.
For Buyers
The median house price of approximately $345,000 makes Booval significantly more accessible than most southeast Queensland suburbs, sitting below state and national medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 30.2%, above the standard stress threshold, because household incomes are low, with the household income percentile at just 12.7 nationally. Separate houses make up 63.4% of dwellings, giving buyers more choice in traditional housing than the apartment-heavy inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant dwelling type at 40.5%, followed by two-bedroom at 32.6%. Only 24.9% of residents carry a mortgage, reflecting a renter-majority suburb where outright ownership at 21.2% is also relatively limited.
For Investors
Booval's 53.9% renter share is well above the national average and creates a consistently deep tenant pool. Weekly rent averages $265, modest in absolute terms but proportionate to the low entry price of around $345,000. The 10.5% vacancy rate is elevated compared to typical investment-grade suburbs, signalling that demand does not fully absorb supply and that prolonged vacancies are a real risk. The turnover rate of 29.7% means roughly 30% of residents change address each year, which adds re-leasing frequency for landlords. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term pressure. The combination of affordable entry price, stable renter demand and healthcare-anchored employment gives a yield-focused case, tempered by the high vacancy and low-income catchment.
Schools in Booval iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sacred Heart School
Prep-6 · 548 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, pointing to an older resident profile with a smaller proportion of young families. University qualifications reach 20.9%, which is 9.2 percentage points below the national average, consistent with an area where trade and service occupations dominate over professional roles. Overseas-born residents account for 15.4% of the population, 6.2 percentage points below the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,082), Irish (342) and Scottish (335) are the top three groups. Average household size is 2.0, half a person below the national figure of 2.5, which aligns with an older population where couples without children (28.3% of families) outnumber couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.4%
Houses
20.7%
Townhouse
15.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Booval's tenure structure is unusual: 53.9% of households rent, compared to the national owner-occupier majority, making it one of the more renter-dominated suburbs in the Ipswich corridor. Outright ownership sits at 21.2% and mortgage holders at 24.9%, both lower than national norms because the income base, in the 12.7th percentile nationally, limits borrowing capacity. Separate houses dominate at 63.4%, with semi-detached homes at 20.7% and apartments at 15.4%. The three-bedroom dwelling share of 40.5% is the largest segment, followed by two-bedroom at 32.6%. With a monthly mortgage of $1,300 against a median house price of $345,000, Booval offers one of the lower absolute entry costs in the region, though mortgage stress is still present at a 30.2% ratio.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$265
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$595
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
145
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.2% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.3%
Couples, no children
1,711
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 20.9% of employed residents (125 workers), followed by Education at 12.5% (75 workers), reflecting the suburb's proximity to Ipswich Hospital and surrounding schools. Construction, Public Administration and Manufacturing each account for around 8% of employment. By occupation, Professionals (151), Labourers (143) and Clerical/Admin workers (142) are nearly equal in number, indicating a workforce split across knowledge, manual and administrative roles. The unemployment rate is 11.6%, notably higher than the national average, and the labour force participation rate of 43.2% is low, partly because 997 residents are not in the labour force, which aligns with the older median age and the 13.3% requiring daily assistance. Family income averages $1,386 per week.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
22.7%
Participation
43.2%
Employed
890
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.9%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
15.4%
Dwellings
1,240
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high in Booval, with 83.1% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and public transport used by only 7.0%. Walking and cycling account for 3.9% of commutes. The suburb's affordability is its clearest livability advantage: a median house price of $345,000 and weekly rent of $265 keep housing costs accessible relative to most southeast Queensland markets. Rent-to-income at 26.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most renters are not financially stressed by housing costs. The need-for-assistance rate of 13.3% (330 residents) is above average and reflects the older population profile. Volunteering runs at 11.9% of residents. No schools were recorded within the suburb boundary, so families typically access educational facilities in adjacent Ipswich suburbs.
Drive
83.1%
Public Transport
7.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Booval compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Booval a good suburb to live in?
Booval suits renters and buyers who prioritise affordability. The median house price is around $345,000, well below the state median, and rent averages $265 per week with a rent-to-income ratio of 26.7%. Trade-offs include an 11.6% unemployment rate, high car dependency with 83.1% driving to work, and a 10.5% vacancy rate that signals a loose rental market.
What is the median house price in Booval?
The median house price in Booval is approximately $345,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.2% is above the standard stress threshold because household incomes sit in the 12.7th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Booval?
No schools were recorded inside the Booval suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Ipswich suburbs. The suburb's university qualification rate of 20.9% is 9.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the local workforce mix of trade, service and administrative roles.
Is Booval safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Booval are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 13.3% of residents (330 people) need daily assistance, above the national figure, and the unemployment rate of 11.6% is elevated. Household income sits in the 12.7th percentile nationally, factors that can correlate with higher crime rates in comparable suburbs.
Is Booval good for property investment?
Booval's 53.9% renter share is well above the national average and supports consistent rental demand. Weekly rent of $265 against a $345,000 median entry price implies a gross yield above 4%, more attractive than many southeast Queensland suburbs. The main risk is a 10.5% vacancy rate, which is elevated and can extend re-leasing periods. No new development was recorded in the past 12 months.
How is Booval's population changing?
Booval has a population of 2,723 in a 1.7 square kilometre area, giving a density of 1,602 people per square kilometre. The annual resident turnover rate is 29.7%, with 70.3% staying from year to year. The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the older demographic trend is consistent with modest natural population growth.
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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