Bracken Ridge
Bracken Ridge's most distinctive feature is its 88.3% separate-house stock alongside a mortgage-held share of 44.7%, giving the suburb a clear family-home profile. Its population is 17,488, median age is 37, and household income sits at the 74.1 percentile, above the national midpoint. The 2.8-person household average is 0.3 above national, supporting demand for 3-bedroom homes, which make up 48.8% of dwellings, while 4-plus-bedroom homes account for 48.0%. Compared with the coastal setting of Sandgate or the established housing around Bald Hills, Bracken Ridge suits buyers prioritising space, schools and car access over apartment living.
Population
17,488
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,972/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
75
Bracken Ridge is geared to buyers seeking a conventional family layout: 88.3% of dwellings are separate houses, with 48.8% offering 3 bedrooms and 48.0% offering 4 or more. The median house price is not stated, so affordability is better tested through cash flow. The listed mortgage figure is $1,800 per month, mortgage costs equal 21.1% of income, and rent-to-income pressure is 20.8%, making the two tenure choices similar on the reported measures. Household income sits at the 74.1 percentile, above the national midpoint, which may support borrowing capacity. Compared with apartment-oriented choices, the trade-off is less compact housing and more reliance on a car, because 71.1% drive to work.
For Buyers
Bracken Ridge is geared to buyers seeking a conventional family layout: 88.3% of dwellings are separate houses, with 48.8% offering 3 bedrooms and 48.0% offering 4 or more. The median house price is not stated, so affordability is better tested through cash flow. The listed mortgage figure is $1,800 per month, mortgage costs equal 21.1% of income, and rent-to-income pressure is 20.8%, making the two tenure choices similar on the reported measures. Household income sits at the 74.1 percentile, above the national midpoint, which may support borrowing capacity. Compared with apartment-oriented choices, the trade-off is less compact housing and more reliance on a car, because 71.1% drive to work.
For Investors
Investors get a mostly detached rental proposition: 24.1% of households rent, weekly rent is $410 and vacancy is 4.1%. The 13.9% rent growth figure points to recent rental momentum, but it should be tested against property condition and leasing competition because vacancy provides more buffer than a severely undersupplied market. Development activity is notable at 71 matters in 12 months, which can expand choice and create competition between older and newer stock. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the forecast labels the area Not gentrifying with a score of 10. Compared with a tightly held suburb, returns here depend more on tenant appeal, transport access and maintaining family-sized homes than on a rapid repricing story.
Development Activity
Total DAs
183
Last 12 Months
75
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+114.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bracken Ridge
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St John Fisher College (Bracken Ridge)
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Bracken Ridge)
Bracken Ridge State High School
Bracken Ridge State School
Norris Road State School
Demographics
Bracken Ridge has a median age of 37, which is 3.0 years below the national comparison, but its trajectory is aging as the senior share has risen 4.5 percentage points. University attainment is 31.4%, 1.3 points above national, and 25.9% of residents were born overseas, 4.3 points above national. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 6,528 people, followed by Irish at 2,137 and Scottish at 1,771. Christianity counts 9,096 residents, while 6,251 report no religion and 567 Hinduism. Household size is 2.8, or 0.3 above national, because couples with children make up 47.2% of families. Compared with nearby Sandgate, Bracken Ridge presents a more family-oriented demographic base while still attracting overseas-born households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.3%
Houses
8.2%
Townhouse
3.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Bracken Ridge's tenure mix points to a mortgage-belt suburb: 44.7% of homes are owned with a mortgage, 29.4% owned outright and 24.1% rented. Detached housing dominates at 88.3%, while semi-detached dwellings account for 8.2% and apartments 3.5%. Bedroom supply is similarly family sized, with 48.8% three-bedroom and 48.0% four-plus-bedroom homes. Mortgage-to-income pressure is 21.1%, just above rent-to-income pressure of 20.8%, while vacancy is 4.1%. Compared with Sandgate or Bald Hills, buyers should compare exact street, lot and dwelling condition rather than assume housing types are interchangeable, because the large detached base can hide variation between established and newer pockets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $410.
$675
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $675 · units $560
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$834
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
257
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.2%
Couples with children
34.2%
Couples, no children
16.9%
Single parent
5,063
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Bracken Ridge's industry mix with 21.6% and 1,272 workers, followed by Education at 11.0% and 646, Construction at 9.4% and 556, Public Administration at 8.5% and 503, and Professional and Technical services at 7.3% and 429. The occupational base is similarly practical and service-led: 1,792 professionals, 1,309 clerical and administrative workers, 1,226 trades workers and 1,149 community or personal service workers. Participation is 66.6%, unemployment is 5.0% and full-time employment is 59.2%. Household income ranks at the 74.1 percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA deciles range from IEO 5 to IER 7, with IRSD and IRSAD both 6, suggesting economic resources rank higher than education and occupation because employment and household earnings are relatively solid.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
9,274
Unemployed
466
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
66.6%
Employed
8,808
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.4%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
25.9%
Dwellings
6,063
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car oriented: 71.1% drive to work, compared with 5.3% using public transport, 1.1% walking or cycling and 17.6% working from home. That pattern makes parking, road access and commute direction important when comparing homes. Families have access to 5 local schools across government and Catholic sectors, including state primary and high-school options plus 2 Catholic schools; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address because they can cross suburb boundaries. IRSAD is in decile 6, above the midpoint, and 13.6% volunteer, supporting practical community participation. For safety decisions, compare current police incident patterns by street and time rather than relying on a broad suburb label.
Drive
71.1%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
17.6%
Population Forecast
+0.7%/yr
(+131 people/yr)
EstablishedBracken Ridge is forecast to grow at 0.7% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 4.1% over 10 years, while the shift is labelled Aging: the senior share is up 4.5 points and the working share is down 1.4 points. Rent growth is 13.9%, and affordability is labelled Improving even as the measure moves from 54.6 in 2011 to 49.2 in 2021. The gentrification score is 10 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so the outlook is steadier than a transformation-led suburb. Growth should therefore be read as gradual demand from migration and established households, not a rapid redevelopment cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+218
Net Internal / yr
-94
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Strong overseas inflow +218/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bracken Ridge compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bracken Ridge a good suburb to live in?
Bracken Ridge suits households wanting detached space, with 88.3% of dwellings separate houses and 47.2% of families couples with children. Car access matters because 71.1% drive to work, while 5.3% use public transport. Its IRSAD decile is 6, so compare exact streets, commute times and school zones before choosing.
What is the median house price in Bracken Ridge?
A current median house price is not stated. Buyers can still frame affordability with the $1,800 monthly mortgage figure, $410 weekly rent and mortgage-to-income pressure of 21.1%. Compare recent settled sales for the exact dwelling type, because 48.8% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 48.0% have 4 or more.
What schools are in Bracken Ridge?
Five schools serve the suburb across government and Catholic sectors: state primary options, a state high school and 2 Catholic schools. Check the catchment for the exact address, as enrolment boundaries matter more than a general suburb label. The mix is useful for families, while 47.2% of families are couples with children.
Is Bracken Ridge safe?
Safety should be checked at street level using current police incident information and an in-person visit at different times. Bracken Ridge has 17,488 residents and an IRSAD decile of 6, but that socioeconomic measure is not a safety rating. Compare the exact pocket with nearby roads, lighting, traffic and evening activity before deciding.
Is Bracken Ridge good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking family rental demand: weekly rent is $410, vacancy is 4.1% and 24.1% of households rent. Development activity totals 71 matters in 12 months, so inspect whether nearby additions complement or compete with existing homes. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 10.
How is Bracken Ridge's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 0.7% annually and 4.1% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.5 points and the working share down 1.4 points. That points to gradual growth with changing household needs rather than a rapid population surge.
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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