QLD 4300 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Brookwater

Brookwater's standout feature is its household income position: weekly household income of $3,637 sits at the 99.2nd percentile nationally, alongside a large-home pattern where 84.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. The suburb's 2,902 residents have a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national figure, while average household size is 3.2, or 0.7 above national. That combination reflects 62.7% of families being couples with children and 64.8% of households carrying a mortgage. Compared with nearby Springfield Lakes, buyers should read Brookwater as a strongly detached, family-oriented market, with 95.6% separate houses and a high-growth forecast of 4.46% a year.

Local council: Ipswich

Brookwater urban fabric map

Population

2,902

Median Age

38.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$3,637/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

1

3.97 km²· 731 people/km²· Family income $3,676/wk

Brookwater suits buyers seeking substantial family housing, with 95.6% of dwellings being separate houses and 84.3% containing 4 or more bedrooms. A current median house price is not available, so live asking prices and recent comparable sales matter more than relying on a single suburb figure. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $2,615, while mortgage repayments equal 16.6% of household income and rent equals 15.5%. Those ratios sit against a household income ranking above the national distribution, at the 99.2nd percentile. Demand for larger homes is supported by an average household size of 3.2, which is 0.7 above national, and couples with children account for 62.7% of families. Buyers comparing Brookwater with Springfield Lakes should focus on land, floor area and access to services rather than assuming similar housing choices.

For Buyers

Brookwater suits buyers seeking substantial family housing, with 95.6% of dwellings being separate houses and 84.3% containing 4 or more bedrooms. A current median house price is not available, so live asking prices and recent comparable sales matter more than relying on a single suburb figure. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $2,615, while mortgage repayments equal 16.6% of household income and rent equals 15.5%. Those ratios sit against a household income ranking above the national distribution, at the 99.2nd percentile. Demand for larger homes is supported by an average household size of 3.2, which is 0.7 above national, and couples with children account for 62.7% of families. Buyers comparing Brookwater with Springfield Lakes should focus on land, floor area and access to services rather than assuming similar housing choices.

For Investors

Brookwater's rental case combines a weekly rent of $565 with a relatively small renting sector, at 14.8% of households. Vacancy is 7.6%, so investors should test leasing conditions carefully because a low renter share can reduce tenant depth even when household incomes are high. Rent growth is forecast at 0.0%, which limits the case for short-term income acceleration. The suburb has 0 development entries in the past 12 months, while the wider growth trend is 4.46% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration. Compared with the 0 local development count, the annual growth signal points more to established demand and regional expansion than to a fresh construction pipeline. A median house price is unavailable, so gross yield cannot be calculated reliably; the 99.2nd household-income percentile may support repayment capacity, but purchase price remains decisive.

Development Activity

Total DAs

1

Last 12 Months

1

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

Landscaping / Retaining Wall
1

Demographics

Brookwater is relatively young and highly educated: its median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, while 46.5% of residents have university qualifications, 16.4 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents represent 34.8%, or 13.2 points above national, consistent with overseas migration being the main forecast growth driver. English ancestry counts 1,023 people, followed by Other at 435, Scottish at 268, Irish at 245 and Indian at 208. Christianity is recorded for 1,460 residents, no religion for 1,030 and Hinduism for 173. Mandarin, Hindi, Malayalam and Korean are the leading listed non-English languages, with counts of 29, 26, 16 and 13. Household size is 3.2, or 0.7 above national, because couples with children make up 62.7% of families. Compared with a typical national suburb, Brookwater combines larger households with higher educational attainment and stronger overseas representation.

Age Distribution

0-14
23.1%
15-24
14.7%
25-44
24.8%
45-64
31.9%
65+
5.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.0%
2 bed
0.0%
3 bed
15.7%
4+ bed
84.3%

Dwelling Structure

95.6%

Houses

4.4%

Townhouse

0.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 19.5% Mortgage 64.8% Rent 14.8% Other 0.9%

Brookwater has a strongly detached housing pattern: 95.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 4.4% are semi-detached, with no apartment share supplied. Larger homes dominate, as 84.3% have 4 or more bedrooms and 15.7% have 3 bedrooms. Tenure is mortgage-led, with 64.8% of households paying a mortgage, compared with 19.5% owning outright and 14.8% renting. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $2,615, and mortgage repayments account for 16.6% of household income, while rent accounts for 15.5%. A median sale price and price-to-income ratio are not available, so buyers should compare individual properties on land size, condition and repayment capacity. Brookwater's average household size is 3.2, which is 0.7 above the national benchmark, helping explain the demand for four-bedroom-plus homes. For buyers comparing Brookwater with Springfield Lakes, the suburb's 95.6% detached share is the key housing distinction to investigate.

Mortgage / mo

$2,615

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $565.

$600

Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $600 · units $450

HH Size

3.2

Personal Income / wk

$1,397

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

7.6%

Unoccupied

74

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

15.5%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

16.6%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
29
Hindi
26
Malayalam
16
Korean
13

Ancestry

English
1,023
Other
435
Scottish
268
Irish
245
Indian
208
German
141

Household Composition

62.7%

Couples with children

29.1%

Couples, no children

8.5%

Single parent

834

Total families

Economy & Employment

Brookwater's employment base is led by Healthcare at 20.4% of workers, followed by Public Administration at 11.5%, Education at 11.1%, Professional and Technical services at 9.5% and Manufacturing at 8.3%. The occupational mix is similarly skilled, with 488 Professionals, 357 Managers, 246 Clerical and Administrative workers, 167 Trades workers and 160 Sales workers. Participation is 79.0%, unemployment is 3.4% and the full-time employment rate is 64.8%, indicating a strong connection to paid work. These professional, managerial and public-sector roles help explain weekly household income of $3,637, which ranks at the 99.2nd national percentile. Socioeconomic scores are also high: IEO is in decile 8, IER in decile 10, IRSD in decile 10 and IRSAD in decile 9. Compared with national income conditions, Brookwater's economic position is substantially higher, while its manufacturing share adds some employment variety beyond office-based work.

Unemployment

3.4%

Labour Force

1,760

Unemployed

59

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
9
Disadvantage
10
Economic resources
10
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

64.8%

Part-time

27.9%

Participation

79.0%

Employed

1,701

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 488
Managers 357
Clerical/Admin 246
Trades 167
Sales 160
Community/Personal 154
Labourers 67
Machinery/Drivers 51

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.4%
Public Admin 11.5%
Education 11.1%
Professional/Tech 9.5%
Manufacturing 8.3%

University

46.5%

Postgraduate

14.8%

Born Overseas

34.8%

Dwellings

891

Transport to Work

Brookwater is highly car-oriented: 65.0% of residents travel as car drivers, compared with 3.5% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling. A further 26.1% work from home, which can reduce daily commuting because professional and administrative occupations are prominent. The suburb covers 3.97 square kilometres, with 2,902 residents and density of 731 people per square kilometre. Brookwater has 0 schools identified within its boundaries, so families should check enrolment zones, nearby options and travel times against the exact address. A suburb-level crime rate is not available for a numerical safety comparison. Socioeconomic conditions are favourable, with IRSAD in decile 9, IEO in decile 8 and household income at the 99.2nd national percentile. Compared with public transport use, driving is much higher, reflecting the area's low-transit, family-housing pattern.

Drive

65.0%

Public Transport

3.5%

Walk / Cycle

1.0%

Work from Home

26.1%

Growth Outlook

Brookwater is classified as high growth, with an annual trend of 4.46% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 161.7% over 10 years, signalling a much faster trajectory than a stable, mature suburb. The shift assessment is Mixed: the young share is down 1.9 percentage points, the working share is down 1.4 points and the senior share is up 2.6 points. Affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 42.8 in 2011 to 35.2 in 2021. The gentrification score is 0, with the shift assessment labelled Not gentrifying and the growth model stage labelled New development. The growth signal is therefore higher than the gentrification signal: 4.46% annual expansion is occurring without a measured gentrification score. With 0 development entries in the past 12 months, future momentum is more closely tied to migration and the wider regional corridor than to a current local construction surge.

Population trend: Ipswich council area

Brookwater sits in the Ipswich council area. These are the council area's residents, not Brookwater's.

Residents 2025

268,272

Growth, 5 yr average

+3.4%/yr

2020 to 2025

Growth, last year

+3.5%

2024 to 2025

ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Brookwater compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 18%
Household Income
Top 1%
Rent Level
Top 3%
Apartments
Bottom 0%
Renters
Bottom 49%
Uni Educated
Top 12%
Public Transport
Top 39%
Born Overseas
Top 10%
Density
Top 17%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brookwater a good suburb to live in?

Brookwater suits households wanting large detached homes and strong socioeconomic conditions. It has 2,902 residents, 95.6% separate houses, 84.3% four-bedroom-plus dwellings and IRSAD in decile 9. Car dependence is high at 65.0%, so transport needs should be considered.

What is the median house price in Brookwater?

A current median house price is not available for Brookwater. Buyers can still compare live sales and listings with the typical monthly mortgage figure of $2,615, weekly rent of $565 and mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.6%.

What schools are in Brookwater?

Brookwater has 0 schools identified within the suburb boundaries. Families should check nearby school options, enrolment zones and travel times for the exact property, particularly because the suburb has 62.7% couples with children and an average household size of 3.2.

Is Brookwater safe?

A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety cannot be compared numerically here. Brookwater has 2,902 residents and IRSAD in decile 9. Prospective residents should check recent police information and the immediate street environment before choosing a property.

Is Brookwater good for property investment?

Brookwater may suit investors seeking a high-income, family-oriented tenant market, with weekly rent of $565 and household income at the 99.2nd national percentile. Vacancy is 7.6%, renting is 14.8% and forecast rent growth is 0.0%, so yield and tenant depth need careful testing.

How is Brookwater's population changing?

Growth is strong across the wider area, with a forecast annual trend of 4.46% and 161.7% population change over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the shift trajectory is Mixed, including a 2.6-point rise in the senior share and a 1.9-point fall in the young share.

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).

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