Capalaba
Capalaba's standout profile is its scale: 18,002 residents across 18.7 square kilometres, or 962.5 people per square kilometre. Separate houses account for 77.7% of dwellings, and 75.9% of workers drive, pointing to an established, car-oriented mortgage-belt suburb. The median age of 39 is 1 year below the national average, while household income sits at the 61.2nd percentile. Compared with nearby Alexandra Hills, Capalaba is the more service-oriented choice for established shopping and connections, while Alexandra Hills is generally more residential. Growth is slower than a high-growth corridor at 0.48% annually.
Population
18,002
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,747/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are choosing a house-led market: 77.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 18.6% semi-detached and 2.5% apartments. Larger homes dominate, with 43.1% containing 4 or more bedrooms versus 40.4% with 3 bedrooms, so the stock suits families needing space more than compact-home buyers. The typical mortgage payment is $1,785 a month, with mortgage costs at 23.6% of household income. Rent is $385 a week and 22.0% of income, while 42.9% of households carry a mortgage. With no current median price quoted, compare recent sales street by street and test repayments against comparable suburbs.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a house-led market: 77.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 18.6% semi-detached and 2.5% apartments. Larger homes dominate, with 43.1% containing 4 or more bedrooms versus 40.4% with 3 bedrooms, so the stock suits families needing space more than compact-home buyers. The typical mortgage payment is $1,785 a month, with mortgage costs at 23.6% of household income. Rent is $385 a week and 22.0% of income, while 42.9% of households carry a mortgage. With no current median price quoted, compare recent sales street by street and test repayments against comparable suburbs.
For Investors
Capalaba has a moderate rental base: 26.2% of households rent, versus 73.2% owning outright or with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $385 and vacancy is 3.9%, so tenant demand needs to be assessed alongside property condition and location rather than assumed from low vacancy alone. There were 0 development samples over 12 months, reducing an immediate oversupply signal. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Detached houses account for 77.7% of stock, higher than the 2.5% apartment share, so family-oriented houses and semi-detached homes may offer broader appeal than high-rise units. Check yield against the eventual purchase price because no median price is quoted.
Schools in Capalaba
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Luke's Catholic Parish School (Capalaba)
Capalaba State College
Coolnwynpin State School
Demographics
Capalaba has 18,002 residents and a median age of 39, one year below the national average. Its trajectory is aging: the senior share is up 6.7 percentage points while the young share is down 1.6. University attainment is 24.8%, 5.3 points below the national comparison, while overseas-born residents are 22.8%, 1.2 points above it. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 7,548, 2,050 and 2,040; Christianity and no religion account for 8,562 and 7,634 people. Compared with nearby Alexandra Hills, Capalaba is more service-centred, while an average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.7%
Houses
18.6%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Capalaba's tenure pattern is more owner-oriented than rental-oriented: 30.3% of dwellings are owned outright and 42.9% are under mortgage, compared with 26.2% rented. The physical stock reinforces that pattern, with 77.7% separate houses, 18.6% semi-detached homes and 2.5% apartments. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 43.1%, higher than 3-bedroom homes at 40.4%, while 2-bedroom dwellings make up 11.9%. Mortgage costs are $1,785 monthly, or 23.6% of household income; rent is $385 weekly, or 22.0%. Compared with nearby Alexandra Hills, Capalaba remains a family-housing option, but buyers should compare street-level sales because no median price is quoted.
Mortgage / mo
$1,785
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $385.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $700
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$804
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
276
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.1%
Couples with children
38.5%
Couples, no children
18.2%
Single parent
5,092
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Capalaba's industries at 18.9% and 1,128 workers, followed by construction at 13.2% and 785, education at 10.3% and 615, retail at 7.9% and 469, and manufacturing at 7.1% and 421. Occupations are led by trades with 1,543 workers, professionals with 1,526 and clerical/admin with 1,409. Participation is 65.0%, full-time employment 59.8% and unemployment 4.5%. Household income is $1,747 weekly, at the 61.2nd percentile. SEIFA is mixed: IEO decile 4 is below IER decile 6, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 5. The gap suggests economic resources rank higher than education and occupation.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
9,556
Unemployed
427
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
65.0%
Employed
9,129
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.8%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
22.8%
Dwellings
6,711
Transport to Work
Capalaba is practical for drivers: 75.9% travel by car, compared with 2.4% using public transport, while 15.5% work from home. That pattern suits an established suburban layout but means households without a car should check routes and daily destinations carefully. Three local schools provide a mix of 2 government state schools and 1 Catholic non-state school; check enrolment zones against the exact address. Density is 962.5 people per square kilometre, and IRSAD is decile 5, around the middle rather than the higher deciles. No current suburb crime rate is quoted, so Queensland Police information is a better safety check than assumptions based on tenure or density.
Drive
75.9%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
15.5%
Population Forecast
+0.48%/yr
(+93 people/yr)
EstablishedCapalaba is an established, slow-growth suburb, with forecast annual growth of 0.48% and population change across the wider area of 7.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so demand is more likely to build through household inflow than rapid local expansion. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 6.7 percentage points, while the young and working shares are each down 1.6. The forecast gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with score 0, although a separate shift indicator records Early signs and score 20. That is lower-intensity than a strongly gentrifying market and points to gradual change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+136
Net Internal / yr
-50
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Capalaba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Capalaba a good suburb to live in?
Capalaba can suit households wanting established, detached housing and practical access to services. Separate houses make up 77.7% of dwellings, the median age is 39, and 75.9% of workers drive. Its 0.48% annual growth is slower than a high-growth corridor, so the feel is established rather than rapidly changing.
What is the median house price in Capalaba?
Capalaba's median house price is not quoted, so buyers should check recent comparable sales before setting a budget. The housing mix matters: 77.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 43.1% have 4 or more bedrooms and weekly rent is $385. Compare like-for-like sales because apartment stock is only 2.5%.
What schools are in Capalaba?
Three schools are listed locally: 2 government state schools and 1 Catholic non-state school. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and year level before signing a contract, because school access can differ by street. The mix is more government than Catholic, and nearby options should be compared on location and current policies rather than assumed quality.
Is Capalaba safe?
No suburb crime rate is quoted for Capalaba, so current Queensland Police information and an inspection at different times are the safest checks. The IRSAD position is decile 5, around the middle rather than above the highest-access areas, and density is 962.5 people per square kilometre. Those measures describe context, not personal safety.
Is Capalaba good for property investment?
Capalaba may suit investors seeking established family housing, but the purchase price must be tested against rent. Weekly rent is $385, vacancy is 3.9% and 26.2% of households rent, versus 73.2% owning outright or with a mortgage. There were 0 development samples in 12 months, while overseas migration is the primary driver, so compare yield, maintenance and tenant demand rather than relying on growth alone.
How is Capalaba's population changing?
Capalaba has 18,002 residents today. Growth is forecast at 0.48% a year, while population change across the wider area is 7.9% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 6.7 percentage points and the young share is down 1.6. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so change is gradual rather than faster than a high-growth corridor.
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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