Capalaba
Detached housing defines Capalaba more than its bayside neighbours: 77.7% of dwellings are separate houses and only 2.5% are apartments. With 18,002 residents, a median age of 39 and household income in the 61.2 percentile, it sits above average for income but below the national university share by 5.3 points. Compared with Birkdale or Alexandra Hills, the suburb reads more as a practical retail and family hub because mortgages, cars and larger homes dominate daily life.
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
Median House
$490K
Estimated from rent (2025)
For homebuyers, Capalaba suits buyers who prioritise space and manageable repayments over apartment convenience. Separate houses make up 77.7% of stock, while 4 or more bedroom homes account for 43.1%, higher than the apartment share of 2.5%. The monthly mortgage figure of $1,785 absorbs 23.6% of household income, below stress settings, so borrowing pressure looks contained. A median house price is not available, which means recent comparable sales matter more before setting a bid.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Capalaba suits buyers who prioritise space and manageable repayments over apartment convenience. Separate houses make up 77.7% of stock, while 4 or more bedroom homes account for 43.1%, higher than the apartment share of 2.5%. The monthly mortgage figure of $1,785 absorbs 23.6% of household income, below stress settings, so borrowing pressure looks contained. A median house price is not available, which means recent comparable sales matter more before setting a bid.
For Investors
Investors face a steady rental setting rather than a rapid-growth one. Renters represent 26.4% of households compared with 43.1% paying a mortgage and 30.5% owned outright, so tenant depth is present but not dominant. Weekly rent is $385 and rent-to-income is 22.0%, below stress levels, which supports affordability. Vacancy at 3.9% and 0 approvals in the past 12 months limit supply risk, while forecast growth of 0.48% a year keeps demand more measured than booming corridors.
Schools in Capalaba iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Luke's Catholic Parish School
Prep-6 · 359 students
Coolnwynpin State School
Prep-6 · 328 students
Capalaba State College
Prep-12 · 1022 students
Demographics
Capalaba's 18,002 residents are slightly younger than the national profile by 1.0 year, with a median age of 39, but the outlook is aging as the senior share has risen 6.7 points. Overseas-born residents are 22.8%, only 1.2 points above the national comparison, while university attainment at 24.8% is 5.3 points below. English ancestry is the largest stream at 7,548 people, so the suburb has a more Anglo-leaning base than many inner Brisbane areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.7%
Houses
18.6%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly low-density and owner-oriented. Outright ownership is 30.5% and mortgaged households are 43.1%, compared with 26.4% renting, which gives the suburb a settled ownership base. The dwelling mix explains the family skew: 77.7% separate houses, 18.6% semi-detached homes and just 2.5% apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes are 43.1% and 3-bedroom homes are 40.4%, while mortgage costs consume 23.6% of income, below stress readings. A current median house price is not available.
Mortgage / mo
$1,785
Rent / wk
$385
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
27.1%
Couples, no children
14,652
Total families
Economy & Employment
Capalaba's workforce leans practical and service-based, which fits its middle SEIFA profile and 59.5% participation rate. Healthcare employs 1,128 workers, above construction at 785, education at 615, retail at 469 and manufacturing at 421. Professionals lead occupations at 1,526, followed by clerical and admin at 1,409. SEIFA is mixed: IEO decile 4 sits below IER decile 6, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 5, suggesting resources are steadier than education and occupation scores.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
11,584
Unemployed
443
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.6%
Part-time
29.5%
Participation
59.5%
Employed
8,322
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.8%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
22.8%
Dwellings
6,711
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led, with 89.9% driving to work compared with 2.8% using public transport and 2.0% walking or cycling. School choice is compact rather than broad: 3 local schools span ICSEA 982 to 1057, led by St Luke's Catholic Parish School at 1057 and the large Capalaba State College with 1,022 students. This suits families wanting local schooling because primary and combined options sit within the suburb, while IRSAD decile 5 points to average socio-economic conditions.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.48%/yr
(+93 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is slow and mature rather than speculative. The trend forecast adds 0.48% a year, or about 93 residents, taking the medium path from 19,251 in 2026 to 19,718 in 2031. Migration is the driver because overseas inflow averages 136 people a year, compared with net internal loss of 50. The shift is aging, with seniors up 6.7 points and young residents down 1.6 points. Current gentrification is scored 0 and labelled Not gentrifying, below the earlier Early signs score of 20.
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?
Yes for buyers who want space and car-based access. Capalaba has 18,002 residents, 77.7% separate houses and 3 local schools, while mortgage costs take 23.6% of income, below stress levels. It is less suited to heavy public transport users, with only 2.8% commuting that way.
What is the median house price in Capalaba?
A current median house price is not available for Capalaba, so recent comparable sales should guide pricing. The suburb still shows useful cost signals: the median monthly mortgage is $1,785, 43.1% of households have a mortgage and mortgage costs are 23.6% of income.
What schools are in Capalaba?
Capalaba has 3 local schools: St Luke's Catholic Parish School, Coolnwynpin State School and Capalaba State College. ICSEA scores range from 982 to 1057, and enrolments range from 328 students to 1,022 at the state college.
Is Capalaba safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not currently quoted for Capalaba, so safety is best checked through street-level inspections and recent Queensland Police maps. Local stability is supported by 30.5% outright ownership and 43.1% mortgaged households across a population of 18,002.
Is Capalaba good for property investment?
Capalaba can suit income-focused investors more than rapid-growth speculators. Renters are 26.4% of households, weekly rent is $385 and vacancy is 3.9%. With 0 new approvals in the past 12 months and growth forecast at 0.48% a year, supply risk looks limited but demand growth is measured.
How is Capalaba's population changing?
Capalaba is growing slowly. The annual trend is 0.48%, or about 93 people, and the medium path rises from 19,251 in 2026 to 19,718 in 2031. Overseas migration adds 136 people a year on average, while internal migration is negative at -50.
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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