Clayfield
Apartment living defines Clayfield: 51.4% of dwellings are apartments, while only 37.8% are separate houses across a compact 2.8 sq km. Its 10,897 residents have a median age of 37, three years below the national figure, and 55.0% hold a university qualification, 24.9 percentage points above the national rate. Household income ranks at the 73.1 percentile, helping explain its established, professional profile. Compared with nearby Ascot and Wooloowin, Clayfield has smaller households, averaging 2.2 people, and a substantial renter share of 43.3%.
Population
10,897
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,948/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
84
Clayfield suits buyers prioritising lower-maintenance housing over a conventional detached block. Apartments account for 51.4% of dwellings, compared with 37.8% separate houses and 10.6% semi-detached homes; 2-bedroom dwellings represent 45.9% of the stock. Mortgage repayments are about $2,000 monthly, while weekly rent is $350, and mortgage stress is not flagged at 23.7% of household income. Ownership is split between 24.6% outright owners and 30.8% mortgage holders, so buyers should compare body-corporate fees, parking and renovation rules alongside sale prices. Compared with nearby Ascot, Clayfield has a more apartment-oriented choice set.
For Buyers
Clayfield suits buyers prioritising lower-maintenance housing over a conventional detached block. Apartments account for 51.4% of dwellings, compared with 37.8% separate houses and 10.6% semi-detached homes; 2-bedroom dwellings represent 45.9% of the stock. Mortgage repayments are about $2,000 monthly, while weekly rent is $350, and mortgage stress is not flagged at 23.7% of household income. Ownership is split between 24.6% outright owners and 30.8% mortgage holders, so buyers should compare body-corporate fees, parking and renovation rules alongside sale prices. Compared with nearby Ascot, Clayfield has a more apartment-oriented choice set.
For Investors
Clayfield's rental profile is supported by 43.3% of dwellings being rented, a $350 weekly rent figure and an 8.2% vacancy rate. That vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market would usually show, so investors should allow for leasing competition and test returns after body-corporate costs, insurance and maintenance. Development activity reached 84 applications in 12 months, signalling potential future supply while creating renovation and repositioning opportunities. Rent growth is 9.4%, and overseas migration is the primary growth driver, supporting demand for well-connected smaller dwellings. Compared with detached-house areas such as Ascot, Clayfield's 51.4% apartment share makes building quality and strata management especially important.
Development Activity
Total DAs
286
Last 12 Months
84
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Clayfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Clayfield College (Clayfield)
St Agatha's Primary School (Clayfield)
St Rita's College (Clayfield)
Eagle Junction State School
Demographics
Clayfield has a relatively educated, mobile population: 55.0% have university qualifications, 24.9 percentage points above the national figure, while 27.8% were born overseas, 6.2 points above the national share. Median age is 37, three years below national, and average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national, helping explain the strong apartment presence. English, Irish and Scottish are the largest recorded ancestries at 4,160, 1,836 and 1,414 people. Christianity counts 5,241 adherents and no religion 4,012, while Hinduism counts 581. Compared with Ascot and Wooloowin, the suburb's 32.9% turnover rate points to a more fluid resident base, although 67.1% stayed at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
37.8%
Houses
10.6%
Townhouse
51.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Clayfield's housing stock is weighted toward apartments and smaller formats rather than detached family homes. Apartments make up 51.4% of dwellings, separate houses 37.8% and semi-detached homes 10.6%; 2-bedroom dwellings account for 45.9%, compared with 22.9% for 3-bedroom and 24.0% for 4-plus-bedroom homes. Tenure is divided among 24.6% outright owners, 30.8% mortgage holders and 43.3% renters, creating a substantial rental segment. Mortgage repayments represent 23.7% of household income and rent 18.0%, with neither stress flag active. Compared with Ascot's detached-home emphasis, Clayfield rewards buyers who assess strata levies, common property and parking alongside the dwelling itself.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $350.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $850 · units $600
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,102
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
421
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.1%
Couples with children
42.1%
Couples, no children
14.2%
Single parent
2,691
Total families
Economy & Employment
Clayfield combines strong professional employment with a relatively favourable socioeconomic position. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.0% and 914 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 16.3% and 785, Education at 8.0% and 384, Public Administration at 7.5% and 360, and Finance at 6.0% and 286. Professionals number 2,212 and managers 929, helping explain a 72.0% participation rate and 4.4% unemployment. SEIFA reinforces the pattern: IEO, IRSD and IRSAD all sit in decile 9, above most suburbs, while IER is decile 5, so economic resources rank closer to the middle than education and advantage measures. Compared with the national profile, the 73.1 household-income percentile supports local spending power.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
6,643
Unemployed
292
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
29.6%
Participation
72.0%
Employed
6,351
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.0%
Postgraduate
14.8%
Born Overseas
27.8%
Dwellings
4,720
Transport to Work
Clayfield's compact 2.8 sq km footprint and density of 3,895.4 people per sq km support an urban routine, but they also make parking and road access important. Car driving is the main commute mode at 52.0%, followed by public transport at 12.1%; 28.1% work from home, which can increase demand for practical 2-bedroom layouts. There are 4 local schools across 2 Catholic non-state schools, 1 government state school and 1 independent non-state school. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. The IRSAD decile is 9, above the national midpoint, while 3.5% report needing assistance. For safety decisions, inspect current Queensland Police incident information for the exact streets and travel routes.
Drive
52.0%
Public Transport
12.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
28.1%
Population Forecast
+0.72%/yr
(+85 people/yr)
EstablishedClayfield is an established suburb with measured rather than explosive momentum. The forecast trend is 0.72% annual growth, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 7.4% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed and rent growth is 9.4%. Gentrification signals are restrained, with a score of 14 and a stage of Not gentrifying, although the shift assessment records a score of 23 and stage Early signs. This combination suggests an already developed market where apartment demand, international arrivals and incremental redevelopment matter more than wholesale change. Compared with faster-expanding outer suburbs, 84 development applications in 12 months point to steady infill and refurbishment pressure rather than a new-estate cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+232
Net Internal / yr
-70
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +232/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clayfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clayfield a good suburb to live in?
Clayfield can suit professionals, couples and downsizers who value compact housing and access to schools and transport. Apartments form 51.4% of dwellings, public transport is used by 12.1% of commuters and the IRSAD score sits in decile 9. Check parking, body-corporate costs and enrolment zones for the exact property.
What is the median house price in Clayfield?
No current median house price can be stated reliably for Clayfield because 51.4% of dwellings are apartments and only 37.8% are separate houses. Compare recent settled sales by dwelling type, bedroom count and street rather than applying one figure across the suburb.
What schools are in Clayfield?
Clayfield has 4 local schools: St Agatha's Primary School and St Rita's College in the Catholic sector, Eagle Junction State School in the government sector, and Clayfield College in the independent sector. Check the address-based enrolment zone and current intake rules across the 2.8 sq km suburb.
Is Clayfield safe?
Safety should be assessed using current Queensland Police incident information for the exact streets, especially around busier roads, stations and apartment clusters. Clayfield's compact 2.8 sq km area and density of 3,895.4 people per sq km mean conditions can vary within short distances.
Is Clayfield good for property investment?
Clayfield can suit investors targeting apartments and smaller dwellings, with 43.3% renting, $350 weekly rent and an 8.2% vacancy rate. Rent growth is 9.4%, but 84 development applications in 12 months may add competing stock. Review body-corporate levies, sinking funds, parking and building condition before judging yield.
How is Clayfield's population changing?
Clayfield's population is 10,897 today, and the wider-area forecast points to 0.72% annual growth. Population change is 7.4% over 10 years, with overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, so expect established-suburb evolution rather than rapid greenfield expansion.
Are there development projects in Clayfield?
Development activity reached 84 applications in 12 months, including dwelling work, extensions and material changes of use. This points to ongoing infill and refurbishment rather than a single large project. Buyers should check proposed works, construction timing and strata implications where outlook, access or parking could change.
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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