Coorparoo
Coorparoo packs 18,132 people into just 5.33 sq km, giving it a density of 3,403.7 residents per sq km and a more urban feel than many middle-ring Brisbane suburbs. Compared with nearby Norman Park and Camp Hill, its housing mix is notably apartment-led: 50.0% apartments vs 40.6% separate houses. The suburb also skews educated and higher income, with 56.3% university-qualified residents, 26.2 points above the national level, and household income at the 79.7 percentile.
Population
18,132
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,105/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
115
Homebuyers should read Coorparoo as an inner-suburban trade-off: more convenience and smaller dwellings, because 50.0% of homes are apartments and 42.1% are 2-bedroom dwellings. Separate houses still account for 40.6%, so family housing exists, but competition is likely sharper than in lower-density suburbs. Mortgage costs average $2,047 a month and sit at 22.5% of income, below common stress thresholds, while 24.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should read Coorparoo as an inner-suburban trade-off: more convenience and smaller dwellings, because 50.0% of homes are apartments and 42.1% are 2-bedroom dwellings. Separate houses still account for 40.6%, so family housing exists, but competition is likely sharper than in lower-density suburbs. Mortgage costs average $2,047 a month and sit at 22.5% of income, below common stress thresholds, while 24.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
For Investors
Coorparoo has an investor-friendly rental base, with 46.0% of households renting and a typical rent of $380 a week. The vacancy rate is 7.3%, higher than tight-market conditions, so tenant quality and building selection matter. Demand is supported by 15.2% rent growth, 85 development applications over 12 months and overseas migration averaging +289 people a year, although internal migration is lower at -96 a year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
397
Last 12 Months
115
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+55.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coorparoo iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
Prep-6 · 605 students
Loreto College Coorparoo
5-12 · 989 students
Villanova College
5-12 · 1561 students
Coorparoo State School
Prep-6 · 809 students
St James Primary School
Prep-6 · 132 students
Demographics
Coorparoo is younger and more educated than the national profile, with a median age of 35, which is 5.0 years below the national benchmark, and 56.3% university attainment, 26.2 points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 25.6%, only 4.0 points higher than national, so the suburb is cosmopolitan without being migrant-majority. English ancestry is the largest at 6,501, followed by Irish at 3,166 and Scottish at 2,225.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
40.6%
Houses
9.3%
Townhouse
50.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is split between owners and renters, with 22.2% owned outright, 31.8% mortgaged and 46.0% rented. Apartments at 50.0% outnumber separate houses at 40.6%, a higher-density pattern than typical suburban Brisbane stock. The bedroom mix reinforces that profile: 42.1% are 2-bedroom homes, 25.4% have 3 bedrooms and 24.3% have 4 or more. Rent takes 18.1% of income, while mortgages take 22.5%, both below stress flags.
Mortgage / mo
$2,047
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Mar 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $380.
$750
Bond data Mar 2026 quarter · houses $750 · units $660
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,132
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
605
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.1%
Couples, no children
12,818
Total families
Economy & Employment
Coorparoo's workforce is strongly white-collar, led by Healthcare at 20.5% or 1,741 workers, Professional/Tech at 14.9% and Education at 12.4%. Professionals are the largest occupation group with 4,054 people, ahead of 1,622 Managers. Employment conditions sit above average, with 67.9% participation, 67.9% full-time employment among workers and 4.1% unemployment. SEIFA is strong on advantage and education, with IEO decile 9, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 9, while IER decile 6 suggests incomes are good but not uniformly top-tier.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
12,954
Unemployed
327
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.9%
Part-time
28.0%
Participation
67.9%
Employed
10,060
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.3%
Postgraduate
15.1%
Born Overseas
25.6%
Dwellings
7,652
Transport to Work
Coorparoo rates well for daily convenience because density supports services, schools and transport choice. Public transport is used by 15.4% of commuters, above many car-oriented suburbs, although 73.3% still drive and 5.9% walk or cycle. The school base is broad, with 8 local schools spanning Government, Catholic and Independent-style options by sector mix; ICSEA ranges from 964 to 1151. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Loreto College Coorparoo and Villanova College sit at the top of the ICSEA range, while area advantage is reinforced by IRSAD decile 9.
Drive
73.3%
Public Transport
15.4%
Walk / Cycle
5.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.26%/yr
(+241 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth looks steady rather than explosive. The trend forecast is 1.26% a year, or about 241 additional residents annually, taking the medium population path to 20,601 by 2031. Migration is the key driver because overseas inflow averages +289 people a year, compared with internal migration at -96. The shift profile is Mixed: rent growth is 15.2%, real incomes are up 10.1%, and the gentrification score is 32 at an Early signs stage.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+289
Net Internal / yr
-96
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +289/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 14%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coorparoo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coorparoo a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Coorparoo suits buyers and renters wanting inner Brisbane convenience with strong education and income signals. It has 18,132 residents, 8 local schools, IRSAD decile 9 and 15.4% public transport commuting, which is above many car-dependent suburbs.
What is the median house price in Coorparoo?
A current median house price cannot be quoted for Coorparoo from these figures. Useful context is that 50.0% of dwellings are apartments, 40.6% are separate houses, typical mortgage payments are $2,047 a month and weekly rent is $380.
What schools are in Coorparoo?
Coorparoo has 8 schools, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Loreto College Coorparoo, Villanova College, Coorparoo State School and Coorparoo Secondary College. ICSEA ranges from 964 to 1151, with Catholic and Government options represented.
Is Coorparoo safe?
Safety should be checked street by street because no local crime rate is available in these figures. Broader livability indicators are solid: IRSAD is decile 9, 4.3% of residents need assistance, and the suburb supports 8 schools and 18,132 residents.
Is Coorparoo good for property investment?
Coorparoo has several investor positives: 46.0% of households rent, weekly rent is $380, rent growth is 15.2% and 85 development applications were recorded over 12 months. The caution is vacancy at 7.3%, so asset quality matters.
How is Coorparoo's population changing?
Coorparoo is growing at a moderate 1.26% a year, equal to about 241 extra residents annually. The medium forecast reaches 20,601 people by 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration of +289 a year despite internal migration of -96.
What development is happening in Coorparoo?
Development activity is active, with 85 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include building work for a dwelling house extension and a material change of use for indoor sport and recreation, which fits a higher-density suburb with 50.0% apartments.
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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