Cornubia
An extraordinary 847 development applications in 12 months, far exceeding the 60-77 range typical of active suburbs, signals a construction surge in Cornubia that dwarfs normal activity. Many recent DAs involve damaged dwelling repairs and roof replacements, suggesting storm recovery rather than greenfield expansion. Meanwhile, the IER decile 10 (top-tier economic resources) and household income at the 89.2th percentile confirm this is a wealthy outer Brisbane suburb where 55.6% carry mortgages and 93.7% live in separate houses. The senior share expanded 7.4 points over the decade, the fastest aging rate in this batch.
Population
7,810
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,348/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1,025
Median House
$562K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $562,000 median is accessible for a suburb with 89.2th-percentile household income. Separate houses at 93.7% with 67.4% having 4+ bedrooms provide the large family homes this demographic demands. Monthly mortgage at $2,054 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.2%, well below the stress threshold. Three-bedrooms at 30.2% offer moderate alternatives. Two schools serve the suburb: St Matthew's (Catholic, ICSEA 1,055, 561 students) and Chisholm Catholic College (secondary, ICSEA 1,043, 932 students), both above the national benchmark. Car dependence is extreme at 91.5%.
For Buyers
The estimated $562,000 median is accessible for a suburb with 89.2th-percentile household income. Separate houses at 93.7% with 67.4% having 4+ bedrooms provide the large family homes this demographic demands. Monthly mortgage at $2,054 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.2%, well below the stress threshold. Three-bedrooms at 30.2% offer moderate alternatives. Two schools serve the suburb: St Matthew's (Catholic, ICSEA 1,055, 561 students) and Chisholm Catholic College (secondary, ICSEA 1,043, 932 students), both above the national benchmark. Car dependence is extreme at 91.5%.
For Investors
The 13.2% renter share is thin, limiting the tenant pool. Weekly rent of $440 against the $562,000 estimated median produces gross yield of approximately 4.1%, above the national capital city average. Vacancy at 4.0% is slightly above the 3% equilibrium. The 847 development applications in 12 months are anomalous, with damaged dwelling repairs dominating recent activity, suggesting storm-related reconstruction rather than new supply creation. Population grows modestly at 0.83% annually (79 persons), projected to reach 9,999 by 2031. Internal migration is near-zero (-7/year), with overseas migration at 72/year providing growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,226
Last 12 Months
1,025
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2128.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cornubia iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Matthew's School
Prep-6 · 561 students
Chisholm Catholic College
7-12 · 932 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national median. English ancestry (3,413) dominates, followed by Irish (875), Scottish (850), and German (483), a strongly Anglo-Celtic profile. Overseas-born at 25.1% is 3.5 points above national. University qualifications at 32.2% are 2.1 points above national. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, reflecting the family-oriented profile. Couples with children (3,060) outnumber childless couples (1,687) at a 1.8:1 ratio. The community is predominantly English-speaking, with Mandarin (33), Punjabi (19), and German (13) as the top non-English languages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.7%
Houses
5.9%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Mortgage holders at 55.6% dominate, with outright owners at 31.1% and renters at just 13.2%. The combined 86.7% owner-occupier share is among the highest analysed. Stock is 93.7% separate houses, 5.9% semi-detached, and 0.4% apartments. The 67.4% share of 4+ bedrooms is very high, with three-bedrooms at 30.2%. Mortgage-to-income at 20.2% and rent-to-income at 18.7% are both well below stress thresholds. The IRSAD decile 8 and IER decile 10 create a split: economic resources rank nationally top-tier, but overall advantage is strong rather than elite, consistent with trades-and-services income patterns.
Mortgage / mo
$2,054
Rent / wk
$440
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$918
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
106
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.6%
Couples, no children
6,863
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 16.1% (460 workers), followed by Construction at 15.5% (442), Education at 14.1% (402), Professional/Tech at 8.6% (247), and Manufacturing at 6.5% (186). The construction share of 15.5% is among the highest analysed, reflecting the building-trades income base that supports the 89.2th-percentile household income. Professionals (915) lead occupations, with Clerical/Admin (659) and Managers (599) following. Unemployment at 4.5% is near average, and participation at 64.1% is solid. Full-time employment at 67.0% is above average. The healthcare + education + construction combined share of 45.7% defines a suburban service economy.
Unemployment
1.3%
Labour Force
5,637
Unemployed
74
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.0%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
64.1%
Employed
3,834
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.2%
Postgraduate
6.1%
Born Overseas
25.1%
Dwellings
2,567
Transport to Work
Two schools serve the suburb, both above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000: St Matthew's School (primary, Catholic, ICSEA 1,055, 561 students) and Chisholm Catholic College (secondary, Catholic, ICSEA 1,043, 932 students). Car driving at 91.5% dominates, with public transport at 2.1% and walking/cycling at 1.6%, reflecting the car-dependent suburban form. The IRSAD decile 8 and IER decile 10 confirm above-average advantage and top-tier economic resources. Mortgage stress at 20.2% and rent stress at 18.7% are both comfortable. Need for assistance at 5.3% is near the national average. Volunteering at 14.0% is moderate.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.83%/yr
(+79 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows modestly at 0.83% annually (79 persons), projected to reach 9,999 by 2031. Internal migration is near-zero (-7/year), with overseas migration at 72/year providing growth. The senior share expanded 7.4 points over the decade, the fastest aging rate in this batch, while the working-age share contracted 3.9 points. Population grew 13.0% over 10 years, modest for outer Brisbane. The gentrification score of 4 (not gentrifying) confirms stability. Affordability improved from 53.7% in 2011 to 47.6% in 2021. Real income grew 11.2% over the decade, below the national average. The 80.3% residential stability signals a settled community.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+72
Net Internal / yr
-7
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cornubia compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cornubia a good suburb to live in?
Cornubia excels for families seeking large houses (93.7% separate, 67.4% with 4+ bedrooms) at accessible prices ($562,000 estimated median). The IER decile 10 places economic resources in the top 10% nationally. Both schools score above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark. Mortgage stress at 20.2% is low. The trade-off is extreme car dependence (91.5%) and limited housing diversity, with almost no apartments.
What is the median house price in Cornubia?
The estimated median is $562,000, accessible for a suburb with household income at the 89.2th percentile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,054, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.2%. Weekly rent is $440 with a 4.0% vacancy rate. The 93.7% separate house share and 67.4% 4+ bedroom dominance mean most properties are family-sized.
What schools are in Cornubia?
Two Catholic schools serve the suburb, both above the national 1,000 ICSEA benchmark: St Matthew's School (primary, ICSEA 1,055, 561 students) and Chisholm Catholic College (secondary, ICSEA 1,043, 932 students). The combined enrolment of 1,493 students across K-12 provides a complete Catholic education pathway within the suburb.
Is Cornubia safe?
Crime data is not available at suburb level for QLD. However, the IER decile 10 (top economic resources), IRSD decile 8 (low disadvantage), 4.5% unemployment, 86.7% owner-occupier share, and 80.3% residential stability are strong proxy indicators. The family-dominant demographic (3,060 couples with children) and high volunteering at 14.0% suggest active community oversight.
Is Cornubia good for property investment?
Gross yield at approximately 4.1% ($440/week on $562,000) is above the capital city average. The 4.0% vacancy rate is slightly above the 3% equilibrium target. The 13.2% renter share is thin. The 847 DAs in 12 months are anomalous, largely storm-repair work, not new supply. Population growth at 0.83% annually is modest. The aging trajectory (senior share +7.4 points) may shift future demand toward downsizing products that barely exist in the current stock.
How is Cornubia's population changing?
Growth is modest at 0.83% annually (79 persons), projected to reach 9,999 by 2031. The senior share expanded 7.4 points over the decade, the fastest aging rate in this batch, while the working-age share contracted 3.9 points. Internal migration is near-zero (-7/year). The 80.3% residential stability indicates parents staying after children leave, a pattern that will reshape housing demand from family to downsizer in the coming decade.
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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