Darra
At 41.8% overseas-born, Darra sits 20.2 percentage points above the national average, making its migrant profile one of the most striking features in western Brisbane. The median house price of $431,000 sits below the Greater Brisbane median, which draws buyers priced out of inner suburbs. With an IRSD decile of 3, relative disadvantage is higher than most metro areas, yet rent-to-income at 22.4% and mortgage-to-income at 22.2% both sit comfortably below standard stress thresholds. Housing stock is detached-dominant at 88.8% separate houses, and the 43.4% renter share creates a large tenant pool for landlords.
Population
4,098
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,560/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
55
Median House
$431K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $431,000, estimated from rent data for 2025, places Darra significantly below the Greater Brisbane median, which makes it accessible to first-home buyers compared to most inner-western suburbs. Separate houses dominate at 88.8% of stock, so buyers get genuine detached dwellings rather than apartments, which account for just 1.6%. Three-bedroom homes make up 56.6% of dwellings, with four-bedroom-plus at 29.2%, skewing toward family-sized properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2% is well below the 30% stress benchmark. Outright owners represent 25.6% of households and mortgage holders 31.0%, leaving the 43.4% renter cohort a dominant tenure group.
For Buyers
The median house price of $431,000, estimated from rent data for 2025, places Darra significantly below the Greater Brisbane median, which makes it accessible to first-home buyers compared to most inner-western suburbs. Separate houses dominate at 88.8% of stock, so buyers get genuine detached dwellings rather than apartments, which account for just 1.6%. Three-bedroom homes make up 56.6% of dwellings, with four-bedroom-plus at 29.2%, skewing toward family-sized properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2% is well below the 30% stress benchmark. Outright owners represent 25.6% of households and mortgage holders 31.0%, leaving the 43.4% renter cohort a dominant tenure group.
For Investors
A renter share of 43.4% and weekly rent of $350 give Darra a larger tenant pool than most comparable suburbs. Against the $431,000 median, $350 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 4.2%, higher than most inner-Brisbane markets. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is elevated and warrants caution, pointing to potential oversupply in the rental segment relative to demand. Overseas migration drives 107 net arrivals per year while internal migration removes 61 residents annually, producing net positive demand. Development activity reached 54 applications in the past 12 months, a moderate pipeline for a suburb of this size. Population grew 7.3% over the past decade and is forecast to add roughly 31 persons per year through 2031, providing steady rental demand rather than sharp acceleration.
Development Activity
Total DAs
177
Last 12 Months
55
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+61.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Darra iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 508 students
Darra State School
Prep-6 · 221 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, making Darra younger than average. Overseas-born residents reach 41.8%, which is 20.2 percentage points above the national rate, among the highest proportions in western Brisbane. The top ancestries are English (924 residents), Vietnamese (765) and Other (715), with Irish (290) also represented. University qualifications at 36.8% run 6.7 percentage points above the national figure, somewhat surprising given the decile 3 IRSD disadvantage score. Average household size is 2.7, which is 0.2 above the national average, consistent with the high share of couples with children (1,386 families) relative to couples without children (684 families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
9.7%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into three groups: 25.6% own outright, 31.0% carry a mortgage, and 43.4% rent, with renters the largest single tenure. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 88.8%, with semi-detached at 9.7% and apartments at just 1.6%, so the suburb functions as a conventional residential neighbourhood rather than a mixed-density area. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 56.6% and four-bedroom-plus at 29.2%, leaving two-bedroom homes at just 12.5%, which reflects the family-oriented stock profile. Rent-to-income at 22.4% and mortgage-to-income at 22.2% both remain below the 30% stress threshold, a contrast to higher-cost suburbs where these ratios routinely exceed that level. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is above typical metro norms and suggests the rental market has some slack.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$700
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
117
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.2%
Couples, no children
3,220
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 19.7% of local workers (243 people), followed by Education at 11.5% (142) and then Manufacturing and Professional/Tech each at 9.1% (113 each), with Construction at 8.7% (108). By occupation, Professionals lead at 391 workers, then Labourers at 240, Community/Personal at 219, Clerical/Admin at 210 and Machinery/Drivers at 180. Unemployment sits at 9.5%, higher than Brisbane metro averages, and the participation rate of 56.2% is also below typical levels, with 1,083 residents not in the labour force. The IRSD decile of 3 and IRSAD decile of 4 reflect this pattern of below-average economic outcomes, though real income grew 16.9% over the decade and the IEO decile of 5 indicates education levels are closer to the national midpoint than the disadvantage scores suggest.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
2,865
Unemployed
121
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.2%
Part-time
25.3%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
1,698
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.8%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
41.8%
Dwellings
1,449
Transport to Work
Transport in Darra is car-dependent: 81.5% of residents drive to work, compared to just 8.2% using public transport and 3.2% walking or cycling. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring areas. Crime data is not available for Darra at the suburb level. The IRSD decile of 3 indicates higher relative disadvantage than most Brisbane suburbs, though rent-to-income at 22.4% keeps housing costs manageable for tenants. Volunteering runs at 12.7% of residents, and 6.7% (261 people) need daily assistance. Turnover is moderate at 23.7% of residents having moved in the five years to the Census, with 76.3% staying put, indicating reasonable residential stability relative to higher-turnover rental suburbs.
Drive
81.5%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.6%/yr
(+31 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew at 0.6% per year, adding roughly 31 persons annually, and expanded 7.3% over the past decade. The current estimated population of 5,141 (2025) has recovered well above the COVID low of 4,770 and the pre-COVID level of 4,945, with post-COVID recovery of 4.8%. Overseas migration contributes a net 107 arrivals per year, while internal migration removes 61 residents annually, so population gains depend on overseas arrivals. Medium forecasts project the population reaching around 5,259 by 2031, a continuation of the current trend. Rent growth of 20.0% over the period reflects tightening demand, and the gentrification score of 14 classifies the suburb as not gentrifying, consistent with a suburb at IRSD decile 3 that has not yet attracted the professional-class influx that drives gentrification.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+107
Net Internal / yr
-61
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Darra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Darra a good suburb to live in?
Darra offers affordable housing with a median house price of $431,000, well below the Greater Brisbane median. It has a younger-than-average population (median age 36, which is 4 years below national) and a high proportion of overseas-born residents at 41.8%. The IRSD decile of 3 signals above-average disadvantage, and unemployment at 9.5% is elevated, so buyers should weigh these factors against the price advantage.
What is the median house price in Darra?
The median house price in Darra is approximately $431,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $350, and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,500. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making purchase costs manageable relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Darra?
No schools are recorded within the Darra suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, Darra residents hold university qualifications at a rate of 36.8%, which is 6.7 percentage points above the national average, suggesting reasonable access to broader educational resources.
Is Darra safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Darra in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, Darra scores IRSD decile 3, meaning it ranks in the lower third for relative disadvantage nationally. Unemployment at 9.5% is above Brisbane metro norms. Prospective residents should consult the Queensland Police Service crime mapping tool for the most current local data.
Is Darra good for property investment?
Darra's renter share of 43.4% and estimated gross yield of around 4.2% (at $350 rent against a $431,000 median) are both stronger than most inner-Brisbane suburbs. However, the vacancy rate of 7.5% is elevated and signals some oversupply risk. Net overseas migration of 107 per year supports demand, and the 7.3% population growth over the past decade indicates a suburb with steady, if not spectacular, momentum.
How is Darra's population changing?
Darra's population has grown 7.3% over the past decade and is currently estimated at around 5,141 residents (2025), up from the pre-COVID level of 4,945. Annual growth runs at roughly 31 persons per year (0.6%). Overseas migration is the primary driver at 107 net arrivals annually, partially offset by a net internal outflow of 61 people per year. Medium forecasts project around 5,259 residents by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Darra?
About 41.8% of Darra residents were born overseas, which is 20.2 percentage points above the national figure. Arabic (45 speakers), Punjabi (38), Hindi (25), Samoan (22) and Bengali (21) are the most common non-English languages. The top ancestries are English (924), Vietnamese (765) and Other (715), reflecting a genuinely multicultural population.
How much development activity is there in Darra?
There were 54 development applications lodged in Darra over the past 12 months. Recent applications include material changes of use and design siting referrals, suggesting ongoing commercial and residential activity. This is a moderate level for a suburb of around 5,100 residents in the 5.56 km2 area.
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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