Deception Bay
At 84.2% separate houses, Deception Bay reads as a detached, bayside housing market with a lower-income profile than many Brisbane fringe suburbs. Compared with nearby North Lakes and Rothwell, its identity is more older suburban stock than master-planned retail core. Population is 19,573, median age is 40, and household income sits at the 28.7 percentile nationally. That matters because affordability pressure is moderated by $325 median weekly rent, but social advantage ranks in decile 1.
Population
19,573
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,270/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
62
Median House
$414K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers get a house-led market rather than an apartment market: 84.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 9.6% are semi-detached and only 4.4% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 51.0%, with 4-plus bedrooms at 33.6%, so family-sized stock is easier to find than compact units. The $1,517 median monthly mortgage equals 27.6% of income, below common stress thresholds, but household income at the 28.7 percentile nationally means buffers are thinner.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a house-led market rather than an apartment market: 84.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 9.6% are semi-detached and only 4.4% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 51.0%, with 4-plus bedrooms at 33.6%, so family-sized stock is easier to find than compact units. The $1,517 median monthly mortgage equals 27.6% of income, below common stress thresholds, but household income at the 28.7 percentile nationally means buffers are thinner.
For Investors
Investors should read Deception Bay as a renter-exposed, supply-active market. Renters make up 39.9% of households compared with 25.7% owned outright and 34.4% with a mortgage, so tenancy demand is meaningful. Median rent is $325 per week, while vacancy is 5.1%, higher than a very tight rental setting. The 52 development applications in 12 months can add stock, but internal migration of 353 people a year supports demand because local growth is not only overseas-led.
Development Activity
Total DAs
107
Last 12 Months
62
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+82.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Deception Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Christ the King Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 361 students
Moreton Downs State School
Prep-6 · 586 students
Deception Bay State High School
7-12 · 1374 students
Deception Bay North State School
Prep-6 · 362 students
Deception Bay State School
Prep-6 · 292 students
Demographics
Deception Bay has 19,573 residents, a median age of 40 and an average household size of 2.5, matching the national age and household-size benchmarks. The suburb is less university-heavy than Australia overall: 14.9% hold a degree, which is 15.2 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents are 20.4%, 1.2 points below national, and ancestry counts lean English at 7,943, Scottish at 1,906 and Irish at 1,890. Samoan is the largest listed non-English language at 146 speakers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.2%
Houses
9.6%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure is mixed but tilted toward renters: 39.9% rent, 34.4% have a mortgage and 25.7% own outright. The built form is far more detached than inner and middle-ring suburbs, with 84.2% separate houses and 4.4% apartments. Affordability looks workable on payments because rent-to-income is 25.6% and mortgage-to-income is 27.6%, yet the income base is below the national median at the 28.7 percentile. That combination favours budget-conscious buyers seeking 3-bedroom stock, which is 51.0% of homes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$325
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$620
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
382
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.1%
Couples, no children
15,098
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is service and trades oriented rather than high-income professional dominated. Healthcare leads with 1,134 workers and 24.7% of industry employment, followed by construction at 526, education at 471, retail at 389 and manufacturing at 322. Occupations skew to community and personal service roles at 1,249 and labourers at 1,132. Unemployment is 9.8% with participation at 48.6%, which helps explain SEIFA weakness: IEO decile 1, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1.
Unemployment
7.1%
Labour Force
11,289
Unemployed
798
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.3%
Part-time
26.9%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
6,915
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.9%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
20.4%
Dwellings
7,114
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led compared with rail-oriented suburbs: 88.0% drive to work, while 2.5% use public transport and 2.3% walk or cycle. School access is a practical strength because 5 local schools span Catholic and Government sectors, with ICSEA scores from 882 to 989. Christ the King Catholic Primary is the highest ICSEA at 989 with 361 enrolments, followed by Moreton Downs State School at 945 and Deception Bay State High at 923. IRSAD decile 1 points to lower area advantage, so amenities matter at a street level.
Drive
88.0%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.87%/yr
(+220 people/yr)
EstablishedForecast growth is steady rather than explosive. The trend rate is 0.87% a year, equal to about 220 people annually, and the medium path moves from 24,868 in 2026 to 25,967 in 2031. Compared with the forecast 2025 base of 25,304, that is modest expansion. Migration is led by internal movement, averaging 353 net internal arrivals a year versus 165 net overseas arrivals. The shift profile is aging, with seniors up 6.5 points, while gentrification is scored 29 and labelled Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+165
Net Internal / yr
+353
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +13% since 2011, Net internal migration +353/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Deception Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Deception Bay a good suburb to live in?
Deception Bay suits buyers wanting detached housing and local schools at a lower price point. Separate houses are 84.2% of dwellings, there are 5 schools, and median rent is $325, but 88.0% car commuting means transport convenience depends on location.
What is the median house price in Deception Bay?
A current median house price is not quoted. The local cost picture is clearer through $325 median weekly rent and a $1,517 median monthly mortgage, with 84.2% separate houses shaping most buyer searches.
What schools are in Deception Bay?
There are 5 local schools. The highest ICSEA is Christ the King Catholic Primary School at 989, followed by Moreton Downs State School at 945 and Deception Bay State High School at 923, giving both Catholic and Government options.
Is Deception Bay safe?
Safety needs street-level checking because a suburb-wide crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available. With 19,573 residents across 19.44 sq km, conditions can vary by pocket, road exposure and nearby activity centres.
Is Deception Bay good for property investment?
It has investment demand but also supply risk. Renters are 39.9% of households and median rent is $325 per week, while vacancy is 5.1% and 52 development applications in 12 months may add competition.
How is Deception Bay's population changing?
The forecast points to steady growth of 0.87% a year, or about 220 people annually. The medium scenario rises from 24,868 in 2026 to 25,967 in 2031, led mainly by net internal migration of 353 people a year.
Is there much development in Deception Bay?
Yes. There were 52 development applications in the past 12 months, including reconfiguring lots, building work and education-related changes. That is important for investors because new supply can affect vacancy and rents.
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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