Doolandella
At 51.2% overseas-born, Doolandella has a much stronger migrant profile than the national average, while its median age of 30 is 10 years below the national figure. The suburb is home to 7,123 people across 3.47 sq km, a density of 2,054.7 people per sq km. Its average household size is 3.2, or 0.7 above national, which helps explain why 54.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 73.2% are separate houses. For buyers comparing Doolandella with nearby Inala, the defining contrast to test is this detached, family-sized housing mix. Overseas migration and 36 development matters support a high-growth profile, although the forecast trajectory is Stable.
Population
7,123
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,882/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
35
Doolandella suits buyers seeking family-sized housing rather than an apartment-led market. Separate houses account for 73.2% of dwellings, while 54.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and another 44.0% have 3 bedrooms. Because no current median house price is quoted, buyers should anchor offers to recent comparable sales and inspect land size, condition and bedroom count carefully. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, while mortgage costs equal 21.3% of household income and rent equals 19.1%. Compared with outright ownership at 13.4%, the 40.6% mortgage share shows a substantial owner-occupier market, although the 45.0% rental share creates competition for well-presented homes.
For Buyers
Doolandella suits buyers seeking family-sized housing rather than an apartment-led market. Separate houses account for 73.2% of dwellings, while 54.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and another 44.0% have 3 bedrooms. Because no current median house price is quoted, buyers should anchor offers to recent comparable sales and inspect land size, condition and bedroom count carefully. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, while mortgage costs equal 21.3% of household income and rent equals 19.1%. Compared with outright ownership at 13.4%, the 40.6% mortgage share shows a substantial owner-occupier market, although the 45.0% rental share creates competition for well-presented homes.
For Investors
Doolandella has several demand drivers for investors, led by a 45.0% rental share compared with only 13.4% owned outright. Weekly rent is $360 and vacancy is 5.1%, so an investment case should allow for leasing conditions rather than relying on headline demand alone. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, annual growth is forecast at 3.4%, and rent growth has reached 7.4%. A total of 36 development matters in the past 12 months could add choice for tenants and competition between properties. Renting is higher than outright ownership, while 40.6% of households carry a mortgage, creating a broad tenant and owner-occupier base. With no median purchase price, yield and cash flow require current sales evidence.
Development Activity
Total DAs
138
Last 12 Months
35
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+12.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Doolandella has a young, migrant-majority population: the median age is 30, which is 10 years below the national figure, and 51.2% of residents were born overseas, 29.6 percentage points above national. University attainment is 38.7%, or 8.6 points higher than national, while the average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 higher. Vietnamese ancestry counts 1,027 people, followed by English at 1,249 and Indian at 557. Christianity is recorded for 2,627 residents, no religion for 1,880 and Islam for 822. Punjabi, Samoan, Hindi, Mandarin and Arabic are prominent languages, with counts of 157, 86, 79, 73 and 66. This mix matters because larger households and overseas migration help sustain demand for 3 and 4-plus bedroom homes.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.2%
Houses
26.4%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Doolandella's housing mix is strongly detached and family-oriented: 73.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 26.4% are semi-detached and only 0.4% are apartments. Larger homes dominate, with 54.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 44.0% containing 3 bedrooms. Tenure is split between 45.0% renting, 40.6% paying a mortgage and 13.4% owning outright, so renting is higher than either major ownership category. That structure matters because households have substantial space needs, reflected in an average size of 3.2 people, 0.7 above national. Household income sits at the 70.3 percentile, while mortgage-to-income is 21.3%, indicating capacity for ownership but not eliminating sensitivity to interest rates. Compared with apartment-focused markets, land and dwelling condition are likely to have a larger effect on price differences.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $360.
$580
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $580
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$811
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
116
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
54.3%
Couples with children
26.2%
Couples, no children
17.2%
Single parent
1,879
Total families
Economy & Employment
Doolandella's employment base is led by healthcare, at 23.4% or 514 workers, followed by education at 8.5% and 186, retail at 8.3% and 182, manufacturing at 8.2% and 180, and transport at 7.3% and 160. This spread matters because residents are not dependent on one industry alone. Labour-force participation is 70.0%, full-time employment is 60.3% and the unemployment rate is 6.5%, indicating a sizeable working population alongside some employment pressure. Professionals number 599, community and personal workers 542, labourers 436, trades workers 434 and clerical and administrative workers 421. Household income ranks at the 70.3 percentile, above the middle, but SEIFA places IEO at decile 5 and IER at 6 versus IRSD and IRSAD at 4. The split suggests income strength coexists with broader socioeconomic conditions below top-decile areas.
Unemployment
6.5%
Labour Force
3,732
Unemployed
244
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.3%
Part-time
30.2%
Participation
70.0%
Employed
3,488
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.7%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
51.2%
Dwellings
2,144
Transport to Work
Doolandella is most convenient for households with reliable car access. A total of 77.0% of residents drive to work, compared with 3.8% using public transport and 0.4% walking or cycling, while 11.2% work from home. This car dependence matters because daily access to jobs, shops and services is likely to be easier by road than through local transit. Families should check primary and secondary enrolment options against the exact address, including sector, campus and travel time, because school zones can cross suburb boundaries. Socioeconomic conditions are mixed: IRSAD and IRSD are both at decile 4, below the IEO decile of 5 and IER decile of 6. The 3.47 sq km area and density of 2,054.7 people per sq km create an urban setting, while the 3.2-person household size supports a family-focused feel.
Drive
77.0%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
0.4%
Work from Home
11.2%
Population Forecast
+3.4%/yr
(+338 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth runs at 3.4% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 87.0% over 10 years, while the forecast trajectory is labelled Stable, so expansion is occurring alongside an established residential base. Rent growth of 7.4% adds pressure for tenants and supports investor interest, although affordability is labelled Improving with recorded index values of 53.0 in 2011 and 45.1 in 2021. Gentrification is not yet the main story: one forecast label gives a score of 0 and stage New development, while the shift indicators record score 3 and Not gentrifying. These signals point to continued housing expansion rather than a clear premium repositioning. The young share has fallen by 0.4 points, compared with a 0.3-point rise in the senior share.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+140
Net Internal / yr
+20
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Doolandella compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Doolandella a good suburb to live in?
Doolandella can suit households seeking family-sized housing and a young, overseas-born community. The median age is 30, 73.2% of homes are separate houses and household size is 3.2, or 0.7 higher than national. Car access matters because 77.0% drive and only 3.8% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Doolandella?
No current median figure is quoted for Doolandella, so compare recent sales for like-for-like homes before making an offer. The housing stock is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 44.0% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 54.4%, with 73.2% separate houses. Land size, condition and bedroom count should be compared carefully.
What schools are in Doolandella?
School choice is address-dependent. Check the Queensland enrolment directory for nearby primary and secondary options, sector and travel time, because zones can cross suburb boundaries. Doolandella has 54.3% couples with children and an average household size of 3.2, so family access should be assessed rather than relying on the suburb name alone.
Is Doolandella safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not quoted, so inspect the exact street using current police incident information and visit at different times. Doolandella covers 3.47 sq km and has 7,123 residents, meaning conditions can vary between pockets. Compare recent incidents by category and location before deciding.
Is Doolandella good for property investment?
Doolandella has supporting rental signals: 45.0% of households rent, weekly rent is $360 and vacancy is 5.1%. Overseas migration is the main growth driver, annual growth is forecast at 3.4% and 36 development matters were recorded. Renting is higher than outright ownership at 13.4%, but current sales evidence is needed to assess yield.
How is Doolandella's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 87.0% over 10 years, with annual growth of 3.4% driven primarily by overseas migration. Doolandella has 7,123 residents today, while the trajectory is labelled Stable. The young share has shifted by -0.4 percentage points, compared with a 0.3-point rise in the senior share.
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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