Dutton Park

Development Activity

Schools in Dutton Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Demographics

The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, driven by proximity to university and hospital campuses. University qualifications reach 59.0%, which is 28.9 percentage points above the national average, one of the highest concentrations you will find in Queensland. Overseas-born residents account for 35.3%, which is 13.7 points above national, with English ancestry leading (643 residents), followed by Irish (293) and Scottish (238). Non-English languages include Mandarin (40 speakers), Greek (38) and Cantonese (19), consistent with an internationally mobile resident base. Couples without children make up 30.4% of families and couples with children 37.2%, reflecting the suburb's mix of young households at various life stages. Volunteering participation runs at 21.2%.

Tenure splits clearly: 64.1% rent, 19.8% carry a mortgage and 16.1% own outright. The very low outright-ownership rate, compared to the national pattern, reflects the young median age of 33 and the prevalence of student and early-career residents who have not yet accumulated equity. Apartments account for 57.3% of all dwellings against just 42.0% separate houses, an unusual balance for a suburb retaining some traditional Queenslander streetscapes. The bedroom mix skews small: 29.2% are studio or one-bedroom, 28.1% are two-bedroom and only 19.7% have three bedrooms, while 4-plus bedroom homes reach 23.0%. Rent-to-income sits at 22.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning typical renters here are not under acute housing cost pressure despite the renter-dominant tenure profile.

Community Profile

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads employment at 21.6% (195 workers), a direct reflection of proximity to the Princess Alexandra Hospital precinct. Education follows at 15.1% (136) and Professional/Technical services at 13.9% (125), together accounting for half the local workforce. Professionals form the dominant occupational group with 455 workers, followed by Community/Personal services at 148 and Managers at 133, an occupational profile consistent with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation. The unemployment rate is 7.9%, above the national norm, partly because the large student population inflates the jobless count. Full-time employment among those in work runs at 64.2%. Real income grew 29.9% over the decade, and household income ranks in the 61st percentile nationally, reflecting the early-career stage of most residents rather than depressed wages.

Transport to Work

Active travel is markedly higher than national norms: 22.8% of residents walk or cycle to work, and 15.7% use public transport, meaning fewer than 55% rely on a car. That pattern reflects the compact 0.93 km2 footprint and proximity to the City Cat ferry, inner-Brisbane bus routes and the Dutton Park train station. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families use facilities in surrounding suburbs such as South Brisbane and Annerley. The IRSAD decile of 8 places Dutton Park above average nationally for combined advantage and disadvantage, while the IEO decile of 9 reflects the high-qualification workforce. Housing stress is minimal for renters at 22.4% rent-to-income, though mortgage holders face 31.4%, crossing the standard stress threshold. Need for daily assistance is low at 4.6% of residents, consistent with the young resident profile.

Population Forecast

Population grew 24.3% over the 10-year period, well above the national average for established suburbs, and the current SA2-level figure of 5,433 shows full recovery from the COVID dip of 2% recorded in 2020. Annual growth is projected at 1.28% (71 persons per year), reaching approximately 5,948 by 2031 under medium forecasts. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding a net 150 residents a year, while internal migration shows a net outflow of 76, a pattern typical of university-adjacent suburbs where graduates leave after completing studies. Rent grew 25.0% over the period and real income grew 29.9%, both outpacing inflation, signalling genuine local economic strengthening. The working-age share rose 4.0 points over the decade while younger and senior cohorts each declined, pointing toward a maturing professional base rather than pure student turnover.

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Dutton Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions