East Brisbane
At 33 years, East Brisbane's median age is 7.0 years below the national figure, while university attainment at 54.1% is 24.0 percentage points above it. The suburb's 6,186 residents occupy 1.86 square kilometres at 3,328.7 people per square kilometre, helping explain a housing mix led by apartments at 50.6% and renting at 56.7%. Household income sits at the 77.1st percentile, yet average household size is only 2.2. Compared with nearby Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane reads as a compact residential inner-city pocket, with a young, mobile base and stronger apartment orientation than detached-house living.
Population
6,186
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,056/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
56
East Brisbane suits buyers who value apartment and smaller-dwelling options, but property selection needs to be address-specific because no dependable suburb-wide median house price is available. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, while mortgage repayments equal 24.3% of household income and are not flagged as stressed. Apartments account for 50.6% of dwellings, higher than separate houses at 44.2%, and two-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 34.3%. The 56.7% renter share can create more competition for well-presented properties, so buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type rather than treating the suburb as a detached-house market.
For Buyers
East Brisbane suits buyers who value apartment and smaller-dwelling options, but property selection needs to be address-specific because no dependable suburb-wide median house price is available. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, while mortgage repayments equal 24.3% of household income and are not flagged as stressed. Apartments account for 50.6% of dwellings, higher than separate houses at 44.2%, and two-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 34.3%. The 56.7% renter share can create more competition for well-presented properties, so buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type rather than treating the suburb as a detached-house market.
For Investors
East Brisbane has a substantial tenant base, with renting at 56.7%, higher than outright ownership at 17.8%. Weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 8.8%, so investors should test achievable rent and leasing time carefully rather than assume strong occupancy from renter numbers alone. Rental growth of 17.6% supports attention to income performance, while 54 development matters over 12 months could add both amenity and competing stock. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support demand for centrally located apartments, although the absence of a reliable median house price means yield must be calculated from each property's purchase price and costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
204
Last 12 Months
56
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+30.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Brisbane
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Anglican Church Grammar School (East Brisbane)
East Brisbane State School
Demographics
East Brisbane has a younger profile than Australia overall: the median age is 33, or 7.0 years below the national figure. University attainment is 54.1%, 24.0 percentage points above the national rate, and 31.8% of residents were born overseas, 10.2 points above the national share. Average household size is 2.2, below the national figure by 0.3, consistent with 50.8% of families being couples without children. English ancestry is recorded for 2,218 people, followed by Irish at 912 and Scottish at 718. No religion, at 2,946 people, is higher than Christianity at 2,318. Compared with nearby Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point, the suburb presents a compact residential setting for a highly educated, mobile population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
44.2%
Houses
5.2%
Townhouse
50.6%
Apartment
Tenure
East Brisbane's tenure pattern is more renter-oriented than owner-occupied: 56.7% of residents rent, compared with 24.5% paying a mortgage and 17.8% owning outright. Apartments make up 50.6% of dwellings, higher than separate houses at 44.2%, with semi-detached housing at 5.2%. The bedroom mix is weighted toward 2-bedroom dwellings at 34.3%, followed by 3-bedroom homes at 27.6%, 4 or more bedrooms at 21.7%, and 0 or 1 bedroom at 16.4%. Weekly rent is $400, equal to 19.5% of household income, while mortgage costs represent 24.3%. This structure supports a smaller-household market, because average household size is 2.2 rather than a large-family profile.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $400.
$865
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $865 · units $795
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,043
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.8%
Unoccupied
250
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.6%
Couples with children
50.8%
Couples, no children
12.4%
Single parent
1,420
Total families
Economy & Employment
East Brisbane's economy is led by healthcare, which accounts for 17.6% of employment and 520 workers, followed by professional and technical work at 16.1% and 474 workers. Education contributes 9.9% and 293 workers, while construction and hospitality contribute 7.1% and 7.0%. The occupational profile is headed by 1,378 professionals and 548 managers, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 415. Labour-force participation is 72.2%, with 3,967 people in the labour force and unemployment at 5.1%. Household income ranks at the 77.1st percentile. SEIFA IEO and IRSAD are both decile 9, higher than the IER decile 3, indicating strong education and advantage measures alongside a lower economic-resources result. That contrast may reflect different income and tenure experiences within the compact suburb.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
3,967
Unemployed
202
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
28.7%
Participation
72.2%
Employed
3,765
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.1%
Postgraduate
15.8%
Born Overseas
31.8%
Dwellings
2,577
Transport to Work
East Brisbane combines inner-city proximity with a mixed transport pattern. Car driving is the main journey mode at 49.4%, higher than walking or cycling at 8.7%, while public transport accounts for 9.8% and working from home for 27.5%. Two local schools provide a government state option and an independent non-state option, giving families a choice of sector while enrolment zones still need checking against the exact address. Social advantage is strong on the IRSAD measure at decile 9, above the IER result of decile 3. Volunteering is 19.3% and 2.9% of residents need assistance. The density of 3,328.7 people per square kilometre supports access to nearby services, but buyers should assess traffic, parking and street conditions property by property.
Drive
49.4%
Public Transport
9.8%
Walk / Cycle
8.7%
Work from Home
27.5%
Population Forecast
+0.98%/yr
(+67 people/yr)
EstablishedEast Brisbane is classified as an established area, with forecast growth of 0.98% annually and Overseas migration as the primary driver. The wider area's population change is 9.2% over 10 years, while the forecast trajectory is Mixed rather than uniformly accelerating. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 20, and the shift profile also records an Early signs score of 27. Rent growth of 17.6% is higher than real income growth of 9.7%, placing pressure on affordability even though the affordability trend is labelled Improving, moving from 44.0 in 2011 to 38.4 in 2021. These figures suggest gradual change because migration and rental demand are building, but the established urban form limits a simple growth story.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+182
Net Internal / yr
-61
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +16% since 2011, Accelerating: 4% → 11%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Brisbane compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Brisbane a good suburb to live in?
East Brisbane can suit residents seeking a young, compact inner-city lifestyle. The median age is 33, apartments represent 50.6% of dwellings, and 27.5% work from home. Two local schools and 9.8% public-transport use add convenience, while the 3,328.7 people per square kilometre density means parking and traffic should be checked.
What is the median house price in East Brisbane?
A dependable median house price is not available for East Brisbane. Buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type because apartments make up 50.6% of homes, higher than separate houses at 44.2%. Monthly mortgage costs are listed at $2,167, but the appropriate purchase benchmark will vary significantly between apartments, townhouses and detached houses.
What schools are in East Brisbane?
East Brisbane has 2 identified schools: East Brisbane State School, a government state school, and Anglican Church Grammar School, an independent non-state school. Families should confirm the exact catchment, enrolment conditions and transport arrangements for each address, because school access can change across nearby streets.
Is East Brisbane safe?
A definitive safety rating should not be assumed without checking current street-level information. East Brisbane has 6,186 residents and a density of 3,328.7 people per square kilometre, so conditions can vary between busy roads, apartment areas and quieter residential streets. Inspect the exact location and review current Queensland crime information before deciding.
Is East Brisbane good for property investment?
East Brisbane has several investor positives: renting accounts for 56.7%, higher than outright ownership at 17.8%, weekly rent is $400, and rental growth is 17.6%. However, vacancy is 8.8% and 54 development matters were recorded over 12 months. Investors should calculate yield, costs and likely competition for the specific property rather than rely on suburb averages.
How is East Brisbane's population changing?
Growth is forecast at 0.98% annually, driven primarily by Overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 9.2% over 10 years, with a Mixed trajectory. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 20, while rents have grown 17.6%, indicating gradual change rather than a single, uniform shift.
What languages are spoken in East Brisbane?
East Brisbane has an overseas-born share of 31.8%, which is 10.2 percentage points above the national figure. Mandarin is recorded for 68 residents, Italian for 45, Nepali for 31, Arabic for 27 and Portuguese for 24. English remains the main language background, but the suburb supports several smaller language communities.
What development is occurring in East Brisbane?
Development activity totals 54 matters over 12 months, including commercial demolition, design and siting referrals, and dwelling-house extensions. The mix includes both residential and commercial work rather than a single large project type. Prospective buyers should check nearby applications, construction timing and parking impacts because small projects can still affect individual streets.
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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