Ellen Grove
Three in every five dwellings in Ellen Grove are rented, making it one of the more tenant-dominated pockets in Brisbane's western corridor despite a median age of just 30, which is 10 years below the national figure. At 3,586 residents across 3.4 km2, the suburb sits at a household income percentile of 34.8 nationally, well below the national average, yet housing stress measures remain manageable: rent-to-income runs at 25.9% and mortgage-to-income at 25.5%. Overseas-born residents reach 41.3%, nearly 20 percentage points above the national share, and the population has grown 8.3% over the decade. These signals together describe an affordable, young, internationally diverse suburb that is still accumulating residents through overseas migration.
Population
3,586
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,353/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$430K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of approximately $430,000 sits well below the Brisbane median, making Ellen Grove one of the more accessible entry points in the western suburbs. The dwelling mix leans toward separate houses at 61.3%, with semi-detached homes at 36.7% and apartments at just 2.0%, so the market is dominated by ground-level stock. Most homes have 3 bedrooms, which account for 77.3% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedrooms at 19.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,491, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Owner-occupiers are in the minority: only 11.3% own outright and 19.1% carry a mortgage, compared to 69.6% who rent. Buyers purchasing here will find limited comparable owner-occupier comps, which can make appraisal harder but also signals upside as tenure shifts.
For Buyers
The median house price of approximately $430,000 sits well below the Brisbane median, making Ellen Grove one of the more accessible entry points in the western suburbs. The dwelling mix leans toward separate houses at 61.3%, with semi-detached homes at 36.7% and apartments at just 2.0%, so the market is dominated by ground-level stock. Most homes have 3 bedrooms, which account for 77.3% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedrooms at 19.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,491, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Owner-occupiers are in the minority: only 11.3% own outright and 19.1% carry a mortgage, compared to 69.6% who rent. Buyers purchasing here will find limited comparable owner-occupier comps, which can make appraisal harder but also signals upside as tenure shifts.
For Investors
A renter share of 69.6% gives landlords an unusually deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $350 against a $430,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, higher than most inner-Brisbane suburbs. The vacancy rate of 6.5% is elevated and warrants monitoring, particularly for apartment stock. Demand is underpinned by overseas migration: net inflow averages 344 per year, which is the primary growth driver, while net internal outflow runs at 210 per year. There were 16 development applications in the past 12 months, mostly lot reconfiguration and compliance work rather than large new-supply events. The SEIFA IRSAD decile sits at 5, indicating moderate advantage nationally, and rent grew 8.6% over the measured period. The combination of strong overseas demand, affordable entry, and above-average yield makes the investment case relatively straightforward, though the high vacancy rate signals some current softness.
Development Activity
Total DAs
63
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Ellen Grove's median age of 30 is 10 years below the national figure, placing it firmly in the young-adult cohort. The overseas-born share of 41.3% is 19.7 percentage points above the national average, one of the highest signals in the brief. English ancestry leads at 790 residents, followed by Vietnamese (304) and Samoan (229), with Samoan also the most spoken non-English language at 71 speakers, ahead of Punjabi (36) and Mandarin (28). University qualifications at 26.5% sit 3.6 points below the national rate, consistent with an employment profile weighted toward trades and services. Average household size is 2.9, which is 0.4 above the national figure, and couples with children (1,133 families) outnumber couples without children (500 families) by more than two to one, pointing to a family-formation stage of life.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.3%
Houses
36.7%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupied housing is less common in Ellen Grove than almost anywhere else in the suburbs: only 30.4% of dwellings are owned outright or mortgaged, compared to a majority 69.6% renting. That renter-majority profile is unusual for a suburb where 61.3% of stock is separate houses rather than apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 77.3%, with 4-plus bedrooms adding 19.1%, so the stock is family-sized. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,491, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. The vacancy rate of 6.5% is above average, suggesting the rental market has more supply than immediate demand. SEIFA IRSAD sits at decile 5 nationally, indicating moderate socioeconomic standing, neither high-advantage nor significantly disadvantaged.
Mortgage / mo
$1,491
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$621
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
81
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.5%
Couples, no children
2,858
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 21.3% of the workforce (182 workers), followed by Retail at 8.8%, Education at 8.4%, Manufacturing at 8.3% and Hospitality at 7.0%. By occupation, Labourers (225) narrowly lead Professionals (220) and Community/Personal service workers (218), with Machinery/Drivers close behind at 198. The unemployment rate of 11.1% is above the national average, and the participation rate of 51.4% is low, partly because 958 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment among those who work is 65.2%. Real incomes fell 6.8% over the decade, and household income sits at the 34.8th percentile nationally, pointing to a workforce concentrated in lower-to-middle wage roles. The SEIFA IEO decile of 6 indicates slightly above-average education and occupation levels relative to the national distribution.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
14,142
Unemployed
367
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
23.7%
Participation
51.4%
Employed
1,239
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.5%
Postgraduate
7.0%
Born Overseas
41.3%
Dwellings
1,153
Transport to Work
Transport in Ellen Grove is overwhelmingly car-dependent: 83.7% of residents drive to work, compared to just 5.2% using public transport and 1.8% walking or cycling. This reflects the suburb's location in Brisbane's western middle-ring, where rail and high-frequency bus access is limited relative to inner suburbs. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places Ellen Grove at the national median for advantage, indicating neither concentrated wealth nor significant disadvantage. Rent-to-income of 25.9% keeps the cost of renting manageable relative to incomes, below the 30% stress benchmark. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby schools in adjacent suburbs. The volunteering rate of 9.7% is modest, and 7.8% of residents (255 people) need daily assistance, slightly above the national average, consistent with the suburb's lower income profile.
Drive
83.7%
Public Transport
5.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+253 people/yr)
EstablishedEllen Grove added 8.3% to its population over the past decade, and the current annual growth rate of 1.05% translates to roughly 253 additional residents each year. Overseas migration drives this entirely: the average net overseas inflow is 344 per year, while net internal migration removes 210 people annually, meaning local-born Australians are leaving faster than they arrive. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching around 25,740 by 2031, up from 24,080 in 2025. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.8 percentage points and the young-adult share falling 3.6 points since 2011. The gentrification score of 14 places the suburb firmly outside any gentrification dynamic, and the affordability ratio improved from 49.9% in 2011 to 47.2% in 2021, a small but positive trend.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+344
Net Internal / yr
-210
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Net internal outflow -210/yr, Strong overseas inflow +344/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ellen Grove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellen Grove a good suburb to live in?
Ellen Grove suits younger households and renters looking for affordable housing in Brisbane's western corridor. The median age is 30, which is 10 years below the national figure, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5% is below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 83.7% and an unemployment rate of 11.1%, above the national average.
What is the median house price in Ellen Grove?
The median house price in Ellen Grove is approximately $430,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $350, implying a gross yield near 4.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,491, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5% based on the local household income level.
What schools are in Ellen Grove?
No schools are recorded inside the Ellen Grove boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjacent suburbs. The suburb has a young demographic profile with a median age of 30 and average household size of 2.9, so school access in the broader area is an important consideration for families with children.
Is Ellen Grove safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Ellen Grove in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 5, placing it at the national median for disadvantage rather than in a high-risk tier. The household income sits at the 34.8th percentile nationally, which is below average but not at the lowest end of the distribution.
Is Ellen Grove good for property investment?
The investment case is supported by a 69.6% renter share, one of the highest in Brisbane's western suburbs, and a gross yield near 4.2% based on $350 weekly rent against a $430,000 median. Overseas migration adds a net 344 residents per year, underpinning rental demand. The main risk is a vacancy rate of 6.5%, which is above average and may compress rents in the short term.
How is Ellen Grove's population changing?
The population has grown 8.3% over the past decade and is rising at around 1.05% annually, adding roughly 253 residents per year. Overseas migration is the sole growth engine, averaging 344 net arrivals a year, while net internal migration is negative at minus 210 per year. The medium forecast projects continued steady growth through 2031, with an aging trajectory as the senior share rises.
What languages are spoken in Ellen Grove?
About 41.3% of Ellen Grove residents were born overseas, which is 19.7 percentage points above the national figure. Samoan is the most common non-English language at 71 speakers, followed by Punjabi (36), Mandarin (28), Hindi (21) and Sinhalese (20). The ancestry mix includes Vietnamese (304 residents) and Samoan (229), alongside English (790) as the leading ancestry group.
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.
Explore Ellen Grove on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map