Ferny Grove
A $525,000 median house price paired with an 83rd-percentile household income makes Ferny Grove unusually affordable for the money its residents earn, and the two facts drive its appeal. The dwelling stock is 87.8% separate houses with 57.0% carrying four or more bedrooms, a family-house profile rare in inner Brisbane. SEIFA scores reach decile 10 on both IER and IRSD, the top tier on two of four indexes, while university qualifications sit at 40.8%, which is 10.7 points above national. Population has grown 29.1% over the past decade, and the median age of 41 runs just 1.0 year above the national figure despite an aging trajectory.
Population
5,871
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,183/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$525K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $525,000 median sits well below Brisbane's premium markets, and against an 83rd-percentile household income it leaves room to buy a house rather than an apartment. That matters here because 87.8% of dwellings are separate houses and only 11.0% are apartments, so most purchases are detached family homes. Four-plus bedroom houses dominate at 57.0% and three-bedroom homes at 36.7%, with two-bedroom stock just 6.1%, which steers buyers toward larger family layouts. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most Brisbane suburbs at this house size. Outright owners (38.0%) roughly match mortgage holders (38.9%), a sign of an established owner base rather than a churn of recent buyers.
For Buyers
The $525,000 median sits well below Brisbane's premium markets, and against an 83rd-percentile household income it leaves room to buy a house rather than an apartment. That matters here because 87.8% of dwellings are separate houses and only 11.0% are apartments, so most purchases are detached family homes. Four-plus bedroom houses dominate at 57.0% and three-bedroom homes at 36.7%, with two-bedroom stock just 6.1%, which steers buyers toward larger family layouts. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most Brisbane suburbs at this house size. Outright owners (38.0%) roughly match mortgage holders (38.9%), a sign of an established owner base rather than a churn of recent buyers.
For Investors
A 23.0% renter share and weekly rent of $400 give landlords a modest tenant pool, and the 3.1% vacancy rate points to a tight rental market rather than oversupply. Against the $525,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than premium inner-Brisbane suburbs where yields run closer to 2%. Rent has grown 33.3% over the period, and demand support is balanced: net overseas migration adds 93 residents a year while internal migration adds 84, so growth is not reliant on a single source. Development is light at 17 applications in 12 months, mostly referral and compliance work rather than new dwelling supply, which keeps the detached-house stock scarce. With annual population growth of 1.89% and a gentrification score of 38 flagged as early signs, the case rests on steady yield plus gradual capital growth rather than speculation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
60
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+63.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ferny Grove iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Andrew's Catholic School
Prep-6 · 539 students
Ferny Grove State High School
7-12 · 1881 students
Ferny Grove State School
Prep-6 · 668 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.7 points while the working-age share fell 2.0 points and the young share slipped 0.9 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 21.7%, only 0.1 points above national, so this is a predominantly Australian-born area. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,463), Irish (844) and Scottish (796), with German (384) the largest continental group. University qualifications at 40.8% run 10.7 points above national, consistent with the decile 8 IEO education score. Average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above national, reflecting the family profile where couples with children (2,181 families) outnumber couples without (1,281). Christianity dominates religious affiliation at 2,842 residents, well ahead of Buddhism (82).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.8%
Houses
1.1%
Townhouse
11.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits almost evenly between owners and the rest: 38.0% own outright, 38.9% carry a mortgage and 23.0% rent. Outright owners nearly matching mortgage holders points to a settled, established owner base rather than a churn of new buyers. The stock is 87.8% separate houses with apartments at just 11.0% and semi-detached at 1.1%, an overwhelmingly detached profile that keeps the area family-oriented. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 57.0% and three-bedroom 36.7%, while two-bedroom dwellings are only 6.1%. The median house price of $525,000 against an 83rd-percentile household income gives a low price-to-income strain, with mortgage-to-income at 21.2% and rent-to-income at 18.3%, both well below the 30% stress line. Affordability has improved from 39.7% in 2011 to 37.6% in 2021, unusual in a decade when most markets worsened.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$908
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.1%
Unoccupied
65
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.2%
Couples, no children
5,075
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in stable public-facing sectors: Healthcare leads at 17.6% (377 workers), Education follows at 13.9% (299) and Professional/Tech at 12.8% (276), with Public Admin at 12.6% and Construction at 6.1%. By occupation, Professionals (835) lead, ahead of Clerical/Admin (445) and Managers (376), which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment sits at 5.0% and the full-time employment rate is 65.5%. Participation reads 58.6%, held down by 1,565 residents not in the labour force, consistent with the older, family-heavy profile. The IER economic-resources score reaches decile 10, the top tier, higher than the IRSAD decile 9, because outright ownership at 38.0% lifts household wealth measures. Real incomes grew 14.5% over the decade.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
6,954
Unemployed
225
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.5%
Part-time
29.5%
Participation
58.6%
Employed
2,626
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.8%
Postgraduate
11.0%
Born Overseas
21.7%
Dwellings
2,031
Transport to Work
Travel skews heavily to cars: 82.3% drive to work, above the national norm, while public transport carries 9.6% and only 2.8% walk or cycle, a pattern typical of a low-density suburb at 1,535 residents per km2. The Ferny Grove rail terminus anchors that 9.6% public-transport share with a direct line into Brisbane city. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage and decile 9 on IRSAD, the upper advantage tiers, so very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 18.4% and only 6.1% (352 people) need daily assistance despite the median age of 41. No schools are recorded inside the 3.82 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for a detached, family-focused setting where rent-to-income stays low at 18.3%.
Drive
82.3%
Public Transport
9.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.89%/yr
(+243 people/yr)
EstablishedFerny Grove is an established suburb still adding residents: annual population growth registers 1.89%, about 243 people a year, and the 10-year change is 29.1%, well above the flat trajectory of mature inner suburbs. Migration is balanced, with net overseas inflow of 93 a year roughly matched by net internal inflow of 84, so no single driver carries the growth. Medium forecasts lift the population from 13,005 in 2026 to 14,221 by 2031 across the wider catchment, a steady trend continuation. The gentrification stage reads early signs with a score of 38, supported by net internal migration and an investor share climbing from 10% to 24%. The shift is toward an older profile, with the senior share up 4.7 points, yet affordability still improved from 39.7% to 37.6%, a rare combination in a growing market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+93
Net Internal / yr
+84
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +37% since 2011, Net internal migration +84/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 24%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ferny Grove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ferny Grove a good suburb to live in?
Ferny Grove scores decile 10 on the IER and IRSD SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier, with household income in the 83rd percentile. University qualifications reach 40.8%, 10.7 points above national. With a $525,000 median house price and 87.8% detached houses, it suits families wanting space at a comfortable mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%.
What is the median house price in Ferny Grove?
The median house price is $525,000, well below Brisbane's premium markets. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Affordability improved from 39.7% in 2011 to 37.6% in 2021.
What schools are in Ferny Grove?
No schools are recorded inside the 3.82 km2 Ferny Grove boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 40.8%, which is 10.7 points above the national figure.
Is Ferny Grove safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Ferny Grove in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 6.1% of its 5,871 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Ferny Grove good for property investment?
Rent of $400 a week against a $525,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than premium Brisbane suburbs nearer 2%. The 3.1% vacancy rate signals tight demand, and rent has grown 33.3%. Balanced migration of 93 overseas and 84 internal a year supports steady, lower-risk returns.
How is Ferny Grove's population changing?
Population is growing 1.89% annually, about 243 people a year, with a 29.1% rise over 10 years, well above mature inner suburbs. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.7 points and the working-age share down 2.0 points over the decade, while balanced migration adds 84 internal and 93 overseas residents yearly.
How much development is happening in Ferny Grove?
There were 17 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, light for the area. Most are referral, compliance or operational-work items rather than new dwelling supply, consistent with an established suburb that is 87.8% detached houses and growing at 1.89% annual population growth.
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 Ferny Grove on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map