Ferny Hills
With 95.1% separate houses and 52.4% on mortgages, Ferny Hills is a textbook mortgage-belt suburb in Brisbane's northwest. What makes it unusual is the 40.9% university qualification rate (10.8 points above the national average) paired with a household income in the 87th percentile, suggesting that well-educated families deliberately choose Ferny Hills for space over inner-city convenience. Only 16.2% of residents were born overseas, 5.4 points below the national average, making it one of the more Anglo-leaning suburbs in the region. The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly.
Population
8,726
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,271/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$558K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated median of $558,000 with mortgage repayments of $1,972/month (20.1% of household income), Ferny Hills offers family-sized housing without financial strain. The 95.1% detached house share is among the highest in Brisbane, and 54.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms with 39.0% at 4+, giving families room to grow. Turnover is low at 17.9%, so available stock is limited. The 33.8% outright ownership rate suggests a mix of established long-term residents and newer mortgage holders (52.4%). With only 0.1% apartments, this is not a suburb for downsizers looking for low-maintenance living compared to more mixed-density areas.
For Buyers
At an estimated median of $558,000 with mortgage repayments of $1,972/month (20.1% of household income), Ferny Hills offers family-sized housing without financial strain. The 95.1% detached house share is among the highest in Brisbane, and 54.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms with 39.0% at 4+, giving families room to grow. Turnover is low at 17.9%, so available stock is limited. The 33.8% outright ownership rate suggests a mix of established long-term residents and newer mortgage holders (52.4%). With only 0.1% apartments, this is not a suburb for downsizers looking for low-maintenance living compared to more mixed-density areas.
For Investors
Ferny Hills has a tight rental market: only 13.8% of residents rent, and the vacancy rate of 3.0% is below the Brisbane average. Median rent of $448/week relative to modest rental stock means investors face limited supply but also a small tenant pool compared to renter-heavy suburbs. Just 8 development applications in 12 months, mostly domestic outbuildings and retaining walls, confirm minimal new supply entering the market. Population growth is not recorded via forecast migration data, but the low turnover (17.9%) and stable mortgage-belt profile suggest capital value preservation rather than rapid appreciation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+60.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ferny Hills iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Patricks Road State School
Prep-6 · 771 students
Ferny Hills State School
Prep-6 · 440 students
Demographics
Ferny Hills is predominantly Anglo-Australian: English ancestry leads (3,823), followed by Irish (1,332), Scottish (1,238), and German (662). Only 16.2% were born overseas, 5.4 points below the national average. Non-English language speakers are few, with German (29), Italian (21), and Afrikaans (18) in small numbers. The household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national average, consistent with the family profile. University education at 40.9% is 10.8 points above the national rate, and the 66.5% full-time employment rate exceeds the national average, reflecting a working-age population in stable careers rather than casual or gig employment.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.1%
Houses
4.8%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses account for 95.1% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 4.8% and apartments at just 0.1%. Three-bedroom homes dominate (54.5%), while 39.0% have 4+ bedrooms. The ownership split favours mortgagees (52.4%) over outright owners (33.8%), with renters at only 13.8%. The rent-to-income ratio of 19.7% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.1% both sit well below stress thresholds, making Ferny Hills one of the more affordable mortgage-belt suburbs in Brisbane's northwest compared to neighbouring Mitchelton or Everton Park. The estimated median of $558,000 reflects mid-market family housing.
Mortgage / mo
$1,972
Rent / wk
$448
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$957
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.0%
Unoccupied
96
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.3%
Couples, no children
7,564
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 17.9% (603 workers), followed by Education (15.1%), Professional/Tech (12.3%), Public Admin (10.9%), and Construction (9.1%). The white-collar lean is clear: Professionals (1,364) lead occupations, followed by Clerical/Admin (679) and Managers (600). Unemployment at 4.0% is below the national average, and the full-time rate of 66.5% exceeds it. Labour participation at 61.8% is solid. SEIFA data is not available for Ferny Hills, but the household income percentile of 87.3 and low unemployment paint a picture of economic stability that ranks above the Brisbane metro median.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.5%
Part-time
29.5%
Participation
61.8%
Employed
4,106
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.9%
Postgraduate
9.2%
Born Overseas
16.2%
Dwellings
3,067
Transport to Work
Two government primary schools serve the suburb: Patricks Road State School (ICSEA 1105, 771 students) performs well above the national average, and Ferny Hills State School (ICSEA 1057, 440 students) also exceeds it. Both scores sit higher than typical QLD state schools. Public transport use is moderate at 7.5%, with 84.9% driving. Walking and cycling at 1.7% reflects the hilly, spread-out geography. The 5.5% needing-assistance rate and 17.7% volunteering rate are both moderate. Without SEIFA data, household income at the 87th percentile serves as a proxy for advantage, placing Ferny Hills above most outer-suburban benchmarks.
Drive
84.9%
Public Transport
7.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ferny Hills compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ferny Hills a good suburb to live in?
Ferny Hills suits families seeking spacious detached housing (95.1% separate houses) with low financial stress (mortgage-to-income ratio 20.1%). Household income sits in the 87th percentile nationally, unemployment is 4.0% (below average), and both local primary schools score above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1000. The tradeoff is limited public transport and a car-dependent lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Ferny Hills?
The estimated median house price is $558,000 (2025 estimate). Monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $1,972 consume 20.1% of the median household income of $2,271/week, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many comparable Brisbane northwest suburbs.
What schools are in Ferny Hills?
Two government primary schools serve the suburb. Patricks Road State School (ICSEA 1105, 771 students) ranks well above the national average, and Ferny Hills State School (ICSEA 1057, 440 students) also exceeds it. Both outperform the national ICSEA benchmark of 1000, placing them in the upper range for Queensland state schools.
Is Ferny Hills safe?
Crime statistics are not available in our current dataset for Ferny Hills. The low unemployment rate of 4.0%, high residential stability (82.1% stayed at same address), and household income in the 87th percentile are demographic factors typically associated with lower crime rates compared to the national average.
Is Ferny Hills good for property investment?
The rental market is very small, with only 13.8% renting and a 3.0% vacancy rate. Median rent of $448/week in a tight market offers stability but the limited tenant pool restricts investor flexibility. Just 8 development applications in 12 months means virtually no new supply competition. This is more a capital preservation market than a high-yield opportunity compared to higher-density corridors.
How is Ferny Hills's population changing?
Ferny Hills has a stable population of 8,726 residents. The suburb's low turnover rate of 17.9% and high mortgage share of 52.4% indicate long-term resident commitment. Only 8 development applications in 12 months confirm minimal densification. The demographic profile is established families, with a median age of 40 matching the national figure exactly.
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.
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