QLD 4503 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Griffin

With 12,295 residents and a median age of 29, Griffin is shaped more by young households than by a mature suburban profile. Residents are 11 years younger than the national median age, while 30.8% were born overseas, 9.2 percentage points above the national level. Housing is mainly detached, with 72.4% separate houses, but renting is common at 53.9%, creating a newer, rental-led family market. For households comparing Griffin with nearby North Lakes, the local distinction is its combination of 72.4% separate homes and just 0.9% apartments. Household income sits at the 75.4th percentile, supporting demand despite a car-dependent setting.

Griffin urban fabric map

Population

12,295

Median Age

29.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,013/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

13

16.83 km²· 730.7 people/km²· Family income $2,115/wk

Griffin suits buyers who value family-sized space and newer-style housing over apartment living. Four or more bedrooms account for 60.6% of dwellings, compared with 34.7% for three-bedroom homes, while 72.4% are separate houses and 26.7% are semi-detached. The typical monthly mortgage figure is 1,941, and mortgage costs represent 22.3% of household income, above the 19.1% rent-to-income share. That difference matters because larger homes require more borrowing even when household incomes rank at the 75.4th percentile. With 39.7% of households already paying a mortgage and 53.9% renting, buyers should compare recent sales by land size, bedroom count and dwelling type rather than relying on a single suburb-wide figure.

For Buyers

Griffin suits buyers who value family-sized space and newer-style housing over apartment living. Four or more bedrooms account for 60.6% of dwellings, compared with 34.7% for three-bedroom homes, while 72.4% are separate houses and 26.7% are semi-detached. The typical monthly mortgage figure is 1,941, and mortgage costs represent 22.3% of household income, above the 19.1% rent-to-income share. That difference matters because larger homes require more borrowing even when household incomes rank at the 75.4th percentile. With 39.7% of households already paying a mortgage and 53.9% renting, buyers should compare recent sales by land size, bedroom count and dwelling type rather than relying on a single suburb-wide figure.

For Investors

Griffin has a substantial rental base, with 53.9% of households renting compared with only 5.8% owning outright. Weekly rent is 385 and the vacancy rate is 3.9%, while rent growth has reached 8.6%, giving landlords a reasonable demand backdrop. Internal migration is the primary growth driver, and the annual forecast trend is 3.7%, which can support tenant demand as new households enter the area. Fifteen development matters were recorded over 12 months, so investors should check whether nearby construction adds competing stock or improves local amenity. The 72.4% separate-house share may appeal to families, but yield should be tested against the verified purchase price because a current median house price is not available.

Development Activity

Total DAs

58

Last 12 Months

13

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-61.8%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
11
Change of Use
9
Subdivision
7
Renovation / Extension
6
Other
6
Electrician
5
Garage / Carport / Shed
1
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
1

Schools in Griffin

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Griffin State School

State School Government

Demographics

Griffin is considerably younger than Australia overall, with a median age of 29, or 11 years below the national figure. Its average household size is 2.9, which is 0.4 people above the national average, and couples with children make up 50.4% of families. The overseas-born share is 30.8%, 9.2 percentage points above the national level, with English ancestry recorded for 4,194 people, Indian ancestry for 842 and Punjabi spoken by 451 residents. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 5,413, compared with 4,487 identifying with Christianity and 812 with Sikhism. Residential stability is moderate: 62.6% stayed at the same address while 37.4% moved, helping explain the suburb's young, mobile household profile.

Age Distribution

0-14
28.4%
15-24
12.0%
25-44
42.4%
45-64
13.2%
65+
4.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.7%
2 bed
4.0%
3 bed
34.7%
4+ bed
60.6%

Dwelling Structure

72.4%

Houses

26.7%

Townhouse

0.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 5.8% Mortgage 39.7% Rent 53.9% Other 0.5%

Griffin's housing stock is strongly oriented toward larger households. Four or more bedrooms represent 60.6% of dwellings, higher than the 34.7% share of three-bedroom homes, while separate houses account for 72.4% and semi-detached homes for 26.7%. Apartments are uncommon at 0.9%, making the suburb's form more detached than an apartment-led alternative nearby. Tenure is more rental-heavy than ownership-heavy: 53.9% rent, compared with 39.7% paying a mortgage and 5.8% owning outright. Couples with children comprise 50.4% of families, which helps explain the demand for larger homes. Mortgage costs equal 22.3% of household income versus 19.1% for rent, while household income ranks at the 75.4th percentile.

Mortgage / mo

$1,941

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $385.

$610

Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $610 · units $480

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$978

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

3.9%

Unoccupied

169

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.3%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Punjabi
451
Hindi
106
Nepali
68
Samoan
66
Mandarin
26
Afrikaans
25

Ancestry

English
4,194
Other
2,173
Irish
954
Scottish
907
Indian
842
Ancestry NS
589

Household Composition

50.4%

Couples with children

30.5%

Couples, no children

18.0%

Single parent

3,462

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is Griffin's largest industry at 23.7%, representing 1,072 workers, followed by construction at 9.7% and 441 workers, education at 8.9% and 402, transport at 8.2% and 371, and retail at 8.2% and 370. The occupational mix is led by professionals at 1,176, community and personal service workers at 1,003, clerical and administrative workers at 971, trades at 932 and managers at 639. Labour-force participation is 77.8%, full-time employment is 62.2% and unemployment is 4.6%. Household income ranks at the 75.4th percentile, above the midpoint. SEIFA results are mixed: economic resources reach decile 7, while education and occupation sit at decile 5, with disadvantage and advantage both at decile 6. This indicates stronger resources than education and occupation rankings alone would suggest.

Unemployment

4.6%

Labour Force

6,854

Unemployed

316

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
6
Disadvantage
6
Economic resources
7
Education & occupation
5

Full-time

62.2%

Part-time

28.6%

Participation

77.8%

Employed

6,538

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 1,176
Community/Personal 1,003
Clerical/Admin 971
Trades 932
Managers 639
Labourers 576
Machinery/Drivers 574
Sales 546

Top Industries

Healthcare 23.7%
Construction 9.7%
Education 8.9%
Transport 8.2%
Retail 8.2%

University

29.9%

Postgraduate

6.3%

Born Overseas

30.8%

Dwellings

4,149

Transport to Work

Daily life in Griffin is car-led: 77.4% of residents travelled as car drivers, compared with 2.7% using public transport and 0.3% walking or cycling. A further 15.4% worked from home, which can reduce commuting pressure but does not replace local transport options. One local government school, Griffin State School, provides a nearby state-sector option; families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address. Socioeconomic conditions sit around the middle to moderately advantaged range, with IRSAD at decile 6 and IER at decile 7, higher than the IEO decile of 5. The transport pattern means Griffin may suit households with access to 1 or more cars better than households seeking a transit-first lifestyle. Check current incident patterns, lighting and evening activity at street level before deciding.

Drive

77.4%

Public Transport

2.7%

Walk / Cycle

0.3%

Work from Home

15.4%

Population Forecast

+3.7%/yr

(+1,004 people/yr)

Established

Griffin's growth profile is stronger than a settled, low-turnover suburb. The annual forecast trend is 3.7%, driven primarily by internal migration, while population change across the wider area is 96.4% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled Mixed, reflecting continued expansion alongside changing affordability. Affordability moved from 48.5 in 2011 to 40.9 in 2021, while the recorded affordability trend is Improving and real income growth is 4.5%. The development-stage assessment is New development with a gentrification score of 0; a separate shift assessment labels the area Not gentrifying with a score of 15. Fifteen development matters in 12 months reinforce the role of ongoing construction, so buyers should consider how future works affect access, amenity and rental competition.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Internal Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+237

Net Internal / yr

+323

0

Gentrification Signal

New development

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

How Griffin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 3%
Household Income
Top 25%
Rent Level
Top 19%
Apartments
Top 21%
Renters
Top 5%
Uni Educated
Top 35%
Public Transport
Top 47%
Born Overseas
Top 13%
Density
Top 17%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Griffin a good suburb to live in?

Griffin can suit households seeking larger homes, family facilities and access to a growing northern corridor. It has 12,295 residents, a median age of 29 and 50.4% couples with children. Car use is high at 77.4%, compared with 2.7% public transport, so it is better suited to drivers than to a transit-first lifestyle.

What is the median house price in Griffin?

A current median should be checked against recent settled sales and local appraisals for the exact property type. Griffin's weekly rent is 385 and the monthly mortgage figure is 1,941. Buyers should compare those costs with the home's bedroom count, land size, condition and location rather than relying on one headline figure.

What schools are in Griffin?

Griffin State School is the local government school in Griffin, providing 1 state-sector option within the suburb. Families should confirm the enrolment catchment, year-level availability and transport arrangements for the exact address because school zones can cut across nearby streets and neighbouring suburbs.

Is Griffin safe?

Population size alone cannot establish safety, even in a suburb of 12,295 residents. Check recent Queensland Police incident information, street lighting, traffic conditions and evening activity around the specific property. A daytime inspection and a separate visit after dark can help households compare streets before signing a lease or contract.

Is Griffin good for property investment?

Griffin has potential for investors targeting family rentals: 53.9% of households rent, weekly rent is 385, vacancy is 3.9% and rent growth is 8.6%. Growth is forecast at 3.7% annually and driven by internal migration. Check purchase price, insurance, maintenance and nearby development before estimating yield.

How is Griffin's population changing?

Griffin has 12,295 residents today, with growth supported primarily by internal migration. The annual forecast trend is 3.7%, and population change across the wider area is 96.4% over 10 years. The trajectory is Mixed, while the development-stage label is New development, indicating ongoing expansion rather than a fully settled market.

What languages are spoken in Griffin?

Griffin has an overseas-born share of 30.8%. Punjabi is spoken by 451 residents, followed by Hindi at 106, Nepali at 68, Samoan at 66 and Mandarin at 26. This language mix sits alongside 4,194 people reporting English ancestry and 842 reporting Indian ancestry.

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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