QLD 4011 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Hendra

Household income sits in the 97.1st percentile nationally, yet the median house price of $735,000 stays well below comparable inner-Brisbane prestige markets, a gap that makes Hendra unusually accessible for its affluence. The suburb scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier, and 80.0% of dwellings are separate houses across a 2.5 km2 footprint at 1,969 residents per km2. University qualifications reach 52.3%, which is 22.2 points above the national figure, while the median age of 39 runs 1.0 year below national. Half the homes carry four or more bedrooms, signalling a family-oriented buyer pool rather than the apartment churn seen in denser prestige suburbs.

Hendra urban fabric map

Population

4,914

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,989/wk

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

49

Median House

$735K

Estimated from rent (2025)

2.5 km²· 1,969.4 people/km²· Family income $3,633/wk

The $735,000 median is modest for a suburb whose households rank in the 97.1st income percentile, which means buyers here are not stretched: the mortgage-to-income ratio is just 22.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Stock strongly favours families, with 50.7% of dwellings carrying four or more bedrooms and a further 36.5% holding three, while two-bedroom homes are only 11.3%. Separate houses dominate at 80.0% against just 8.9% apartments, so demand concentrates on detached family housing. Monthly repayments average $2,855, and mortgage holders (43.4%) outnumber outright owners (32.5%), pointing to an active owner-occupier market of established families rather than first-home churn. The low debt burden relative to income reflects how purchase prices have stayed restrained against the area's earning power.

For Buyers

The $735,000 median is modest for a suburb whose households rank in the 97.1st income percentile, which means buyers here are not stretched: the mortgage-to-income ratio is just 22.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Stock strongly favours families, with 50.7% of dwellings carrying four or more bedrooms and a further 36.5% holding three, while two-bedroom homes are only 11.3%. Separate houses dominate at 80.0% against just 8.9% apartments, so demand concentrates on detached family housing. Monthly repayments average $2,855, and mortgage holders (43.4%) outnumber outright owners (32.5%), pointing to an active owner-occupier market of established families rather than first-home churn. The low debt burden relative to income reflects how purchase prices have stayed restrained against the area's earning power.

For Investors

Renters make up 24.1% of households, a smaller tenant pool than denser prestige markets, and weekly rent of $550 against the $735,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, higher than the sub-2% yields common in pricier inner suburbs. The 7.0% vacancy rate is elevated, so tenant demand is not tight. Rent climbed 27.9% over the measured period, the strongest signal for landlords, and overseas migration drives growth at a net 46 residents a year while internal migration removes 44. Development activity is moderate at 46 applications in 12 months, mostly extensions and dwelling work rather than new rental supply. With the stock 80.0% detached houses, the investment case leans toward family-sized rentals supported by rising rents rather than apartment volume or yield compression.

Development Activity

Total DAs

210

Last 12 Months

49

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+4.3%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
37
Change of Use
26
Subdivision
15
Demolition
8
Other
7
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
2
Plumber
1

Schools in Hendra iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Our Lady Help of Christians School

ICSEA 1132 Primary Catholic

Prep-6 · 179 students

Aviation High

ICSEA 1051 Secondary Government

7-12 · 610 students

Hendra State School

ICSEA 1030 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 30 students

Demographics

The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure, and the trajectory is growing across all age groups rather than aging, with the young share up 1.3 points and the senior share up 1.5 points. University qualifications at 52.3% run 22.2 points above national, consistent with a workforce led by Professionals (882) and Managers (596). Overseas-born residents reach 19.8%, which is 1.8 points below national, so the population is less migrant-driven than the country as a whole. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,036), Irish (890) and Scottish (663), with Italian (290) the largest non-British group. Average household size is 2.7, which is 0.2 above national, reflecting the family profile: 1,978 families are couples with children against 906 couples without.

Age Distribution

0-14
20.4%
15-24
11.6%
25-44
26.2%
45-64
27.6%
65+
14.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.4%
2 bed
11.3%
3 bed
36.5%
4+ bed
50.7%

Dwelling Structure

80.0%

Houses

11.1%

Townhouse

8.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 32.5% Mortgage 43.4% Rent 24.1%

Tenure tilts toward mortgaged owners: 43.4% carry a mortgage, 32.5% own outright and only 24.1% rent, a profile of established families still paying down family homes rather than debt-free retirees or transient renters. The stock is 80.0% separate houses, 11.1% semi-detached and just 8.9% apartments, which keeps the market firmly detached. Half of dwellings (50.7%) have four or more bedrooms and 36.5% have three, leaving smaller homes scarce. The $735,000 median is low against household incomes in the 97.1st percentile, and this affordability shows in the numbers: mortgage-to-income sits at 22.1% and rent-to-income at 18.4%, both well below the 30% stress line. Affordability improved from 51.7% in 2011 to 45.3% in 2021, a rare easing in an advantaged market.

Mortgage / mo

$2,855

Rent / wk

$550

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$1,216

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

7.0%

Unoccupied

134

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

18.4%

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

22.1%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
19
French
16
Hindi
16
Portuguese
15
Greek
14
Italian
13

Ancestry

English
2,036
Irish
890
Scottish
663
Other
462
Italian
290
German
282

Household Composition

22.0%

Couples, no children

4,118

Total families

Economy & Employment

The workforce concentrates in knowledge and care sectors: Professional/Tech leads at 16.4% (324 workers), Healthcare follows closely at 15.9% (313), then Education at 8.8% (173), Construction at 8.3% (164) and Retail at 6.5% (128). By occupation, Professionals (882) and Managers (596) dominate, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.3% and the full-time employment rate is 68.9%, with 1,699 residents in full-time work. Participation reads 65.2%, held down by 1,014 residents not in the labour force. The suburb scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, including IER at decile 10 for economic resources, with no anomaly between them, and real incomes grew 18.8% over the decade, reinforcing a uniformly high-advantage economic base.

Unemployment

2.9%

Labour Force

3,088

Unemployed

91

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

Overall advantage
10
Disadvantage
10
Economic resources
10
Education & occupation
10

Full-time

68.9%

Part-time

27.8%

Participation

65.2%

Employed

2,467

Occupations

Professionals 882
Managers 596
Clerical/Admin 351
Sales 243
Community/Personal 204
Labourers 112
Machinery/Drivers 56

Top Industries

Professional/Tech 16.4%
Healthcare 15.9%
Education 8.8%
Construction 8.3%
Retail 6.5%

University

52.3%

Postgraduate

12.2%

Born Overseas

19.8%

Dwellings

1,773

Transport to Work

Car dependence is high, with 83.0% of commuters driving and only 8.0% using public transport and 3.8% walking or cycling, typical for a low-density family suburb at 1,969 residents per km2. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 17.7% and only 3.0% of residents, 144 people, need daily assistance despite the family-heavy profile. Housing pressure is light, with rent-to-income at 18.4% and mortgage-to-income at 22.1%, both below the 30% stress line. No schools are recorded inside the 2.5 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off given the detached, low-density layout.

Drive

83.0%

Public Transport

8.0%

Walk / Cycle

3.8%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.96%/yr

(+50 people/yr)

Established

Hendra is an established suburb on a slow but steady climb: annual population growth registers 0.96%, about 50 residents a year, and the population has risen 12.0% over the past decade. Recent counts moved from 5,124 in 2023 to 5,204 in 2025, and medium forecasts lift it to 5,546 by 2031, continuing the trend rather than accelerating. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 46 residents a year, while internal migration removes 44, leaving overseas inflow as the main source of growth. The gentrification reading shows early signs with a score of 38, supported by 27.9% rent growth and 18.8% real income growth, though affordability improved from 51.7% to 45.3%, an unusual combination of rising rents and easing purchase pressure.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+46

Net Internal / yr

-44

4

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +13% since 2011

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

How Hendra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 11%
Household Income
Top 3%
Rent Level
Top 4%
Apartments
Top 32%
Renters
Top 40%
Uni Educated
Top 8%
Public Transport
Top 18%
Born Overseas
Top 30%
Density
Top 8%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hendra a good suburb to live in?

Hendra scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 97.1st percentile. University qualifications reach 52.3%, which is 22.2 points above national, and housing pressure is light at a 22.1% mortgage-to-income ratio. The main trade-off is high car dependence, with 83.0% driving to work.

What is the median house price in Hendra?

The median house price is $735,000, modest relative to household incomes in the 97.1st percentile. Weekly rent averages $550 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,855, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite the suburb's high earning power.

What schools are in Hendra?

No schools are recorded inside the 2.5 km2 Hendra boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 52.3%, which is 22.2 points above the national figure.

Is Hendra safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Hendra in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 3.0% of its residents, 144 people, need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.

Is Hendra good for property investment?

Rent of $550 a week against a $735,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, higher than the sub-2% common in pricier inner suburbs, though the 7.0% vacancy rate is elevated. Rent grew 27.9% over the period, and overseas migration adds a net 46 residents a year, supporting demand for family-sized rentals.

How is Hendra's population changing?

Population growth runs at 0.96% annually, about 50 residents a year, with a 12.0% rise over the past decade. Counts moved from 5,124 in 2023 to 5,204 in 2025, and forecasts reach 5,546 by 2031. Growth is driven by overseas migration at a net 46 a year, while internal migration removes 44.

How much development is happening in Hendra?

There were 46 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, moderate for a 2.5 km2 suburb. Most are house extensions and dwelling building work rather than new supply, consistent with an established suburb that is 80.0% separate houses and growing at 0.96% a year.

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 Hendra on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in QLD