Inala
Compared with nearby Forest Lake and Richlands, Inala's clearest point of difference is a renter-majority, detached-house profile: 57.5% rent and 89.2% of dwellings are separate houses. The suburb is younger than the national profile, with a median age of 33, and far more overseas born at 48.9%, 27.3 points above national. Household income sits in the 12.8 percentile, while the average household size is 2.9.
Population
15,273
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$998/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
Median House
$334K
Estimated from rent (2025)
For homebuyers, the main appeal is land-style housing at lower running costs: 89.2% separate houses and 62.1% 3 bedroom homes give more detached stock than apartment-led suburbs. A current median house price is not available, so buyers should weigh the $1,300 median monthly mortgage against household income of $998 a week. Mortgage costs sit at 30.1% of income, above the stress line, because local incomes are in only the 12.8 percentile.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, the main appeal is land-style housing at lower running costs: 89.2% separate houses and 62.1% 3 bedroom homes give more detached stock than apartment-led suburbs. A current median house price is not available, so buyers should weigh the $1,300 median monthly mortgage against household income of $998 a week. Mortgage costs sit at 30.1% of income, above the stress line, because local incomes are in only the 12.8 percentile.
For Investors
Investors are looking at a renter-majority market, with 57.5% renting compared with 20.8% owned outright and 21.7% owned with a mortgage. Median rent is $250 a week and vacancy is 5.1%, so yield may need careful testing rather than assuming tight supply. Recent development is active at 22 applications in 12 months, while overseas migration averages +370 people a year, higher than the -194 internal movement drag, supporting tenant demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
91
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+18.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Inala iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mark's School
Prep-6 · 448 students
Serviceton South State School
Prep-6 · 454 students
Richlands East State School
Prep-6 · 508 students
Inala State School
Prep-6 · 416 students
Demographics
Inala's population is notably younger and more overseas-born than the national profile: median age is 33, which is 7.0 years below national, and 48.9% were born overseas, 27.3 points above national. University attainment is 18.4%, 11.7 points lower than national, while average household size is 2.9, 0.4 above national. Vietnamese ancestry is the largest listed group at 4,221 people, helping explain demand for culturally specific retail and services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.2%
Houses
6.0%
Townhouse
3.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is detached and rental heavy rather than high density: separate houses make up 89.2% of dwellings, compared with apartments at only 3.0% and semi-detached homes at 6.0%. Tenure is tilted to renters at 57.5%, above owned outright at 20.8% and mortgage holders at 21.7%. The bedroom profile is practical for families, with 62.1% 3 bedroom and 17.9% 4 plus bedroom homes, because the estate pattern favours house lots over towers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$454
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
261
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
13.7%
Couples, no children
11,935
Total families
Economy & Employment
Inala's economy is service and blue-collar oriented, with Healthcare the largest industry at 20.2%, followed by Manufacturing at 11.1%, Education at 9.0%, Other Services at 8.3% and Construction at 7.7%. Labourers are the biggest occupation group at 957, ahead of Community and Personal roles at 766 and Machinery or Drivers at 628. Unemployment is 15.2% and participation 39.3%, while all 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 1, lower than state averages because incomes and education scores are weak.
Unemployment
9.8%
Labour Force
9,406
Unemployed
925
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.9%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
39.3%
Employed
3,876
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.4%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
48.9%
Dwellings
4,797
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led: 79.3% drive to work, while public transport is 4.1% and walking or cycling is 2.1%, pointing to higher reliance on roads than public transport. School choice is primary focused, with 4 local schools, a Catholic and Government sector mix, and ICSEA from 906 to 982. St Mark's School leads at 982 with 448 enrolments, followed by Serviceton South State School at 919 and Richlands East at 910. IRSAD decile 1 signals lower area advantage.
Drive
79.3%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.71%/yr
(+375 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive. The trend forecast adds 1.71% a year, about 375 people annually, lifting the medium population path from 22,211 in 2026 to 24,087 in 2031. Migration is the main engine because overseas inflow averages +370 people a year, compared with net internal movement of -194. Gentrification is scored 22 and labelled Early signs; compared with the broader shift score of 74, change is visible but affordability pressure still matters after 66.7% rent growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+370
Net Internal / yr
-194
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +37% since 2011, Net internal outflow -194/yr, Strong overseas inflow +370/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Inala compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inala a good suburb to live in?
Inala can suit households wanting detached housing and lower weekly costs, with 89.2% separate houses and median rent of $250. Buyers should also factor in lower household incomes, 57.5% renting and car reliance at 79.3%.
What is the median house price in Inala?
A current median house price for Inala is not available. The measurable cost anchors are $250 median weekly rent and a $1,300 median monthly mortgage repayment, with mortgage costs at 30.1% of income.
What schools are in Inala?
Inala has 4 local primary schools: St Mark's School, Serviceton South State School, Richlands East State School and Inala State School. ICSEA ranges from 906 to 982, with enrolments between 416 and 508.
Is Inala safe?
Safety varies by street and time of day. Inala has 15,273 residents across 6.22 sq km, so buyers should inspect specific pockets around shops, schools and bus routes and compare recent local incident maps before signing.
Is Inala good for property investment?
Inala has investor demand signals, with 57.5% of homes rented, median rent of $250 a week and 22 development applications in 12 months. The caution is vacancy at 5.1%, which is higher than a very tight rental market.
How is Inala's population changing?
Inala is forecast to grow by 1.71% a year, or about 375 people annually. The medium path rises from 22,211 in 2026 to 24,087 in 2031, driven mainly by +370 overseas migrants a year.
What languages are spoken in Inala?
Inala has a large overseas-born population at 48.9%, which is 27.3 points above national. Listed non-English language communities include Samoan with 205 speakers, Arabic with 119, Bengali with 46, Mandarin with 33 and Hindi with 29.
Is there much development happening in Inala?
Development activity is noticeable, with 22 applications recorded across 12 months. Recent samples are mostly 2026 referral agency responses, so the activity points to ongoing site changes rather than confirming 22 new dwellings.
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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