Kalinga
Household income in Kalinga sits at the 99.2nd percentile nationally, placing it among Queensland's top earners despite a population of just 2,144 across 0.95 square kilometres. The suburb reads as solidly professional: 60.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 30.8 percentage points above the national figure, and professionals and managers account for the top two occupational groups. Owner-occupiers dominate at 78.6% combined (outright plus mortgage), while the renter share of 21.4% is low compared to inner-Brisbane norms. Nearly 9 in 10 dwellings are separate houses, signalling a stable, established residential character rather than a high-density rental market.
Population
2,144
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,697/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$644K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price is $644,000, derived from rental data for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,033, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold given the suburb's above-average household incomes at the 99.2nd percentile nationally. Separate houses make up 89.7% of dwellings, giving buyers a market skewed heavily toward detached stock. The bedroom profile favours larger homes: 55.0% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 26.1% have three, reflecting the average household size of 3.0 people. Apartments represent only 7.3% of stock, so unit buyers have limited choice within the suburb boundary. Outright owners account for 34.2% of dwellings, suggesting many long-term holders rather than recent entrants.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price is $644,000, derived from rental data for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,033, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold given the suburb's above-average household incomes at the 99.2nd percentile nationally. Separate houses make up 89.7% of dwellings, giving buyers a market skewed heavily toward detached stock. The bedroom profile favours larger homes: 55.0% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 26.1% have three, reflecting the average household size of 3.0 people. Apartments represent only 7.3% of stock, so unit buyers have limited choice within the suburb boundary. Outright owners account for 34.2% of dwellings, suggesting many long-term holders rather than recent entrants.
For Investors
The rental market in Kalinga is narrow: only 21.4% of dwellings are rented, below the Brisbane average, and weekly rent sits at $400. Against the $644,000 estimated median, that rent implies a gross yield around 3.2%, modest for a detached-house market. Vacancy runs at 3.0%, in line with a balanced market. Development activity logged 18 applications in the past 12 months, below the threshold that would indicate rapid supply addition, with recent lodgements leaning toward extensions and operational works rather than new dwellings. The high owner-occupier rate of 78.6% limits tenant turnover but also constrains rental stock, meaning a landlord entering the market competes for a small pool of properties. Income stability is a demand-side positive: household weekly income averages $3,697, supporting consistent rent payment.
Development Activity
Total DAs
59
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+46.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 39 is one year below the national figure, younger than might be expected for a high-income suburb. University qualifications at 60.9% run 30.8 percentage points above the national rate, among the highest concentrations in Queensland, and this education premium aligns with the professional occupation mix. Overseas-born residents account for 20.5%, which is 1.1 percentage points below the national average, indicating a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (884), Irish (354) and Scottish (309) lead the count. Household composition tilts strongly toward families with children: 988 couples with children versus 298 couples without. The volunteering rate of 22.6% sits meaningfully above national norms, consistent with a community of established professional households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.7%
Houses
3.0%
Townhouse
7.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Kalinga splits between mortgage holders at 44.4% and outright owners at 34.2%, with renters at 21.4%. The combined owner-occupier rate of 78.6% is high relative to most inner-Brisbane suburbs. Separate houses account for 89.7% of dwellings, far above the Brisbane metropolitan average, with apartments at only 7.3% and semi-detached at 3.0%. The bedroom profile is weighted toward larger homes: 55.0% have four or more bedrooms, which exceeds the national norm and reflects average household sizes of 3.0 people. Rent-to-income at 10.8% is well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning rental affordability is not a concern for current tenants given the household income base. The vacancy rate of 3.0% suggests balanced supply and demand without significant rental pressure in either direction.
Mortgage / mo
$3,033
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,182
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.0%
Unoccupied
21
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
10.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
16.6%
Couples, no children
1,793
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and Technical services lead the industry split at 20.9% (170 workers), with Healthcare close behind at 20.6% (168 workers). Education accounts for 11.2% (91 workers), followed by Construction and Public Admin each at 6.1% (50 workers). By occupation, Professionals number 466 and Managers 213, together comprising the majority of the employed workforce. The full-time employment rate is 67.7% and the unemployment rate is 3.9%, modest against national benchmarks. The participation rate of 61.5% reflects a community where a significant share, 477 residents, are not in the labour force, likely retirees or carers given the family-oriented household composition. Combined with household weekly income of $3,697 at the 99.2nd percentile nationally, the economic profile reflects a high-skill, high-income resident base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.7%
Part-time
28.4%
Participation
61.5%
Employed
974
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.9%
Postgraduate
15.5%
Born Overseas
20.5%
Dwellings
668
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 78.7% of commuters driving, above the national average, while public transport use sits at 11.2% and active travel (walking or cycling) at 4.5%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families draw on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. The need-for-assistance rate is 6.3% (130 residents), moderate and not elevated for a suburb of this size and age profile. Rent stress is effectively absent at 10.8% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress is low at 18.9%, both well below the 30% threshold. The suburb holds no crime statistics in this dataset, but the combination of high incomes at the 99.2nd percentile nationally, low renter share, and high owner-occupancy are typically associated with lower-disadvantage environments. The 22.6% volunteering rate reflects an engaged residential community.
Drive
78.7%
Public Transport
11.2%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kalinga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalinga a good suburb to live in?
Kalinga's household income sits at the 99.2nd percentile nationally, and 60.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 30.8 percentage points above the national rate. Mortgage stress is low at 18.9% of income, and the suburb is dominated by separate houses at 89.7% of dwellings. The main limitation is car dependency, with 78.7% of commuters driving.
What is the median house price in Kalinga?
The estimated median house price is $644,000, derived from rental market data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $400, and monthly mortgage repayments run around $3,033. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.9% is well below the 30% stress threshold given the suburb's high household incomes.
What schools are in Kalinga?
No schools are recorded inside the Kalinga boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, the suburb has one of Queensland's highest education rates, with 60.9% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 30.8 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Kalinga safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Kalinga in this dataset. As proxy indicators, the suburb has a high owner-occupancy rate of 78.6%, a very low renter share of 21.4%, and household income at the 99.2nd percentile nationally. Only 6.3% of residents (130 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community.
Is Kalinga good for property investment?
The rental yield is modest: $400 per week rent against a $644,000 estimated median implies a gross yield around 3.2%. Only 21.4% of dwellings are rented, limiting the tenant pool, and vacancy sits at 3.0%. The income base at the 99.2nd percentile nationally supports stable tenancy, but investors should weigh the thin rental market against the strong owner-occupier culture.
How is Kalinga's population changing?
Kalinga has a small, established population of 2,144 residents across 0.95 square kilometres. The turnover rate is 21.7%, with 78.3% of residents having stayed in the suburb. Development activity totalled only 18 applications in the past 12 months, mostly extensions rather than new dwellings, indicating consolidation rather than expansion.
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 Kalinga on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map