QLD 4169 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Kangaroo Point

Kangaroo Point combines 77th-percentile household income ($2,058/week) with an 18.7% vacancy rate, a contradiction that suggests oversupply rather than weak demand in this 1.33 km2 inner-Brisbane peninsula. Apartments comprise 87.3% of dwellings and 63.3% of households rent, yet the IEO decile 9 and IRSAD decile 9 rank it among Brisbane's most advantaged postcodes. Population grew 39.4% over the decade, adding 299 residents per year, with overseas migration averaging 530 arrivals annually dwarfing internal movement of just 24 per year. The median age of 36 runs 4 years below national, and 59.0% of families are couples without children.

Kangaroo Point urban fabric map

Population

9,689

Median Age

36.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,058/wk

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

61

Median House

$557K

Estimated from rent (2025)

1.33 km²· 7,264.8 people/km²· Family income $2,682/wk

Detached houses account for just 9.6% of dwellings, making Kangaroo Point predominantly an apartment market at 87.3%. The estimated $557,000 median reflects unit-heavy sales, with two-bedrooms at 48.3% the dominant type and studio/one-bedrooms at 23.4%. Four-bedroom-plus stock at 6.4% is limited. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Only 19.0% own outright and 17.7% carry mortgages, meaning nearly two-thirds of residents rent. Walking and cycling at 16.3% are above the Brisbane average, reflecting the peninsula's proximity to the CBD.

For Buyers

Detached houses account for just 9.6% of dwellings, making Kangaroo Point predominantly an apartment market at 87.3%. The estimated $557,000 median reflects unit-heavy sales, with two-bedrooms at 48.3% the dominant type and studio/one-bedrooms at 23.4%. Four-bedroom-plus stock at 6.4% is limited. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Only 19.0% own outright and 17.7% carry mortgages, meaning nearly two-thirds of residents rent. Walking and cycling at 16.3% are above the Brisbane average, reflecting the peninsula's proximity to the CBD.

For Investors

Renters at 63.3% provide one of Brisbane's deeper tenant pools, more than double the national average. Median weekly rent of $450 against a $557,000 estimated median produces gross yield around 4.2%, above inner-city norms. The 18.7% vacancy rate, however, is a major concern, among the highest in the Brisbane metro area, and points to structural oversupply from the apartment construction wave. With 59 DAs in 12 months, the pipeline stays active. Overseas migration of 530 per year is the dominant demand source, while internal migration adds only 24, creating high exposure to shifts in international arrival patterns.

Development Activity

Total DAs

217

Last 12 Months

61

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+32.6%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Other
32
Change of Use
31
Renovation / Extension
22
Subdivision
13
Demolition
4
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
2
Tree Removal
2
Driveway / Crossover
1

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

St Joseph's Primary School

ICSEA 1129 Primary Catholic

Prep-6 · 302 students

Demographics

University qualifications at 53.0% run 22.9 percentage points above the national average, and the 77th-percentile household income places residents well above the median. English ancestry leads at 3,365, with Irish (1,414) and Scottish (1,091) forming a traditional Anglo-Celtic core. The 36.8% born overseas sits 15.2 points above the national average. Mandarin (102), Italian (57) and Portuguese (55) lead non-English languages. Average household size of 1.8 is far below the national 2.5, and couples without children at 59.0% dominate the family structure. Population turnover at 47.9% is high, reflecting the transient professional and renter base.

Age Distribution

0-14
6.1%
15-24
13.8%
25-44
42.2%
45-64
22.8%
65+
15.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
23.4%
2 bed
48.3%
3 bed
21.9%
4+ bed
6.4%

Dwelling Structure

9.6%

Houses

2.4%

Townhouse

87.3%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 19.0% Mortgage 17.7% Rent 63.3%

Only 19.0% own outright and 17.7% hold mortgages, with renters at 63.3% controlling tenure. Apartments at 87.3% dominate, with houses at 9.6% and semi-detached at 2.4%. Two-bedrooms (48.3%) lead the bedroom mix, followed by studio/one-bedrooms (23.4%) and three-bedrooms (21.9%). The estimated $557,000 median is moderate for inner Brisbane because the apartment-heavy mix pulls figures lower than a detached-house suburb. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9% is comfortable, and affordability improved over the decade, with the housing cost ratio dropping from 43.9% to 38.5%.

Mortgage / mo

$1,950

Rent / wk

$450

HH Size

1.8

Personal Income / wk

$1,172

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

18.7%

Unoccupied

1,077

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

21.9%

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

21.9%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
102
Italian
57
Portuguese
55
Persian ED
38
Canton
36
French
34

Ancestry

English
3,365
Other
1,593
Irish
1,414
Scottish
1,091
Ancestry NS
697
German
524

Household Composition

59.0%

Couples, no children

5,054

Total families

Economy & Employment

Professional/Technical services and Healthcare run nearly neck-and-neck at 16.7% (791) and 16.6% (787), followed by Education at 8.7% and Hospitality at 7.9%. Professionals form the largest occupation at 2,148, with Managers at 989, a white-collar dominated workforce consistent with the IRSAD decile 9. The full-time rate of 70.1% is high, and unemployment at 5.4% sits near the national average. Participation at 66.0% is above the national figure. Construction at 6.8% reflects ongoing development activity in the area. The IER decile 2, despite strong incomes, likely reflects the extreme renter share depressing area-level wealth metrics.

Unemployment

4.3%

Labour Force

8,875

Unemployed

382

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
9
Disadvantage
8
Economic resources
2
Education & occupation
9

Full-time

70.1%

Part-time

24.5%

Participation

66.0%

Employed

5,682

Occupations

Professionals 2,148
Managers 989
Clerical/Admin 795
Community/Personal 618
Sales 437
Labourers 393
Machinery/Drivers 195

Top Industries

Professional/Tech 16.7%
Healthcare 16.6%
Education 8.7%
Hospitality 7.9%
Construction 6.8%

University

53.0%

Postgraduate

14.4%

Born Overseas

36.8%

Dwellings

4,665

Transport to Work

Walking and cycling at 16.3%, with public transport at 10.4% and car driving at 66.9%, give Kangaroo Point a more walkable profile than suburban Brisbane averages. One school serves the suburb: St Joseph's Primary School (ICSEA 1,129, 302 students, Catholic), sitting well above the national 1,000 benchmark. IRSAD decile 9 and IRSD decile 8 confirm high socio-economic advantage. Rent-to-income at 21.9% is comfortable, and the 14.6% volunteering rate sits close to the national average.

Drive

66.9%

Public Transport

10.4%

Walk / Cycle

16.3%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+2.45%/yr

(+299 people/yr)

Established

Population growth averages 2.45% per year (299 persons), well above the national average, with 39.4% growth over the decade. Overseas migration of 530 per year is the primary driver, with internal migration adding just 24 per year. The medium forecast projects 13,551 by 2031, up from 12,054 in 2026. The gentrification score of 25 shows early signs: growth is accelerating from 17% to 38% over the decade. The senior share expanded by 2.5 percentage points while the working-age share contracted by 1.7 points, suggesting some aging even within this young-skewing suburb.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+530

Net Internal / yr

+24

25

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Strong overseas inflow +530/yr, Accelerating: 17% → 38%

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

How Kangaroo Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 5%
Household Income
Top 23%
Rent Level
Top 10%
Apartments
Top 2%
Renters
Top 5%
Uni Educated
Top 7%
Public Transport
Top 11%
Born Overseas
Top 8%
Density
Top 0%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kangaroo Point a good suburb to live in?

Kangaroo Point suits professionals who value inner-city access and walkability (16.3% walk/cycle). The IRSAD decile 9 confirms high socio-economic advantage, and 53.0% hold university degrees, 22.9 points above national. The apartment-dominated market (87.3%) means limited space, with average household size at 1.8. The 18.7% vacancy rate gives renters strong negotiating power.

What is the median house price in Kangaroo Point?

The estimated median is $557,000 (rent-derived, apartment-dominated). Weekly rent is $450 and monthly mortgage repayments sit at $1,950. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9% is well below the 30% stress threshold, making it affordable relative to household incomes at the 77th percentile nationally.

What schools are in Kangaroo Point?

Kangaroo Point has 1 school: St Joseph's Primary School (ICSEA 1,129, 302 students, Catholic), sitting 129 points above the national 1,000 ICSEA benchmark. The high ICSEA score reflects the suburb's affluent demographic. Secondary students would need to access schools in neighbouring suburbs.

Is Kangaroo Point safe?

Crime data is not available for Kangaroo Point in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 8 indicates low disadvantage, and the IRSAD decile 9 confirms strong socio-economic conditions. The 4.1% needing-assistance rate is below the national average, and the relatively high volunteer rate of 14.6% suggests community engagement.

Is Kangaroo Point good for property investment?

The 63.3% renter share provides a deep tenant pool. Gross yield is roughly 4.2% ($450/week on $557,000). The critical risk is the 18.7% vacancy rate, one of Brisbane's highest, signalling oversupply. Population growth at 2.45% per year and 59 DAs in 12 months indicate both demand and ongoing supply. Overseas migration of 530 per year is the dominant demand source.

How is Kangaroo Point's population changing?

Growth is strong at 2.45% per year (299 people), producing 39.4% increase over the decade. Overseas migration of 530 per year is the primary driver, with minimal internal migration at 24 per year. The medium forecast projects 13,551 residents by 2031. The median age of 36 is 4 years below national.

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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