QLD 4112 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Kuraby

With 53.2% of residents born overseas and 53.5% holding university degrees, Kuraby punches well above the national average on both diversity and education (23.4 percentage points higher than the national university rate). The median age of 34 sits 6 years below the national figure, reflecting a young, family-oriented population where 70.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Despite strong qualifications, household incomes land in the 81st percentile nationally, a gap that likely reflects the suburb's concentration in healthcare (21.3%) and education (11.5%) rather than higher-paying corporate sectors.

Kuraby urban fabric map

Population

8,737

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,136/wk

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

14

Median House

$537K

Estimated from rent (2025)

4.69 km²· 1,864.2 people/km²· Family income $2,171/wk

Kuraby's estimated median house price of $537,000 sits in affordable territory for Brisbane's south, with mortgage repayments around $2,100/month consuming roughly 22.7% of household income, well below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is overwhelmingly detached (86.3% separate houses), and 70.9% of dwellings have 4+ bedrooms, making it one of the larger-home suburbs in the corridor. With 40.6% of residents on mortgages compared to 34.2% owning outright, the suburb attracts active buyers rather than settled retirees. The 3.0% vacancy rate is tighter than the Brisbane average, suggesting steady demand.

For Buyers

Kuraby's estimated median house price of $537,000 sits in affordable territory for Brisbane's south, with mortgage repayments around $2,100/month consuming roughly 22.7% of household income, well below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is overwhelmingly detached (86.3% separate houses), and 70.9% of dwellings have 4+ bedrooms, making it one of the larger-home suburbs in the corridor. With 40.6% of residents on mortgages compared to 34.2% owning outright, the suburb attracts active buyers rather than settled retirees. The 3.0% vacancy rate is tighter than the Brisbane average, suggesting steady demand.

For Investors

Rental yields in Kuraby reflect a balanced market: $400/week median rent with 25.2% of the population renting and a 3.2% vacancy rate, tighter than many comparable outer-ring suburbs. The 15 development applications in the past 12 months signal modest activity, mostly design and siting referrals rather than large-scale projects. Overseas migration drives population growth at +215 persons annually, offsetting a net internal outflow of 168 per year. This migration pattern sustains rental demand, particularly from newly arrived families. The population is projected to reach approximately 10,431 by 2031, growing at 1.35% annually.

Development Activity

Total DAs

42

Last 12 Months

14

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+133.3%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Change of Use
7
Subdivision
5
Other
4
Renovation / Extension
2
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
2

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

Kuraby State School

ICSEA 998 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 359 students

Demographics

Kuraby stands out as a migrant-majority suburb, with 53.2% born overseas, 31.6 percentage points above the national average. Chinese ancestry (1,426 residents) leads after the catch-all 'Other' category, followed by English (1,314) and Indian (1,070). Mandarin (413 speakers), Urdu (329), and Punjabi (201) are the top non-English languages. Islam (2,799 adherents) narrowly edges out Christianity (2,581) as the most common religion, an unusual pattern compared to most Australian suburbs. The university qualification rate of 53.5% is 23.4 points above the national median, suggesting a skilled migrant intake rather than domestic graduate settlement.

Age Distribution

0-14
23.6%
15-24
14.3%
25-44
28.1%
45-64
23.0%
65+
11.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.1%
2 bed
2.3%
3 bed
26.7%
4+ bed
70.9%

Dwelling Structure

86.3%

Houses

13.6%

Townhouse

0.1%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 34.2% Mortgage 40.6% Rent 25.2%

The housing landscape is dominated by detached houses (86.3%), with semi-detached at 13.6% and apartments virtually absent at 0.1%. This skew toward large, separate homes means 70.9% of dwellings have 4+ bedrooms, ranking Kuraby among Brisbane's most spacious suburbs by bedroom count. Ownership is split between outright owners (34.2%) and mortgage holders (40.6%), with renters at 25.2%. At an estimated median of $537,000, prices remain accessible compared to inner Brisbane, though the rent-to-income ratio of 18.7% suggests renters here face relatively low housing stress compared to the state average.

Mortgage / mo

$2,100

Rent / wk

$400

HH Size

3.3

Personal Income / wk

$740

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

3.2%

Unoccupied

86

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

18.7%

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

22.7%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
413
Urdu
329
Punjabi
201
Arabic
191
Canton
183
Korean
111

Ancestry

Other
2,920
Chinese
1,426
English
1,314
Indian
1,070
Ancestry NS
381
Irish
310

Household Composition

16.9%

Couples, no children

7,844

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates Kuraby's employment at 21.3% (612 workers), more than double the share of the next sector, Education at 11.5%. Professional/Tech (10.1%), Retail (7.3%), and Transport (7.2%) round out the top five. The occupational mix leans white-collar: Professionals lead with 1,213 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin (513) and Managers (475). Unemployment sits at 6.8%, above the national average, while labour force participation at 59.1% trails the national figure. SEIFA scores paint a middle-class picture: the IRSAD decile of 7 indicates moderate advantage nationally, while the education-opportunity decile of 8 confirms the suburb's strong human capital base.

Unemployment

4.5%

Labour Force

4,871

Unemployed

217

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
7
Disadvantage
6
Economic resources
8
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

62.4%

Part-time

30.8%

Participation

59.1%

Employed

3,675

Occupations

Professionals 1,213
Clerical/Admin 513
Managers 475
Community/Personal 403
Sales 337
Labourers 308
Machinery/Drivers 259

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.3%
Education 11.5%
Professional/Tech 10.1%
Retail 7.3%
Transport 7.2%

University

53.5%

Postgraduate

15.9%

Born Overseas

53.2%

Dwellings

2,570

Transport to Work

Public transport use is low at 6.9%, typical for outer-ring Brisbane suburbs where 86.3% drive to work. Kuraby State School (Government, ICSEA 998, 359 students) provides local primary education at a level close to the national average of 1000. Walking and cycling account for just 0.7% of commutes, reflecting car-dependent design. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 7 places overall socioeconomic conditions above the national median. With 3.9% of residents needing assistance and a volunteering rate of 15.6%, social support infrastructure exists but is not unusually strong compared to higher-decile suburbs.

Drive

86.3%

Public Transport

6.9%

Walk / Cycle

0.7%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+1.35%/yr

(+128 people/yr)

Established

Kuraby's population is growing at 1.35% annually (128 persons/year), driven almost entirely by overseas migration averaging +215 per year. Net internal migration runs negative at -168 annually, meaning domestic movers are leaving faster than arriving. The 10-year population change of 16% reflects steady accumulation rather than a boom. Projections put the 2031 population at roughly 10,431, up from approximately 9,507 in 2025. The gentrification score of 15 registers as 'Not gentrifying', and affordability has actually improved over the decade (from 61.9% to 55.1% income-to-price ratio), likely because incomes have tracked house price growth.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+215

Net Internal / yr

-168

16

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -168/yr, Strong overseas inflow +215/yr

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

How Kuraby compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 6%
Household Income
Top 18%
Rent Level
Top 17%
Apartments
Bottom 0%
Renters
Top 37%
Uni Educated
Top 7%
Public Transport
Top 22%
Born Overseas
Top 2%
Density
Top 9%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kuraby a good suburb to live in?

Kuraby scores in the 7th SEIFA IRSAD decile nationally, indicating above-average socioeconomic conditions. Housing stress is low at 22.7% mortgage-to-income, well below the 30% threshold. The suburb suits families seeking spacious homes (70.9% have 4+ bedrooms) in a culturally diverse community, though public transport options are limited with only 6.9% using them.

What is the median house price in Kuraby?

The estimated median house price in Kuraby is $537,000 (2025 estimate from rental data). Monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,100, consuming about 22.7% of the median household income of $2,136 per week.

What schools are in Kuraby?

Kuraby State School is the local government primary school, with an ICSEA score of 998 (near the national average of 1000) and enrolment of 359 students. Families needing secondary education typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs like Runcorn or Eight Mile Plains.

Is Kuraby safe?

Crime data is not available in our current dataset for Kuraby. The SEIFA Index of Economic Resources decile of 8 and the IRSD decile of 6 suggest moderate-to-good socioeconomic conditions. The suburb's 81.1% residential stability rate (stayed at same address) is higher than the national average, indicating a settled community.

Is Kuraby good for property investment?

At $400/week median rent with a 3.2% vacancy rate, Kuraby offers tighter-than-average rental conditions. The 25.2% rental population provides a solid tenant base, and overseas migration of +215 persons/year sustains demand. Development activity remains modest at 15 applications in 12 months, so new supply pressure is limited compared to growth corridors further south.

How is Kuraby's population changing?

The population grows at 1.35% annually (128 persons/year), projected to reach approximately 10,431 by 2031. Growth is driven by overseas migration (+215/year) while net internal migration runs negative (-168/year). The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, and the senior share has increased 3.0 percentage points over the past decade.

What languages are spoken in Kuraby?

With 53.2% born overseas (31.6 points above the national average), Kuraby is linguistically diverse. Mandarin (413 speakers) leads, followed by Urdu (329), Punjabi (201), Arabic (191), and Cantonese (183). Chinese and Indian ancestries together account for over 2,496 residents, reflecting South and East Asian migration patterns.

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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