Murarrie
A $582,000 median house price sits 5 years younger than most of Brisbane in demographic terms, with a median age of 35 that runs 5.0 years below the national figure. The combination tells the story: household income reaches the 89.6th percentile nationally while the suburb still scores decile 8 on IRSAD and decile 9 on IRSD, an advantaged but not ultra-luxury profile. Houses dominate at 68.8% of dwellings on an 8.46 km2 footprint, and the population has grown 20.7% over the past decade. University qualifications hit 42.2%, which is 12.1 points above national, drawing a working-age, professional cohort into a market that remains comparatively affordable for its income band.
Population
4,946
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,362/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
25
Median House
$582K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $582,000 median makes Murarrie reachable for households earning in the 89.6th percentile, and the affordability gap shows in the stress figures: mortgage repayments average $2,167 a month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 21.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. That comfort exists because incomes are high relative to a sub-$600,000 entry point. The stock favours families, with 68.8% separate houses and only 10.1% apartments, and three-bedroom homes lead at 46.4% with four-plus bedrooms at 34.5%. Owner-occupiers split toward recent buyers: 43.1% carry a mortgage against 19.9% who own outright, a sign of an active, in-migration buyer base rather than long-held, debt-free ownership. The low 14.2% share of two-bedroom dwellings means downsizers and singles have fewer options than family buyers.
For Buyers
The $582,000 median makes Murarrie reachable for households earning in the 89.6th percentile, and the affordability gap shows in the stress figures: mortgage repayments average $2,167 a month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 21.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. That comfort exists because incomes are high relative to a sub-$600,000 entry point. The stock favours families, with 68.8% separate houses and only 10.1% apartments, and three-bedroom homes lead at 46.4% with four-plus bedrooms at 34.5%. Owner-occupiers split toward recent buyers: 43.1% carry a mortgage against 19.9% who own outright, a sign of an active, in-migration buyer base rather than long-held, debt-free ownership. The low 14.2% share of two-bedroom dwellings means downsizers and singles have fewer options than family buyers.
For Investors
A 37.0% renter share and weekly rent of $450 give landlords a solid tenant pool, and against the $582,000 median that rent implies a gross yield near 4.0%, far stronger than the premium inner-city suburbs where yields fall below 2%. The 4.6% vacancy rate is loose enough to signal balanced supply rather than scarcity. Demand support is structural: net overseas migration adds 53 residents a year and is the primary growth driver, though internal migration removes 10, leaving population rising 1.67% annually. Rent grew 18.4% over the measured period, and development is modest at 24 applications in 12 months, mostly dwelling extensions and referral-agency siting approvals rather than new apartment supply. With population up 20.7% over the decade, the case rests on steady rental demand and capital growth from a young, working professional base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
111
Last 12 Months
25
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Murarrie iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Murarrie State School
Prep-6 · 60 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, marking Murarrie as a young, working-age suburb rather than a retirement or aging one, and the senior share rose only 2.1 points while the working-age share barely moved at minus 0.2 over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 28.3%, which is 6.7 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,822), Irish (665) and Scottish (570). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (47 speakers), Portuguese (19) and Hindi (17), a small but international mix. University qualifications at 42.2% run 12.1 points above national, consistent with the professional workforce. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, and couples with children (1,744) outnumber couples without children (1,089), reinforcing the family-oriented profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
68.8%
Houses
20.8%
Townhouse
10.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward mortgaged owners: 43.1% carry a mortgage, 37.0% rent and only 19.9% own outright, a split that points to recent buyers and tenants rather than long-settled, debt-free households. The stock is 68.8% separate houses and 20.8% semi-detached, leaving apartments at just 10.1%, which keeps the suburb oriented to families. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 46.4% and four-plus bedrooms 34.5%, while two-bedroom homes are only 14.2%. The $582,000 median house price is modest for a suburb whose household income sits in the 89.6th percentile, and that mismatch keeps both stress ratios low: mortgage-to-income at 21.2% and rent-to-income at 19.1%, both comfortably below the 30% threshold. Affordability improved from 47.0% in 2011 to 40.5% in 2021, a rare easing while population climbed 20.7%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,120
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
89
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.7%
Couples, no children
3,926
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in services and trades rather than finance: Healthcare leads at 15.5% (335 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 13.9% (302), Construction at 10.3% (224), Education at 9.6% and Public Admin at 7.9%. By occupation, Professionals (828) and Managers (462) form the largest groups, with Clerical and Admin close behind at 459, which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.7% and the full-time employment rate reaches 72.3%, above many established suburbs, while participation runs 69.9%. The IER score for economic resources sits at decile 8, a notch below the decile 9 IRSD, because the 37.0% renter base and 43.1% mortgage share depress aggregate household-wealth measures even though incomes rank in the 89.6th percentile. Real incomes grew 11.9% over the decade.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
3,689
Unemployed
92
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.3%
Part-time
24.0%
Participation
69.9%
Employed
2,723
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.2%
Postgraduate
9.6%
Born Overseas
28.3%
Dwellings
1,871
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high at 81.2% of commuters, with public transport at 10.2% and walking or cycling at just 3.5%, below the active-transport shares seen in denser inner suburbs, a function of the 584.7 residents per km2 spread across 8.46 km2. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, an advantaged tier nationally, and decile 9 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning few residents face deprivation, with only 4.1% (193 people) needing daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 19.1% and mortgage-to-income at 21.2% both stay well below the stress threshold, keeping living costs manageable relative to the 89.6th-percentile income base. No schools are recorded inside the Murarrie boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off offset by the family-oriented housing and steady population growth.
Drive
81.2%
Public Transport
10.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.67%/yr
(+87 people/yr)
EstablishedMurarrie is expanding steadily: annual population growth registers 1.67%, adding about 87 residents a year, and the 10-year change of 20.7% far exceeds the flat trajectories of established inner-Brisbane suburbs. The historical run from 5,041 in 2023 to 5,204 in 2025 confirms the trend, and medium forecasts lift the population from 5,283 in 2026 to 5,717 by 2031. Overseas migration of 53 a year is the primary driver, partly offset by net internal outflow of 10. The gentrification stage reads early signs, with a score of 23 to 29 and signals of population up 25% since 2011 and growth accelerating from 4% to 21%. Affordability improving from 47.0% to 40.5% while population rose marks a suburb still adding supply rather than pricing out new arrivals.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+53
Net Internal / yr
-10
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +25% since 2011, Accelerating: 4% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Murarrie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murarrie a good suburb to live in?
Murarrie scores decile 8 on IRSAD and decile 9 on IRSD, advantaged tiers nationally, with household income in the 89.6th percentile. University qualifications reach 42.2%, 12.1 points above national, and a young median age of 35 suits working families. The $582,000 median keeps it affordable for its income band.
What is the median house price in Murarrie?
The median house price is $582,000, modest for a suburb whose household income ranks in the 89.6th percentile. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Murarrie?
No schools are recorded inside the Murarrie boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 42.2%, which is 12.1 points above the national figure.
Is Murarrie safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Murarrie in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and only 4.1% of its 4,946 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Murarrie good for property investment?
Rent of $450 a week against a $582,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than inner-Brisbane premium suburbs below 2%. The 4.6% vacancy rate signals balanced supply, and net overseas migration of 53 a year supports demand alongside 1.67% annual population growth.
How is Murarrie's population changing?
Population is growing 1.67% annually, about 87 residents a year, with a 20.7% rise over the past decade. It climbed from 5,041 in 2023 to 5,204 in 2025, and medium forecasts reach 5,717 by 2031. Overseas migration of 53 a year is the primary driver.
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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