Newmarket
Sitting roughly 5 km north of Brisbane's CBD, Newmarket pairs a young median age of 33, a full 7 years below the national figure, with household income in the 86.9th percentile, a combination that explains why 46.4% of homes are rented rather than owner-occupied. University qualifications reach 56.5%, which is 26.4 points above national, yet the $532,000 estimated median house price keeps it affordable by Brisbane standards. The suburb scores decile 10 on the SEIFA education and occupation index and decile 9 on overall advantage, but a 10.6% vacancy rate signals that the rental stock, 28.9% apartments inside a compact 1.65 km2 footprint, runs ahead of tenant demand.
Population
5,083
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,251/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$532K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $532,000 estimated median house price makes Newmarket far more attainable than inner Brisbane premium pockets, and the stock favours buyers wanting a freestanding home: 54.6% are separate houses against 28.9% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 32.0%, with 4-plus bedroom homes close behind at 29.8% and two-bedroom at 30.1%, so the mix suits both small families and downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit in the 86.9th percentile. Owner-occupiers are the minority here, with 23.2% owning outright and 30.4% carrying a mortgage, so buyers compete against a renter base rather than a wall of established owners.
For Buyers
The $532,000 estimated median house price makes Newmarket far more attainable than inner Brisbane premium pockets, and the stock favours buyers wanting a freestanding home: 54.6% are separate houses against 28.9% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 32.0%, with 4-plus bedroom homes close behind at 29.8% and two-bedroom at 30.1%, so the mix suits both small families and downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit in the 86.9th percentile. Owner-occupiers are the minority here, with 23.2% owning outright and 30.4% carrying a mortgage, so buyers compete against a renter base rather than a wall of established owners.
For Investors
A 46.4% renter share gives landlords a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $383 against the $532,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, healthier than the premium Brisbane suburbs where yields fall below 2%. Rent has grown 18.2% over the measured period, supporting income returns. The caution is supply: the vacancy rate of 10.6% is well above a balanced market, reflecting that apartments make up 28.9% of stock in a small 1.65 km2 area. Demand drivers are modest, with net overseas migration adding 92 residents a year while internal migration removes 23, leaving annual population growth at 0.89%. With 20 development applications lodged in 12 months, new supply is limited, so the investment case leans on the strong yield and renter demand rather than rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
102
Last 12 Months
23
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 Newmarket iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Ambrose's Primary School
Prep-6 · 152 students
Newmarket State School
Prep-6 · 448 students
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7.0 years below the national figure, marking Newmarket as a young-resident suburb where 27.3% of families are couples without children. University qualifications reach 56.5%, a striking 26.4 points above national, and overseas-born residents make up 26.3%, which is 4.7 points above national. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,840), Irish (841) and Scottish (715), while the top non-English languages, Nepali (31), Mandarin (28) and Italian (26), point to a small but mixed migrant intake. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure exactly. Christianity (2,086 residents) is the dominant faith, followed by Hinduism (150) and Buddhism (121), the latter two consistent with the recent overseas arrivals.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
54.6%
Houses
16.5%
Townhouse
28.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is renter-led: 46.4% rent, 30.4% carry a mortgage and only 23.2% own outright, the inverse of established owner-occupier suburbs and a direct consequence of the young median age of 33. Despite that, the stock is house-heavy at 54.6% separate dwellings, with apartments at 28.9% and semi-detached at 16.5%. Bedroom mix is even across three-bedroom (32.0%), two-bedroom (30.1%) and 4-plus bedroom (29.8%) homes. The $532,000 estimated median sits well below Brisbane's premium suburbs, and affordability has improved from 42.6% of income in 2011 to 36.9% in 2021. Mortgage-to-income at 22.2% and rent-to-income at 17.0% both stay below the 30% stress line, helped by household incomes in the 86.9th percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$383
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,038
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
227
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.3%
Couples, no children
3,498
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is anchored in healthcare and knowledge sectors: Healthcare leads at 20.5% (476 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 16.9% (391) and Education at 11.4% (264), with Public Admin at 7.8% and Construction at 6.3%. By occupation, Professionals (1,135) and Managers (406) dominate, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation, the top tier nationally. Unemployment is low at 4.8% and the participation rate is 66.6%. The IER economic-resources score sits at decile 6, notably lower than the decile 9 overall advantage and decile 10 education ranking, because the 46.4% renter base depresses aggregate household-wealth measures even though incomes reach the 86.9th percentile. Real incomes grew 10.9% over the decade.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
3,670
Unemployed
223
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.0%
Part-time
30.2%
Participation
66.6%
Employed
2,741
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.5%
Postgraduate
15.9%
Born Overseas
26.3%
Dwellings
1,917
Transport to Work
Car use dominates at 70.9%, but 17.0% of residents take public transport, above what many outer suburbs manage thanks to the 5 km proximity to the Brisbane CBD, while 6.2% walk or cycle. The suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 9 on overall advantage, meaning very few residents face deprivation, and only 3.7% (179 people) need daily assistance, low for any age group. Volunteering runs at 19.8%. No schools are recorded inside the 1.65 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the compact, well-connected location and a young, highly educated resident base where 56.5% hold a university qualification.
Drive
70.9%
Public Transport
17.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.89%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedNewmarket is an established, slow-growth suburb: annual population growth runs at 0.89%, about 49 residents a year, while the 10-year change is a more substantial 14.4%. The population fully recovered from a 3.9% COVID dip, climbing 5.1% from the low to a current 5,493 against a pre-COVID 5,368. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding 92 residents a year and offsetting net internal outflow of 23. Medium forecasts lift the population from 5,548 in 2026 to 5,795 by 2031, steady rather than explosive. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying with a score of 16, though a secondary measure flags early signs at 28, consistent with the 18% population rise since 2011 and improving affordability.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+92
Net Internal / yr
-23
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +18% since 2011, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Newmarket compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newmarket a good suburb to live in?
Newmarket scores decile 9 on overall SEIFA advantage and decile 10 on education and occupation, the top tier nationally, with household income in the 86.9th percentile. University qualifications reach 56.5%, which is 26.4 points above national. The main trade-off is a 10.6% rental vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Newmarket?
The estimated median house price is $532,000, affordable by Brisbane standards. Weekly rent averages $383 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold thanks to incomes in the 86.9th percentile.
What schools are in Newmarket?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.65 km2 Newmarket boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 56.5%, which is 26.4 points above the national figure.
Is Newmarket safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Newmarket in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, near the top tier, and only 3.7% of its 179 affected residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Newmarket good for property investment?
Rent of $383 a week against a $532,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.7%, stronger than premium Brisbane suburbs below 2%. The 46.4% renter share supports demand, but a 10.6% vacancy rate signals apartment oversupply, so returns lean on yield more than rapid capital growth.
How is Newmarket's population changing?
Population growth is 0.89% annually, about 49 residents a year, with a 14.4% rise over 10 years. The current 5,493 residents recovered fully from a 3.9% COVID dip. Overseas migration adds 92 people a year, offsetting net internal outflow of 23, with medium forecasts reaching 5,795 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Newmarket?
About 26.3% of residents were born overseas, 4.7 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Nepali (31 speakers), Mandarin (28), Italian (26) and Cantonese (17) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a small but mixed international resident mix.
What is the rental market like in Newmarket?
Renters make up 46.4% of households, well above the owner-occupier share, with a median weekly rent of $383. The vacancy rate is 10.6%, above a balanced market, and rent has grown 18.2% over the measured period, reflecting steady tenant demand against an apartment-heavy 28.9% stock.
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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