North Booval
At a median age of 33, North Booval skews 7 years younger than the national figure, and that youth concentration shapes almost everything else about the suburb. Household incomes sit at the 33.3rd percentile nationally, well below average, yet housing affordability holds up because the estimated median house price is $367,000, far lower than most southeast Queensland markets. Nearly half of residents rent at $295 per week, a rent-to-income ratio of just 22.2%, below the stress threshold. The suburb is compact at 3.04 km2 with a density of 999 people per km2, and 85.3% of dwellings are separate houses, making it structurally similar to neighbouring working-class Ipswich suburbs rather than inner-city apartment markets.
Population
3,041
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,327/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$367K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $367,000 is substantially lower than the greater Brisbane median, making North Booval one of the more accessible entry points in the Ipswich corridor for first-home buyers. Separate houses account for 85.3% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 11.2% and apartments at just 3.5%, so buyers get genuine detached stock rather than townhouse or unit alternatives. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.0% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes add another 31.3%, confirming a family-oriented stock profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% stays well below the 30% stress threshold, even at the 33.3rd percentile income level nationally. Outright owners represent 24.5% of households, below the typical ownership rate, reflecting the younger median age of 33 and the high renter share.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $367,000 is substantially lower than the greater Brisbane median, making North Booval one of the more accessible entry points in the Ipswich corridor for first-home buyers. Separate houses account for 85.3% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 11.2% and apartments at just 3.5%, so buyers get genuine detached stock rather than townhouse or unit alternatives. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.0% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes add another 31.3%, confirming a family-oriented stock profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% stays well below the 30% stress threshold, even at the 33.3rd percentile income level nationally. Outright owners represent 24.5% of households, below the typical ownership rate, reflecting the younger median age of 33 and the high renter share.
For Investors
North Booval's 47.1% renter share is substantially above the national average, providing landlords with a large and persistent tenant pool. Weekly rent of $295 against an estimated median house price of $367,000 implies a gross yield around 4.2%, considerably higher than inner-city Brisbane counterparts. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated, signalling some softness in tenant demand that prospective investors should weigh against the yield advantage. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, meaning new supply is not the driver of that vacancy. The suburb's unemployment rate of 10.8% is above average, which constrains rent growth potential and increases arrears risk compared to tighter labour markets. The low entry price, however, lowers the capital at risk for yield-focused investors targeting the affordable Ipswich rental market.
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7 years below the national figure, making North Booval one of the younger suburbs in the Ipswich region. Overseas-born residents account for 15.3% of the population, which is 6.3 percentage points below the national rate, confirming a predominantly locally born community. Ancestry runs predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,171 residents), Irish (291) and Scottish (289). University qualifications reach only 16.7%, which is 13.4 points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar occupational profile where Labourers (198), Machinery and Transport Drivers (148) and Community and Personal Service workers (149) are the top three occupation groups. Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national figure by 0.1, and couples with children (944 families) is the dominant household structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.3%
Houses
11.2%
Townhouse
3.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides into three unequal parts: 47.1% of households rent, 28.4% carry a mortgage and 24.5% own outright. The unusually high renter share, compared to national averages, reflects both the younger median age of 33 and household incomes sitting at the 33.3rd percentile nationally. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 85.3%, with semi-detached at 11.2% and apartments at only 3.5%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 54.0% of all homes, and 4-plus bedroom properties make up 31.3%, so larger family homes form the bulk of supply. The estimated median house price of $367,000 equates to monthly repayments of $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Rent stress is also absent, with rent-to-income at just 22.2% despite weekly rents of $295.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$295
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$637
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
83
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.4%
Couples, no children
2,397
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 19.2% of the local workforce (130 workers), ahead of Construction at 10.1% (68 workers) and Education at 9.3% (63 workers). Public Administration and Manufacturing each contribute roughly 8%, indicating a spread across government services and trade work rather than a single dominant sector. By occupation, Labourers (198) outnumber every other category, followed closely by Community and Personal Service (149) and Machinery and Transport Drivers (148), placing North Booval in the manual and service labour segment compared to higher-skill suburban profiles. The unemployment rate of 10.8% is above average, and the participation rate of 49.8% is low, with 900 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment among those working runs at 67.0%, and the full-time to part-time split of 692 to 341 reflects the modest but stable employment base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.0%
Part-time
22.2%
Participation
49.8%
Employed
1,033
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.7%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
15.3%
Dwellings
1,092
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 86.9% of residents driving to work, which is above the national average, and only 5.3% use public transport, reflecting limited train or bus connectivity relative to inner-Brisbane suburbs. Walking or cycling accounts for just 0.6% of commutes. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring parts of Booval or Ipswich. Crime statistics are not available for North Booval in this dataset, so a direct comparison cannot be made. The need-for-assistance rate of 10.4% (299 residents) is notable, above the typical rate for a suburb with a median age of 33, and may reflect disability or chronic health factors in the lower-income population. Rent and mortgage stress are both absent, with rent-to-income at 22.2% and mortgage-to-income at 22.6%, keeping housing costs manageable relative to local incomes.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Booval compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Booval a good suburb to live in?
North Booval suits buyers and renters seeking affordable housing in the Ipswich corridor. The estimated median house price is $367,000, well below the wider Brisbane market, and rent-to-income sits at 22.2%, below the stress threshold. Car dependence is high at 86.9% and the unemployment rate of 10.8% is above average, so access to a car and stable employment matter more here than in better-connected suburbs.
What is the median house price in North Booval?
The estimated median house price is $367,000 as of 2025, derived from local rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $295, with a rent-to-income ratio of 22.2%.
What schools are in North Booval?
No schools are recorded inside the North Booval suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjacent parts of Booval, Ipswich and surrounding suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 16.7%, which is 13.4 percentage points below the national figure.
Is North Booval safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for North Booval in this dataset, so a direct rate comparison cannot be made. The suburb's unemployment rate of 10.8% is above the national average, and 10.4% of residents (299 people) require daily assistance, both factors that can correlate with higher community stress levels than lower-disadvantage suburbs.
Is North Booval good for property investment?
The 47.1% renter share is high compared to national averages, giving landlords a large tenant pool. Weekly rent of $295 against a $367,000 estimated median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, higher than many Brisbane inner suburbs. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated and unemployment sits at 10.8%, so investors should factor in higher vacancy and arrears risk alongside the yield advantage.
How is North Booval's population changing?
Population forecast data are not available for North Booval in this dataset. The current population is 3,041, with a median age of 33, which is 7 years below the national figure. The turnover rate of 26.5% indicates moderate residential mobility, with 73.5% of residents having remained in the suburb over the prior five years.
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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