North Lakes
A 35-year median age sits 5 years below the national figure, while 35.7% of residents were born overseas, 14.1 percentage points above the national share. North Lakes has 23,030 residents and a 3.12% annual growth trend, giving it a high-growth, mortgage-belt profile. Housing is strongly detached, with 84.9% separate houses and 60.5% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 79.2nd percentile, supporting family demand, while a 26.1% turnover rate points to a mobile population. Compared with nearby Mango Hill and Griffin, North Lakes is the established, detached-dominant part of the Moreton Bay corridor, with growth shaped by migration and family housing.
Population
23,030
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,092/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
40
North Lakes suits buyers seeking family-sized detached housing, with 84.9% of dwellings separate houses and 60.5% containing 4 or more bedrooms. The 3.1% apartment share is lower than the 12.0% semi-detached share, so buyers should expect a house-led market rather than a high-rise mix. A current median house price is not available, but the monthly mortgage figure is $1,950 and mortgage costs equal 21.5% of household income. The 41.9% mortgage-held share is higher than outright ownership at 17.7%, pointing to a leveraged owner market. Compare land size, build age and renovation needs at address level, especially against nearby Mango Hill and Griffin, because similar-looking estates can carry different ownership costs.
For Buyers
North Lakes suits buyers seeking family-sized detached housing, with 84.9% of dwellings separate houses and 60.5% containing 4 or more bedrooms. The 3.1% apartment share is lower than the 12.0% semi-detached share, so buyers should expect a house-led market rather than a high-rise mix. A current median house price is not available, but the monthly mortgage figure is $1,950 and mortgage costs equal 21.5% of household income. The 41.9% mortgage-held share is higher than outright ownership at 17.7%, pointing to a leveraged owner market. Compare land size, build age and renovation needs at address level, especially against nearby Mango Hill and Griffin, because similar-looking estates can carry different ownership costs.
For Investors
North Lakes presents a tenant-demand case built around family housing and ongoing growth. Rent is $420 a week, 37.6% of households rent, and vacancy is 3.9%; renting is higher than outright ownership at 37.6% versus 17.7%. That mix can support a broad tenant pool, while the 84.9% separate-house share means maintenance and acquisition costs may differ from apartment markets. Forty development applications in 12 months indicate continuing activity, which may improve amenity but also add competing supply. Growth is forecast at 3.12% annually and driven by overseas migration, so compare yield after insurance, rates and vacancy rather than relying on growth alone. Mortgage costs are 21.5% of household income, and rents have grown 10.5%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
92
Last 12 Months
40
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+37.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Lakes
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
The Lakes College (North Lakes)
YMCA Vocational School - Moreton Bay (North Lakes)
Bounty Boulevard State School
North Lakes State College
Demographics
North Lakes has a family-leaning and internationally connected profile. Median age is 35, 5 years below the national figure, and average household size is 2.9, or 0.4 above the national comparison. Couples with children account for 52.4% of families, while one-parent families represent 16.3%, helping explain demand for 3-bedroom homes at 31.3% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 60.5%. Overseas-born residents make up 35.7%, 14.1 points above the national share; Punjabi 185, Mandarin 168 and Afrikaans 151 are leading reported languages. Christianity counts 10,512 people and no religion 9,538. Compared with nearby Mango Hill and Griffin, use North Lakes's own established household pattern when assessing services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.9%
Houses
12.0%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
North Lakes is a detached-dominant housing market: 84.9% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 3.1% apartments and 12.0% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile is family-sized, with 60.5% of homes at 4 or more bedrooms versus 31.3% with 3 bedrooms. Tenure is split between 41.9% mortgaged households, 37.6% renters and 17.7% outright owners, making the suburb more mortgage-led than debt-free. Mortgage costs equal 21.5% of household income, while rent equals 20.1%, and neither stress flag is triggered. With household income at $2,092 weekly and 2.9 people per household, the stock fits families, but compare age, renovation needs and land size between pockets. Nearby Mango Hill and Griffin may look similar, yet North Lakes's established house-led form should anchor the comparison.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $420.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $650 · units $600
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$885
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
311
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
52.4%
Couples with children
30.5%
Couples, no children
16.3%
Single parent
6,444
Total families
Economy & Employment
North Lakes has a service-heavy economy, led by healthcare at 21.0% of workers, followed by education 10.7%, retail 8.4%, professional and technical services 8.3% and construction 7.7%. Professionals number 2,514, while clerical and administrative roles number 1,693 and managers 1,477, creating a mix of skilled services and practical employment. Labour-force participation is 70.2%, unemployment is 5.4% and full-time work accounts for 60.7%. Household income is $2,092 weekly at the 79.2nd percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA is also above the middle decile: IEO 7, IER 8, IRSD 7 and IRSAD 7. The income and unemployment contrast suggests gains are uneven because professional work coexists with retail, care and part-time jobs.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
12,317
Unemployed
667
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.7%
Part-time
30.2%
Participation
70.2%
Employed
11,650
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.5%
Postgraduate
7.9%
Born Overseas
35.7%
Dwellings
7,651
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 71.4% of commuters drive, compared with 3.1% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. A further 19.1% work from home, which can reduce commute frequency but does not remove the need for vehicle access. Four local schools provide a mix of 2 Government state schools, 1 Independent school and 1 non-state vocational school, giving families more sector types than a single-sector catchment. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because they can cut across suburb boundaries. IRSAD sits at decile 7, above the middle decile, consistent with relatively solid access to resources. A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so compare current Queensland Police information for the specific pocket before deciding.
Drive
71.4%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
19.1%
Population Forecast
+3.12%/yr
(+765 people/yr)
EstablishedNorth Lakes combines a 3.12% annual growth trend with an overseas-migration primary driver, so expansion is being supported by incoming households rather than only local turnover. Population change across the wider area is 53.1% over 10 years, higher than a flat-growth setting, while 40 development applications in 12 months point to continuing activity. The shift trajectory is labelled Aging: the young share has fallen 5.4 percentage points and the senior share has risen 3.7 points, even as the population base expands. Two growth signals diverge: the shift profile is Not gentrifying with a score of 0, while the gentrification assessment is Early signs with a score of 30. Affordability is Stable, moving from 49.3 in 2011 to 47.5 in 2021, so growth is strong but not necessarily a sign of rapid neighbourhood reinvention.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+416
Net Internal / yr
-281
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +60% since 2011, Net internal outflow -281/yr, Strong overseas inflow +416/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Lakes compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Lakes a good suburb to live in?
North Lakes can suit households wanting family-sized housing and established services. Median age is 35, 84.9% of dwellings are separate houses and IRSAD is decile 7, above the middle decile. Daily life is more car-dependent than transit-led, with 71.4% driving and 3.1% using public transport.
What is the median house price in North Lakes?
A current median house price for North Lakes is not available. The housing mix is clear: 84.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 60.5% have 4 or more bedrooms, and the monthly mortgage figure is $1,950. Compare current listings by land size, build age and bedroom count rather than using a suburb-wide assumption.
What schools are in North Lakes?
North Lakes has 4 listed schools: Bounty Boulevard State School and North Lakes State College are Government schools; The Lakes College is Independent; and YMCA Vocational School - Moreton Bay (North Lakes) is non-state. Check the exact enrolment zone, because access can differ by address. The mix is broader than a single-sector catchment.
Is North Lakes safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so check current Queensland Police information for the exact address and recent incident pattern. For broader context, IRSAD is decile 7 and need for assistance is 5.4%, but those measures are not safety scores. Compare the immediate pocket, lighting and traffic conditions before buying.
Is North Lakes good for property investment?
North Lakes may suit investors seeking family rental demand, with 37.6% renting, $420 weekly rent and a 3.9% vacancy rate. Growth is forecast at 3.12% annually and driven by overseas migration, while 40 development applications in 12 months may add amenity and competing supply. Compare the yield with insurance, maintenance and vacancy assumptions for detached homes.
How is North Lakes's population changing?
North Lakes is on a high-growth path, with a 3.12% annual trend and 53.1% population change across the wider area over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is also labelled Aging: the young share is down 5.4 points and the senior share is up 3.7 points. Growth is therefore higher than a flat baseline, but the age mix is shifting.
What languages and cultural backgrounds are common in North Lakes?
English ancestry is the largest reported ancestry at 8,723 people, while overseas-born residents account for 35.7%. Punjabi is spoken by 185 residents, Mandarin by 168 and Afrikaans by 151. Services and schools should be assessed with this mix in mind, which is more internationally connected than the national profile by 14.1 percentage points.
What development is occurring in North Lakes?
Development activity is notable, with 40 applications in the past 12 months, including commercial and operational-work matters. This can improve services and employment, but it may also change traffic and competing housing supply. Compare the exact project location, approval type and timing before assuming a direct benefit to every street.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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