Northgate
A $508,000 median house price sits alongside household income in the 76.4th percentile nationally, and that gap is what defines Northgate. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, IRSD and IEO, the upper-advantage tier, yet remains affordable because the stock skews to renters, who make up 43.3% of households. University qualifications reach 44.1%, which is 14.0 points above the national figure, and the median age of 35 runs 5.0 years below national. Packed into 3.31 km2 at 1,472 residents per km2, the 4,876-strong population leans professional and young, a profile that keeps the rental market deep.
Population
4,876
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,041/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Median House
$508K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $508,000 median makes Northgate accessible for a Brisbane suburb sitting in the 76.4th income percentile, and the stock gives buyers genuine choice. Separate houses account for 57.1% of dwellings, apartments 22.4% and semi-detached homes 20.2%, so detached living is the norm rather than the exception. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 38.8% and four-plus-bedroom homes reach 25.9%, suiting families more than the typical inner-ring suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,100, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because incomes outpace the modest median price. Only 19.5% of homes are owned outright against 37.2% mortgaged, a sign of a market still being bought into rather than held debt-free.
For Buyers
The $508,000 median makes Northgate accessible for a Brisbane suburb sitting in the 76.4th income percentile, and the stock gives buyers genuine choice. Separate houses account for 57.1% of dwellings, apartments 22.4% and semi-detached homes 20.2%, so detached living is the norm rather than the exception. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 38.8% and four-plus-bedroom homes reach 25.9%, suiting families more than the typical inner-ring suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,100, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because incomes outpace the modest median price. Only 19.5% of homes are owned outright against 37.2% mortgaged, a sign of a market still being bought into rather than held debt-free.
For Investors
A 43.3% renter share and weekly rent of $360 give landlords a broad tenant base, and the numbers read better than premium Brisbane suburbs. Against the $508,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 3.7%, well above the sub-2% returns common in dearer markets. Development activity is steady at 27 applications in 12 months, mostly referral-agency and material-change-of-use work on existing dwelling sites rather than large new supply, which limits the risk of oversupply pressure. The reported vacancy figure of 7.5% looks elevated, so tenant turnover at 29.3% is the more reliable demand signal, leaving 70.7% of residents in place year on year. With incomes in the 76.4th percentile supporting rents, the case rests on yield and tenant depth more than rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
118
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+3.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, marking Northgate as a younger, working-age suburb. Overseas-born residents reach 26.2%, which is 4.6 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,872), Irish (678) and Scottish (538). University qualifications at 44.1% run 14.0 points above national, unusually high for an affordable suburb and consistent with its professional workforce. The top non-English languages are Nepali (86 speakers), Punjabi (28) and Italian (18), a small but distinct migrant layer. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national, and families split toward couples with children (1,593) over couples without (985), reinforcing the family-oriented detached-housing pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
57.1%
Houses
20.2%
Townhouse
22.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renters and recent buyers: 43.3% rent, 37.2% carry a mortgage and only 19.5% own outright. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners nearly two to one points to a suburb still being bought into rather than held by long-settled owners. The stock is 57.1% separate houses, with apartments at 22.4% and semi-detached at 20.2%, so detached homes anchor the market. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 38.8% and four-plus-bedroom homes 25.9%, against just 7.0% in the studio or one-bedroom range. The $508,000 median pairs with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8% and a rent-to-income ratio of 17.6%, both well below the 30% stress line, which is why affordability holds even with incomes above the national average.
Mortgage / mo
$2,100
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$998
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
159
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.2%
Couples, no children
3,625
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in services: Healthcare leads at 18.1% (371 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 12.9% (263) and Education at 9.2% (189), with Public Admin at 8.7% and Construction at 7.9%. By occupation, Professionals (824) and Clerical/Admin (392) dominate, ahead of Managers (345), which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 5.0% and the full-time employment rate reaches 67.8%, while participation reads 66.3%. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD and IRSD and decile 8 on IEO, yet decile 6 on the IER resources index, a step lower because the 43.3% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures rather than reflecting genuine disadvantage.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.8%
Part-time
27.2%
Participation
66.3%
Employed
2,552
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.1%
Postgraduate
9.5%
Born Overseas
26.2%
Dwellings
1,949
Transport to Work
Car use dominates at 71.9% of commuters, while public transport carries 18.8% and only 3.6% walk or cycle, reflecting a suburb built around its rail line and road network rather than dense walkability. The suburb earns decile 8 on IRSAD, the upper-advantage tier, and decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, so few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 14.8% and only 4.0% of residents (189 people) need daily assistance, low for any age group. Rent-to-income at 17.6% keeps tenants comfortable, well below the 30% stress threshold. No schools are recorded inside the 3.31 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for a compact inner-northern location.
Drive
71.9%
Public Transport
18.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Northgate compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northgate a good suburb to live in?
Northgate ranks in decile 8 on IRSAD, IRSD and IEO, the upper-advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 76.4th percentile. University qualifications reach 44.1%, 14.0 points above national. The main draws are an affordable $508,000 median and a young median age of 35.
What is the median house price in Northgate?
The median house price is $508,000, affordable for Brisbane given local incomes in the 76.4th percentile. Weekly rent averages $360 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,100, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Northgate?
No schools are recorded inside the 3.31 km2 Northgate boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 44.1%, which is 14.0 points above the national figure.
Is Northgate safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Northgate in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the upper tier, and only 4.0% of its 4,876 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Northgate good for property investment?
Rent of $360 a week against a $508,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.7%, well above premium Brisbane suburbs. A 43.3% renter share provides a deep tenant pool and turnover of 29.3% supports steady demand, so the case rests on yield more than rapid capital growth.
How is Northgate's population changing?
Northgate is a stable suburb of 4,876 residents at 1,472 per km2. Turnover runs at 29.3%, meaning 70.7% of residents stayed year on year. Overseas-born residents at 26.2%, 4.6 points above national, point to migration as a steady demand input rather than rapid expansion.
How much development is happening in Northgate?
There were 27 development applications lodged in the past 12 months across the 3.31 km2 suburb. Most are referral-agency responses and material-change-of-use approvals on existing dwelling sites rather than new greenfield supply, consistent with an established inner-northern area.
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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