Petrie
A detached-home, mortgage-led suburb of 8,722 people, Petrie combines 86.7% separate houses with a 43.9% mortgage tenure share. Its median age is 38, which is 2 years below the national comparison, while household income sits at the 67th percentile. Growth is modest at 0.27% annually and the 10-year population change is 2.8%, because the suburb is established and its forecast trajectory is Aging. Compared with nearby North Lakes, Petrie has a more mature residential pattern, while its 6.6 square kilometres and density of 1,320.8 people per square kilometre support a compact suburban setting. The suburb is aging rather than gentrifying, with a senior-share change of 5.0% and gentrification score 0.
Population
8,722
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,853/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
40
House hunters will find Petrie weighted toward conventional family housing because 86.7% of dwellings are separate houses, with 47.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 43.0% containing 4 or more. For a current price view, buyers should compare recent settled sales by street and dwelling type rather than rely on a single suburb-wide estimate. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,725, and mortgage costs equal 21.5% of household income, higher than the 19.4% rent-to-income figure, while mortgage stress is flagged false. Household income at the 67th percentile is above the midpoint nationally. Compared with apartment-led markets, Petrie’s 5.3% apartment share suits buyers seeking conventional owner-occupied housing, although 43.9% of households remain exposed to mortgage-rate changes.
For Buyers
House hunters will find Petrie weighted toward conventional family housing because 86.7% of dwellings are separate houses, with 47.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 43.0% containing 4 or more. For a current price view, buyers should compare recent settled sales by street and dwelling type rather than rely on a single suburb-wide estimate. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,725, and mortgage costs equal 21.5% of household income, higher than the 19.4% rent-to-income figure, while mortgage stress is flagged false. Household income at the 67th percentile is above the midpoint nationally. Compared with apartment-led markets, Petrie’s 5.3% apartment share suits buyers seeking conventional owner-occupied housing, although 43.9% of households remain exposed to mortgage-rate changes.
For Investors
Investors get a tenant-oriented base without an obvious high-growth signal because 30.1% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $360 and vacancy is 4.9%. Rental demand should still be tested against current comparable properties rather than assumed from tenure alone. Development activity is notable at 40 applications in 12 months, including a material-change application describing rooming accommodation for 90 dwellings; that could expand competing supply if approved and delivered. The primary migration driver is overseas migration, which may support tenant turnover, but annual growth is only 0.27% and the area is classified as not gentrifying with a score of 0. Compared with a rapid-repricing strategy, Petrie looks more like a cash-flow and holding-period decision than a short-term capital-growth play.
Development Activity
Total DAs
66
Last 12 Months
40
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+122.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Petrie
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Mt Maria College - Petrie (Petrie)
Our Lady of the Way School (Petrie)
Kurwongbah State School
Petrie State School
Demographics
Petrie has a median age of 38, 2 years below the national comparison, but its trajectory is aging because the senior share has risen 5.0 percentage points and the young share has fallen 3.0 points. University qualification reaches 26.8%, 3.3 points below the national figure, while 19.4% of residents were born overseas, 2.2 points below national. English ancestry is recorded by 3,901 people, followed by Irish at 1,108, Scottish at 1,026 and German at 611. No religion is the largest recorded affiliation at 4,263, ahead of Christianity at 3,814. Average household size is 2.7, 0.2 above national, and 75.7% stayed at the same address five years earlier, creating a settled base. Compared with the national picture, Petrie is more Anglo-leaning and less university-qualified.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.7%
Houses
8.0%
Townhouse
5.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Petrie’s housing stock is strongly detached: 86.7% separate houses, 8.0% semi-detached homes and 5.3% apartments. The bedroom mix is similarly family-oriented, with 47.9% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 43.0% having 4 or more, while smaller homes account for 2.1% with 0 or 1 bedroom and 7.1% with 2 bedrooms. Tenure is split between 25.5% owned outright, 43.9% with a mortgage and 30.1% rented. That mortgage share makes interest-rate settings important because more households are paying loans than owning outright. Mortgage-to-income is 21.5% and rent-to-income is 19.4%, with both stress flags false. Rent is $360 weekly and vacancy is 4.9%. For a current price view, compare Petrie with nearby North Lakes and Kallangur by dwelling type, age and sale date. Against the national income distribution, household income at the 67th percentile is above the midpoint.
Mortgage / mo
$1,725
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $360.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $650
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$811
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
161
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.2%
Couples with children
37.3%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
2,523
Total families
Economy & Employment
Petrie’s resident employment mix is led by healthcare at 17.9%, followed by education at 13.2%, construction at 10.4%, public administration at 9.4% and retail at 8.9%. That combination supports demand for essential services and skilled trades because the largest sectors are less dependent on discretionary spending than a retail-heavy base. Occupations include 835 professionals, 673 clerical and administrative workers, 664 trades workers, 530 community and personal service workers and 448 managers. Labour-force participation is 66.5%, with 4,664 people in the labour force, 59.5% working full time and unemployment at 6.4%. SEIFA results sit around the middle: education and occupation decile 5, economic resources decile 6, disadvantage decile 5 and advantage/disadvantage decile 5. The economic-resources result is higher than the other deciles and aligns with household income at the 67th percentile, but employment conditions remain important.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
4,664
Unemployed
297
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.5%
Part-time
31.5%
Participation
66.5%
Employed
4,367
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.8%
Postgraduate
5.2%
Born Overseas
19.4%
Dwellings
3,137
Transport to Work
Daily life in Petrie is structured around cars and detached housing because 69.9% of residents travel as car drivers, compared with 6.0% using public transport, while 18.2% work from home. Walking and cycling account for 1.4%, so access to a vehicle matters for many households. Four schools in and around Petrie provide a clear sector mix, with 2 government state schools and 2 Catholic non-state schools; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. At 1,320.8 people per square kilometre across 6.6 square kilometres, Petrie is compact but not dominated by apartments. Volunteering is 13.9% and need for assistance is 6.2%, adding useful community context. Its IRSAD decile is 5, around the middle nationally, while university attainment is 26.8%, 3.3 points below the national comparison. Compared with a more transit-oriented suburb, Petrie rewards car access and home-based routines.
Drive
69.9%
Public Transport
6.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
18.2%
Population Forecast
+0.27%/yr
(+25 people/yr)
EstablishedPetrie is a slow-growth, aging suburb rather than a redevelopment-led market. The forecast trend is 0.27% annual growth, while population change across the wider area is 2.8% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the shift trajectory is Aging because the senior share is up 5.0%, the young share is down 3.0% and the working-age share is down 1.7%. Affordability is effectively stable, moving from 44.5 in 2011 to 44.4 in 2021, even as rents grew 20.0% and real income fell 2.2%. Gentrification is scored at 0 and staged as Not gentrifying. Compared with a high-growth corridor, Petrie’s lower 0.27% annual pace points to gradual change, with overseas migration and demographic aging shaping demand more than rapid price-led upgrading.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+76
Net Internal / yr
-66
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Petrie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Petrie a good suburb to live in?
Petrie suits households wanting detached housing, with 86.7% separate houses and 43.0% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms. It has 4 schools across government and Catholic sectors, but public transport use is 6.0%, so car access and the exact address matter.
What is the median house price in Petrie?
For a current price view, compare recent settled sales by dwelling type and street instead of relying on a single median estimate. The $1,725 monthly mortgage benchmark, 21.5% mortgage-to-income ratio and 67th-percentile household income provide useful affordability checks.
What schools are in Petrie?
Petrie has 4 nearby schools: Petrie State School and Kurwongbah State School in the government sector, plus Mt Maria College and Our Lady of the Way School in the Catholic sector. Confirm enrolment zones for the exact address, as proximity does not guarantee a place.
Is Petrie safe?
Treat safety as address-specific rather than assigning Petrie a single rating. Check recent incidents by street and visit at different times before choosing an address. Social context includes a 13.9% volunteering rate and 6.2% needing assistance, but neither figure replaces current crime information.
Is Petrie good for property investment?
Petrie can suit a longer-hold investor: 30.1% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $360 and vacancy is 4.9%. However, annual growth is only 0.27%, gentrification is scored 0, and 40 development applications in 12 months may add competition.
How is Petrie's population changing?
Petrie has 8,722 residents today. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 2.8% over 10 years, with annual growth of 0.27% driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 5.0% and young share down 3.0%.
What development is occurring in Petrie?
Development activity is material, with 40 applications over 12 months. One application describes rooming accommodation for 90 dwellings, alongside lot reconfiguration and community or infrastructure uses. Check approval status and delivery timing before treating applications as completed supply.
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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