Petrie Terrace
At just 0.32 km2, Petrie Terrace packs 1,168 residents at a density of 3,690 per km2, and the profile that emerges is distinctly young and well-educated. The median age of 31 sits 9 years below the national figure, and university qualifications reach 54.8%, which is 24.7 points above the national average. Despite that educational advantage, household income only reaches the 90.7th percentile nationally, suggesting residents are early-career rather than established earners. More than half the suburb rents (56.6%), and the 10.9% vacancy rate is high, pointing to a transient population that moves frequently: 47.9% of residents changed address in the five years to 2021.
Population
1,168
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,401/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$628K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $628,000 represents solid inner-Brisbane pricing for a suburb where 76.2% of dwellings are separate houses. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,665, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 41.6% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom properties account for 24.4%, so family-sized supply is relatively available compared to typical inner-city suburbs. Semi-detached dwellings make up only 4.5%, meaning buyers choose between detached houses and the 19.3% apartment segment. Outright owners represent 19.9% of households and mortgage holders 23.5%, lower proportions than national averages, consistent with the dominant renter base.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $628,000 represents solid inner-Brisbane pricing for a suburb where 76.2% of dwellings are separate houses. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,665, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 41.6% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom properties account for 24.4%, so family-sized supply is relatively available compared to typical inner-city suburbs. Semi-detached dwellings make up only 4.5%, meaning buyers choose between detached houses and the 19.3% apartment segment. Outright owners represent 19.9% of households and mortgage holders 23.5%, lower proportions than national averages, consistent with the dominant renter base.
For Investors
With 56.6% of residents renting and weekly rent at $435, Petrie Terrace offers a broad tenant pool close to Brisbane's CBD. Against the $628,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 3.6%, competitive for inner-Brisbane. The 10.9% vacancy rate is elevated, however, signalling that demand does not fully absorb available supply. Overseas migration drives net population growth, adding 76 residents annually while internal migration removes 66, leaving a thin net positive. Only 16 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, limiting new supply additions. Rent grew 20.0% over the decade while real income fell 2.2%, suggesting tenants are absorbing rising costs, which supports landlord pricing power even as affordability tightens.
Development Activity
Total DAs
57
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 31 is 9.0 years below the national figure, making Petrie Terrace one of the younger suburbs in inner Brisbane. University qualifications stand at 54.8%, which is 24.7 points above the national rate, because proximity to CBD employers and universities attracts graduates. Overseas-born residents reach 24.8%, 3.2 points above the national average, with English, Irish and Scottish ancestry dominating, supplemented by a small French-speaking community of 14 residents. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below national, consistent with a young, single-and-couple demographic: 41.3% of families are couples without children. Despite the young base, the suburb's demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 5.0 points over the decade.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.2%
Houses
4.5%
Townhouse
19.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Petrie Terrace is heavily skewed toward renting: 56.6% of households rent, against 19.9% who own outright and 23.5% who carry a mortgage. The high renter share reflects the young resident base and proximity to the CBD, where owner-occupancy is typically lower than state averages. Separate houses dominate at 76.2% of stock, an unusually high proportion for an inner suburb, with apartments at 19.3% and semi-detached at just 4.5%. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.6% and four-plus bedroom 24.4%, so the stock skews toward larger dwellings rather than the studio and one-bedroom mix common in comparable inner suburbs. Housing stress is contained: rent-to-income sits at 18.1% and mortgage-to-income at 25.6%, both below typical stress thresholds.
Mortgage / mo
$2,665
Rent / wk
$435
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,062
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.9%
Unoccupied
57
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.3%
Couples, no children
601
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and technical services lead employment at 18.8% (114 workers), followed by Healthcare at 13.3% (81 workers) and Hospitality at 10.4% (63 workers), a mix consistent with an inner-city suburb servicing both knowledge workers and CBD visitors. Public Administration and Education each contribute 9.2%. By occupation, Professionals (293) and Managers (129) are the two largest groups, which aligns with the suburb's 54.8% university qualification rate, above the state average. The unemployment rate of 6.0% is above typical inner-city levels, likely because the young resident base includes students and new workforce entrants. Full-time employment runs at 68.2% and labour force participation at 69.1%. SEIFA places the suburb at decile 5 on IRSAD and IEO, mid-range nationally.
Unemployment
8.2%
Labour Force
5,431
Unemployed
443
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.2%
Part-time
25.8%
Participation
69.1%
Employed
704
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.8%
Postgraduate
13.2%
Born Overseas
24.8%
Dwellings
462
Transport to Work
Active transport use is notably high: 27.7% of residents walk or cycle to work, well above the national average, because the CBD fringe location makes car-free commuting practical. A further 12.3% use public transport, leaving 54.5% driving, below the national car dependence rate. No schools are recorded within the 0.32 km2 boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions in adjacent suburbs. SEIFA places Petrie Terrace at decile 5 on IRSAD (relative advantage and disadvantage), positioning it as a mid-range suburb nationally rather than an advantaged or disadvantaged area. Crime data is not available for this suburb. Volunteering reaches 14.6% of residents and only 1.6% (18 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the young and relatively healthy population.
Drive
54.5%
Public Transport
12.3%
Walk / Cycle
27.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.27%/yr
(+25 people/yr)
EstablishedPetrie Terrace grows slowly: annual population increase averages 0.27%, adding roughly 25 residents per year, and the 10-year population change is 2.8%, below the state growth pace. Medium forecasts project the wider SA2 population reaching approximately 9,252 by 2031, a continuation of the current trend. Population momentum depends almost entirely on overseas migration, which contributes a net 76 residents annually, while internal migration removes 66. The gentrification score is 0 and the suburb is classified as not gentrifying, reflecting stable rather than rising socioeconomic positioning. Affordability has held flat over the decade (44.5% in 2011 versus 44.4% in 2021), and with real incomes falling 2.2%, purchasing power has not improved.
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 Terrace compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Petrie Terrace a good suburb to live in?
Petrie Terrace suits young professionals and students well. The median age is 31, which is 9 years below the national figure, and 54.8% of residents hold university qualifications. Household incomes rank in the 90.7th percentile nationally, and 27.7% of residents walk or cycle to work, making it practical for those who prefer car-free commuting near the Brisbane CBD.
What is the median house price in Petrie Terrace?
The estimated median house price is $628,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,665, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $435, and 56.6% of residents rent rather than own, reflecting the suburb's young and transient population.
What schools are in Petrie Terrace?
No schools are recorded within the Petrie Terrace boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers only 0.32 km2, so families rely on schools in neighbouring inner-Brisbane suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, 54.8% of residents hold university qualifications, 24.7 points above the national average.
Is Petrie Terrace safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Petrie Terrace in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a mid-range result nationally, and only 1.6% of its 1,168 residents need daily assistance, suggesting a generally healthy and able-bodied community.
Is Petrie Terrace good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $435 against a $628,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.6%, reasonable for inner Brisbane. The 56.6% renter share provides a large tenant pool, though the 10.9% vacancy rate is elevated. Overseas migration adds a net 76 residents annually, supporting demand, while rent grew 20.0% over the decade despite only 2.8% population growth over 10 years.
How is Petrie Terrace's population changing?
Population grows slowly at 0.27% annually, adding around 25 people per year, with a 2.8% rise over the past decade. Growth is driven by overseas migration at a net 76 per year, offset by internal outflow of 66. The demographic trajectory is aging despite the young median age of 31, with the senior share rising 5.0 points over the decade.
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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