Redcliffe
A coastal suburb of 10,460 people where the median age of 52 runs a full 12 years above the national figure, making it one of southeast Queensland's oldest-skewing communities. The senior share has surged 10 percentage points over the past decade while the working-age share has fallen 5 points, a structural aging pattern that explains the 43.2% participation rate. Household incomes sit at the 18.1 percentile nationally, with both mortgage stress (33.4%) and rent stress (30.1%) flagged, a double-stress reading that is uncommon. SEIFA places Redcliffe at IRSAD decile 2 with IER at decile 2 and IEO at decile 3, confirming low advantage on both economic and educational dimensions.
Population
10,460
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,114/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
51
Median House
$433K
Estimated from rent (2025)
No median house price data is available for Redcliffe, which limits direct comparison with neighbouring Moreton Bay suburbs. Detached houses account for 51.5% of stock while apartments reach 37.7%, an unusually high apartment share for a suburb outside the Brisbane CBD, driven by beachfront unit development. Three-bedroom homes make up 44.9% and two-bedroom 32.5%, aligning with the smaller 2.0 average household size. Mortgage stress is flagged at 33.4% mortgage-to-income ratio, above the 30% threshold, with monthly repayments of $1,610. Couples without children form 38.0% of families compared to 26.6% couples with children, reflecting the retiree-heavy demographic. The 9.3% vacancy rate sits above typical Queensland levels.
For Buyers
No median house price data is available for Redcliffe, which limits direct comparison with neighbouring Moreton Bay suburbs. Detached houses account for 51.5% of stock while apartments reach 37.7%, an unusually high apartment share for a suburb outside the Brisbane CBD, driven by beachfront unit development. Three-bedroom homes make up 44.9% and two-bedroom 32.5%, aligning with the smaller 2.0 average household size. Mortgage stress is flagged at 33.4% mortgage-to-income ratio, above the 30% threshold, with monthly repayments of $1,610. Couples without children form 38.0% of families compared to 26.6% couples with children, reflecting the retiree-heavy demographic. The 9.3% vacancy rate sits above typical Queensland levels.
For Investors
Renters make up 44.0% of households, well above the national average, providing a large tenant base. Weekly rent of $335 is moderate for coastal Queensland. The 9.3% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants caution. Without a confirmed median house price, yield calculations cannot be precisely stated, but the combination of high rental share and low incomes (percentile 18.1) suggests tenants are price-sensitive. Development activity is substantial at 42 applications in 12 months, including material change of use applications for multiple dwellings, indicating new supply coming online. Population growth of 0.94% per year (105 persons) runs above national, driven by balanced internal (90/yr) and overseas (103/yr) migration inflows.
Development Activity
Total DAs
103
Last 12 Months
51
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+21.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Redcliffe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Redcliffe State High School
7-12 · 1444 students
Edu Space Redcliffe
7-10 · 30 students
Demographics
The cultural profile is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (4,726), Irish (1,378) and Scottish (1,258) lead ancestry declarations. Only 26.1% were born overseas, sitting 4.5 points above the national average but well below Brisbane's migrant-gateway suburbs. Non-English language speakers are minimal, with Samoan (19), Italian (17) and Russian (17) the largest groups, indicating low linguistic diversity. The median age of 52 sits 12 years above national, and 38.0% of families are couples without children. Christianity dominates at 5,159 adherents. Only 23.0% hold university qualifications, 7.1 points below the national average. The 10.7% needing daily assistance (1,052 people) is well above the national rate, consistent with the aging cohort.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
51.5%
Houses
10.7%
Townhouse
37.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits 33.4% outright owners, 22.6% mortgage holders and 44.0% renters, with the low mortgage share reflecting retirees who have paid off homes or sold and moved into rental units. Apartments at 37.7% are unusually prominent for a suburb this distance from the CBD, explained by the beachfront apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes at 44.9% dominate, with four-plus bedrooms at only 15.4%. Both mortgage stress (33.4%) and rent stress (30.1%) are flagged, a rare double-stress signal indicating that housing costs strain both owners and renters. The high rent stress is driven by the low income base (percentile 18.1) rather than high rents, since $335 weekly is below Brisbane averages. The 9.3% vacancy rate suggests some oversupply in the rental segment.
Mortgage / mo
$1,610
Rent / wk
$335
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$626
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.3%
Unoccupied
496
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.0%
Couples, no children
7,114
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 24.5% of employment, followed by Education at 10.7%, Construction at 10.6%, Professional/Tech at 7.4% and Public Administration at 6.4%. The healthcare dominance, well above the national average, reflects the aging population's care needs and nearby Redcliffe Hospital. Professionals (739) lead occupations, with Community/Personal Service (584) and Clerical/Admin (574) close behind. The 7.4% unemployment rate runs above the national average, and the 43.2% participation rate is very low, driven by the large retiree population with 4,251 people not in the labour force. SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 and IER decile 2 confirm widespread economic disadvantage, with real income growth of just 0.6% over the decade barely keeping pace with inflation.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
5,090
Unemployed
248
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.3%
Part-time
29.3%
Participation
43.2%
Employed
3,670
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.0%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
26.1%
Dwellings
4,832
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 84.4% driver share, with public transport at just 2.9%, despite the Moreton Bay rail extension improving connections. Walking and cycling at 6.6% is above average, reflecting the beachfront walkability. Schools are limited: Redcliffe State High School (ICSEA 1,004, Government secondary, 1,444 students) sits just above the national benchmark of 1,000, while Edu Space Redcliffe (ICSEA 883, Independent secondary, 30 students) is a small alternative provider well below the benchmark. The 10.7% needing daily assistance is high compared to the national average, indicating significant care infrastructure demands in the area.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
6.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.94%/yr
(+105 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 13.9% over the past decade, with annual trend growth of 0.94% (105 persons per year), above the national average. Migration is balanced: 90 internal arrivals and 103 overseas arrivals per year. The aging trajectory is the dominant structural story. Senior share has increased 10.0 percentage points while young adults declined 3.4 points and working-age fell 5.0 points. The gentrification score of 17 shows no gentrification signals. Affordability has remained stable with rent-to-income ratio essentially unchanged at 53.4-53.5% between 2011 and 2021. Medium projections forecast the population reaching 11,741 by 2031, up from 11,134 in 2025.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+103
Net Internal / yr
+90
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal migration +90/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Redcliffe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redcliffe a good suburb to live in?
Redcliffe suits retirees and downsizers seeking affordable coastal living in Moreton Bay. The beachfront location drives the 6.6% walk/cycle rate. Trade-offs include IRSAD decile 2, both mortgage and rent stress flagged (33.4% and 30.1% respectively), and 7.4% unemployment. Median age of 52 runs 12 years above national, and 10.7% of residents need daily assistance.
What is the median house price in Redcliffe?
No median house price is available for Redcliffe. Median monthly mortgage repayments sit at $1,610 with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.4%, above the 30% stress line. Weekly rent is $335 with a rent-to-income ratio of 30.1%, also flagged. Household income at the 18.1 percentile nationally indicates affordability pressure comes from low incomes rather than high prices.
What schools are in Redcliffe?
Redcliffe has 2 schools. Redcliffe State High School (ICSEA 1,004, Government secondary, 1,444 students) sits just above the national benchmark of 1,000. Edu Space Redcliffe (ICSEA 883, Independent secondary, 30 students) is a small alternative provider. The IEO decile 3 reading confirms below-average educational advantage compared to the broader population.
Is Redcliffe safe?
Crime data is not available at the suburb level for Redcliffe. The IRSD decile 2 and household income at the 18.1 percentile correlate with elevated crime rates in comparable suburbs nationally. The 7.4% unemployment rate runs above the national average. Buyers should check Queensland Police Service data for the Moreton Bay district statistics covering the 10,460 residents.
Is Redcliffe good for property investment?
Redcliffe's 44.0% renter share provides a large tenant pool, with $335 weekly rent. However, the 9.3% vacancy rate is elevated and the low income base (percentile 18.1) limits rent growth potential. Development activity at 42 DAs in 12 months signals new supply. Population growth of 0.94% per year (105 persons) is above national average and supports medium-term demand.
How is Redcliffe's population changing?
Redcliffe's population sits at roughly 10,460, having grown 13.9% over the past decade. Annual growth of 0.94% adds 105 people per year. The suburb is aging rapidly: senior share up 10.0 percentage points and working-age share down 5.0 points. Median age of 52 is 12 years above national. Medium projections forecast 11,741 by 2031.
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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