Riverhills
With 42.3% of residents holding university qualifications, Riverhills sits 12.2 percentage points above the national figure for a suburb whose median house price of $513,000 still places it in the affordable range by greater Brisbane standards. Household income ranks in the 77.2nd percentile nationally, yet mortgage-to-income at 20.4% and rent-to-income at 19.9% remain well below stress thresholds. The suburb covers just 2.16 square kilometres with 4,121 residents and 87.1% of dwellings are separate houses, making it a detached-dominant area where owner-occupiers account for nearly three quarters of all households.
Population
4,121
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,059/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$513K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $513,000 makes Riverhills accessible compared to the broader Brisbane metro, and housing stress is low: the monthly mortgage repayment of $1,820 represents 20.4% of median household income, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 87.1% of the stock, with the remaining 12.9% semi-detached, so buyers find predominantly detached options. Bedroom distribution skews large: 44.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 50.0% have three, which suits families. Owner-occupancy is strong with 25.6% owning outright and 49.2% on a mortgage, so renters at 25.2% are a minority. The high-qualification resident base, 42.3% with university degrees compared to the national average, suggests stable household income underpins long-term tenure.
For Buyers
The median house price of $513,000 makes Riverhills accessible compared to the broader Brisbane metro, and housing stress is low: the monthly mortgage repayment of $1,820 represents 20.4% of median household income, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 87.1% of the stock, with the remaining 12.9% semi-detached, so buyers find predominantly detached options. Bedroom distribution skews large: 44.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 50.0% have three, which suits families. Owner-occupancy is strong with 25.6% owning outright and 49.2% on a mortgage, so renters at 25.2% are a minority. The high-qualification resident base, 42.3% with university degrees compared to the national average, suggests stable household income underpins long-term tenure.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $410 against a $513,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, reasonable for the western Brisbane corridor. The vacancy rate of 3.9% is moderate, indicating balanced rather than oversupplied conditions. Rental demand receives some support from overseas migration adding a net 30 residents annually, though internal migration runs negative at minus 52 per year. Development activity in the past 12 months recorded 8 applications, all referral-agency responses for design and siting, which signals incremental infill rather than large-scale new supply. Rent growth of 15.5% over the measured period reflects real demand; real income growth of 2.4% over the decade confirms that tenant affordability is not deteriorating. The forecasted population reaching approximately 4,340 by 2031 points to slow but steady demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
20
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 sits 4.0 years below the national figure, reflecting a suburb that attracts working-age families rather than retirees. Overseas-born residents account for 31.0% of the population, which is 9.4 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,559), Scottish (493), Irish (465) and German (252) are the top groups. Non-English languages spoken include Mandarin (35 speakers), Persian (31) and Arabic (23), a small but internationally varied layer above the English-speaking majority. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above the national figure, consistent with the family-oriented character suggested by the bedroom distribution. The volunteering rate of 15.4% and only 3.8% of residents needing daily assistance point to a self-sufficient, active community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.1%
Houses
12.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides into outright owners at 25.6%, mortgage holders at 49.2% and renters at 25.2%, making Riverhills a clear mortgage-belt suburb where the majority of households are working to pay down debt. Separate houses make up 87.1% of the stock, above state and national norms for suburban density. The bedroom profile is tilted toward larger homes: 94.4% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms, with the four-plus category at 44.4%. The estimated median house price of $513,000 is derived from 2025 rental data; monthly mortgage costs average $1,820. Mortgage-to-income at 20.4% and rent-to-income at 19.9% confirm no housing stress at current income levels, a meaningful distinction in a market where affordability improved from 45.9% of income in 2011 to 42.1% in 2021.
Mortgage / mo
$1,820
Rent / wk
$410
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$974
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
62
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.2%
Couples, no children
3,537
Total families
Economy & Employment
The top two industries by employment are Healthcare (17.0%, 281 workers) and Education (16.3%, 268 workers), together accounting for more than a third of the local workforce. Public Administration at 9.6% (158 workers), Construction at 9.1% (150) and Professional/Technical services at 8.6% (142) round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead with 595 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin at 335 and Managers at 283. Riverhills ranks in decile 8 on both the IRSAD (advantage) and IEO (education and occupation) indexes, meaning it sits above average nationally on both dimensions. Full-time employment reaches 69.9% of those employed, and unemployment at 4.9% is moderate. Personal weekly income of $974 and family weekly income of $2,309 support the 77.2nd-percentile household income ranking nationally.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
2,446
Unemployed
83
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.9%
Part-time
25.2%
Participation
66.1%
Employed
2,038
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.3%
Postgraduate
10.8%
Born Overseas
31.0%
Dwellings
1,517
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 87.1% of commuters driving, reflecting limited public transport penetration; only 5.9% use public transit and 1.8% walk or cycle. This is common across the western Brisbane corridor. Riverhills scores decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper tier of relative advantage. On the economic resources index (IER), it also scores decile 8, consistent with the 77.2nd-percentile household income. Housing stress is absent at current income levels, with both mortgage and rent costs below 21% of income. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families access schools in neighbouring suburbs, a practical consideration given the 2.16 square kilometre footprint. The 15.4% volunteering rate suggests active resident participation beyond the immediate household.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
5.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.28%/yr
(+12 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow but positive at 0.28% annually, adding roughly 12 persons per year, and the 10-year change of 8.0% reflects steady rather than rapid expansion. From 4,221 residents in 2023 to 4,267 in 2025, the trajectory is stable. Medium forecasts project 4,340 by 2031. The primary migration driver is overseas arrivals adding a net 30 residents per year; internal migration is negative at minus 52 annually, meaning the suburb loses residents to other parts of Australia while drawing international arrivals. The gentrification score registers 0, consistent with an already well-established, decile-8 suburb that is not undergoing significant socioeconomic transformation. The aging trajectory, with the senior share up 5.0 points over the decade, mirrors a broader pattern across established western Brisbane suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+30
Net Internal / yr
-52
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Riverhills compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riverhills a good suburb to live in?
Riverhills ranks in decile 8 nationally on IRSAD and IEO, placing it in the upper tier of advantage. Household income sits in the 77.2nd percentile nationally, and mortgage-to-income at 20.4% is well below the 30% stress threshold. University qualifications at 42.3% are 12.2 points above the national average, reflecting a well-educated, stable resident base.
What is the median house price in Riverhills?
The estimated median house price is $513,000, derived from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, and weekly rent is $410. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.4% keeps repayments comfortable relative to household income ranked at the 77.2nd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Riverhills?
No schools are recorded inside the Riverhills boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well-educated, with 42.3% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 12.2 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Riverhills safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Riverhills in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores decile 8 on IRSD, the index of relative disadvantage, placing it above the national median. Only 3.8% of its 4,121 residents (153 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage, established area.
Is Riverhills good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $410 against a $513,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%. The vacancy rate is 3.9%, signalling balanced conditions. Rent grew 15.5% over the measured period. Population is forecast to reach approximately 4,340 by 2031, growing at 0.28% annually, providing a stable demand base rather than rapid expansion.
How is Riverhills's population changing?
The population grew from 4,221 in 2023 to 4,267 in 2025 and is forecast to reach around 4,340 by 2031 at 0.28% annual growth. The 10-year change is 8.0%. Overseas migration adds a net 30 residents per year while internal migration is negative at minus 52 annually. The age profile is trending older, with the senior share up 5.0 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Riverhills?
About 31.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.4 percentage points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (35 speakers), Persian (31), Arabic (23) and Afrikaans (16) the most common non-English languages spoken at home, reflecting a modest but internationally varied overlay on an Anglo-Celtic majority.
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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