Salisbury
An $525,000 median house price sits alongside household income in the 81.4th percentile nationally, a combination that explains why Salisbury reads as an accessible family market rather than a premium one. The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, and university qualifications reach 47.6%, which is 17.5 points above national, so the population is younger and more educated than typical. Detached houses dominate the stock at 89.3%, with apartments at just 2.3%, and 45.2% of households carry a mortgage. SEIFA places the suburb at decile 8 on both IRSAD and IRSD, a solid advantage tier without the extreme wealth concentration of inner-city pockets.
Population
6,790
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,133/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
Median House
$525K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $525,000 median house price is affordable relative to household incomes in the 81.4th percentile, and that gap is what makes the suburb work for owner-occupiers. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 89.3%, with apartments at only 2.3%, so buyers are competing for genuine houses rather than units. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.9% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes 35.3%, a family-sized profile that suits the median age of 35. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That low ratio, combined with the 45.2% of households already on a mortgage, signals a market where buyers can service debt without strain, unusual for a Brisbane suburb this close to the CBD.
For Buyers
The $525,000 median house price is affordable relative to household incomes in the 81.4th percentile, and that gap is what makes the suburb work for owner-occupiers. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 89.3%, with apartments at only 2.3%, so buyers are competing for genuine houses rather than units. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.9% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes 35.3%, a family-sized profile that suits the median age of 35. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That low ratio, combined with the 45.2% of households already on a mortgage, signals a market where buyers can service debt without strain, unusual for a Brisbane suburb this close to the CBD.
For Investors
Renters make up 30.5% of households and weekly rent averages $400, giving landlords a steady but modest tenant base. Against the $525,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than the sub-2% yields common in premium Sydney markets. The vacancy rate of 5.2% is somewhat soft, pointing to adequate rather than tight supply, so rent growth depends on demand rather than scarcity. Forecast demand is supported by overseas migration adding 331 residents a year to the broader area, though net internal migration removes 292, leaving thin natural growth. Development activity is moderate at 59 applications in 12 months, much of it dwelling extensions and plan sealing rather than new apartment supply, which protects the existing detached-house segment from oversupply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
177
Last 12 Months
66
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+78.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Salisbury iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Brisbane Christian College
Prep-12 · 1118 students
St Pius X School
Prep-6 · 166 students
Salisbury State School
Prep-6 · 307 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 runs 5.0 years below the national figure, marking Salisbury as a younger-than-average suburb anchored by families. University qualifications reach 47.6%, which is 17.5 points above national, and that education level aligns with a workforce weighted toward Professionals (1,135) and Managers (426). Overseas-born residents account for 25.9%, 4.3 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,350), Irish (840) and Scottish (745), with Chinese (354) the largest non-European group. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (59 speakers), Gujarati (54) and Cantonese (41). Average household size is 2.7, which is 0.2 above national, consistent with the family-oriented profile where couples with children form the largest household type at 2,601 families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.3%
Houses
8.3%
Townhouse
2.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward active mortgage holders: 45.2% carry a mortgage, 30.5% rent and 24.2% own outright. The high mortgage share relative to outright ownership points to a market of recent buyers and younger families rather than long-settled, debt-free owners. The stock is 89.3% separate houses and only 2.3% apartments, so detached living defines the suburb. Three-bedroom homes lead at 50.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes follow at 35.3%, while two-bedroom dwellings are scarce at 10.7%. The $525,000 median house price sits below most inner-Brisbane markets, and with mortgage-to-income at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 18.8%, both well under the 30% stress line, affordability is a genuine strength rather than a marketing claim.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$959
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
132
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.6%
Couples, no children
5,296
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in stable, non-cyclical sectors: Healthcare leads at 17.4% (483 workers), Education follows at 15.0% (418) and Professional/Tech at 10.4% (289), with Construction at 8.7% and Public Admin at 8.4%. That mix of health, education and public-sector roles gives the suburb defensive employment that holds up better than retail or hospitality through downturns. By occupation, Professionals (1,135) dominate, ahead of Clerical/Admin (494) and Managers (426). Unemployment sits at 5.3% and the full-time employment rate is 67.2%, with participation at 64.8%. SEIFA reads decile 8 on IEO for education and occupation, consistent with the professional workforce, while IER for economic resources is lower at decile 6, because the 45.2% mortgage share and 30.5% renter base hold down measured household wealth.
Unemployment
9.6%
Labour Force
8,340
Unemployed
804
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.2%
Part-time
27.5%
Participation
64.8%
Employed
3,328
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.6%
Postgraduate
12.3%
Born Overseas
25.9%
Dwellings
2,421
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 81.0% of commuters driving and only 10.0% using public transport, below the levels seen in transit-rich inner suburbs, while 3.9% walk or cycle. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, a strong advantage tier nationally, and decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 17.7% and 5.8% of residents (382 people) need daily assistance, a modest figure for a population with a median age of 35. Affordability is a livability anchor here: rent-to-income at 18.8% and mortgage-to-income at 21.7% both sit well below the 30% stress threshold. No schools are recorded inside the 4.57 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
10.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.91%/yr
(+175 people/yr)
EstablishedSalisbury is a steady-growth suburb, with the broader area forecast to expand 0.91% annually, or about 175 persons a year. Over the past decade the population climbed 16.2%, faster than the established-suburb norm, yet the gentrification reading is not gentrifying, scoring just 16, so the area is growing without displacing its existing residents. The growth engine is overseas migration, adding 331 residents a year, which more than offsets the net internal outflow of 292. Rent rose 35.0% over the period while real incomes grew only 7.5%, a gap that pressures affordability even though the trend is rated stable. The young-resident share edged up 1.5 points, reinforcing the family-suburb trajectory rather than an aging one.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+331
Net Internal / yr
-292
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal outflow -292/yr, Strong overseas inflow +331/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Salisbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury a good suburb to live in?
Salisbury scores decile 8 on IRSAD, a strong advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 81.4th percentile. University qualifications reach 47.6%, 17.5 points above national, and affordability is a strength with mortgage-to-income at 21.7%, below the 30% stress line.
What is the median house price in Salisbury?
The median house price is $525,000, affordable relative to household incomes in the 81.4th percentile. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Salisbury?
No schools are recorded inside the 4.57 km2 Salisbury boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 47.6%, which is 17.5 points above the national figure.
Is Salisbury safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Salisbury in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and only 5.8% of its 6,790 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Salisbury good for property investment?
Rent of $400 a week against a $525,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than premium-market yields. The 5.2% vacancy rate is somewhat soft, so returns lean on overseas migration of 331 residents a year supporting demand rather than tight supply.
How is Salisbury's population changing?
The broader area is forecast to grow 0.91% annually, about 175 persons a year, after a 16.2% rise over the past decade. Growth runs on overseas migration adding 331 residents yearly, offsetting net internal outflow of 292, with the young-resident share up 1.5 points.
What languages are spoken in Salisbury?
About 25.9% of residents were born overseas, 4.3 points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Mandarin (59 speakers), Gujarati (54), Cantonese (41) and Punjabi (30) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a modest international resident mix.
How much development is happening in Salisbury?
There were 59 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, moderate for a 4.57 km2 suburb. Most are dwelling extensions, building work and plan sealing rather than new apartment supply, consistent with a detached-house market where houses make up 89.3% of dwellings.
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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