Sherwood
A $541,000 median house price sits alongside university qualifications of 59.4%, which is 29.3 points above the national figure, and that gap explains much of Sherwood's character. The suburb scores decile 10 on the IEO index for education and occupation, the top advantage tier nationally, yet household income lands more modestly in the 76.1st percentile. The population of 6,082 has grown 23% since 2011 inside a compact 2.29 km2 footprint, pushing density to 2,652 residents per km2. Healthcare and Professional/Tech lead local employment, and the median age of 38 runs 2.0 years below national, though the profile is slowly aging.
Population
6,082
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,034/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Median House
$541K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $541,000 median house price is affordable for an inner-Brisbane suburb, and the housing math supports buyers more than most comparable markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,197, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes sitting only in the 76.1st percentile. Stock leans detached: 51.6% are separate houses, with apartments at 31.9% and semi-detached dwellings 16.1%. Bedroom mix is balanced, with two-bedroom dwellings at 32.3%, three-bedroom at 29.0% and four-plus at 31.2%, so families and downsizers compete across similar shares. Outright owners (29.2%) trail mortgage holders (33.5%), a sign of more recent, debt-carrying buyers than in older established suburbs.
For Buyers
The $541,000 median house price is affordable for an inner-Brisbane suburb, and the housing math supports buyers more than most comparable markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,197, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes sitting only in the 76.1st percentile. Stock leans detached: 51.6% are separate houses, with apartments at 31.9% and semi-detached dwellings 16.1%. Bedroom mix is balanced, with two-bedroom dwellings at 32.3%, three-bedroom at 29.0% and four-plus at 31.2%, so families and downsizers compete across similar shares. Outright owners (29.2%) trail mortgage holders (33.5%), a sign of more recent, debt-carrying buyers than in older established suburbs.
For Investors
A 37.4% renter share and weekly rent of $390 give landlords a deep tenant pool, and against the $541,000 median that implies a gross yield near 3.7%, far healthier than premium inner-Brisbane suburbs. The 8.0% vacancy rate is elevated and points to softness in the apartment segment, which is 31.9% of dwellings. Demand support comes mainly from overseas migration, which adds 103 residents a year, while internal migration removes a net 3, leaving growth thin but positive. Development activity is moderate at 38 applications in 12 months. Rent grew 16.2% over the decade, so the investment case rests on yield and steady migration-led demand rather than rapid capital gains, with the higher vacancy a flag to watch on apartment buys.
Development Activity
Total DAs
121
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+72.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sherwood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sherwood State School
Prep-6 · 630 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, but the decade trend is aging: the senior share rose 5.0 points while the working-age share fell 2.3 points. Overseas-born residents reach 26.2%, which is 4.6 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,436), Irish (982) and Scottish (869). The top non-English languages are small in number, with Mandarin (37), Japanese (34) and German (20) the most common. University qualifications at 59.4% run 29.3 points above national, which aligns with the decile 10 education score. Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below national, consistent with the 27.5% of families that are couples with no children. Christianity (2,713 residents) dominates religious affiliation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
51.6%
Houses
16.1%
Townhouse
31.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits across thirds: 33.5% carry a mortgage, 37.4% rent and 29.2% own outright, and mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a younger buyer base than older inner suburbs. Stock is 51.6% separate houses, 31.9% apartments and 16.1% semi-detached, so detached homes still set the tone of the market. Bedroom mix is even, with two-bedroom dwellings at 32.3%, three-bedroom at 29.0% and four-plus at 31.2%. The $541,000 median against household income in the 76.1st percentile keeps the suburb relatively affordable, and rent-to-income at 19.2% sits well below the stress threshold. Mortgage-to-income at 24.9% is also comfortable, a combination that has helped affordability improve from 42.1% in 2011 to 37.3% in 2021.
Mortgage / mo
$2,197
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,057
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
218
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.5%
Couples, no children
4,701
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in knowledge and service sectors: Healthcare leads at 16.9% (430 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 16.5% (420) and Education at 15.2% (386), with Public Admin at 7.8% and Retail at 5.8%. By occupation, Professionals (1,270) and Managers (562) make up the bulk of jobs, which fits the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.5% and the full-time employment rate is 67.0%. Participation reads 62.0%, held down partly by the 1,436 residents not in the labour force. One anomaly stands out: the IER economic-resources score sits at decile 7 against decile 9 on IRSAD and IRSD, because the 37.4% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures relative to the suburb's strong education profile.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
4,037
Unemployed
166
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.0%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
62.0%
Employed
2,971
Occupations
Top Industries
University
59.4%
Postgraduate
17.8%
Born Overseas
26.2%
Dwellings
2,503
Transport to Work
Sherwood residents lean on cars but use transit more than many outer suburbs: 76.1% drive while 13.4% take public transport and 6.2% walk or cycle, helped by the compact 2.29 km2 layout. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD, near the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 9 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 20.2% and only 4.2% (250 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, well-educated area. Rent-to-income at 19.2% keeps tenants comfortable. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for the dense, 2,652-per-km2 setting.
Drive
76.1%
Public Transport
13.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.59%/yr
(+112 people/yr)
EstablishedSherwood is a steady grower rather than a boom market: population rises 1.59% a year, about 112 residents, and the 10-year change reached 23%. The current population of 6,082 builds on recent gains, with historical counts moving from 6,830 in 2023 to 7,050 in 2025, and medium forecasts lift it toward 7,669 by 2031. Overseas migration of 103 a year is the primary driver, while net internal migration removes 3. The gentrification stage reads early signs at a score of 25, supported by the 29% population gain since 2011 and accelerating shares. Real incomes grew 6.7% over the decade and affordability improved from 42.1% to 37.3%, so the suburb is appreciating gradually rather than spiking.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+103
Net Internal / yr
-3
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +29% since 2011, Accelerating: 7% → 20%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sherwood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sherwood a good suburb to live in?
Sherwood scores decile 10 on the IEO education and occupation index, the top tier nationally, and decile 9 on IRSAD. University qualifications reach 59.4%, which is 29.3 points above national, and rent-to-income at 19.2% keeps living costs manageable against a $541,000 median house price.
What is the median house price in Sherwood?
The median house price is $541,000, affordable for inner Brisbane. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,197, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $390, and 51.6% of dwellings are separate houses.
What schools are in Sherwood?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.29 km2 Sherwood boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 59.4%, which is 29.3 points above the national figure.
Is Sherwood safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Sherwood in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, near the highest tier, and only 4.2% of its 6,082 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Sherwood good for property investment?
Rent of $390 a week against a $541,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.7%, healthy for inner Brisbane, and 37.4% of residents rent. The 8.0% vacancy rate signals some apartment softness, while net overseas migration of 103 a year supports demand alongside steady 1.59% population growth.
How is Sherwood's population changing?
Population grows 1.59% a year, about 112 residents, and rose 23% over the past decade to 6,082. Forecasts lift it toward 7,669 by 2031, driven by overseas migration of 103 a year. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.0 points and the working-age share down 2.3 points.
What languages are spoken in Sherwood?
About 26.2% of residents were born overseas, 4.6 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (37 speakers), Japanese (34) and German (20) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a small but international resident mix in a suburb of 6,082.
How much development is happening in Sherwood?
There were 38 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, moderate for a 2.29 km2 suburb. Recent lodgements include a multiple-dwelling material change of use, consistent with an established suburb growing at 1.59% a year rather than seeing large new 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 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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