Shorncliffe
With a median age of 47, Shorncliffe runs 7 years above the national figure, making it one of the older-skewing suburbs in the Moreton Bay fringe. Household income sits at the 87.1st percentile nationally, yet the median house price of $456,000 is well below what that income position would typically imply, a divergence that reflects the suburb's established, slow-growing character rather than speculative demand. On 1.22 square kilometres, the population of 1,907 is tightly held, with 81.8% of residents having not moved in the five years prior. University qualifications at 41.1% run 11 points above the national average, and 38% of dwellings are owned outright, signalling an entrenched, financially secure resident base.
Population
1,907
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,259/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$456K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $456,000, the median house price is a significant discount relative to Shorncliffe's 87.1st-percentile income position, making mortgage serviceability more comfortable than many comparable coastal suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,201, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 82.2% of the dwelling stock, and 4-plus bedroom homes make up 40.1% of that, with 3-bedroom dwellings at 35.1%, so buyers have genuine choice of family-sized homes rather than competing for scarce stock. Outright owners at 38% and mortgage holders at 36.6% are nearly matched, suggesting a mix of long-term holders and active buyers. The 6.9% vacancy rate is higher than typical for an owner-occupier-dominated suburb, worth noting for buyers seeking tight rental competition.
For Buyers
At $456,000, the median house price is a significant discount relative to Shorncliffe's 87.1st-percentile income position, making mortgage serviceability more comfortable than many comparable coastal suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,201, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 82.2% of the dwelling stock, and 4-plus bedroom homes make up 40.1% of that, with 3-bedroom dwellings at 35.1%, so buyers have genuine choice of family-sized homes rather than competing for scarce stock. Outright owners at 38% and mortgage holders at 36.6% are nearly matched, suggesting a mix of long-term holders and active buyers. The 6.9% vacancy rate is higher than typical for an owner-occupier-dominated suburb, worth noting for buyers seeking tight rental competition.
For Investors
Shorncliffe's rental market presents a mixed picture. Weekly rent of $275 is modest, and against a $456,000 median the implied gross yield sits around 3.1%, lower than many comparable Queensland coastal suburbs. The 6.9% vacancy rate signals that rental demand is not particularly tight, and annual population growth of 0.22% with only around 15 new residents per year limits tenant pool expansion. Net overseas migration averages 76 people annually while internal migration adds 50, giving a balanced migration driver. Development activity recorded 15 applications in the past 12 months, mostly dwelling extensions rather than new supply, so stock is not being diluted. The rent-to-income ratio of 12.2% is the lowest stress measure in the data, indicating tenants retain strong financial capacity, but investors should weigh low yield against the suburb's slow-growth, aging trajectory.
Development Activity
Total DAs
72
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Shorncliffe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Shorncliffe State School
Prep-6 · 344 students
St Patrick's College
5-12 · 1410 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and the trend is reinforcing: the senior share of the population rose 4.6 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.8 points. Overseas-born residents account for 17.3%, which is 4.3 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a predominantly locally-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (881), Irish (354) and Scottish (284) lead, with German (117) and Other (126) following. University qualifications at 41.1% sit 11 points above national, aligned with the Professional and Manager occupations that dominate the local workforce. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national, and 43.3% of families are couples with children, indicating stable family formation despite the older overall median age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.2%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
15.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate at 82.2% of dwellings, with apartments at 15.9% and semi-detached virtually absent at 0.7%, which is unusually house-heavy compared to many suburban Queensland markets. Bedroom distribution skews large: 4-plus rooms at 40.1% and 3-bedroom at 35.1% together account for 75% of all dwellings, leaving only 14.1% as 2-bedroom and 10.8% as studios or 1-bedroom. Tenure is split across outright owners (38%), mortgage holders (36.6%) and renters (25.4%), a balance that is lower renter share than the national average. The monthly mortgage cost of $2,201 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.5% confirm that the housing stock is accessible to median-income buyers, particularly compared to south-east Queensland growth corridors. The vacancy rate of 6.9% is notably elevated for a predominantly owner-occupier suburb.
Mortgage / mo
$2,201
Rent / wk
$275
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$930
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
53
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.1%
Couples, no children
1,516
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 18.2% of employed residents (130 workers), followed by Education at 13.9% (99), Professional/Tech at 12.2% (87) and Public Admin at 10.7% (76). Construction rounds out the top five at 10.4% (74). By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 301 workers, with Managers at 168 and Clerical/Admin at 117. This concentration of knowledge-sector and public-sector employment supports the household income position at the 87.1st percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 3.8%, full-time employment runs at 61.7% and participation stands at 57.4%, with 534 residents not in the labour force, a proportion consistent with the older demographic profile. Real incomes grew 4.7% over the decade, a moderate gain.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
4,015
Unemployed
200
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.7%
Part-time
34.5%
Participation
57.4%
Employed
870
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.1%
Postgraduate
12.9%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
712
Transport to Work
Car travel is the dominant mode at 83.9% of commuters, with public transport used by 7.5% and walking or cycling by 5.0%, a pattern typical of a low-density coastal suburb with limited rail frequency. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper quartile of advantage. Volunteering reaches 21.6%, meaningfully above the national rate, and only 5.1% of residents (93 people) require daily assistance despite the older median age of 47. The rent-to-income ratio of 12.2% and mortgage-to-income of 22.5% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds, indicating financial resilience across both tenures. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families use institutions in adjacent suburbs. The housing stress indicators are among the most favourable in the dataset relative to income.
Drive
83.9%
Public Transport
7.5%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+15 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow at 0.22% annually, adding roughly 15 residents per year. Over 10 years the suburb expanded by 4.3%, modest compared to the broader Moreton Bay region. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 7,101 by 2031, continuing the same measured upward trend. Migration is balanced: net overseas arrivals average 76 per year and net internal migration adds 50, so neither channel is the dominant driver. The suburb is not gentrifying, with a gentrification score of 6 against a higher threshold, and the affordability trend is improving, moving from 39.2% of income to 35.3% over the decade. The aging trajectory, with young-adult share falling 1.7 points and senior share rising 4.6 points, is the structural signal to watch for long-term land use and service demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+76
Net Internal / yr
+50
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Shorncliffe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shorncliffe a good suburb to live in?
Shorncliffe scores decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper quartile of advantage. Household income sits at the 87.1st percentile nationally, volunteering runs at 21.6% and housing stress indicators are low, with mortgage-to-income at 22.5% and rent-to-income at 12.2%. The main consideration is limited local amenities given its small 1.22 km2 footprint.
What is the median house price in Shorncliffe?
The median house price is estimated at $456,000 as of 2025. Weekly rent averages $275 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,201, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.5%, well below stress levels relative to the suburb's 87.1st-percentile household income position.
What schools are in Shorncliffe?
No schools are recorded inside the Shorncliffe suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in adjacent suburbs within the Moreton Bay fringe. Locally, 41.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 11 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the area's educated resident base.
Is Shorncliffe safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Shorncliffe in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb scores decile 7 on IRSD nationally (lower relative disadvantage), household income sits at the 87.1st percentile, and only 5.1% of 1,907 residents need daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage profile.
Is Shorncliffe good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $275 against a $456,000 median implies a gross yield of around 3.1%, modest by Queensland standards. The 6.9% vacancy rate is elevated and annual population growth is only 0.22%, adding about 15 residents per year. Net migration of roughly 126 people annually provides a modest demand floor, but returns depend more on capital appreciation than yield.
How is Shorncliffe's population changing?
Population grows at 0.22% annually, adding around 15 residents per year, and expanded 4.3% over the past decade. Medium forecasts project the wider SA2 reaching 7,101 by 2031. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.6 points and the working-age share down 2.8 points, and 81.8% of residents have not moved in the past 5 years.
What industries employ Shorncliffe residents?
Healthcare is the largest industry at 18.2% of employed residents (130 workers), followed by Education at 13.9% (99), Professional/Tech at 12.2% (87) and Public Admin at 10.7% (76). Construction accounts for 10.4% (74 workers). This public-sector and professional mix supports household incomes at the 87.1st percentile nationally.
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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