Silkstone
At 1,943 residents per square kilometre across just 1.97 km2, Silkstone packs 3,830 people into a compact, almost entirely detached-house suburb on the western fringe of Ipswich. The median house price of $385,000 sits well below the national median for capital-city fringe markets, making it one of Queensland's more accessible owner-occupier entry points. Household income lands in the 32.8th percentile nationally, which partly explains the renter share of 37.7%, higher than typical for a suburb where 93.1% of dwellings are separate houses. These two signals together, affordability and renter demand, define the suburb's character as a working-family area with genuine purchase accessibility.
Population
3,830
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,319/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$385K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $385,000 places Silkstone considerably below national benchmarks for detached housing, and monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $1,383 reflect that relative affordability. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers at the median are not financially stretched compared to most Australian urban markets. The dwelling stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 93.1%, with 3-bedroom homes the dominant type at 54.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.6%. Semi-detached options make up 4.2% and apartments just 2.7%, so choice is limited for buyers wanting lower-maintenance dwellings. With 28.0% of residents owning outright and 34.3% carrying a mortgage, the suburb has a solid ownership base for buyers entering the market.
For Buyers
The median house price of $385,000 places Silkstone considerably below national benchmarks for detached housing, and monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $1,383 reflect that relative affordability. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers at the median are not financially stretched compared to most Australian urban markets. The dwelling stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 93.1%, with 3-bedroom homes the dominant type at 54.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.6%. Semi-detached options make up 4.2% and apartments just 2.7%, so choice is limited for buyers wanting lower-maintenance dwellings. With 28.0% of residents owning outright and 34.3% carrying a mortgage, the suburb has a solid ownership base for buyers entering the market.
For Investors
A renter share of 37.7% against a median house price of $385,000 produces a workable gross yield position, with weekly rent at $305. The 6.6% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention because it indicates some excess supply relative to current tenant demand, which can suppress rent growth in the short term. The workforce participation rate is 51.4%, below average nationally, and the unemployment rate of 7.2% is higher than Queensland norms, suggesting that tenant income stability should be factored into investment assessments. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is negligible. The combination of low purchase price, detached-house dominance, and an established renter base makes Silkstone a yield-accessible market, though the elevated vacancy rate means investors should price in some letting risk.
Schools in Silkstone iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Silkstone State School
Prep-6 · 675 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, reflecting a working-age and family-oriented population rather than a retiree concentration. Overseas-born residents account for 13.8%, which is 7.8 percentage points below the national average, consistent with an Anglo-Celtic heritage pattern. English ancestry leads at 1,549 residents, followed by Scottish (467), Irish (455) and German (300). University qualifications reach only 21.0%, which is 9.1 percentage points below the national figure, signalling a workforce more oriented toward trades and service industries than knowledge-sector employment. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national figure. Couples with children account for 1,100 families, the largest single household type, reinforcing the suburb's profile as a family area.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.1%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
2.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Silkstone's housing stock is defined by detached houses, which make up 93.1% of dwellings, well above most urban QLD benchmarks. Tenure is split between renters at 37.7%, mortgage holders at 34.3%, and outright owners at 28.0%, a pattern typical of lower-income outer-suburban areas where rental demand persists even in detached-house markets. The 3-bedroom house is the standard dwelling, at 54.4% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes adding another 24.6%. Rent-to-income at 23.1% sits below the 30% stress threshold, so tenants are not under acute pressure. Mortgage-to-income of 24.2% is similarly comfortable. The $385,000 median and a weekly rent of $305 place the suburb firmly in the affordable tier relative to Southeast Queensland, making it accessible to first-home buyers and investors who prioritise yield over capital growth speed.
Mortgage / mo
$1,383
Rent / wk
$305
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$705
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
109
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.4%
Couples, no children
2,919
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 18.4% of employed residents (189 workers), followed by Education at 12.7% (131 workers) and Public Administration at 12.0% (123 workers). Construction at 9.4% and Manufacturing at 8.0% round out the top five, indicating a meaningful blue-collar employment base. By occupation, Professionals lead at 246, closely followed by Community and Personal Services workers (243) and Clerical and Administrative staff (227), with Labourers at 204. The unemployment rate of 7.2% is above state norms, and the participation rate of 51.4% is low, partly because 1,173 residents are not in the labour force. Household income at the 32.8th percentile nationally reflects a below-average earning base, which is consistent with the industry and occupation mix skewing toward community services and trades rather than high-income professions.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.5%
Part-time
27.3%
Participation
51.4%
Employed
1,471
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.0%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
13.8%
Dwellings
1,528
Transport to Work
Transport in Silkstone is car-dependent: 87.0% of residents commute by private vehicle and only 3.1% use public transport, which is low compared to inner-urban QLD suburbs. Walking and cycling account for another 3.1%. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring Ipswich precincts. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. The need-for-assistance rate of 9.8% (354 residents) is a moderate indicator of vulnerability, and volunteering at 12.2% of residents reflects active community participation. Rent-to-income at 23.1% keeps housing costs manageable for tenants, and mortgage-to-income at 24.2% keeps purchase affordable compared to higher-percentile markets nationally.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Silkstone compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silkstone a good suburb to live in?
Silkstone suits buyers and renters looking for affordable, detached-house living on the Ipswich fringe. The median house price of $385,000 is well below most SE Queensland benchmarks, and mortgage-to-income sits at 24.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Household income is at the 32.8th percentile nationally, so amenity expectations should be calibrated accordingly.
What is the median house price in Silkstone?
The median house price in Silkstone is $385,000 (estimated from 2025 rent data). Monthly mortgage repayments average approximately $1,383, and weekly rent runs at $305. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% places it in the affordable tier compared to most QLD urban markets.
What schools are in Silkstone?
No schools are recorded inside the Silkstone suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Ipswich suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 21.0%, which is 9.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the suburb's trades and services workforce profile.
Is Silkstone safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Silkstone in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the need-for-assistance rate of 9.8% (354 residents) is moderate, and the unemployment rate of 7.2% is above typical QLD suburban norms. The volunteering rate of 12.2% suggests reasonable community cohesion.
Is Silkstone good for property investment?
Silkstone's 37.7% renter share and $305 weekly rent against a $385,000 median offers accessible yield entry. However, the 6.6% vacancy rate is elevated, indicating some short-term supply-demand imbalance. The unemployment rate of 7.2% is higher than state norms, which adds tenant-stability risk. Zero development applications in the past 12 months limits new supply pressure.
How is Silkstone's population changing?
Detailed population forecast data is not available for Silkstone in this dataset. The current population is 3,830 across 1.97 km2. The residential turnover rate of 24.1% indicates active movement, with 75.9% of residents having stayed in place, suggesting a stable core community with moderate in-and-out churn.
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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