QLD 4127 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Slacks Creek

All four SEIFA indices sit in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, yet the $394,000 median house price keeps Slacks Creek one of Logan's more accessible detached-housing markets. The contrast resolves in the labour profile: Labourers (691), Community workers (528) and Machinery operators (495) lead the occupation mix, university qualifications at 18.4% run 11.7 points below national, and the unemployment rate of 11.1% is well above average. Overseas-born residents at 33.2% are 11.6 points above national, anchored by English ancestry (3,211) alongside Samoan, Arabic and Mandarin language communities. Population has barely moved over a decade (-0.3%), and the aging trajectory shows the senior share up 5.0 points.

Slacks Creek urban fabric map

Population

10,408

Median Age

35.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,301/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

173

Median House

$394K

Estimated from rent (2025)

8.47 km²· 1,228.8 people/km²· Family income $1,474/wk

The $394,000 median (estimated from 2025 rents) makes Slacks Creek attractive to first home buyers priced out of inner Brisbane. Stock is overwhelmingly family-oriented: 78.5% separate houses against just 2.4% apartments, with three-bedroom homes at 60.9% and four-plus bedrooms at 24.3%. That suits the average household size of 2.7, slightly above the national figure. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,430 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, just below the 30% stress threshold, which is manageable because entry prices are low rather than because incomes are high. With household income in the 31st percentile, affordability here rests on cheap purchase prices, and ownership splits 21.9% outright and 33.6% mortgaged.

For Buyers

The $394,000 median (estimated from 2025 rents) makes Slacks Creek attractive to first home buyers priced out of inner Brisbane. Stock is overwhelmingly family-oriented: 78.5% separate houses against just 2.4% apartments, with three-bedroom homes at 60.9% and four-plus bedrooms at 24.3%. That suits the average household size of 2.7, slightly above the national figure. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,430 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, just below the 30% stress threshold, which is manageable because entry prices are low rather than because incomes are high. With household income in the 31st percentile, affordability here rests on cheap purchase prices, and ownership splits 21.9% outright and 33.6% mortgaged.

For Investors

Renters make up 44.5% of households, a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $310 against the $394,000 median produces a gross yield near 4.1%, far higher than premium Brisbane suburbs. Rent has grown 12.7% recently, supporting income returns. The vacancy rate of 6.2% is on the higher side and signals softer tenant demand than tighter markets. Overseas migration adds 128 residents a year while internal migration removes 128, leaving population essentially flat, so capital growth depends on Logan-wide momentum rather than local scarcity. Development activity is brisk with 148 applications in 12 months, though samples skew to roof and deck building work rather than new dwelling supply.

Development Activity

Total DAs

334

Last 12 Months

173

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+268.1%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Garage / Carport / Shed
56
Renovation / Extension
33
Change of Use
21
Roofing
18
Deck / Pergola / Patio
17
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
14
Demolition
10
Subdivision
10

Schools in Slacks Creek iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Mabel Park State High School

ICSEA 916 Secondary Government

7-12 · 1814 students

Mabel Park State School

ICSEA 885 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 718 students

Demographics

The median age of 35 is 5 years below national, pointing to a younger, family-stage population. Overseas-born residents at 33.2% are 11.6 points above national, with English ancestry leading at 3,211, followed by Scottish (734) and Irish (721). Samoan (117) is the top non-English language, ahead of Arabic (54), Mandarin (48) and Korean (47), reflecting strong Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern migrant communities unusual for outer Brisbane. Christianity (4,254) dominates religion, with Islam (712) a notable second. University qualifications at 18.4% are 11.7 points below national, consistent with a trades and service workforce. Couples with children (2,950) far outnumber couples without (1,534), the inverse of gentrifying inner suburbs.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.4%
15-24
13.7%
25-44
27.8%
45-64
22.2%
65+
15.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
2.8%
2 bed
12.0%
3 bed
60.9%
4+ bed
24.3%

Dwelling Structure

78.5%

Houses

19.1%

Townhouse

2.4%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 21.9% Mortgage 33.6% Rent 44.5%

Tenure splits 44.5% renting, 33.6% mortgaged and 21.9% owned outright, a renter-heavy mix for a detached suburb. The stock is 78.5% separate houses, 19.1% semi-detached and only 2.4% apartments, with three-bedroom dwellings at 60.9% and four-plus at 24.3% dominating the size profile. The $394,000 median is low by Brisbane standards, and both housing stress indicators sit below threshold: rent-to-income at 23.8% and mortgage-to-income at 25.4%. Despite affordable prices, IER decile 1 reflects limited economic resources, because household income in the 31st percentile keeps spare capacity thin even when repayments are modest. Affordability has improved over the decade, from 53.6% to 49.8%.

Mortgage / mo

$1,430

Rent / wk

$310

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$622

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.2%

Unoccupied

234

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

25.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Samoan
117
Arabic
54
Mandarin
48
Korean
47
Punjabi
43
Urdu
39

Ancestry

English
3,211
Other
2,244
Ancestry NS
904
Scottish
734
Irish
721
German
465

Household Composition

19.4%

Couples, no children

7,907

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads employment at 18.3% (424 workers), followed by Construction at 10.7% (248), Education at 10.5% (243), Retail at 8.8% (205) and Manufacturing at 7.7% (179), a blue-collar and service mix with little professional concentration. Labourers (691) top the occupation list, ahead of Community and Personal workers (528) and Machinery operators (495), with Professionals only fifth at 484. This composition explains all four SEIFA deciles landing at 1: the IEO score of 876 and IRSAD of 860 reflect lower education and income. Unemployment at 11.1% is well above national, and participation at 49.7% is below average, partly because 3,053 residents are not in the labour force. Real income fell 1.4% over the decade, eroding purchasing power.

Unemployment

8.2%

Labour Force

5,299

Unemployed

437

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
1
Disadvantage
1
Economic resources
1
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

63.7%

Part-time

25.2%

Participation

49.7%

Employed

3,615

Occupations

Labourers 691
Community/Personal 528
Machinery/Drivers 495
Clerical/Admin 488
Professionals 484
Sales 335
Managers 286

Top Industries

Healthcare 18.3%
Construction 10.7%
Education 10.5%
Retail 8.8%
Manufacturing 7.7%

University

18.4%

Postgraduate

3.5%

Born Overseas

33.2%

Dwellings

3,530

Transport to Work

Car dependence is near total, with 86.6% driving to work against just 3.0% on public transport and 1.4% walking or cycling, reflecting an outer suburb built around the motorway corridor rather than transit. The average household size of 2.7 is slightly above national, fitting the family demographic. Affordability is the core draw: rent-to-income at 23.8% sits comfortably below the 30% stress line, and the $310 weekly rent is well under inner-Brisbane levels. The trade-off is the SEIFA profile, with all four indices in decile 1, and an unemployment rate of 11.1% above the national average. Volunteering at 10.9% and a stable resident base, 76.6% staying put, point to community continuity despite the disadvantage measures.

Drive

86.6%

Public Transport

3.0%

Walk / Cycle

1.4%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.12%/yr

(+13 people/yr)

Established

Population growth is minimal at 0.12% per year, roughly 13 people, with a 10-year change of just -0.3%, effectively flat. The medium forecast lifts population from 10,811 in 2025 to only 10,842 by 2031. Overseas migration of 128 a year is the sole growth driver, exactly offset by internal outflow of -128, signalling residents leaving for other parts of Queensland as new arrivals replace them. The gentrification score of 0 confirms no gentrification underway. The trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.0 points while the working-age share fell 1.8 points, suggesting an established population staying put rather than turning over, with the turnover rate at 23.4% below more transient markets.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+128

Net Internal / yr

-128

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Net internal outflow -128/yr

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Slacks Creek compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 4%
Household Income
Bottom 31%
Rent Level
Top 36%
Apartments
Bottom 39%
Renters
Top 12%
Uni Educated
Bottom 31%
Public Transport
Bottom 47%
Born Overseas
Top 11%
Density
Top 13%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Slacks Creek a good suburb to live in?

Slacks Creek suits budget-focused families, with a $394,000 median house price and rent-to-income at 23.8%, below the 30% stress line. The trade-off is all four SEIFA indices in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and unemployment at 11.1% above average. It is car-dependent, with 86.6% driving to work.

What is the median house price in Slacks Creek?

The median house price is approximately $394,000 (estimated from 2025 rents), low by Brisbane standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,430 and weekly rent is $310, giving a gross rental yield near 4.1%, higher than most premium Brisbane suburbs.

What schools are in Slacks Creek?

The data brief does not list schools within the Slacks Creek boundary, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring Logan suburbs. With three-bedroom homes at 60.9% of stock and couples with children numbering 2,950, school access in the wider area is a key consideration for buyers.

Is Slacks Creek safe?

Verified crime statistics are not available in the data brief for Slacks Creek, so a safety rating cannot be given here. Context worth noting: all four SEIFA indices sit in decile 1 and unemployment is 11.1%, factors that often correlate with crime, though 76.6% of residents stay put year to year.

Is Slacks Creek good for property investment?

The 44.5% renter share gives a deep tenant pool, and $310 weekly rent against a $394,000 median yields about 4.1% gross, with rents up 12.7% recently. The 6.2% vacancy rate is elevated and population is flat at 0.12% annual growth, so income beats capital growth here.

How is Slacks Creek's population changing?

Population is essentially flat, growing 0.12% a year (about 13 people) with a 10-year change of -0.3%. Overseas migration adds 128 residents annually, exactly offset by internal outflow of 128. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.0 points.

What languages are spoken in Slacks Creek?

Overseas-born residents make up 33.2%, which is 11.6 points above national. The top non-English languages are Samoan (117 speakers), Arabic (54), Mandarin (48), Korean (47) and Punjabi (43), reflecting strong Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern migrant communities.

How much development is happening in Slacks Creek?

There were 148 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, an active level for an outer Brisbane suburb. Most samples are building work such as roof replacements and deck additions rather than new dwellings, so housing supply is growing slowly against flat 0.12% population growth.

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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