Stafford
Despite sitting 7km north of the Brisbane CBD, Stafford retains a $496,000 median house price, well below comparable inner-ring suburbs, and that affordability sits at the centre of its identity. University qualifications reach 42.6%, which is 12.5 points above the national rate, yet the suburb stays grounded in a 66.8% detached-house stock rather than tower apartments. The contrast resolves through tenure: 49.7% of residents rent and only 19.2% own outright, so a working-age population (median age 35, five years below the national median) cycles through at a 31.4% turnover rate. Healthcare anchors the local economy at 19.1% of jobs, and household income lands at the 61.6th percentile nationally, comfortably above average without reaching the premium tier.
Population
6,978
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,753/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
47
Median House
$496K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $496,000, the Stafford median house price is far below the typical inner-Brisbane figure, which is the suburb's main draw for owner-occupiers priced out closer to the city. The stock favours buyers wanting space: 66.8% are separate houses and 60.3% have three or more bedrooms, compared to just 24.3% apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold because household income sits at the 61.6th percentile, higher than the national average. Only 19.2% own outright while 31.1% carry a mortgage. The affordability metric improved from 45.0% in 2011 to 37.2% in 2021, so entry has become easier even as nearby suburbs ran ahead.
For Buyers
At $496,000, the Stafford median house price is far below the typical inner-Brisbane figure, which is the suburb's main draw for owner-occupiers priced out closer to the city. The stock favours buyers wanting space: 66.8% are separate houses and 60.3% have three or more bedrooms, compared to just 24.3% apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold because household income sits at the 61.6th percentile, higher than the national average. Only 19.2% own outright while 31.1% carry a mortgage. The affordability metric improved from 45.0% in 2011 to 37.2% in 2021, so entry has become easier even as nearby suburbs ran ahead.
For Investors
Renters make up 49.7% of Stafford households, supplying a deep tenant pool that nearly matches the owner share. Weekly rent of $360 against the $496,000 median produces a gross yield near 3.8%, materially higher than the sub-2% yields common in premium inner-Brisbane suburbs, because the lower entry price compresses the denominator. The vacancy rate of 7.4% is the main caution, signalling looser rental conditions, though rents still grew 20.0% over the measured period. Development activity is healthy at 41 applications in 12 months, indicating builder confidence in the corridor. Net overseas migration of 69 per year is the primary demand driver, partly offset by internal outflow of 29 per year, so population gains stay modest.
Development Activity
Total DAs
137
Last 12 Months
47
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+74.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Stafford iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Queen of Apostles Primary School
Prep-6 · 296 students
Stafford State School
Prep-6 · 246 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 runs five years below the national median, marking Stafford as a working-age suburb rather than a family-saturated or retiree one. Overseas-born residents at 20.3% sit 1.3 points below the national rate, so this is an Anglo-leaning population: English ancestry leads at 2,635, followed by Irish (1,060) and Scottish (780), while Italian (31) and Mandarin (30) top a thin non-English language profile. University qualifications at 42.6% are 12.5 points above national, pointing to a professional cohort. Couples with children (1,991) outnumber couples without children (1,428), and the average household size of 2.2 sits 0.3 below the national figure, reflecting a mix of small families and professional households rather than large households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.8%
Houses
8.9%
Townhouse
24.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits almost evenly between renters at 49.7%, mortgage holders at 31.1% and outright owners at just 19.2%, so leveraged and rented homes dominate over fully owned ones. The built form leans suburban: 66.8% separate houses, 24.3% apartments and 8.9% semi-detached, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 39.6% and four-plus at 20.7%. At a $496,000 median, the price-to-income ratio stays moderate because household income reaches the 61.6th percentile nationally, and both rent-to-income at 20.5% and mortgage-to-income at 26.3% sit below stress thresholds. The IER decile of 3 looks low against the IRSAD decile of 7, an anomaly explained by the high renter share, since aggregate household wealth measures thin when half of residents do not own.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$965
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
234
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.0%
Couples, no children
4,919
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 19.1% of workers (530 jobs), reflecting proximity to Brisbane's northern hospital precincts, followed by Professional/Tech at 12.7% (352), Education at 10.4% (289), Construction at 9.2% (256) and Public Admin at 7.9% (220). Professionals lead occupations at 1,152, well ahead of Clerical/Admin (489) and Managers (471), consistent with the IEO decile of 8 in the top fifth nationally. Full-time employment runs at 67.4% with unemployment at 5.8% and participation at 62.2%, a sound but not standout labour profile. Real income grew 18.2% over the decade, outpacing inflation, while the IRSD decile of 6 places overall disadvantage near the middle, below the education ranking because tenure and income mix moderate the score.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
4,949
Unemployed
279
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.4%
Part-time
26.8%
Participation
62.2%
Employed
3,391
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.6%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
20.3%
Dwellings
2,908
Transport to Work
Stafford is car-dependent, with 82.3% of commuters driving, well above the share using public transport at 8.7%, and only 3.7% walking or cycling, reflecting its suburban density of 2,037 people per km2. The IRSAD decile of 7 places it above the national midpoint for combined advantage, and the IEO decile of 8 confirms a strongly educated base. Volunteering at 14.6% indicates moderate community engagement, and the share needing assistance at 6.0% (390 residents) is contained. Housing pressure stays manageable: rent-to-income of 20.5% and mortgage-to-income of 26.3% both fall below the 30% stress line, so residents retain disposable income despite the suburb's inner-ring location and rising rents that climbed 20.0% over the period.
Drive
82.3%
Public Transport
8.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.06%/yr
(+79 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at a measured 1.06% per year, around 79 persons annually, classifying Stafford as established rather than high-growth. The ERP rose from 7,212 in 2023 to 7,421 in 2025, and medium forecasts project 7,880 by 2031, a 14.5% gain across the full decade. Overseas migration at 69 per year is the primary driver, while internal migration of negative 29 shows a net domestic outflow that caps the pace. The working-age share expanded by 3.1 points while the senior share contracted by 0.9 points, and affordability improved from 45.0% to 37.2%, all consistent with a stable trajectory where younger professionals gradually replace older residents rather than a rapid demographic turnover.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+69
Net Internal / yr
-29
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +18% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Stafford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stafford a good suburb to live in?
Stafford suits working-age professionals wanting space near Brisbane: 66.8% of homes are separate houses and the median age of 35 is five years below national. University qualifications reach 42.6%, 12.5 points above average, and the IRSAD decile of 7 sits above the national midpoint. The trade-off is car dependence, with 82.3% driving and only 8.7% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Stafford?
The median house price is $496,000, well below typical inner-Brisbane levels for a suburb 7km from the CBD. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000 and weekly rent is $360, giving a gross yield near 3.8%. Affordability improved from 45.0% in 2011 to 37.2% in 2021.
What schools are in Stafford?
Specific in-suburb school listings are not available in this dataset, but Stafford's residents are highly educated, with university qualifications at 42.6%, which is 12.5 points above the national rate. Education is also a major local employer at 10.4% of jobs (289 workers), so families have access to schooling across the surrounding northern Brisbane area.
Is Stafford safe?
Verified crime statistics are not available for Stafford in this dataset, so a safety rating cannot be quoted with a number. As context, the suburb scores in IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 6, both above the national midpoint, and only 6.0% of residents (390 people) report needing assistance, indicators that align with a stable, established residential area.
Is Stafford good for property investment?
The 49.7% renter share gives a deep tenant pool, and $360 weekly rent against the $496,000 median yields roughly 3.8%, higher than premium inner-Brisbane suburbs. Rents grew 20.0% recently and 41 development applications were lodged in 12 months. The caution is a 7.4% vacancy rate, which is looser than a tight rental market.
How is Stafford's population changing?
Population grows a measured 1.06% per year, around 79 people annually, rising from 7,212 in 2023 to a forecast 7,880 by 2031, a 14.5% gain over the decade. Overseas migration of 69 per year is the main driver, partly offset by internal outflow of 29. The working-age share grew 3.1 points as the senior share fell 0.9.
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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