Sunnybank
Chinese ancestry at 3,113 residents is the largest heritage group in Sunnybank, outnumbering English (1,605) by nearly 2 to 1, and 58.9% of the population was born overseas, 37.3 percentage points above the national average. Despite this migrant majority, university attainment sits at 48.8%, nearly 19 points above the national rate, reflecting skilled migration pathways. Unemployment at 8.4% is double the national rate, and household income at the 52.1st percentile creates an unusual profile: highly educated residents earning middle-tier incomes, likely because overseas qualifications face recognition barriers.
Population
8,892
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,586/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
36
Median House
$525K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $525,000 estimated median, Sunnybank is affordable by Brisbane standards, especially given its train access (12.7% public transport usage, highest in this batch). Detached houses at 86.1% dominate, with 51.9% having 4+ bedrooms, one of the highest large-home shares among comparable suburbs. Mortgage-to-income at 29.1% is just under the 30% stress threshold, signalling that buyers at the median income level are stretching. Only 22.0% hold mortgages, well below the national average, because 36.8% own outright, reflecting the established Chinese community's preference for debt-free ownership.
For Buyers
At $525,000 estimated median, Sunnybank is affordable by Brisbane standards, especially given its train access (12.7% public transport usage, highest in this batch). Detached houses at 86.1% dominate, with 51.9% having 4+ bedrooms, one of the highest large-home shares among comparable suburbs. Mortgage-to-income at 29.1% is just under the 30% stress threshold, signalling that buyers at the median income level are stretching. Only 22.0% hold mortgages, well below the national average, because 36.8% own outright, reflecting the established Chinese community's preference for debt-free ownership.
For Investors
Renters at 41.2%, above the national average, and $400/week rent suggest solid tenant demand, but vacancy at 8.4% is roughly 3 times the Brisbane metro norm. Net overseas migration of +542/year is one of the strongest on this list, yet internal migration runs at -230/year, meaning domestic movers are leaving. The suburb recovered from a 2.6% COVID population dip and has grown 11.6% over the decade. 35 development applications in 12 months show moderate activity. The 8.4% unemployment creates tenant risk. Rent-to-income at 25.2% is in the upper comfort zone. For investors, the key bet is whether overseas migration will eventually absorb the vacancy surplus.
Development Activity
Total DAs
151
Last 12 Months
36
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sunnybank iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School
Prep-6 · 560 students
St Thomas More College
7-12 · 1161 students
Runcorn State School
Prep-6 · 448 students
Sunnybank State School
Prep-6 · 317 students
Sunnybank State High School
7-12 · 641 students
Demographics
Chinese ancestry (3,113) is the dominant heritage group, and Mandarin is spoken by 1,185 residents, the highest count of any non-English language in this batch. Cantonese adds 284 speakers, and Korean (143) is also significant. With 58.9% born overseas, Sunnybank is 37.3 points above the national average. Median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, and the trajectory is 'growing across all ages,' the only suburb in this batch with that classification. Household size at 3.0 is 0.5 above the national median. The 68.5% residential stability rate is lower than average, reflecting the high rental churn.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.1%
Houses
13.1%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 36.8% significantly exceed the national average, while mortgage holders at 22.0% are unusually low. This inverted pattern is characteristic of established migrant communities where family capital funds purchases without bank debt. Renters at 41.2% are also above average. Stock is 86.1% separate houses, 13.1% semi-detached, and 0.7% apartments. Weekly rent of $400 and mortgage payments of $2,000/month yield a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.1%, just below stress levels. The 51.9% share of 4+ bedroom homes reflects multigenerational living patterns common in the Chinese-Australian community.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$627
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.4%
Unoccupied
264
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.5%
Couples, no children
6,350
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 20.6%, followed by hospitality (10.0%), professional/tech (8.5%), retail (8.3%), and education (8.2%). The 10.0% hospitality share is above the national average and reflects Sunnybank's role as Brisbane's premier Asian dining precinct. Professionals (829) lead occupations, but labourers (532) and community/personal services (531) are also large, indicating a bimodal skill distribution. Unemployment at 8.4% is double the national rate, and participation at 51.9% is low. SEIFA shows a split: education decile 6 (above middle) vs economic resources decile 3 (below middle), confirming the education-income disconnect.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
5,639
Unemployed
316
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
51.9%
Employed
3,594
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.8%
Postgraduate
14.0%
Born Overseas
58.9%
Dwellings
2,855
Transport to Work
Five schools serve the area: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary (ICSEA 1099, 560 students), St Thomas More College secondary (1067, 1161), Runcorn State School (1032, 448), Sunnybank State School (1003, 317), and Sunnybank State High (963, 641). All except the state high school exceed the national benchmark. Public transport at 12.7% is the highest usage rate in this batch, reflecting bus and train connections to Brisbane CBD. IRSAD decile 5 places the suburb at the national midpoint. The 5.6% need-for-assistance rate is moderate.
Drive
74.4%
Public Transport
12.7%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.06%/yr
(+112 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.06% per year (+112 people), above the national average, projected to reach 10,834 by 2031 from 10,570 in 2025. Overseas migration is extremely strong at +542/year, the highest absolute inflow in this batch, but internal migration at -230/year means domestic movers leave at a significant rate. The suburb dipped 2.6% during COVID and has fully recovered. The trajectory is classified as 'growing across all ages,' uniquely among this batch, with young share up 1.4 points and working share up 3.7 points. Gentrification score of 28 (early signs) and real income growth of 22.8% suggest the suburb is slowly upgrading economically.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+542
Net Internal / yr
-230
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal outflow -230/yr, Strong overseas inflow +542/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sunnybank compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sunnybank a good suburb to live in?
Sunnybank suits buyers wanting affordable housing ($525,000 median), strong cultural amenities (Brisbane's premier Asian dining precinct), and good transit (12.7% public transport, highest in this batch). Schools mostly score above the ICSEA benchmark. Challenges include 8.4% unemployment (double the national rate), vacancy at 8.4%, and SEIFA economic resources decile 3.
What is the median house price in Sunnybank?
The estimated median house price is $525,000 based on 2025 rental yield data. This places it below Brisbane's overall median. Mortgage-to-income at 29.1% is close to the stress threshold but manageable. The 36.8% outright ownership rate, well above the national average, reflects the established community's preference for unleveraged purchases.
What schools are in Sunnybank?
Five schools operate locally: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary (ICSEA 1099, 560 students), St Thomas More College (1067, 1161), Runcorn State School (1032, 448), Sunnybank State School (1003, 317), and Sunnybank State High (963, 641). Four of the five exceed the national ICSEA benchmark of 1000.
Is Sunnybank safe?
Crime data is not published at the suburb level in Queensland reporting for Sunnybank. The 8.4% unemployment rate and SEIFA disadvantage decile 3 indicate moderate socioeconomic vulnerability. The 68.5% residential stability is lower than average, driven by the high rental turnover in a suburb where 41.2% are tenants.
Is Sunnybank good for property investment?
Tenant demand exists (41.2% renters, $400/week), and overseas migration at +542/year is extremely strong. However, vacancy at 8.4% is 3 times the Brisbane norm, and internal migration is negative at -230/year. The 22.8% real income growth over the decade and early gentrification signals (score 28) suggest improving fundamentals. Best for patient investors who believe migration-driven demand will absorb current oversupply.
How is Sunnybank's population changing?
Population grows at 1.06% per year, adding 112 people annually. Overseas migration at +542/year is the highest absolute inflow in this batch, though internal migration at -230/year offsets much of it. The suburb fully recovered from a 2.6% COVID dip. Growth occurs across all age groups, with working-age share up 3.7 points, the only 'growing all ages' trajectory in this batch.
What languages are spoken in Sunnybank?
Mandarin is spoken by 1,185 residents, by far the highest count of any non-English language in this batch. Cantonese adds 284 speakers, and Korean (143) is also significant. Chinese ancestry at 3,113 residents outnumbers English ancestry (1,605). With 58.9% born overseas, Sunnybank is one of the most diverse suburbs in Brisbane, 37.3 points above the national overseas-born average.
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.
Explore Sunnybank on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map