Tennyson
At just 1.14 square kilometres, Tennyson packs a median age of 47, a household income in the 96.4th percentile nationally, and a university qualification rate of 54.8%, which is 24.7 percentage points above the national figure. Only 1,109 people live here, making it one of Brisbane's smallest riverfront suburbs by population, yet 78.9% of residents stayed put over the previous five years, a stability rate that points to deep attachment rather than transient demand. The suburb sits on the Brisbane River with a mix of 55.3% separate houses and 43.8% apartments, drawing an older, professionally employed, high-income base that keeps mortgage and rent stress well below typical thresholds.
Population
1,109
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,853/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$662K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $662,000 is supported by a household income base in the 96.4th percentile nationally, which keeps the mortgage-to-income ratio at just 19.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,348, affordable relative to the income profile. The dwelling mix offers a genuine choice: 55.3% of homes are separate houses while 43.8% are apartments, so buyers can target different price points within the same suburb. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.6% of stock, with four-plus bedroom dwellings at 29.1%, giving families reasonable options. Outright owners at 49.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.7%, suggesting many residents have held property for a long time, which can dampen listing volumes and support prices during downturns.
For Buyers
The median house price of $662,000 is supported by a household income base in the 96.4th percentile nationally, which keeps the mortgage-to-income ratio at just 19.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,348, affordable relative to the income profile. The dwelling mix offers a genuine choice: 55.3% of homes are separate houses while 43.8% are apartments, so buyers can target different price points within the same suburb. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.6% of stock, with four-plus bedroom dwellings at 29.1%, giving families reasonable options. Outright owners at 49.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.7%, suggesting many residents have held property for a long time, which can dampen listing volumes and support prices during downturns.
For Investors
The rental market is thin in Tennyson. Only 21.2% of households rent, lower than most Brisbane inner-ring suburbs, and the vacancy rate sits at 6.8%, a level that gives tenants real negotiating power. Weekly rent of $530 against a $662,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%. The 13 development applications lodged in the past 12 months include referral agency responses for design and siting, indicating incremental activity rather than significant new supply. The 78.9% resident retention rate limits natural rental turnover. On the upside, household income at the 96.4th percentile nationally means tenants who do rent here tend to be financially stable, reducing arrears risk. The investment case depends on capital growth from the tight supply and high-income base more than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
48
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Tennyson's median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, consistent with a suburb where 42.5% of families are couples without children. Overseas-born residents make up 21.4%, close to the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (449 residents), Irish (231) and Scottish (163), with German ancestry also present at 97 residents. University qualifications reach 54.8%, which is 24.7 percentage points above national, reflecting the high-income professional character of the area. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below the national figure, in line with the couples-without-children profile. The volunteering rate of 24.4% is notably high, which correlates with the stable, older, civically engaged population rather than a high-turnover demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
55.3%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
43.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure in Tennyson is dominated by outright owners at 49.1%, compared with 29.7% on a mortgage and 21.2% renting. Ownership outright at nearly half of all households is well above typical inner-Brisbane levels, pointing to long-held properties rather than recent leveraged buyers. The dwelling type split is close between separate houses at 55.3% and apartments at 43.8%, with semi-detached accounting for only 0.9%. Three-bedroom homes make up 52.6% of stock, with four-plus bedroom homes at 29.1% and two-bedroom units at 15.1%. The median house price of $662,000 and monthly repayment of $2,348 result in a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.0%, one of the more comfortable ratios in Brisbane's inner south, because household incomes sit in the 96.4th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$2,348
Rent / wk
$530
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,408
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
32
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.5%
Couples, no children
850
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in knowledge-sector jobs. Professional and Technical services lead at 18.5% of employed residents (75 workers), Healthcare follows at 18.3% (74 workers) and Education at 11.9% (48 workers), with Construction at 7.2% and Finance at 6.2%. By occupation, Professionals account for 211 workers and Managers 111, together forming the majority of the employed base. The full-time employment rate of 68.5% is solid, unemployment sits at 3.4%, and the participation rate of 55.9% is somewhat below average because 329 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 47. Personal weekly income averages $1,408 and family weekly income $3,359, both well above national medians.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.5%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
55.9%
Employed
511
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.8%
Postgraduate
15.0%
Born Overseas
21.4%
Dwellings
441
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 79.8% of residents commuting as drivers, while 9.5% use public transport and 5.0% walk or cycle. Rent-to-income of 18.6% and mortgage-to-income of 19.0% are both comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs do not place significant financial pressure on residents at either income tier. The volunteering rate of 24.4% is high relative to typical inner-Brisbane suburbs, indicating an engaged community. Only 3.3% of residents (34 people) need daily assistance, low for a suburb with a median age of 47. No schools are recorded inside the 1.14 square kilometre boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Yeronga, Rocklea and Moorooka. No suburb-level crime statistics are available, but the high-income, low-turnover profile is generally associated with lower crime exposure.
Drive
79.8%
Public Transport
9.5%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tennyson compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tennyson a good suburb to live in?
Tennyson suits established households prioritising stability and income security. Household income sits in the 96.4th percentile nationally and 78.9% of residents stayed over a five-year period. Mortgage-to-income at 19.0% and rent-to-income at 18.6% are both well below the 30% stress threshold, and the volunteering rate of 24.4% reflects a civically engaged community. The suburb has no schools within its 1.14 sq km boundary, so families with children depend on neighbouring areas.
What is the median house price in Tennyson?
The median house price is $662,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,348. Weekly rent averages $530. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.0% is well below the 30% stress threshold, supported by household incomes in the 96.4th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Tennyson?
No schools are recorded within the Tennyson suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjacent suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, 54.8% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 24.7 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Tennyson safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Tennyson in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a high household income in the 96.4th percentile nationally, a 78.9% five-year resident retention rate, and only 3.3% of residents (34 people) need daily assistance, all characteristics associated with low-disadvantage, stable areas.
Is Tennyson good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $530 against a $662,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, but the vacancy rate of 6.8% is elevated and only 21.2% of households rent, limiting the tenant pool. The 49.1% outright ownership rate and 78.9% resident retention suggest limited listing turnover. Capital growth potential is supported by the high-income base and scarce supply in a 1.14 square kilometre footprint.
How is Tennyson's population changing?
Tennyson's population of 1,109 is stable rather than fast-growing, with 78.9% of residents remaining in the suburb over a five-year period and just 21.1% turning over. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and 42.5% of families are couples without children, pointing to gradual demographic aging rather than a population influx.
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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