Toowong
Apartment living sets Toowong apart: 68.6% of dwellings are apartments and 55.9% of homes are rented, far higher than its 28.8% separate-house share. Compared with nearby Indooroopilly and Auchenflower, the suburb feels more like a compact student and professional hub because the median age is 30, 10.0 years below national, while university attainment sits 34.3 percentage points above national. A 72.1 household income percentile supports demand, but 10.1% vacancy means renters and investors should price carefully.
Population
12,556
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,927/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
88
Median House
$540K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers should start with format, not a single price point, because Toowong's median house price is unavailable while the stock is 68.6% apartments vs 28.8% separate houses. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 47.6%, with 3-bedroom homes at 24.6% and 4-plus at 15.3%, so larger family layouts are lower supply. Holding costs look moderate for local incomes: the typical mortgage is $2,000 per month and mortgage-to-income is 24.0%, below stress settings.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should start with format, not a single price point, because Toowong's median house price is unavailable while the stock is 68.6% apartments vs 28.8% separate houses. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 47.6%, with 3-bedroom homes at 24.6% and 4-plus at 15.3%, so larger family layouts are lower supply. Holding costs look moderate for local incomes: the typical mortgage is $2,000 per month and mortgage-to-income is 24.0%, below stress settings.
For Investors
Investors face a large tenant pool because 55.9% of households rent and the weekly rent is $420. The caution is vacancy: 10.1% is high, so generic apartments may need sharper pricing than scarce larger homes. Development activity is also elevated, with 79 applications over 12 months, including rooming accommodation and operational works. Overseas migration is the main demand driver at +384 people per year, above the -192 annual internal outflow.
Development Activity
Total DAs
325
Last 12 Months
88
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+35.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Toowong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
7-12 · 1358 students
Brisbane Boys' College
Prep-12 · 1393 students
Stuartholme School
5-12 · 815 students
St Ignatius School
Prep-6 · 272 students
Omni Academies of Learning
7-9 · 33 students
Demographics
Toowong skews young, educated and international. The median age of 30 is 10.0 years below national, and 64.4% university attainment sits 34.3 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 35.7%, 14.1 points above national, which helps explain Mandarin, Canton, Hindi, Korean and Nepali speakers. English, Irish, Scottish and Chinese ancestries are all visible, while average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
28.8%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
68.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Toowong's housing market is unit-led: 68.6% apartments, 28.8% separate houses and 2.5% semi-detached homes. Renting at 55.9% is higher than both mortgage holders at 22.7% and outright owners at 21.4%, a pattern driven by education and healthcare workers as well as students. The suburb-level median house price is not available, so sale comparisons should split apartments from houses. Rent-to-income is 21.8% and mortgage-to-income is 24.0%, both below stress flags.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$966
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.1%
Unoccupied
600
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.1%
Couples, no children
7,548
Total families
Economy & Employment
Toowong's workforce ranks strongly on education and advantage, with IEO in decile 10 and IRSAD in decile 9, while the lower IER decile 3 points to more renters and fewer accumulated resources. Professional/Tech leads at 18.5%, followed by Healthcare 17.1%, Education 14.8%, Public Admin 7.2% and Hospitality 6.2%. Professionals number 3,156, well above Managers at 927. Unemployment is 6.1% with 64.0% participation, so local demand is skilled but not immune to job churn.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
9,313
Unemployed
351
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
29.7%
Participation
64.0%
Employed
6,639
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.4%
Postgraduate
20.5%
Born Overseas
35.7%
Dwellings
5,306
Transport to Work
Daily life is shaped by transport choice and schooling rather than detached-home space. Public transport takes 17.5% of commuters, walking or cycling 13.4%, and car driving 64.1%, a lower car reliance than many outer Brisbane suburbs. The 6 local schools span Government, Independent and Catholic sectors, with ICSEA from 1121 to 1220. Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology leads at 1220, with Brisbane Boys' College at 1164 and Stuartholme at 1159. IRSAD decile 9 adds social advantage.
Drive
64.1%
Public Transport
17.5%
Walk / Cycle
13.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.43%/yr
(+196 people/yr)
EstablishedForecast growth is steady rather than explosive: the trend rate is 1.43% a year, about 196 people annually, taking the medium scenario from 13,878 in 2026 to 14,855 in 2031. Migration is unbalanced, with overseas inflow averaging +384 per year compared with internal outflow of -192, so new demand is more international than interstate. The gentrification score is 33 and stage is Early signs, while the 10-year population change of 18.4% shows densification is already established.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+384
Net Internal / yr
-192
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal outflow -192/yr, Strong overseas inflow +384/yr, Accelerating: 3% → 20%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Toowong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toowong a good suburb to live in?
Yes for people who value inner-west access, schools and lower car reliance: 17.5% use public transport, 13.4% walk or cycle, and 6 schools sit in the suburb. It suits renters and apartment buyers more than detached-house seekers because 68.6% of dwellings are apartments.
What is the median house price in Toowong?
A current suburb-level median house price is not available for Toowong. Housing is 68.6% apartments and 28.8% separate houses, so buyers should compare unit and house sales separately rather than rely on a single suburb median.
What schools are in Toowong?
Toowong has 6 schools: Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology with ICSEA 1220, Brisbane Boys' College 1164, Stuartholme 1159, St Ignatius 1158, Omni Academies 1151 and Toowong State School 1121 across Government, Independent and Catholic sectors.
Is Toowong safe?
A current crime-rate figure is not available for Toowong, so safety needs street-level checking around specific buildings and transport stops. Livability indicators are stronger than average in other ways, with IRSAD decile 9 and 6 local schools, but renters should inspect lighting, parking and access before signing.
Is Toowong good for property investment?
Toowong can work for investors seeking tenant depth, with 55.9% renting and $420 weekly rent. The risk is 10.1% vacancy, which is higher than a tight market, plus 79 development applications in 12 months that may add competition in some apartment segments.
How is Toowong's population changing?
Toowong is projected to grow at 1.43% a year, or about 196 people annually. The medium scenario reaches 14,855 by 2031, compared with 13,878 in 2026. Overseas migration is the main driver at +384 per year, offset by -192 internal movement.
What languages are common in Toowong?
With 35.7% of residents born overseas, 14.1 percentage points above national, Toowong has visible Asian language groups. Mandarin has 425 speakers, followed by Canton at 98, Hindi 44, Korean 42 and Nepali 38.
Is there much development in Toowong?
Yes. There were 79 development applications over 12 months, a higher activity signal for a 4.07 sq km suburb. Recent examples include rooming accommodation, compliance assessment and road signage works, so buyers should check nearby applications before committing to an apartment or house.
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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