Wacol
An 84.5% male population and a labour participation rate of just 8.1% make Wacol statistically unlike almost any other suburb in Queensland. These figures are rooted in the suburb's large institutional footprint, which dominates the residential count of 4,253 and compresses household income to the 39.2nd percentile nationally. Despite those structural constraints, the suburb scored a gentrification stage of early signs, population has grown 26% over 10 years, and rent climbed 45% over the measurement period, well above state averages. The median house price sits at $396,000, considerably below Brisbane metro medians, and the SEIFA decile 1 rating across all four indexes places Wacol in the bottom tenth of Australian suburbs on disadvantage and resource measures.
Population
4,253
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,379/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$396K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $396,000 positions Wacol as one of the more affordable entry points in the western Brisbane corridor, though this figure is estimated from rent data rather than a deep transaction pool. Separate houses make up 82.9% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings covering most of the remaining 17.1%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 64.9% of dwellings, followed by four-plus bedroom at 20.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,387, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 23.6% of households carry a mortgage compared to 29.3% owning outright, suggesting a portion of market sales are debt-free transfers rather than leveraged purchases. Affordability has worsened from 52.5% to 59.8% between 2011 and 2021, a trend buyers should factor into longer-term holding calculations.
For Buyers
The median house price of $396,000 positions Wacol as one of the more affordable entry points in the western Brisbane corridor, though this figure is estimated from rent data rather than a deep transaction pool. Separate houses make up 82.9% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings covering most of the remaining 17.1%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 64.9% of dwellings, followed by four-plus bedroom at 20.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,387, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 23.6% of households carry a mortgage compared to 29.3% owning outright, suggesting a portion of market sales are debt-free transfers rather than leveraged purchases. Affordability has worsened from 52.5% to 59.8% between 2011 and 2021, a trend buyers should factor into longer-term holding calculations.
For Investors
Renters form 47.1% of occupied dwellings, a share higher than the Queensland average, and the weekly median rent of $320 reflects the affordability positioning of the suburb. Against a $396,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 4.2%, above what most inner-Brisbane suburbs offer. The vacancy rate of 5.5% is elevated and warrants monitoring, suggesting demand is not yet tight enough to compress idle stock. Rent growth of 45% over the measured period signals sustained upward pressure on tenancy costs. Development activity stands at 26 applications in the past 12 months, tilted toward commercial and industrial uses rather than new dwelling supply. Net internal migration averages 80 residents annually alongside 35 from overseas, providing a balanced inflow that supports tenant demand at a moderate but consistent pace.
Development Activity
Total DAs
170
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-33.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wacol iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Carole Park State School
Prep-6 · 167 students
Demographics
The 84.5% male share is the most distinctive demographic signal in Wacol, tracking roughly 34 percentage points above the national figure and reflecting the presence of institutional facilities. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national median, pointing to a younger resident cohort. Overseas-born residents make up 17.9%, which is 3.7 points below the national figure. University qualifications reach 37.2%, sitting 7.1 percentage points above the national rate, though this figure is drawn from the broader SA2 and may not uniformly represent the institutional population. Average household size of 2.4 is just below the national average of 2.5. Of 535 total families, 165 are couples with children and 125 are couples without children, indicating a family presence in the non-institutional segment of the suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.9%
Houses
17.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Wacol's housing stock is detached-house dominant at 82.9%, with 17.1% semi-detached and no recorded apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 64.9% of all homes, and four-plus bedroom homes represent 20.0%, a share that indicates a degree of larger family housing relative to inner-city suburbs. Tenure is split across 29.3% outright owners, 23.6% mortgage holders, and 47.1% renters, with the renter share well above the Queensland state average. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,387 sit at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income also measures 23.2%, indicating limited housing cost stress for existing tenants at current income and rent levels. The $396,000 median price is estimated from rental data and reflects the affordability tier the suburb occupies relative to metropolitan Brisbane.
Mortgage / mo
$1,387
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$514
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
17
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.4%
Couples, no children
535
Total families
Economy & Employment
Wacol's formal employment picture is shaped heavily by its institutional population. Of 4,253 residents, 3,689 are recorded as not in the labour force, producing a participation rate of just 8.1%, far below the national figure. For the participating workforce, Healthcare leads industries at 13.6%, followed by Manufacturing (10.8%), Construction (10.3%), and Public Administration (10.3%). By occupation, Clerical and Administrative workers are most numerous (59), followed by Labourers (45) and Professionals (42). The unemployment rate for active job-seekers is 11.4%, above national norms. Personal weekly income averages $514, below the national median, and household weekly income of $1,379 sits in the 39.2nd percentile nationally. All four SEIFA indexes place the suburb in decile 1, ranking it among the most disadvantaged 10% of Australian communities on education, occupation, economic resources and relative socioeconomic advantage.
Unemployment
13.3%
Labour Force
1,253
Unemployed
167
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.9%
Part-time
20.7%
Participation
8.1%
Employed
296
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.2%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
17.9%
Dwellings
287
Transport to Work
Transport reliance in Wacol is heavily car-dependent, with 77.4% of residents driving to work, above the national average. Public transport accounts for 8.9% of commutes, and 5.1% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families in the residential portion rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for Wacol in this dataset. All four SEIFA indexes place the suburb in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, which reflects the structural composition of the population rather than solely built-environment factors. Volunteering stands at 12.7% of residents, and 13.5% require some form of daily assistance, a rate above what lower-density comparable suburbs typically record. Housing stress is limited at current income and cost levels, with both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income measured at 23.2%.
Drive
77.4%
Public Transport
8.9%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.59%/yr
(+111 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation expanded 26% over the decade to a current level of approximately 6,975 residents at the SA2 level, with annual growth tracking at 1.59%, equivalent to around 111 additional residents per year. A COVID dip of 2% was followed by full recovery, with the current count 15.3% above the 2020 low. Medium forecasts project growth to continue steadily toward 7,536 by 2031. Migration is balanced: net internal arrivals average 80 per year and overseas migration contributes 35, sustaining consistent inflow without a single dominant driver. The gentrification score of 32 places the suburb in the early signs stage, driven by population growth of 35% since 2011 and sustained internal migration. Affordability has worsened over the decade, with the ratio moving from 52.5% to 59.8% between 2011 and 2021, indicating that price growth has outpaced income gains.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+35
Net Internal / yr
+80
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +35% since 2011, Net internal migration +80/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wacol compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wacol a good suburb to live in?
Wacol is an affordable suburb with a median house price of $396,000 and mortgage-to-income at 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. All four SEIFA indexes place it in decile 1, the most disadvantaged 10% nationally, and there are no recorded schools within the suburb. Population has grown 26% over 10 years, indicating steady demand for the area.
What is the median house price in Wacol?
The median house price is $396,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $320, implying a gross yield near 4.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,387, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2% sits below the 30% housing stress threshold.
What schools are in Wacol?
No schools are recorded inside the Wacol suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the residential portion of the suburb rely on schools in neighbouring western Brisbane suburbs. Despite this, 37.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 7.1 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Wacol safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wacol in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, Wacol scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage, placing it in the bottom 10% nationally, which is typically associated with higher rates of reported crime in comparable suburbs.
Is Wacol good for property investment?
Wacol offers a gross yield near 4.2% based on $320 weekly rent against a $396,000 median, higher than many Brisbane suburbs. Rent grew 45% over the measurement period. The vacancy rate of 5.5% is elevated, so demand is not yet tight. Population growth of 1.59% annually and net migration of 115 residents per year support ongoing tenant demand.
How is Wacol's population changing?
Population at the SA2 level grew from 6,667 in 2023 to approximately 6,975 in 2025, an annual growth rate of 1.59%. Over the past 10 years the suburb recorded 26% population growth. Medium forecasts project the population reaching 7,536 by 2031, driven by balanced internal and overseas migration averaging 115 new residents per year.
How much development is happening in Wacol?
There were 26 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent applications include commercial material change of use, transport depot and warehouse approvals, and compliance assessment for excavation works, indicating industrial and commercial activity rather than significant new residential supply.
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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