Wakerley
Household incomes place Wakerley at the 96.9th percentile nationally, while its 37-year median age is 3 years below the national figure. The suburb houses 8,718 people across 4.29 square kilometres, with 75.5% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and 61.3% of families being couples with children. That combination points to an affluent, detached-home mortgage belt rather than a compact apartment market. For buyers comparing Wakerley with nearby Gumdale and Manly West, the 84.2% separate-house share is a defining feature. Its 27.8% work-from-home rate also supports a relatively settled daily pattern, although 64.5% drive to work.
Population
8,718
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,952/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Homebuyers are choosing a suburb where 84.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 75.5% have 4 or more bedrooms, making family space the dominant product. The mortgage commitment is material at $2,362 per month, but mortgage stress is flagged false and repayments equal 18.5% of household income. Household income sits at the 96.9th percentile, which helps explain why 55.6% of households carry a mortgage while only 21.9% own outright. Weekly rent is $510, so buyers can compare ownership costs with a substantial rental alternative. Wakerley has only 0.2% apartments, lower than its 15.6% semi-detached share, and the 3.0% vacancy rate suggests limited spare stock. A current median house price is not available, so recent settled sales are essential for price decisions.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a suburb where 84.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 75.5% have 4 or more bedrooms, making family space the dominant product. The mortgage commitment is material at $2,362 per month, but mortgage stress is flagged false and repayments equal 18.5% of household income. Household income sits at the 96.9th percentile, which helps explain why 55.6% of households carry a mortgage while only 21.9% own outright. Weekly rent is $510, so buyers can compare ownership costs with a substantial rental alternative. Wakerley has only 0.2% apartments, lower than its 15.6% semi-detached share, and the 3.0% vacancy rate suggests limited spare stock. A current median house price is not available, so recent settled sales are essential for price decisions.
For Investors
Investor demand is tied to a 22.0% renting share, $510 weekly rent and a 3.0% vacancy rate. The rental base is smaller than the 55.6% mortgage cohort, so Wakerley is primarily an owner-occupier market rather than a high-rental-density precinct. That mix is suited to family-oriented leasing because 75.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 61.3% of families are couples with children, although it narrows demand toward larger homes. Twelve development applications were recorded over 12 months against a population of 8,718, indicating a limited pipeline. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver and annual growth is forecast at 2.25%, which may broaden demand over time. Cash flow needs careful assessment because no median sale price is available.
Development Activity
Total DAs
45
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wakerley
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
OneSchool Global QLD (Wakerley)
Demographics
Wakerley's median age is 37, three years below the national figure, but the trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 percentage points and the young share down 2.1 points. University attainment is 46.5%, 16.4 points above national, aligning with a workforce led by Professionals at 1,378 and Managers at 915. Overseas-born residents account for 29.5%, 7.9 points above national, while English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts of 3,520, 969 and 929 remain prominent. Couples with children make up 61.3% of families, and average household size is 3.1, or 0.6 above national. Christianity counts 4,733 compared with 3,178 reporting no religion, while Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language at 72. For comparisons with Gumdale or Manly West, Wakerley's strongest measurable distinction is its highly educated, family-sized household profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.2%
Houses
15.6%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing defines Wakerley: 84.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 15.6% are semi-detached and 0.2% are apartments. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern, with 75.5% containing 4 or more bedrooms compared with 23.4% containing 3 bedrooms. Tenure is weighted toward leveraged ownership: 55.6% have a mortgage, above the 21.9% owned outright, while 22.0% rent. The $2,362 monthly mortgage figure sits alongside $510 weekly rent and mortgage repayments at 18.5% of household income, with no mortgage stress flag. Vacancy is 3.0%, lower than the share renting, so available stock may be tighter than the tenure mix first suggests. Compared with a more apartment-oriented market, Wakerley suits buyers seeking larger family dwellings, but recent comparable sales are needed because no median sale price is available.
Mortgage / mo
$2,362
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$510
Census 2021
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,199
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.0%
Unoccupied
86
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
61.3%
Couples with children
26.7%
Couples, no children
11.5%
Single parent
2,487
Total families
Economy & Employment
Wakerley has a high-income, high-participation economy: household income ranks at the 96.9th percentile, participation is 76.7% and unemployment is 3.1%. Healthcare leads local industry employment at 15.9% or 548 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 13.2% and 455, Education at 13.1% and 452, Construction at 9.5% and 328, and Public Administration at 6.7% and 230. Occupations are led by Professionals at 1,378 and Managers at 915, above the Clerical/Admin count of 732. SEIFA places Wakerley in decile 9 for education and occupation, and decile 10 for economic resources and advantage, an unusually strong combination because both skills and household resources are high. Full-time employment is 64.6%, helping explain the suburb's mortgage capacity, while 27.8% work from home.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
4,916
Unemployed
150
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
27.6%
Participation
76.7%
Employed
4,766
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.5%
Postgraduate
11.7%
Born Overseas
29.5%
Dwellings
2,781
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 64.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 2.5% using public transport and 0.9% walking or cycling. That pattern is practical for larger households but makes route planning and access to frequent services more important than in a transit-led suburb. Work-from-home participation is 27.8%, which can reduce some commuting pressure. One local school is listed, OneSchool Global QLD (Wakerley), a non-state independent school; families should check enrolment zones and compare nearby options across the wider area. For safety, check current Queensland Police information and the exact street before deciding. Socioeconomic measures are strong: Wakerley ranks in decile 10 for IRSAD and IRSD, and decile 9 for education and occupation, above the national average. The 3.0% vacancy rate also matters for households needing to move quickly.
Drive
64.5%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
27.8%
Population Forecast
+2.25%/yr
(+222 people/yr)
EstablishedWakerley is an established suburb with forecast annual growth of 2.25%, and overseas migration is identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 21.0% over 10 years, indicating expansion rather than stagnation, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 4.1 points and the young share down 2.1 points. Gentrification is rated score 8 at the Not gentrifying stage, so growth is more consistent with ongoing family demand than rapid reinvention. Rent growth of 15.9% adds pressure for tenants, even as affordability is marked Improving from 47.0 in 2011 to 41.8 in 2021. Compared with a flat-growth setting, 2.25% annual growth is meaningful, but the aging signal suggests future demand may favour accessible, established housing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+96
Net Internal / yr
-92
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +24% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wakerley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wakerley a good suburb to live in?
Wakerley suits households seeking detached, family-sized housing, with 84.2% separate houses, 75.5% four-plus-bedroom homes and 61.3% couples with children. Its 37-year median age is 3 years below national, while 64.5% drive, so it suits people comfortable with a car-oriented daily routine.
What is the median house price in Wakerley?
A current median house price for Wakerley is not available. Buyers should compare recent settled sales by dwelling type, because 84.2% of homes are separate houses and 75.5% contain 4 or more bedrooms. The indicative mortgage figure is $2,362 per month, but that is not a substitute for a sale-price median.
What schools are in Wakerley?
One local school is listed: OneSchool Global QLD (Wakerley), a non-state independent school. Families should check enrolment zones and compare nearby options, particularly because 75.5% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and the suburb has an average household size of 3.1.
Is Wakerley safe?
A definitive safety rating should be checked using current Queensland Police information and the exact address, because no suburb-wide crime rate is stated. Wakerley has 8,718 residents, so street-level conditions, lighting, walking routes and access to services should all be considered rather than relying on a single number.
Is Wakerley good for property investment?
Wakerley may suit investors targeting family tenants, with 22.0% renting, $510 weekly rent, 3.0% vacancy and 75.5% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms. However, 55.6% of households have a mortgage, so the market is owner-occupier led. Twelve development applications and 2.25% annual growth should be weighed against the unavailable median sale price.
How is Wakerley's population changing?
Wakerley's current population is 8,718. Population change across the wider area is 21.0% over 10 years, with annual growth forecast at 2.25% and overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging, reflected by a 4.1-point rise in the senior share and a 2.1-point fall in the young share.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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