Wakerley
Household income in the 97th percentile nationally ($2,952/week) and SEIFA IRSD/IRSAD deciles of 10 place Wakerley among Brisbane's wealthiest suburban pockets, yet the estimated median house price of $649,000 remains moderate for this income bracket. The disconnect suggests residents are accumulating wealth through dual high incomes rather than property leverage. With 75.5% of homes having 4+ bedrooms and a 70.1% full-time employment rate (well above the national average), this is a dual-income family suburb where 55.9% carry mortgages, the highest mortgage share among top-decile Brisbane suburbs.
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
Median House
$649K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $649,000 estimated median with mortgage repayments of $2,362/month (just 18.5% of household income), Wakerley offers premium-suburb liveability without premium-suburb financial stress. The housing stock is 84.2% detached houses, and 75.5% have 4+ bedrooms, making it ideal for growing families. Semi-detached (15.6%) provides some townhouse options. The 21.5% turnover rate creates moderate buying opportunities. With 55.9% on mortgages and 22.1% owning outright, most residents are active purchasers. The 3.0% vacancy rate is tight, and only 22.1% rent, pointing to a suburb where owner-occupier demand dominates compared to investor-driven markets.
For Buyers
At $649,000 estimated median with mortgage repayments of $2,362/month (just 18.5% of household income), Wakerley offers premium-suburb liveability without premium-suburb financial stress. The housing stock is 84.2% detached houses, and 75.5% have 4+ bedrooms, making it ideal for growing families. Semi-detached (15.6%) provides some townhouse options. The 21.5% turnover rate creates moderate buying opportunities. With 55.9% on mortgages and 22.1% owning outright, most residents are active purchasers. The 3.0% vacancy rate is tight, and only 22.1% rent, pointing to a suburb where owner-occupier demand dominates compared to investor-driven markets.
For Investors
Wakerley's rental market is small: 22.1% of residents rent at a median $510/week, with a tight 3.0% vacancy rate. The investor case rests on scarcity rather than yield, as the high entry price and small tenant pool limit gross returns compared to Logan or Moreton Bay alternatives. Just 11 development applications in 12 months, mostly referrals and operational works, signal no significant new supply. Population growth of 2.25% per year (222 persons) is strong, driven by overseas migration (+96/year). The gentrification score of 22 shows early signs, with real income growing 6.0% over the decade and population up 24% since 2011.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+71.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wakerley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
OneSchool Global QLD
3-12 · 285 students
Demographics
English ancestry dominates (3,520), followed by Scottish (969), Irish (929), and German (445). The overseas-born share of 29.5% is close to the national average. Mandarin (72 speakers), Afrikaans (56), and Hindi (41) are the top non-English languages. University qualifications at 46.5% are 16.4 points above the national average, and the median age of 37 sits 3 years below it. The household size of 3.1 (0.6 above national) reflects the family orientation: couples with children account for the largest family type. Christianity is the dominant religion (4,733 adherents), with Hinduism (244) a distant second.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.2%
Houses
15.6%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses make up 84.2%, with semi-detached at 15.6% and apartments nearly absent (0.2%). The 75.5% four-plus-bedroom share is exceptionally high, ranking Wakerley among Brisbane's most spacious suburbs by bedroom count. Mortgage holders dominate (55.9%), while outright owners and renters each sit at 22.1%. The rent-to-income ratio of 17.3% and mortgage-to-income of 18.5% are both well below stress thresholds, reflecting the suburb's high earning power. At an estimated $649,000 median, prices are moderate relative to income compared to northern beaches or inner-city equivalents.
Mortgage / mo
$2,362
Rent / wk
$510
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
16.6%
Couples, no children
7,987
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 15.9%, closely followed by Professional/Tech (13.2%) and Education (13.1%). Construction (9.5%) and Public Admin (6.7%) round out the top five. Professionals (1,378) and Managers (915) dominate occupations, placing 52% of the workforce in the top two categories. The 3.3% unemployment rate is below the national average, and the 70.1% full-time employment rate ranks among Brisbane's highest. Labour participation at 71.0% also exceeds the national figure significantly. SEIFA deciles of 9-10 across all four indices confirm comprehensive socioeconomic advantage, with the IER decile of 10 indicating top-tier economic resources.
Unemployment
0.9%
Labour Force
6,428
Unemployed
61
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.1%
Part-time
26.6%
Participation
71.0%
Employed
4,396
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.5%
Postgraduate
11.7%
Born Overseas
29.5%
Dwellings
2,781
Transport to Work
OneSchool Global QLD (Combined Independent, ICSEA 985, 285 students) is the only school within the suburb boundary, scoring slightly below the national ICSEA average of 1000. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Manly West or Gumdale. Public transport use is very low at 3.5%, with 89.4% driving. Walking and cycling account for just 1.3% of commutes. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 10 places socioeconomic conditions in the top 10% nationally. The 2.9% needing-assistance rate is lower than the national average, and the 15.9% volunteering rate is moderate.
Drive
89.4%
Public Transport
3.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.25%/yr
(+222 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 2.25% annually (222 persons/year), among the strongest rates in established Brisbane suburbs. The 10-year change of 21.0% reflects sustained family influx. Overseas migration (+96/year) is the primary driver, with internal migration slightly negative (-92/year). Projections put the 2031 population at approximately 11,778, up from roughly 9,865 in 2025. The trajectory is 'Aging': the senior share grew 4.1 points while the young share fell 2.1 points. Despite ageing, the working-age population growth and 6.0% real income increase suggest the suburb is maturing rather than declining compared to stagnant outer suburbs.
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 ranks in the 10th SEIFA IRSAD decile, placing it in Australia's top 10% for socioeconomic advantage. Household income is in the 97th percentile nationally, unemployment is just 3.3%, and mortgage stress is low at 18.5%. The suburb suits dual-income families seeking large homes (75.5% have 4+ bedrooms), though public transport is limited at 3.5% usage.
What is the median house price in Wakerley?
The estimated median house price is $649,000 (2025 estimate). Monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $2,362 consume just 18.5% of the median household income of $2,952/week. This is notably low financial stress for a top-decile suburb, reflecting the high dual-income household profile.
What schools are in Wakerley?
OneSchool Global QLD is the only school within Wakerley, a Combined Independent school with ICSEA 985 and 285 students, sitting slightly below the national average of 1000. Most families access primary and secondary schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Manly West, Gumdale, and Wynnum.
Is Wakerley safe?
Crime statistics are not available in our current dataset for Wakerley. All four SEIFA indices score in deciles 9-10, which correlates with lower crime rates nationally. The low unemployment rate of 3.3%, high residential stability (78.5% stayed), and strong household incomes (97th percentile) are demographic factors associated with safer suburban environments.
Is Wakerley good for property investment?
Wakerley's investment profile leans toward capital growth: 22.1% renters, $510/week median rent, and a tight 3.0% vacancy rate. Entry at $649,000 limits yield, but population growth of 2.25%/year (222 persons) is strong. Only 11 development applications in 12 months means negligible new supply. The gentrification score of 22 and 6.0% real income growth suggest ongoing value appreciation compared to more static suburbs.
How is Wakerley's population changing?
Population grows at 2.25% annually (222 persons/year), projected to reach approximately 11,778 by 2031. Growth since 2011 totals 24%, driven by overseas migration (+96/year) partially offset by internal outflow (-92/year). The suburb is ageing, with the senior share up 4.1 points over the decade, but working-age population and incomes continue to grow.
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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