Wavell Heights
Household incomes here sit in the 93.7th percentile nationally, yet the median house price holds at $593,000, a combination that explains why mortgage repayments consume just 21.6% of income. The suburb runs against the inner-Brisbane apartment trend: 90.8% of dwellings are separate houses and only 6.3% are apartments, with 44.4% holding three bedrooms and 41.4% holding four or more. University attainment of 48.5% is 18.4 points above the national average, and SEIFA places the area in the top decile for relative disadvantage (IRSD decile 10) and decile 9 for education and occupation. The result is a settled, professional-family pocket where high earning power offsets a price tag that is modest for its advantage level.
Population
10,336
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,615/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
48
Median House
$593K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Buyers face a $593,000 median, which is low relative to the household income percentile of 93.7 and explains why the mortgage-to-income ratio is a comfortable 21.6%, below typical stress thresholds. The housing stock favours families: 90.8% are separate houses versus just 6.3% apartments, and 85.8% of dwellings carry three or more bedrooms (44.4% three-bed, 41.4% four-plus). Tenure leans toward owner-occupiers, with 43.1% paying a mortgage and 29.2% owning outright, leaving 27.6% renting. Average monthly repayments of $2,450 are manageable on a personal income of $1,147 per week, higher than the national average. The detached, larger-home profile suits owner-occupier families rather than first-home apartment buyers.
For Buyers
Buyers face a $593,000 median, which is low relative to the household income percentile of 93.7 and explains why the mortgage-to-income ratio is a comfortable 21.6%, below typical stress thresholds. The housing stock favours families: 90.8% are separate houses versus just 6.3% apartments, and 85.8% of dwellings carry three or more bedrooms (44.4% three-bed, 41.4% four-plus). Tenure leans toward owner-occupiers, with 43.1% paying a mortgage and 29.2% owning outright, leaving 27.6% renting. Average monthly repayments of $2,450 are manageable on a personal income of $1,147 per week, higher than the national average. The detached, larger-home profile suits owner-occupier families rather than first-home apartment buyers.
For Investors
The rental side is modest: 27.6% of households rent, weekly rent is $421, and against a $593,000 median that implies a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than typical inner-Brisbane house yields. The vacancy rate of 5.3% is elevated, signalling tenants have choice and limiting rapid rent escalation. That said, rent has grown 21.1% over the decade, and overseas migration of 79 persons per year is the primary demand driver versus only 12 from internal migration. Development is active, with 40 DAs lodged in the past 12 months, mostly building work and design-and-siting referrals on detached lots. Investors should weigh the higher-than-average yield against the soft vacancy rate and a tenant pool smaller than the renter share seen in apartment-heavy suburbs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
137
Last 12 Months
48
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+60.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wavell Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of the Angels' School
Prep-6 · 606 students
Wavell State High School
7-12 · 1522 students
Wavell Heights State School
Prep-6 · 398 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national median, reflecting a working-family base rather than a retiree pocket. University attainment of 48.5% runs 18.4 points above national, while the overseas-born share of 19.8% sits 1.8 points below national, making this a more Australian-born area than the metro norm. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 4,021, followed by Irish at 1,607 and Scottish at 1,279, with German at 659. Christianity is the dominant religion at 5,391 adherents, far ahead of Hinduism (152) and Buddhism (92). Couples with children (4,471) outnumber couples without children (1,864) by more than two to one, and the average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, consistent with the family-oriented, professionally qualified profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.8%
Houses
2.9%
Townhouse
6.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-skewed: 43.1% of households carry a mortgage, 29.2% own outright, and 27.6% rent, a renter share well below the inner-city average. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, with separate houses at 90.8% against apartments at just 6.3% and semi-detached at 2.9%. Larger family homes dominate, as 44.4% have three bedrooms and 41.4% have four or more, leaving only 14.1% in the two-bed-or-smaller range. The price-to-income picture is favourable: a $593,000 median against household income in the 93.7th percentile keeps the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.6% and rent-to-income at 16.1%, both below stress flags. This affordability relative to earnings, combined with the detached-house mix, marks it as an established family ownership market rather than a churn-heavy rental zone.
Mortgage / mo
$2,450
Rent / wk
$421
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,147
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
208
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.4%
Couples, no children
8,707
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment leans heavily on knowledge and care sectors: Healthcare leads at 17.3% (737 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 13.4% (571), Education at 10.7% (456), Construction at 9.3% (395) and Public Admin at 9.1% (389). Occupations confirm the white-collar tilt, with Professionals at 1,766 and Managers at 1,010 the two largest groups, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 829. The labour market is tight: unemployment sits at 3.5%, below the national average, with full-time employment at 67.3%. SEIFA scores are uniformly high, with IRSD in decile 10 and education, occupation and IRSAD all in decile 9, among the most advantaged nationally. This healthcare and professional concentration explains the resilient incomes underpinning local affordability.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
7,346
Unemployed
162
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.3%
Part-time
29.2%
Participation
67.3%
Employed
5,280
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.5%
Postgraduate
11.3%
Born Overseas
19.8%
Dwellings
3,731
Transport to Work
Transport is car-dependent, with 83.3% driving to work and only 7.7% using public transport, well below inner-city levels, while walking or cycling accounts for just 3.2%. The suburb scores strongly on socioeconomic advantage, sitting in IRSAD decile 9 and IRSD decile 10, both near the top of the national distribution, which correlates with lower deprivation-driven issues. The volunteering rate of 17.3% points to community engagement, and residential turnover of 25.7% is moderate, meaning 74.3% of residents stayed put, a sign of settled, long-term households. The 379 residents needing assistance (3.8%) is a small share. The combination of high advantage, detached family housing and low population churn makes this a stable, owner-occupier suburb rather than a transient rental district.
Drive
83.3%
Public Transport
7.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.91%/yr
(+102 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is steady rather than explosive, running at 0.91% per year (102 persons) and totalling 9.7% over the past decade, slower than fast-growth fringe suburbs. Medium forecasts project the population rising from around 11,181 in 2026 to 11,692 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 79 persons annually, dwarfing net internal migration of just 12, so demand depends on international arrivals more than interstate movers. The gentrification score of 20 marks early signs of change, supported by rent growth of 21.1% and real income growth of 22.0% over the decade. Affordability has actually improved, with the price-to-income measure easing from 46.2% in 2011 to 37.3% in 2021, an unusual trend that suggests incomes rose faster than housing costs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+79
Net Internal / yr
+12
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Accelerating: 4% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wavell Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wavell Heights a good suburb to live in?
It suits professional families seeking detached housing with strong amenity. SEIFA places it in IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 9, near the top nationally, and university attainment of 48.5% is 18.4 points above the national average. Unemployment is low at 3.5%, and 74.3% of residents stayed put, signalling a settled, advantaged community.
What is the median house price in Wavell Heights?
The median house price is $593,000, which is modest given household incomes sit in the 93.7th percentile nationally. Average monthly mortgage repayments are $2,450, and weekly rent is $421. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6% is below stress thresholds, making it affordable relative to local earning power.
What schools are in Wavell Heights?
School-level data is not available in this dataset, so individual campuses cannot be listed. Education is a major local employer at 10.7% of the workforce (456 workers), and university attainment of 48.5% runs 18.4 points above the national average, reflecting a highly educated resident base.
Is Wavell Heights safe?
Suburb-level crime counts are not available in this dataset. However, socioeconomic indicators point to low deprivation-driven risk: the area sits in IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 9, both near the top nationally, and unemployment is just 3.5%, below the national average, factors typically associated with lower crime.
Is Wavell Heights good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $421 against a $593,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than typical inner-Brisbane house yields. The renter share is 27.6% and the vacancy rate is an elevated 5.3%, so tenant demand is moderate. Rent grew 21.1% over the decade, and 40 DAs were lodged in 12 months, showing ongoing development interest.
How is Wavell Heights's population changing?
Growth is steady at 0.91% per year (102 persons), with a 9.7% rise over the past decade. Medium forecasts project the population reaching 11,692 by 2031. Overseas migration drives growth at 79 persons annually, far above net internal migration of 12, and the gentrification score of 20 marks early signs of change.
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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