West End
Population grew 85.5% over the past decade, reaching an estimated 17,928 in 2025, making West End one of Brisbane's fastest-densifying suburbs. At 75.9% apartments and 59.5% renters, the housing profile has flipped from its former village character to a high-density rental market. Yet the 62.4% university rate, 32.3 percentage points above the national average, and 80th percentile household income mean this is professional-renter territory, not student-budget. The 10.8% vacancy rate is the highest among comparable Brisbane inner suburbs, a red flag that apartment supply may have overshot demand. Population is projected to grow at 3.56% annually to 21,468 by 2031, adding roughly 639 people per year.
Population
14,730
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,114/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
92
Median House
$574K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Without reliable median price data, buyers must work from proxy indicators: the $2,100 monthly mortgage at a 22.9% mortgage-to-income ratio is well below the stress threshold, though this likely reflects apartment purchases rather than houses (only 19.6% of stock is detached). Two-bedroom units dominate at 43.0%, with studios and one-bedrooms at 26.0%, meaning most inventory is compact. Three-bedroom stock at 20.7% and four-plus bedrooms at 10.3% are limited. Household income at the 80th percentile ($2,114 weekly) is strong, but the 18.4% outright ownership rate is among Brisbane's lowest, reflecting a transient professional cohort that buys later or not at all.
For Buyers
Without reliable median price data, buyers must work from proxy indicators: the $2,100 monthly mortgage at a 22.9% mortgage-to-income ratio is well below the stress threshold, though this likely reflects apartment purchases rather than houses (only 19.6% of stock is detached). Two-bedroom units dominate at 43.0%, with studios and one-bedrooms at 26.0%, meaning most inventory is compact. Three-bedroom stock at 20.7% and four-plus bedrooms at 10.3% are limited. Household income at the 80th percentile ($2,114 weekly) is strong, but the 18.4% outright ownership rate is among Brisbane's lowest, reflecting a transient professional cohort that buys later or not at all.
For Investors
Renters make up 59.5% of households, one of Brisbane's highest rates, creating the deepest tenant pool in the inner city. Median weekly rent of $450 is moderate for the location. However, the 10.8% vacancy rate is elevated and suggests oversupply from recent apartment towers. Rent growth of 18.4% over the decade has been moderate, below Brisbane's average for inner suburbs. Population growth at 3.56% annually (639 persons) is rapid, driven by both internal migration (132 per year) and overseas arrivals (457 per year). Zero development applications in the past 12 months is surprising given the growth trajectory, possibly indicating a pause between tower approvals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
349
Last 12 Months
92
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+7.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in West End iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
West End State School
Prep-6 · 1461 students
Townsville West State School
Prep-6 · 111 students
Demographics
English (4,424), Irish (1,863), Scottish (1,500) and Chinese (1,413) are the largest ancestry groups, with 40.4% born overseas, sitting 18.8 percentage points above the national baseline. Mandarin (312 speakers) leads non-English languages, followed by Greek (181), Cantonese (109), Portuguese (78) and Hindi (76). The 62.4% university rate is 32.3 points above the national average, the highest among comparable Brisbane suburbs. At a median age of 34, six years below the national figure, the demographic is young professional. Couples without children (3,627) outnumber couples with children (3,495), and the 37.6% couples-without-kids share is far above the national average, reflecting the apartment lifestyle.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
19.6%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
75.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure shows 18.4% outright owners, 22.1% mortgage holders and 59.5% renters, an extreme renter-dominant split. Apartments at 75.9% dominate, with detached houses at just 19.6% and semi-detached at 4.3%. Two-bedroom units (43.0%) and studio/one-bedrooms (26.0%) together account for 69.0% of stock, reflecting the apartment tower pipeline that has reshaped West End. Rent-to-income at 21.3% and mortgage-to-income at 22.9% are both comfortable, because the 80th percentile income absorbs the moderate price point. The average household size of 2.1 is below the national average, consistent with the young professional and couples-without-children profile.
Mortgage / mo
$2,100
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,139
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
778
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.6%
Couples, no children
9,637
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Technical leads employment at 19.4% (1,366 workers), followed by Healthcare (16.3%), Education (13.2%), Public Administration (6.8%) and Hospitality (5.7%). Professionals (3,863) dominate occupations by a wide margin, with Managers (1,351) second. The 68.8% full-time employment rate is above average, and the 67.0% participation rate is high. The 5.6% unemployment rate is slightly above the national average but acceptable for a high-turnover inner-city suburb. Real income grew 26.1% over the decade, the strongest among comparable Brisbane suburbs, suggesting the incoming cohort is wealthier than the one it replaces.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
12,193
Unemployed
540
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.8%
Part-time
25.6%
Participation
67.0%
Employed
8,159
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.4%
Postgraduate
21.4%
Born Overseas
40.4%
Dwellings
6,432
Transport to Work
Public transport usage at 17.4% is among Brisbane's highest, with car driving at just 56.1% and 21.5% walking or cycling, reflecting the inner-city location and ferry access. West End has no schools in the current dataset. The 19.6% volunteering rate is well above the national average. Only 3.0% need daily assistance, among Brisbane's lowest rates, consistent with the young, healthy professional demographic. At 7,648 per square kilometre, West End is one of Brisbane's densest suburbs, packed into just 1.93 square kilometres. The 26.1% real income growth and declining affordability ratio suggest liveability is improving by economic measures.
Drive
56.1%
Public Transport
17.4%
Walk / Cycle
21.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.56%/yr
(+639 people/yr)
High GrowthPopulation surged 85.5% over the past decade, one of Brisbane's fastest growth rates, reaching 17,928 in 2025 with medium projections of 21,468 by 2031 at 3.56% annually. Both internal (132 per year) and overseas (457 per year) migration feed growth, unusual because most high-growth suburbs rely on one channel. The affordability trend improved sharply, dropping from 52.3% in 2011 to 39.9% in 2021, meaning incomes grew faster than housing costs. Real income grew 26.1%. The working-age share grew 0.6 points and the young share grew 0.9 points, both positive signs. The 10.8% vacancy rate is the key risk to continued rent growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+457
Net Internal / yr
+132
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West End compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West End a good suburb to live in?
West End suits young professionals wanting walkable inner-city Brisbane living. The 62.4% university rate, 80th percentile income and 21.5% walking/cycling rate indicate a high-amenity lifestyle. Trade-offs include 75.9% apartment stock (limited houses), 59.5% renter majority, 10.8% vacancy rate, and a median age of 34 that skews transient.
What is the median house price in West End?
Reliable median house price data is not available for West End, where 75.9% of stock is apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,100 and weekly rents of $450 indicate a mid-premium market. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.9% is well below the stress threshold, reflecting the 80th percentile household income ($2,114 weekly).
What schools are in West End?
No schools appear in the current dataset for West End. However, the 62.4% university qualification rate, 32.3 percentage points above the national average, is the highest among comparable Brisbane suburbs. The 19.6% volunteering rate suggests strong community engagement. Families represent a smaller share here, with couples without children (3,627) outnumbering those with children (3,495).
Is West End safe?
Crime data is not available for West End. The 80th percentile household income, 62.4% university rate and 19.6% volunteering rate are protective factors. However, the 59.5% renter share, high transience (population grew 85.5% in a decade) and 10.8% vacancy suggest some instability. The 5.6% unemployment rate is slightly above the national average.
Is West End good for property investment?
West End's 59.5% renter share provides Brisbane's deepest inner-city tenant pool, and $450 weekly rent targets the professional cohort. The 3.56% annual population growth (639 persons) feeds demand. Risks include the 10.8% vacancy rate (the highest in comparable Brisbane suburbs) and potential apartment oversupply. Rent grew 18.4% over the decade, moderate for an inner suburb.
How is West End's population changing?
Population surged 85.5% over the past decade to 17,928, projected to reach 21,468 by 2031. Growth draws from both internal migration (132/yr) and overseas arrivals (457/yr). Real income grew 26.1%, the highest among comparable Brisbane suburbs. The young share grew 0.9 points, the working-age share grew 0.6 points, and the median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure.
What languages are spoken in West End?
Mandarin (312 speakers) leads non-English languages, followed by Greek (181), Cantonese (109), Portuguese (78) and Hindi (76). With 40.4% of residents born overseas, 18.8 percentage points above the national baseline, West End is one of Brisbane's most culturally diverse inner suburbs. Chinese ancestry (1,413) is the fourth-largest group behind English, Irish and Scottish.
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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