Westlake
Household income in the 94.7th percentile nationally, a median age of 43 three years above the national average, and 96.9% detached houses on just 1.99 square kilometres: Westlake is a compact, high-income owner-occupier enclave in Brisbane's western suburbs. Both IRSD and IRSAD sit at decile 10, the top advantage tier nationally, while the IEO decile 9 score confirms strong education and occupation outcomes. University qualifications reach 55.6%, which is 25.5 points above the national figure. The suburb holds its population tightly: 83.5% of residents stayed put in the year prior to Census, well above average turnover, pointing to deep residential roots rather than a transient cohort.
Population
4,547
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,691/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$665K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $665,000 is affordable compared to many comparable high-SEIFA Brisbane suburbs, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly repayments average $2,247, manageable at the 94.7th percentile household income of $2,691 per week. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.9%, with semi-detached at 3.1% and no apartment figures recorded, so buyers face a uniform product type with limited diversity. The bedroom profile heavily skews to four-plus bedrooms at 81.1%, with three-bedroom homes at 17.9%, reflecting the family-oriented demographic. Outright ownership at 44.0% and mortgage holders at 44.8% are nearly equal, a split typical of established suburbs where long-term owners coexist with active buyers.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $665,000 is affordable compared to many comparable high-SEIFA Brisbane suburbs, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly repayments average $2,247, manageable at the 94.7th percentile household income of $2,691 per week. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.9%, with semi-detached at 3.1% and no apartment figures recorded, so buyers face a uniform product type with limited diversity. The bedroom profile heavily skews to four-plus bedrooms at 81.1%, with three-bedroom homes at 17.9%, reflecting the family-oriented demographic. Outright ownership at 44.0% and mortgage holders at 44.8% are nearly equal, a split typical of established suburbs where long-term owners coexist with active buyers.
For Investors
Investment fundamentals are modest rather than compelling. Weekly rent of $550 against a $665,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, reasonable for a low-risk suburb but not exceptional. The vacancy rate of 3.5% sits just above the 3% threshold considered balanced, and the rental share is only 11.1%, meaning tenant demand is shallow because most residents are owner-occupiers. Net overseas migration averages 38 per year and internal migration shows a net outflow of 53 annually, so organic demand growth is marginal. Eight development applications in the past 12 months, including lot reconfiguration and subdivision activity, signal some incremental supply pressure. The low turnover rate of 16.5% means properties rarely come to market, which supports price stability over yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+700.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national average, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by an 8.7-point rise in the senior share and a 5.4-point fall in the working-age share over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 36.3%, which is 14.7 points above the national figure, a higher international composition than most similar Brisbane suburbs. English ancestry leads at 1,606 residents, followed by Irish, Scottish, and Chinese, each between 436 and 468. Mandarin (93 speakers) and Cantonese (63) are the most common non-English languages, consistent with a visible Chinese community within the 36.3% overseas-born population. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national figure, reflecting the couples-with-children profile: couples with children account for 1,734 families compared to 1,026 couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.9%
Houses
3.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses dominate at 96.9% of stock, with semi-detached at 3.1%, making Westlake one of the more uniform housing markets in Brisbane. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 81.1% of dwellings, a share higher than most established suburbs nationally, reflecting the large-family ownership culture. Tenure is split almost evenly between outright owners (44.0%) and mortgage holders (44.8%), with renters at just 11.1%, well below the national rental share. Rent-to-income at 20.4% keeps tenants below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 19.3% does the same for owners. The $665,000 median is estimated from rental data as of 2025 because direct transaction data is limited for this suburb, so the figure carries more uncertainty than markets with high transaction volumes.
Mortgage / mo
$2,247
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,007
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.5%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.6%
Couples, no children
4,163
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 17.6% of workers (310 people), followed closely by Education at 14.4% (254) and Professional/Tech at 14.2% (249). Public Administration accounts for 8.8% and Retail 6.5%, creating a stable, knowledge-sector-weighted local workforce. By occupation, Professionals (790) and Managers (420) together comprise the majority of employed residents, consistent with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupational advantage. The unemployment rate of 4.4% is moderate, while the full-time employment rate of 65.6% is solid, though participation of 60.6% is restrained because 1,205 residents are outside the labour force, partly a function of the aging trajectory. Real income grew 7.0% over the decade, and all four SEIFA indexes place Westlake at decile 9 or 10, with IRSD, IRSAD and IER each at decile 10.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
2,411
Unemployed
70
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.6%
Part-time
30.0%
Participation
60.6%
Employed
2,129
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.6%
Postgraduate
16.8%
Born Overseas
36.3%
Dwellings
1,506
Transport to Work
Transport in Westlake is car-dependent: 88.4% of residents drive to work and only 5.6% use public transport, compared to higher public transport rates in inner Brisbane. Volunteering at 19.1% is above average and reflects civic engagement within the high-SEIFA owner-occupier community. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.2% (186 people), modest given the 94.7th percentile income context. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions in the western Brisbane corridor. The IRSAD decile 10 score positions Westlake in the top tier nationally for advantage, and housing stress is absent on both the rental and mortgage measures at 20.4% and 19.3% respectively. The low rental share of 11.1% and high stay-rate of 83.5% together indicate a stable, settled residential environment.
Drive
88.4%
Public Transport
5.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.13%/yr
(-6 people/yr)
EstablishedWestlake's population trend is effectively flat, with an annual decline of 0.13% or approximately 6 people per year, placing it firmly in the slow-growth established category. The 10-year population change was just 1.4%. The suburb had a COVID dip of 2.2% but recovered, with current population at 4,516 near the pre-COVID 4,592. Medium forecasts project a gradual decline from 4,499 in 2026 to 4,470 by 2031. Net internal migration averages minus 53 per year, partially offset by 38 net overseas arrivals annually. The aging trajectory, with the senior share up 8.7 points over the decade, means the working-age cohort is slowly contracting. Rent grew 19.6% over the period despite flat population, because affordability is still relatively accessible at rent-to-income of 20.4%, drawing higher-income overseas-born households.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+38
Net Internal / yr
-53
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Westlake compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westlake a good suburb to live in?
Westlake ranks at decile 10 on IRSD and IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 94.7th percentile. University qualifications reach 55.6%, which is 25.5 points above the national figure. Housing stress is low on both mortgage (19.3% of income) and rent (20.4%) measures, and 83.5% of residents stayed in the suburb year-on-year, indicating strong satisfaction.
What is the median house price in Westlake?
The estimated median house price is $665,000 as of 2025, derived from rental data. Weekly rent averages $550 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,247. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3% is well below the 30% stress threshold given the suburb's 94.7th percentile household income of $2,691 per week.
What schools are in Westlake?
No schools are recorded within the Westlake suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring western Brisbane suburbs. Despite no local schools, education outcomes are strong: 55.6% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 25.5 points above the national average, and the IEO score sits at decile 9.
Is Westlake safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Westlake in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD, the index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the top advantage tier nationally. Only 4.2% of residents (186 people) need daily assistance, and housing stress is absent on both rental and mortgage measures.
Is Westlake good for property investment?
Gross rental yield is approximately 4.3% based on $550 weekly rent against the $665,000 median, moderate rather than high. The rental share of only 11.1% means limited tenant demand, and net internal migration is negative at minus 53 per year. The vacancy rate of 3.5% is slightly above the balanced threshold of 3%. The investment case relies on capital stability in a high-SEIFA, low-turnover suburb rather than yield or strong demand growth.
How is Westlake's population changing?
Population is declining slowly at 0.13% per year, about 6 people annually, with medium forecasts projecting a fall from 4,499 in 2026 to 4,470 by 2031. The suburb recovered from a 2.2% COVID dip and the 10-year change was just 1.4%. The primary dynamic is an aging trajectory: the senior share rose 8.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 5.4 points.
What languages are spoken in Westlake?
About 36.3% of residents were born overseas, which is 14.7 points above the national figure. English is dominant, but Mandarin (93 speakers) and Cantonese (63) are the most common non-English languages, consistent with Chinese ancestry being the fifth largest ancestry group with 436 residents. Persian (33) and Hindi (25) are also present.
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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