QLD 4350 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Wilsonton

Wilsonton's standout feature is its low-income, older profile: 5,891 residents, a median age of 42, and household income at the 17.8th percentile. Age is 2 years above the national comparison, while 39.3% of households rent and 77.4% of dwellings are separate houses. English ancestry counts 2,446 people, compared with 12.0% born overseas, so the suburb is more Anglo-oriented than many Australian areas. Its established, car-dependent setting differs from nearby Newtown and Harristown, but density of 1,148.7 people per sq km keeps everyday services relatively concentrated.

Wilsonton urban fabric map

Population

5,891

Median Age

42.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,107/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

18

5.13 km²· 1,148.7 people/km²· Family income $1,470/wk

For buyers, Wilsonton's practical appeal is the detached-house mix rather than a quoted median price, which is not available. Separate houses account for 77.4% of dwellings, with 51.8% containing 3 bedrooms and 21.2% containing 4 or more. The typical mortgage figure is $1,300 per month, while mortgage payments equal 27.1% of household income. Rent at $290 a week provides a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing, and the 39.3% rental share means there is a substantial tenant market. Compared with a unit-led market, Wilsonton suits households seeking conventional space, but each property should be assessed against recent comparable sales because no suburb median is available.

For Buyers

For buyers, Wilsonton's practical appeal is the detached-house mix rather than a quoted median price, which is not available. Separate houses account for 77.4% of dwellings, with 51.8% containing 3 bedrooms and 21.2% containing 4 or more. The typical mortgage figure is $1,300 per month, while mortgage payments equal 27.1% of household income. Rent at $290 a week provides a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing, and the 39.3% rental share means there is a substantial tenant market. Compared with a unit-led market, Wilsonton suits households seeking conventional space, but each property should be assessed against recent comparable sales because no suburb median is available.

For Investors

Investors get a tenant-oriented profile, with 39.3% of households renting and weekly rent at $290. Vacancy is 6.6%, higher than a tightly supplied market, so leasing may require sharper pricing and presentation even though the rental base is substantial. Development activity reached 19 applications over 12 months, signalling ongoing works without evidence of a large construction pipeline. The growth outlook is modest at 0.65% annually and migration is described as Balanced, which points to steadier demand than a speculative growth story. Wilsonton's 77.4% separate-house share can support family tenants, while the 34.5% outright-owner share may limit rapid turnover compared with more investor-heavy areas.

Development Activity

Total DAs

89

Last 12 Months

18

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+12.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Change of Use
14
Subdivision
9
Other
8
Driveway / Crossover
2
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
1

Schools in Wilsonton

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Fairview Heights State School

State School Government

Wilsonton State School

State School Government

Demographics

Wilsonton has an older and less university-qualified profile than Australia overall. The median age is 42, which is 2 years above the national comparison, while 17.2% of residents have university qualifications, 12.9 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 12.0%, 9.6 points below the national comparison, reinforcing the suburb's Anglo-leaning identity. English ancestry is recorded for 2,446 people, followed by Irish 706, German 689 and Scottish 593. Christianity totals 3,260 people versus 2,044 reporting no religion. Household size averages 2.2, below the national comparison by 0.3, because couples without children make up 44.7% of families and one-parent families 22.5%.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.8%
15-24
12.7%
25-44
23.0%
45-64
22.6%
65+
24.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
2.9%
2 bed
24.1%
3 bed
51.8%
4+ bed
21.2%

Dwelling Structure

77.4%

Houses

15.2%

Townhouse

7.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 34.5% Mortgage 25.3% Rent 39.3% Other 0.9%

Wilsonton is detached-dominant, with 77.4% of dwellings separate houses, 15.2% semi-detached and 7.5% apartments. The bedroom mix favours 3-bedroom homes at 51.8%, while 21.2% have 4 or more bedrooms, fitting a suburb where average household size is 2.2. Tenure is more divided than a heavily owner-occupied market: 34.5% own outright, 25.3% have a mortgage and 39.3% rent. That rental share helps explain why weekly rent is $290, while rent-to-income is 26.2% and mortgage-to-income is 27.1%, with neither marked as housing stress. Compared with unit-led areas, Wilsonton's house concentration may give families more space, but each property should be assessed against recent comparable sales because no median price is available.

Mortgage / mo

$1,300

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $290.

$560

Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $560 · units $440

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$638

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.6%

Unoccupied

184

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.2%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

27.1%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
2,446
Irish
706
German
689
Scottish
593
Other
385
Ancestry NS
282

Household Composition

30.8%

Couples with children

44.7%

Couples, no children

22.5%

Single parent

1,581

Total families

Economy & Employment

Wilsonton's employment base is led by Healthcare at 22.8% with 325 workers, followed by Education at 12.7% and 181, Retail at 9.6% and 137, Construction at 9.3% and 133, and Manufacturing at 8.8% and 125. This service and trade mix helps explain why the leading occupations are Trades 404, Community/Personal 394 and Labourers 354, ahead of Clerical/Admin 316 and Professionals 292. Household income is $1,107 a week and sits at the 17.8th percentile, below higher-income suburbs. Unemployment is 7.1% and participation is 53.5%, while IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD are all in decile 1, indicating socioeconomic disadvantage that can constrain spending despite strong healthcare demand.

Unemployment

7.1%

Labour Force

2,618

Unemployed

185

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
1
Disadvantage
1
Economic resources
1
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

61.1%

Part-time

33.4%

Participation

53.5%

Employed

2,433

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Trades 404
Community/Personal 394
Labourers 354
Clerical/Admin 316
Professionals 292
Sales 251
Machinery/Drivers 224
Managers 169

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.8%
Education 12.7%
Retail 9.6%
Construction 9.3%
Manufacturing 8.8%

University

17.2%

Postgraduate

2.1%

Born Overseas

12.0%

Dwellings

2,600

Transport to Work

Daily life in Wilsonton is strongly car-oriented: 83.7% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.5% using public transport, while 3.0% walk or cycle and 5.8% work from home. That pattern matters because errands and commuting are less likely to be handled without a vehicle. Two nearby schools serve the area, both government sector state schools, giving families local options; exact enrolment zones and year levels should be checked at the address. The suburb covers 5.13 sq km with 5,891 residents and density of 1,148.7 people per sq km, so services are relatively concentrated rather than spread across a rural setting. Livability is tempered by IRSAD decile 1 and 9.8% needing assistance, indicating greater disadvantage than more advantaged communities. No suburb crime rate is available, so safety should be judged using current local incident information and street-level conditions.

Drive

83.7%

Public Transport

0.5%

Walk / Cycle

3.0%

Work from Home

5.8%

Population Forecast

+0.65%/yr

(+96 people/yr)

Established

Wilsonton's growth profile is established rather than rapid: the trend is 0.65% a year and the primary migration driver is Balanced. The wider area records 9.2% population change over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 8.0% and the young share down 3.4%. That 0.65% pace fits an established suburb because demand is supported by existing services more than a large influx of younger households. Gentrification is rated Not gentrifying with a score of 3, although the shift score is 21 with an Early signs label, so isolated renewal signals should not be mistaken for broad repositioning. Compared with faster-growth corridors, Wilsonton is more likely to change incrementally.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+62

Net Internal / yr

+14

3

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +10% since 2011

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Wilsonton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 10%
Household Income
Bottom 18%
Rent Level
Top 43%
Apartments
Top 9%
Renters
Top 12%
Uni Educated
Bottom 27%
Public Transport
Bottom 6%
Born Overseas
Bottom 40%
Density
Top 14%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wilsonton a good suburb to live in?

Wilsonton suits households wanting detached housing and established services, with 77.4% separate houses and density of 1,148.7 people per sq km. Compared with more transit-oriented suburbs, daily life is car dependent because 83.7% travel by car. Its main cautions are IRSAD decile 1 and a median age of 42.

What is the median house price in Wilsonton?

A median house price cannot be stated for Wilsonton. Compare recent sales and current listings by dwelling type, because 77.4% of homes are separate houses, 51.8% have 3 bedrooms and only 7.5% are apartments. Compared with unit-led areas, a single suburb-wide figure would be less useful for judging individual houses.

What schools are in Wilsonton?

Wilsonton has 2 nearby schools: Fairview Heights State School and Wilsonton State School. Both are government sector state schools, so families should compare enrolment zones, year levels and travel time against the exact address. School access is local, but boundaries can differ from nearby Toowoomba suburbs such as Newtown and Harristown.

Is Wilsonton safe?

A suburb-specific crime rate is not available for Wilsonton, so it should not be ranked as safer or less safe than another area on that basis. With 5,891 residents across 5.13 sq km, residents should check recent Queensland Police information and inspect lighting, traffic and streets at different times. Compared with any broad label, those checks provide more useful context.

Is Wilsonton good for property investment?

Wilsonton can suit a yield-focused investor, but the case is not purely growth-led. Rent is $290 a week, 39.3% of households rent and vacancy is 6.6%, giving a substantial tenant base but more choice for renters than in a tightly supplied market. Development activity totalled 19 applications over 12 months, while forecast growth is 0.65% annually and migration is Balanced. Compared with high-growth locations, returns depend more on purchase discipline and tenant demand.

How is Wilsonton's population changing?

Wilsonton is ageing gradually rather than expanding rapidly. Forecast trend growth is 0.65% a year, migration is Balanced and population change across the wider area is 9.2% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 8.0% and young share down 3.4%. Compared with younger growth areas, this points to demand supported by established services and existing households, not a rapid influx of new residents.

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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