Wilston
A compact inner-north suburb, Wilston packs 4,110 residents into 1.44 sq km, producing a density of 2,845.7 people per sq km. Its median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, while 62.1% of residents hold a university qualification and household income ranks at the 97th percentile. Compared with nearby Herston, Wilston presents a more detached-house-oriented profile, with 70.3% of dwellings being separate houses. The result is a high-income, established pocket where professional households and a 2.7-person average household support steady demand rather than rapid expansion.
Population
4,110
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,971/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Wilston suits buyers prioritising established houses, larger floorplans and access to Brisbane's inner north, although a current median house price is unavailable. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,700 per month, while mortgage costs equal 21.0% of household income and are not flagged as stressful. Separate houses account for 70.3% of dwellings, compared with 20.9% apartments and 8.8% semi-detached homes. The bedroom mix is family-capable, with 42.4% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 31.2% having 3 bedrooms. This configuration supports owner-occupiers because space is more common than in apartment-led markets.
For Buyers
Wilston suits buyers prioritising established houses, larger floorplans and access to Brisbane's inner north, although a current median house price is unavailable. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,700 per month, while mortgage costs equal 21.0% of household income and are not flagged as stressful. Separate houses account for 70.3% of dwellings, compared with 20.9% apartments and 8.8% semi-detached homes. The bedroom mix is family-capable, with 42.4% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 31.2% having 3 bedrooms. This configuration supports owner-occupiers because space is more common than in apartment-led markets.
For Investors
Wilston presents a steadier rental proposition than a rapid-growth redevelopment market. Weekly rent is $405, renting accounts for 34.2% of occupied dwellings and vacancy is 5.5%, giving tenants more choice than in a tightly constrained market. Rent growth of 14.3% provides a recent income tailwind, while 31 development matters were recorded over 12 months. Gross rental yield cannot be calculated without a current median house price. The 0 gentrification score and classification of Not gentrifying point to lower speculative uplift, while annual growth of 0.31% suggests investors should focus on established demand and holding quality.
Development Activity
Total DAs
110
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+31.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wilston
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Columba's Primary School (Wilston)
Demographics
Wilston has a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national average, and an average household size of 2.7 people, 0.2 above the national figure. University qualifications are especially prominent at 62.1%, or 32 percentage points above the national comparison, helping explain the suburb's professional and managerial employment base. Overseas-born residents comprise 20.0%, 1.6 points below nationally, while English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1,742, 844 and 538 respectively. Christianity has 2,032 adherents and no religion 1,729, indicating a population shaped by both established local ancestry and secular urban households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.3%
Houses
8.8%
Townhouse
20.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Wilston's housing is predominantly detached and relatively spacious, but a current median sale price is unavailable, so buyers need to compare recent settled sales by street and dwelling condition. Separate houses make up 70.3% of homes, versus 20.9% apartments and 8.8% semi-detached dwellings. Four or more bedrooms account for 42.4%, while 3-bedroom homes represent 31.2%, a mix that is more space-oriented compared with apartment-heavy inner-city areas. Tenure is evenly divided between outright ownership at 30.4%, mortgages at 34.4% and renting at 34.2%. Mortgage-to-income is 21.0% and rent-to-income is 13.6%, with neither marked as stressed.
Mortgage / mo
$2,700
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $405.
$750
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $750 · units $615
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,258
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
87
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.3%
Couples with children
34.0%
Couples, no children
11.2%
Single parent
1,068
Total families
Economy & Employment
Wilston's economy is anchored by healthcare at 22.5% of jobs, or 421 workers, followed by professional and technical services at 19.6% and 366 workers. Education contributes 11.1% and 208 workers, while public administration has 7.0% and construction 6.0%. Professionals number 1,041 and managers 416, matching the household-income ranking at the 97th percentile. Labour-force participation is 75.1%, full-time employment is 62.7% and unemployment is 4.1%, supporting the suburb's strong economic position. SEIFA places education and occupation in decile 10, economic resources in decile 9 and overall advantage in decile 10. The IER result is slightly lower than the other three measures, but still indicates very high resources.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
2,511
Unemployed
104
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
29.0%
Participation
75.1%
Employed
2,407
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.1%
Postgraduate
16.7%
Born Overseas
20.0%
Dwellings
1,485
Transport to Work
Wilston's compact form supports practical access, but daily travel remains car-led: 46.7% of residents drive, compared with 8.7% using public transport and 6.7% walking or cycling. Work-from-home participation is 34.0%, which can reduce commuting pressure for professional households. One local school is St Columba's Primary School, a Catholic non-State primary school; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. An IRSAD decile of 10 places Wilston above most Australian areas for relative advantage, while 3.1% of residents need assistance. Compared with transit-first inner-city locations, Wilston is better suited to households seeking established streets, local schooling and a quieter residential setting. Current police incident data should be checked for street-level safety decisions.
Drive
46.7%
Public Transport
8.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
34.0%
Population Forecast
+0.31%/yr
(+13 people/yr)
EstablishedWilston has an established, slow-growth trajectory: the annual trend is 0.31%, while population change across the wider area is 4.1% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, so demand is more likely to come from incoming households than from major local expansion. The shift label is Declining young, with the young share down 3.6 percentage points and the senior share up 2.8 points. Rent growth of 14.3% and affordability improving from 39.4% in 2011 to 31.9% in 2021 add support for housing demand. Compared with faster-growing corridors, the gentrification score of 0 and stage of Not gentrifying point to gradual change rather than a sharp repositioning.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+56
Net Internal / yr
-56
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wilston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilston a good suburb to live in?
Wilston suits households wanting an established inner-north setting, with 4,110 residents, a median age of 37 and 70.3% separate houses. Its 62.1% university-qualification rate and IRSAD decile 10 indicate strong socioeconomic conditions, while transport is more car-oriented than public-transport-led.
What is the median house price in Wilston?
A current median house price is unavailable for Wilston. Buyers should compare recent settled sales by address, land size and renovation level. The suburb has 70.3% separate houses, a listed mortgage figure of $2,700 per month and weekly rent of $405.
What schools are in Wilston?
St Columba's Primary School is a local Catholic non-State primary school in Wilston. Families should confirm enrolment zones and available places for the exact address, particularly when comparing public and non-State options. School access should be assessed separately from the suburb's IRSAD decile 10.
Is Wilston safe?
A current suburb-specific crime rate should be checked through Queensland Police incident data before deciding. Wilston covers 1.44 sq km and has 4,110 residents, so conditions can vary by street and activity area. Inspecting the exact route, lighting and nearby facilities is also useful.
Is Wilston good for property investment?
Wilston may suit investors seeking established rental demand rather than rapid speculative growth. Weekly rent is $405, vacancy is 5.5% and 34.2% of dwellings are rented. However, annual growth is 0.31% and the gentrification score is 0, so yield and recent comparable sales need careful checking.
How is Wilston's population changing?
Wilston is changing gradually rather than expanding rapidly. Annual growth is forecast at 0.31%, while population change across the wider area is 4.1% over 10 years and overseas migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is Declining young, with the young share down 3.6 percentage points and the senior share up 2.8 points.
What development is happening in Wilston?
There were 31 development matters recorded over 12 months, including house extensions, partial demolition and design-and-siting referrals. This points to ongoing small-scale renewal rather than a clearly identified major project pipeline. Wilston's gentrification stage remains Not gentrifying, with a score of 0.
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.
Explore Wilston on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map