Wilston
At 4,110 residents packed into 1.44 km2, Wilston ranks among Brisbane's most affluent inner suburbs, with household income in the 97th percentile nationally and SEIFA scores hitting decile 10 on three of four indexes. University qualifications reach 62.1%, which is 32 points above the national average. The suburb is distinctly owner-occupied and house-dominated: 70.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 65.4% of residents either own outright or carry a mortgage, pointing to a stable, high-commitment residential base rather than a transient rental market.
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
28
Median House
$609K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $609,000 sits above many comparable inner-Brisbane suburbs given Wilston's size and density of 2,846 per km2. Separate houses dominate at 70.3% of stock, with apartments at 20.9% and semi-detached at 8.8%. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 42.4% of dwellings, skewing the market toward family buyers rather than investors. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, which reflects the high incomes here compared to the national median. Outright owners at 30.7% slightly outnumber those with mortgages at 34.7%, indicating a settled, debt-reduction-oriented ownership profile.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $609,000 sits above many comparable inner-Brisbane suburbs given Wilston's size and density of 2,846 per km2. Separate houses dominate at 70.3% of stock, with apartments at 20.9% and semi-detached at 8.8%. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 42.4% of dwellings, skewing the market toward family buyers rather than investors. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, which reflects the high incomes here compared to the national median. Outright owners at 30.7% slightly outnumber those with mortgages at 34.7%, indicating a settled, debt-reduction-oriented ownership profile.
For Investors
Renters make up 34.6% of households, providing a meaningful tenant pool, and weekly rents average $405. Against the $609,000 estimated median, that implies a gross yield near 3.5%, modest but not unusual for inner Brisbane. The vacancy rate of 5.5% is elevated, suggesting some softness in the rental segment, particularly apartments which account for 20.9% of stock. Development activity reached 24 applications in the past 12 months, including lot reconfiguration and building work, indicating ongoing activity. Net overseas migration of 56 residents annually balances against net internal outflow of 56, leaving population growth near flat at 0.31% per year, which limits the demand uplift investors rely on.
Development Activity
Total DAs
102
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+21.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wilston iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Columba's Primary School
Prep-6 · 495 students
Demographics
Wilston's median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, reflecting a working-age concentration rather than an aging profile. Overseas-born residents reach 20.0%, which is 1.6 points below the national average, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry dominance: English (1,742), Irish (844) and Scottish (538) lead ancestry counts. University qualifications at 62.1% are 32 points above the national level, among the highest in Queensland. The average household size is 2.7, slightly above national, and couples with children represent the largest household type, with 1,587 such families compared to 725 couples without children. Volunteering reaches 22.9%, pointing to an engaged residential community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.3%
Houses
8.8%
Townhouse
20.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Wilston leans heavily toward ownership: 30.7% own outright and 34.7% carry a mortgage, while 34.6% rent, a more balanced split than many comparable suburbs. The stock is house-dominant with 70.3% separate dwellings, and the bedroom profile skews large: 42.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 31.2% have three, meaning single and two-person households are less well served. Two-bedroom dwellings account for only 21.9% of stock. The rent-to-income ratio of 13.6% is comfortably below stress thresholds, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.0% also sits well clear of the 30% stress line, in line with household income at the 97th percentile nationally. Housing stress flags are absent for both renters and mortgage holders.
Mortgage / mo
$2,700
Rent / wk
$405
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
22.2%
Couples, no children
3,261
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.5% of local workers (421 people), well above state averages for a suburban area, followed by Professional and Technical services at 19.6% (366) and Education at 11.1% (208). By occupation, Professionals number 1,041, making them the single largest group, with Managers at 416 and Clerical staff at 264. Full-time employment runs at 68.4% and the unemployment rate is 4.5%, close to the national baseline. Real incomes grew 14.7% over the decade. SEIFA scores are uniformly high: IRSD decile 10, IRSAD decile 10, IEO decile 10, and IER decile 9, placing Wilston in the top advantage tier nationally across education, opportunity and relative disadvantage measures.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
2,700
Unemployed
75
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.4%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
69.1%
Employed
2,207
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.1%
Postgraduate
16.7%
Born Overseas
20.0%
Dwellings
1,485
Transport to Work
Wilston's liveability case rests on its income advantage and low housing stress rather than transport diversity. Car dependence is high at 70.7% of commuters, while 13.2% use public transport and 10.2% walk or cycle, the latter figure above the national average. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the highest national tier for relative advantage, and household income sits in the 97th percentile. Only 3.1% of residents (125 people) need daily assistance, low for any age profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on institutions in adjoining suburbs, a practical consideration given 1,587 couples-with-children households. The 71.1% residential stability rate (those who stayed over five years) points to a low-turnover, high-commitment neighbourhood.
Drive
70.7%
Public Transport
13.2%
Walk / Cycle
10.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.31%/yr
(+13 people/yr)
EstablishedWilston is a slow-growth established suburb. Population expanded 4.1% over the decade to 4,110 and is projected to reach approximately 4,247 by 2031, a medium-scenario growth rate of 0.31% per year, or about 13 additional residents annually. The migration pattern is balanced: overseas arrivals average 56 per year while net internal departure also runs at 56, leaving natural increase as the marginal driver. The young-adult share fell 3.6 points over the decade while the senior share rose 2.8 points, a declining-young trajectory that is typical of high-cost inner suburbs. Gentrification is not signalled here because the suburb is already at decile 10 advantage with no room to climb. Rent growth over the period reached 14.3%, tracking real income growth of 14.7%.
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 ranks in decile 10 on IRSAD, IEO and IRSD, the top national advantage tier, with household income in the 97th percentile. University qualifications reach 62.1%, which is 32 points above the national figure. The main practical trade-off is high car dependence at 70.7% of commuters and no schools recorded inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Wilston?
The estimated median house price is $609,000 (2025 estimate based on rental data). Weekly rent averages $405 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold given the high local incomes.
What schools are in Wilston?
No schools are recorded within the Wilston suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 62.1%, which is 32 points above the national figure, and 1,587 couples-with-children households in the area.
Is Wilston safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wilston in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest national tier, and only 3.1% of residents (125 people) need daily assistance. Both measures are consistent with a very low-disadvantage, stable residential area.
Is Wilston good for property investment?
Renters make up 34.6% of households and weekly rent averages $405, implying a gross yield near 3.5% against the $609,000 estimated median. The 5.5% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention. Annual population growth of 0.31% (about 13 people per year) provides limited demand-side uplift, so the investment case depends more on capital growth than rental yield.
How is Wilston's population changing?
Population reached 4,110 in 2025, up 4.1% over 10 years, with medium forecasts projecting about 4,247 residents by 2031. Growth is slow at 0.31% annually. Overseas migration adds 56 residents a year but is offset by equal internal net outflow. The young-adult share fell 3.6 points over the decade while the senior share rose 2.8 points.
How much development is happening in Wilston?
There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including lot reconfiguration, demolition and building work. For a compact 1.44 km2 suburb, this indicates active but modest redevelopment activity rather than large-scale new supply, consistent with an established suburb at 0.31% annual population growth.
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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