Wooloowin
At 3,662 residents per km2 across just 1.1 km2, Wooloowin packs a population of 4,029 into one of Brisbane's more compact inner-north footprints. The most striking fact is the education level: 53.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 23.8 percentage points above the national average. Household income sits at the 79.9th percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD, IRSD and IEO, placing it in the top tier of Australian advantage. Housing tenure skews strongly toward renting, with 50.4% of dwellings tenanted, and apartments and separate houses split almost evenly at 48.4% vs 46.5%.
Population
4,029
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,113/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
35
Median House
$520K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at $520,000, estimated from rental data as of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,275, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, below the 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes at the 79.9th percentile nationally. The housing stock is almost evenly split between separate houses (46.5%) and apartments (48.4%), which means buyer preference strongly determines which segment you compete in. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 36.0% of stock, the largest share, followed by 3-bedroom at 26.6% and 4-plus at 24.5%. Outright owners make up only 17.1%, lower than typical established suburbs, which combined with a 50.4% renter share signals the area still attracts a high proportion of transient residents rather than long-term settled households.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $520,000, estimated from rental data as of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,275, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, below the 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes at the 79.9th percentile nationally. The housing stock is almost evenly split between separate houses (46.5%) and apartments (48.4%), which means buyer preference strongly determines which segment you compete in. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 36.0% of stock, the largest share, followed by 3-bedroom at 26.6% and 4-plus at 24.5%. Outright owners make up only 17.1%, lower than typical established suburbs, which combined with a 50.4% renter share signals the area still attracts a high proportion of transient residents rather than long-term settled households.
For Investors
A 50.4% renter share is one of the higher figures in inner Brisbane, providing landlords a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $350 against the $520,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.5%. The vacancy rate of 9.0% is elevated and warrants attention, suggesting some oversupply in the apartment segment that represents 48.4% of dwellings. Demand support is strong on a structural basis: overseas migration drives net inflows of around 230 residents per year, population grew 26.2% over the decade, and rent growth of 22.6% over the period indicates landlords have pushed rents successfully. The suburb ranks decile 9 on IRSAD nationally, which tends to sustain tenant quality and rental demand above lower-advantage areas.
Development Activity
Total DAs
101
Last 12 Months
35
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+29.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wooloowin iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Holy Cross School
Prep-6 · 93 students
Wooloowin State School
Prep-6 · 345 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, placing Wooloowin in a younger-than-average bracket for inner Brisbane. University qualifications reach 53.9%, standing 23.8 points above the national average. Overseas-born residents are 26.6% of the population, which is 5.0 percentage points above the national figure. Ancestry leads with English (1,450), Irish (607) and Scottish (502), while the top non-English language is Nepali (76 speakers). Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below national, aligning with the younger couples and singles profile. Couples without children account for 30.0% of families, and couples with children represent the larger group at 1,271 families recorded.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
46.5%
Houses
5.2%
Townhouse
48.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by renters at 50.4%, with mortgage holders at 32.5% and outright owners at only 17.1%, well below typical established-suburb levels. This tenure mix partly reflects the apartment-heavy stock: 48.4% of dwellings are apartments versus 46.5% separate houses, a near-even split uncommon in broader Brisbane. The median house price of $520,000 is estimated from rent data, and rent-to-income sits at 16.6%, below the 30% stress threshold compared to national norms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,275 at a 24.9% mortgage-to-income ratio. The bedroom mix leans toward smaller dwellings, with 2-bedroom units at 36.0% the dominant type, consistent with the higher proportion of apartments and renters than the national average.
Mortgage / mo
$2,275
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,113
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
167
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.0%
Couples, no children
2,799
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 19.9% (372 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 16.3% (305) and Education at 8.7% (162). This services-heavy mix aligns with the IEO decile 9 score for education and occupation advantage nationally. By occupation, Professionals account for 850 workers, comfortably ahead of Managers (361) and Clerical/Admin (314). The full-time employment rate is 67.6%, with an unemployment rate of 5.0% and participation at 69.6%. SEIFA shows a notable split: IRSAD, IRSD and IEO all score decile 9 nationally, while the IER economic resources score sits at decile 5, reflecting that a 50.4% renter base depresses aggregate household asset measures even as incomes rank in the 79.9th percentile.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
8,325
Unemployed
370
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.6%
Part-time
27.4%
Participation
69.6%
Employed
2,244
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.9%
Postgraduate
14.6%
Born Overseas
26.6%
Dwellings
1,687
Transport to Work
Public transport use reaches 20.6% of commuters, above average for Brisbane, with 5.4% walking or cycling and 68.1% driving, which is below the national car-dependency norm. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the top tier of advantage. Housing stress metrics are comfortable: rent-to-income is 16.6% and mortgage-to-income is 24.9%, both below standard stress thresholds compared to national benchmarks. Volunteering runs at 16.4% and 4.2% of residents (162 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded within the 1.1 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Development activity is active with 29 applications in the past 12 months, mostly extensions to existing dwellings, indicating ongoing reinvestment in the housing stock.
Drive
68.1%
Public Transport
20.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.67%/yr
(+205 people/yr)
EstablishedWooloowin's population has grown 26.2% over the decade, and current annual growth tracks at 1.67%, adding around 205 residents per year. Overseas migration is the primary engine, contributing a net 230 residents annually compared to just 10 from internal migration. Medium-scenario forecasts project the SA2 population reaching approximately 13,428 by 2031. Gentrification signals are in early stages with a score of 37: population is up 35% since 2011, public transport use has accelerated from 13% to 20%, and overseas inflow remains strong. Affordability improved from 37.8% in 2011 to 34.4% in 2021, suggesting incomes grew faster than housing costs over that window, a positive signal for long-term stability.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+230
Net Internal / yr
+10
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +35% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +230/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 20%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wooloowin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wooloowin a good suburb to live in?
Wooloowin ranks decile 9 on IRSAD, IEO and IRSD nationally, placing it in the top advantage tier. Household income sits at the 79.9th percentile, and 53.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 23.8 points above the national figure. Public transport use at 20.6% and rent-to-income at 16.6% reflect comfortable conditions for renters and commuters.
What is the median house price in Wooloowin?
The median house price is $520,000, estimated from rental data as of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,275, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%. Weekly rent averages $350, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 16.6%, below common stress thresholds.
What schools are in Wooloowin?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.1 km2 Wooloowin boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local adult population is highly educated at 53.9% university qualified, which is 23.8 percentage points above the national average.
Is Wooloowin safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wooloowin in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, meaning very low levels of deprivation. Only 4.2% of residents (162 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage, advantaged community.
Is Wooloowin good for property investment?
A 50.4% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $350 against a $520,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.5%. However, the 9.0% vacancy rate is elevated and suggests some oversupply in the apartment segment at 48.4% of dwellings. Overseas migration adding 230 residents per year supports longer-term demand, and rent has grown 22.6% over the period.
How is Wooloowin's population changing?
The population grew 26.2% over the 10-year period and is currently growing at 1.67% annually, adding around 205 people per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 230 residents per year versus just 10 from internal migration. Medium-scenario forecasts project the SA2 reaching around 13,428 residents by 2031.
How much development is happening in Wooloowin?
There were 29 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are extensions and alterations to existing dwellings, consistent with an established inner suburb reinvesting in its housing stock rather than adding significant new supply. The suburb's 1.1 km2 footprint and 3,662 residents per km2 density limit major greenfield development.
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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