Wulkuraka
At a median age of 28, Wulkuraka skews 12 years younger than the national figure, making it one of the more youthful pockets within the Ipswich corridor. The suburb's 1,325 residents are spread across 3.79 square kilometres, producing a moderate density of 350 people per square kilometre. More than half of all dwellings, at 54.2%, are rented, and the workforce leans toward community service and labouring roles rather than professional sectors.
Local council: Ipswich
Population
1,325
Median Age
28.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,540/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 76.8% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 19.7% and apartments at just 3.5%. The bedroom profile skews large, with 56.2% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 35.0% having three, which suits families. Only 14.9% of households own outright compared to 30.9% on a mortgage, suggesting a relatively young buying cohort taking its first steps onto the property ladder rather than long-established owners.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 76.8% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 19.7% and apartments at just 3.5%. The bedroom profile skews large, with 56.2% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 35.0% having three, which suits families. Only 14.9% of households own outright compared to 30.9% on a mortgage, suggesting a relatively young buying cohort taking its first steps onto the property ladder rather than long-established owners.
For Investors
The 6.6% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter rental markets in southeast Queensland, so investors should factor in potential void periods. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, indicating negligible new supply pressure, which is a modest positive for existing stock. The young median age of 28, running 12 years below national, points to a transient renter population rather than long-term owner-occupiers, which can mean higher turnover. Household income sits at the 48.5th percentile nationally, meaning rental demand is price-sensitive and rents are unlikely to sustain sharp increases without corresponding wage growth in the local area.
Demographics
The median age of 28 is 12 years below the national figure, signalling a population base that is genuinely younger than most Australian suburbs rather than just trending that way. Overseas-born residents account for 13.4% of the population, which is 8.2 percentage points below the national average, giving the suburb a predominantly Australian-born character with ancestry dominated by English (489 residents), Scottish (144) and Irish (140). University qualifications reach only 15.5%, which is 14.6 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the occupational profile where Community/Personal services (93 workers) and Labourers (79) outrank Professionals (72). Average household size of 2.7 is marginally above national, reflecting the young family composition: couples with children account for 391 households, the largest single family type. Christianity is the dominant religion with 561 adherents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.8%
Houses
19.7%
Townhouse
3.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Wulkuraka's housing stock is heavily weighted toward detached houses at 76.8%, with semi-detached homes at 19.7% and apartments remaining minimal at 3.5%. The bedroom distribution is unusually large-unit, with 56.2% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 35.0% having three, meaning smaller units are scarce. Tenure splits sharply in favour of renters at 54.2%, with mortgage holders at 30.9% and outright owners at just 14.9%, a profile that reflects a young, mobile population rather than settled long-term ownership. Rent-to-income sits at 21.8%, below the stress threshold of 30%, meaning tenants are not under acute pressure. Mortgage-to-income at 19.5% is similarly affordable.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $335.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $420
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$778
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
32
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.8%
Couples with children
26.5%
Couples, no children
33.7%
Single parent
344
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 25.8% of workers (86 people), well above its share in most suburban labour markets, which likely reflects proximity to Ipswich Hospital and related services. Education follows at 13.2% (44 workers), Construction at 9.3% (31) and Manufacturing at 8.1% (27). The occupational mix tells a similar story: Community and Personal Services leads at 93 workers, Labourers at 79 and Professionals at 72. The unemployment rate is 9.5%, meaningfully above the national average, with 53 unemployed residents out of a labour force of 560. The participation rate of 56.9% is below national norms, and 294 residents are not in the labour force at all. Personal weekly income averages $778, and family weekly income averages $1,799, reflecting a predominantly working-class to lower-middle-income household profile.
Unemployment
8.5%
Labour Force
621
Unemployed
53
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.3%
Part-time
29.9%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
568
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.5%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
13.4%
Dwellings
452
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total in Wulkuraka, with 91.5% of workers driving to their jobs and public transport and cycling each accounting for just 0.7%, well below national norms for suburban areas. The suburb covers 3.79 square kilometres with no schools recorded inside the boundary, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring Ipswich suburbs. No crime data is available for the suburb at this level. The need-for-assistance rate of 6.7% (82 residents) is moderate and consistent with the young median age of 28, as disability support needs are generally lower in younger populations. Rent-to-income at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 19.5% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds, meaning residents are not spending an outsized share of their income on housing compared to tighter markets.
Drive
83.0%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
9.2%
Growth Outlook
Wulkuraka's population of 1,325 is concentrated in a small 3.79 square kilometre footprint, and the young median age of 28 suggests the suburb attracts people at the household formation stage rather than established families trading up. The 37% residential turnover rate means more than a third of residents moved in within the past five years, indicating high mobility rather than deep neighbourhood roots. Household income sits at the 48.5th percentile nationally, meaning any significant house price appreciation would depend on broader Ipswich corridor demand rather than local income growth. No development applications were lodged in the past year, so supply is not expanding.
Population trend: Ipswich council area
Wulkuraka sits in the Ipswich council area. These are the council area's residents, not Wulkuraka's.
Residents 2025
268,272
Growth, 5 yr average
+3.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+3.5%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wulkuraka compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wulkuraka a good suburb to live in?
Wulkuraka suits younger households looking for affordable detached housing in the Ipswich corridor. Rent-to-income at 21.8% is affordable, but car ownership is essential as 91.5% of workers drive and public transport usage is only 0.7%.
What is the median house price in Wulkuraka?
Weekly rent averages $335 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, which is well below the 30% financial stress threshold.
What schools are in Wulkuraka?
No schools are recorded inside the Wulkuraka boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Ipswich suburbs. The suburb's university qualification rate of 15.5% is 14.6 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the broader working-class occupational profile of the area.
Is Wulkuraka safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wulkuraka at this level of geography. As a contextual indicator, the need-for-daily-assistance rate is 6.7% (82 of 1,325 residents), which is moderate. The suburb's high renter share of 54.2% and elevated unemployment rate of 9.5% are factors worth considering when assessing neighbourhood stability.
Is Wulkuraka good for property investment?
The 6.6% vacancy rate is a caution signal. No new development was recorded in the past 12 months, limiting supply-side dilution of existing stock.
How is Wulkuraka's population changing?
Wulkuraka has a population of 1,325 with a median age of 28, which is 12 years younger than the national average. Residential turnover is high at 37%, meaning more than a third of residents moved in within the past 5 years. The young age profile suggests the suburb attracts people at early household formation stages rather than long-term settlers.
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).
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