Zillmere
Healthcare employs 20.6% of workers while household incomes sit at just the 42.1st percentile ($1,426/week), creating a suburb where care-sector wages are the dominant economic floor. The IER decile 1 (lowest economic resources) alongside IEO decile 5 (mid-level education) is an unusual split: educational attainment at 32.8% is close to the national average, but accumulated wealth is in the bottom decile. Renters at 54.3% dominate a market where 55.0% of dwellings are still detached houses, and the estimated $451,000 median keeps entry affordable. Punjabi speakers (232) lead non-English languages, a South Asian imprint well above the typical Brisbane suburb.
Population
9,323
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,426/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
45
Median House
$451K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $451,000 median makes Zillmere one of Brisbane's more affordable inner-north options. Detached houses at 55.0% are the majority, with apartments at 29.0% and semi-detached at 16.1% providing alternatives. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 45.7%, with two-bedrooms at 34.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,677 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, below the stress threshold. Only 27.1% hold mortgages and 18.6% own outright. Public transport at 12.6% is above the national average, supported by Zillmere station on the Caboolture line. Car driving at 79.3% is below the national rate, reflecting reasonable transit accessibility.
For Buyers
The estimated $451,000 median makes Zillmere one of Brisbane's more affordable inner-north options. Detached houses at 55.0% are the majority, with apartments at 29.0% and semi-detached at 16.1% providing alternatives. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 45.7%, with two-bedrooms at 34.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,677 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, below the stress threshold. Only 27.1% hold mortgages and 18.6% own outright. Public transport at 12.6% is above the national average, supported by Zillmere station on the Caboolture line. Car driving at 79.3% is below the national rate, reflecting reasonable transit accessibility.
For Investors
Renters at 54.3% provide a deep tenant pool, and median weekly rent of $350 against a $451,000 estimated price gives a gross yield of roughly 4.0%, above the national average and attractive for Brisbane. Vacancy at 5.7% is slightly elevated but manageable. With 44 DAs in 12 months, development activity is moderate. Net overseas migration of 169 per year provides demand, partially offset by internal outflow of 88 per year. Population growth at 1.09% per year (110 persons) is steady. Rent-to-income at 24.5% is close to the stress line, suggesting limited room for rent increases. The IER decile 1 means tenants have minimal savings buffers.
Development Activity
Total DAs
120
Last 12 Months
45
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+73.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Zillmere iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Flannan's School
Prep-6 · 419 students
Jabiru Community College
10-12 · 81 students
Zillmere State School
Prep-6 · 105 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 3,016, with Irish (957) and Scottish (830) forming an Anglo-Celtic base, while the overseas-born rate of 31.0% is 9.4 points above national. Punjabi (232 speakers) leads non-English languages, followed by Nepali (85) and Hindi (58), reflecting a growing South Asian community. University qualification at 32.8% is 2.7 points above the national average, close to the median. Median age of 34 is 6 years below national. Average household size of 2.3 is below the national 2.5. Christianity dominates at 3,756, with Hinduism (436) the third-largest religion. The 6.9% needing-assistance rate (593 people) is above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
55.0%
Houses
16.1%
Townhouse
29.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership splits between 18.6% outright and 27.1% on mortgages, with renters dominant at 54.3%. Detached houses at 55.0% are the majority, with apartments at 29.0% and semi-detached at 16.1%. Three-bedroom stock at 45.7% and two-bedrooms at 34.6% dominate, while four-plus bedrooms are just 13.6%. The estimated $451,000 median is derived from rents. At household income of $1,426/week, the price-to-income ratio is approximately 6.1x annual income, moderately stretched for a suburb at this income level. Affordability improved from a price-to-income of 51.3 to 44.4 over the decade, meaning incomes grew faster than prices.
Mortgage / mo
$1,677
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$788
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
234
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.8%
Couples, no children
6,539
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 20.6% (646 workers), followed by professional/technical at 9.0% (283), education at 8.5% (267), construction at 8.2% (257) and transport at 8.1% (254). The occupational mix is diverse: professionals (911) lead, but labourers (573) and community/personal workers (580) are prominent, reflecting the care-sector economy. Full-time employment at 66.5% is moderate, and unemployment at 7.6% runs above the national rate. Participation at 57.0% is moderate. The SEIFA split is striking: IEO decile 5 (mid-level education) paired with IER decile 1 (lowest economic resources), meaning education has not translated to asset accumulation.
Unemployment
8.4%
Labour Force
6,276
Unemployed
529
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.5%
Part-time
25.9%
Participation
57.0%
Employed
4,077
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.8%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
31.0%
Dwellings
3,869
Transport to Work
Public transport at 12.6% is above the national average, supported by Zillmere station. Car driving at 79.3% is below the national rate. Zillmere has 3 schools spanning a wide ICSEA range: St Flannan's (Catholic, 1,077, 419 students) sits well above the benchmark, while Jabiru Community College (independent, 913, 81 students) and Zillmere State School (government, 890, 105 students) are below. The IRSAD decile 3 and IRSD decile 2 indicate significant disadvantage. Rent-to-income at 24.5% is close to stress. Volunteering at 10.9% is below the national average. The 6.9% needing-assistance rate is above average.
Drive
79.3%
Public Transport
12.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.09%/yr
(+110 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth averages 1.09% per year (110 persons), steady for an inner-north Brisbane suburb. Net overseas migration of 169 per year is the primary driver, offset by internal outflow of 88 per year. The 10-year population change of 15.0% is above the national average. Historical population rose from 9,750 in 2023 to 10,132 in 2025. Medium projections reach 10,741 by 2031. Working-age share expanded 3.1 points while seniors shrank 1.6 points, an unusual rejuvenating signal. Real income grew 13.4% over the decade, and affordability improved from 51.3 to 44.4 price-to-income ratio. Gentrification score of 36 shows early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+169
Net Internal / yr
-88
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +21% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Zillmere compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zillmere a good suburb to live in?
Zillmere offers affordable inner-north Brisbane living (estimated $451,000 median) with rail access via Zillmere station (12.6% public transport usage). The IRSAD decile 3 indicates below-average socio-economic conditions, and the IER decile 1 signals very low economic resources. Mortgage-to-income at 27.2% is below the stress line. St Flannan's School exceeds the ICSEA benchmark at 1,077, but the 2 government schools sit below.
What is the median house price in Zillmere?
The estimated median is $451,000 (derived from rents). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,677 and median weekly rent is $350. At household income of $1,426/week (42.1st percentile), the price-to-income ratio is approximately 6.1x annual income. Affordability improved over the decade from a ratio of 51.3 to 44.4, meaning incomes grew faster than prices.
What schools are in Zillmere?
Zillmere has 3 schools. St Flannan's (Catholic, ICSEA 1,077, 419 students) sits well above the 1,000 benchmark. Jabiru Community College (independent, ICSEA 913, 81 students) and Zillmere State School (government, ICSEA 890, 105 students) both sit below the benchmark. Total local capacity is roughly 600 students across the 3 schools.
Is Zillmere safe?
Crime data is not available for Zillmere in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 2 indicates high disadvantage, and the IER decile 1 (lowest economic resources nationally) is a factor that correlates with higher crime rates. Unemployment at 7.6% is above the national rate. QLD Police data should be consulted for current statistics. The IRSAD decile 3 places Zillmere in the lower quartile nationally.
Is Zillmere good for property investment?
Gross yield is roughly 4.0% ($350/week on $451,000), above the national average and attractive for Brisbane. The 54.3% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, and vacancy at 5.7% is manageable. Population growth at 1.09% per year provides steady demand, and the gentrification score of 36 signals early-stage value uplift. The IER decile 1 means tenant payment reliability is a risk factor, and rent-to-income at 24.5% leaves little headroom for increases.
How is Zillmere's population changing?
Growth averages 1.09% per year (110 persons). Population rose from 9,750 in 2023 to 10,132 in 2025, a 15.0% increase over the decade. Net overseas migration of 169 per year drives growth, offset by 88 internal departures. Working-age share expanded 3.1 points, an unusual rejuvenating pattern. Medium projections reach 10,741 by 2031. Real income grew 13.4% over the decade.
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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