Brisbane City

Brisbane City lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Brisbane City's population was 18,102 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents a growth of 4,792 people, a 36.0% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 13,310. The change was inferred from an estimated resident population of 16,884 in June 2024 and an additional 1,410 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 7,638 persons per square kilometer, placing Brisbane City in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The city's growth rate exceeded both the national average (8.9%) and the state average, making it a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort released in 2023 using 2022 data as the base year. Future population projections indicate exceptional growth, placing Brisbane City in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas. The area is expected to increase by 14,600 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 73.9% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Brisbane City was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Brisbane City averaged approximately 481 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY21 and FY25, it approved a total of 2,406 homes, with one more approved so far in FY26. Over the past five financial years, an average of 1.6 new residents per year arrived for each new home approved.

This indicates balanced supply and demand dynamics, contributing to market stability. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings over this period was $608,000, suggesting developers targeted the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $1,175.5 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Brisbane City has 116.0% more building activity per person, offering buyers ample choice and indicating strong developer confidence in the area. Recent building activity comprises exclusively townhouses or apartments, fostering denser development that caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Brisbane City's population growth is evident with around 24 people per dwelling approval.

Future projections estimate an additional 13,382 residents by 2041 (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development levels appear aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Brisbane City has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 112 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Queen's Wharf Brisbane, Waterfront Brisbane, Cross River Rail, and Howard Smith Wharves. The following details projects likely most relevant.

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Brisbane City maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Brisbane City has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 4.3% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.0%.

As of September 2025, 11,630 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.3% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was fairly standard at 67.5%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical services (21.8%), accommodation & food services (19.4%), and health care & social assistance (13.7%). Notably, employment levels in accommodation & food services are at 2.5 times the regional average, while health care & social assistance has a limited presence with 10.2% employment compared to 16.1% regionally.

The area functions as an employment hub with 11.0 workers for every resident, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the past year, employment increased by 2.0%, while the labour force grew by 1.7%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.8%, with a labour force growth of 3.3% and a decrease in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, broadly in line with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Brisbane City's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Brisbane City SA2 has a high national income level, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2022. Its median taxpayer income is $49,753 and average income stands at $83,490, compared to Greater Brisbane's figures of $55,645 and $70,520 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $56,713 (median) and $95,170 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Brisbane City cluster around the 62nd percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 32.6% of residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (5,901 residents), consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 33.3% in the same category. High housing costs consume 20.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 50th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Brisbane City features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Brisbane City, as per the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures consisted of 6.2% houses and 93.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 12.9% houses and 87.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brisbane City was at 16.5%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (16.6%) or rented (66.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Brisbane metro's average, while the median weekly rent figure was $460, compared to Brisbane metro's $2,000 and $440 respectively. Nationally, Brisbane City's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Brisbane City features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 45.0% of all households, including 9.0% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 4.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 55.0%, with lone person households at 41.7% and group households comprising 13.2%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 1.9.

Educational attainment in Brisbane City aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Brisbane City residents aged 15 and above have a higher educational attainment than the Queensland (QLD) and Australian averages. Specifically, 53.0% of Brisbane City residents hold university qualifications compared to 25.7% in QLD and 30.4% in Australia. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Among these residents, bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 11.0% and certificates accounting for 11.7%. Educational participation is notably high in Brisbane City, with 39.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 24.4% in tertiary education, 2.3% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing primary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Brisbane City has 159 active public transport stops. These include ferry, train, and bus services. There are 409 individual routes operating from these stops, which collectively provide 47,938 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 82 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 6,848 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 301 weekly trips per individual stop.

Brisbane City's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Brisbane City shows excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (11,096 people), compared to 64.3% across Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 8.0% and 5.9% of residents respectively.

A total of 79.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 75.5% across Greater Brisbane. The area has 9.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,759 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Brisbane City is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Brisbane City has a high level of cultural diversity, with 41.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 54.3% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Brisbane City, making up 33.5% of people. However, Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, comprising 5.8% versus 3.9%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.4%), Other (15.8%), and Australian (13.6%). Korean (3.3%) and Spanish (0.9%) are notably overrepresented in Brisbane City compared to the regional averages of 1.3% and 1.0%, respectively. Additionally, Chinese people make up 12.4% of Brisbane City's population, higher than the regional average of 7.7%.

Brisbane City hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Brisbane City has a median age of 31 years, which is younger than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Brisbane City has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (30.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (2.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the percentage of Brisbane City's population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 29.8% to 30.8%, while the percentages for the 45 to 54 age group have declined from 10.4% to 9.2% and the 35 to 44 age group have dropped from 14.8% to 13.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Brisbane City's age profile will change significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, with an increase of 2,699 people (48%) from 5,579 to 8,279.