Bulimba

Bulimba lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Bulimba's population was approximately 7,973 as of May 2026, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This represented a growth of 566 people, or 7.6%, since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 7,407. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,925 in June 2025 and an additional 103 validated new addresses since the Census date. Bulimba's population density was around 3,870 persons per square kilometer, placing it within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 7.6% growth since census was close to the national average of 9.3%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.9% of Bulimba's population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends project an above median growth for the area, expecting it to grow by 1,191 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.3% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Bulimba recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Bulimba has received approximately 26 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 131 homes. As of FY-26, 28 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.4 people moved to Bulimba annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating supply lagging demand and potential buyer competition. The average construction cost value for new properties is $677,000, reflecting a focus on premium segment developments.

In FY-26, $9.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, highlighting Bulimba's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bulimba has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 42nd percentile nationally, suggesting constrained buyer choice. New developments consist of 36% detached houses and 64% townhouses or apartments, favoring compact living which attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With approximately 393 people moving in for each dwelling approval, Bulimba shows a developed market. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 1,143 residents, potentially leading to increased buyer competition if current development rates do not keep pace with population growth.

Looking ahead, Bulimba is expected to grow by 1,143 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Bulimba has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 27 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Oxford & Princess - Bulimba Mixed-Use Development, QParks Group - 5 Riding Road Mixed-Use Development, Bulimba State School Infrastructure Upgrade, and Bulimba Memorial Park and Community Centre Upgrade. The following list details those projects that are likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The labour market strength in Bulimba positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Bulimba has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% as of December 2025. This rate is below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%, and its workforce participation is higher at 76.2%.

According to Census responses, 34.2% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. Bulimba specializes in professional & technical employment with a share 1.8 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 13.1% compared to the regional average of 16.1%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.9%, labour force grew by 1.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.2% and a drop in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage point during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bulimba's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The Bulimba SA2 had an exceptionally high national income level according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $79,235 and the average income stood at $126,376, which compared to Greater Brisbane's figures of $58,236 and $72,799 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $88,236 (median) and $140,732 (average) as of March 2026. Census data revealed that household, family, and personal incomes all ranked highly in Bulimba, between the 95th and 96th percentiles nationally. Income distribution showed that 36.2% of the population (2,886 individuals) fell within the $4000+ income range, differing from patterns across regional levels where $1,500 - 2,999 dominated with 33.3%. The substantial proportion of high earners (48.5% above $3,000/week) indicated strong economic capacity throughout Bulimba. Housing accounted for 14.3% of income while strong earnings ranked residents within the 95th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 10th decile.

Bulimba displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Bulimba, as per the latest Census, consisted of 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bulimba stood at 28.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.1% and rented ones at 36.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,800, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Bulimba was $500, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Bulimba's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Bulimba has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.4% of all households, including 31.7% couples with children, 30.2% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.6%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Bulimba exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Bulimba's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 50.8% hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. University graduates make up the largest group at 33.2%, followed by postgraduate degree holders at 12.6% and graduate diploma holders at 5.0%. Vocational pathways account for 23.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 13.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 7.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bulimba has 37 operational public transport stops, consisting of both ferry and bus services. These stops are served by nine distinct routes, facilitating a total of 2,700 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents typically residing just 154 meters from their nearest transport stop. Predominantly residential, Bulimba sees most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 69% of residents, while bus usage stands at 10%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.2, lower than the regional norm.

Notably, 34.2% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census), a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 385 trips daily, translating to roughly 72 weekly trips per individual stop.

Bulimba's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Bulimba's health metrics closely match national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age groups in Bulimba. Private health cover is exceptionally high, with approximately 80% of the total population (6,370 people) having it, compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 7.6% and 6.6% of residents respectively. 74.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Bulimba has 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,302 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Bulimba was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bulimba's cultural diversity is above average, with 12.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 27.6% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Bulimba at 50.7%, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups are English (29.8%), Australian (22.1%), and Irish (10.5%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented in Bulimba at 9.7% compared to the regional average of 7.4%. Welsh ancestry also exceeds the regional average at 0.8%, as does French ancestry at 0.8%.

Bulimba's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Bulimba is 40 years, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and slightly exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 55-64 age group is notably over-represented in Bulimba at 14.7%, compared to the Greater Brisbane average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 12.2%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has grown from 4.0% to 5.6% of Bulimba's population, and the 55-64 cohort increased from 13.1% to 14.7%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 15.9% to 14.4%, and the 0-4 age group dropped from 5.4% to 4.1%. Population forecasts for Bulimba in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 75%, reaching 787 people from 449, with residents aged 65 and older representing 63% of the anticipated growth. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 25-34 age groups are projected to experience population declines.