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 is approximately 8,098 as of February 2026. This represents a growth of 691 people, an increase of 9.3% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 7,407. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,890 in June 2024 and an additional 81 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,931 persons per square kilometer, placing Bulimba in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 9.3% growth since census is within 0.6 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 84.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth in Bulimba.

AreaSearch adopts 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 are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections are applied where utilized. Future population trends project an above median growth for national statistical areas, with Bulimba expected to grow by 1,347 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 14.1% over the 17 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, 27 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.4 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. This indicates that supply is lagging demand, potentially leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The average construction cost of new properties in Bulimba is $677,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, $9.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bulimba has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and places among the 42nd percentile nationally, indicating relatively constrained buyer choice and interest in existing dwellings. New development consists of 36.0% detached houses and 64.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 393 people per dwelling approval, Bulimba shows a developed market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Bulimba is expected to grow by 1,139 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Bulimba has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 35 projects potentially affecting the region. Notable initiatives 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 most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Bulimba has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.1%. Over the past year, it has maintained relative employment stability.

As of September 2025, 4,955 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Bulimba is higher at 76.1%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 34.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.8 times the regional level), health care & social assistance (13.1%), and education & training sectors.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.5% and labour force by 0.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a drop in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Bulimba's employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to its current employment mix.

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

The Bulimba SA2 has an exceptionally high national income level according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Bulimba is $79,235 and the average income stands at $126,376. These figures compare to Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $87,087 (median) and $138,900 (average). Census data reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Bulimba rank highly nationally, between the 95th and 96th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 36.2% of the population falls within the $4000+ income range, differing from regional patterns where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 33.3%. A substantial proportion of high earners (48.5% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Bulimba. Housing accounts for 14.3% of income, and residents rank within the 95th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Bulimba's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared 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, exceeding the Brisbane metro average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Bulimba was $500, higher than 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 comprise the remaining 28.6%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households making up 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 has a notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 50.8% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the state (QLD) average of 25.7% and the national average of 30.4%. The area's most prevalent university qualification is Bachelor degrees, at 33.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational pathways account for 23.3% of qualifications in this age group, with advanced diplomas making up 10.1% and certificates 13.2%.

Educational participation is particularly high in Bulimba, 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 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These are served by 9 routes, facilitating 2,700 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 154 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most residents commute outward using cars (69%), followed by buses (10%). The area has a lower vehicle ownership rate of 1.2 per dwelling compared to the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 34.2% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Daily service frequency averages 385 trips across all routes, translating to approximately 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 according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age cohorts in Bulimba. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high, with approximately 80% of the total population (6,470 people) having it, compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Bulimba, impacting 7.6 and 6.6% of residents respectively. 74.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents in Bulimba show low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 17.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,436 people), higher than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors in Bulimba 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 (9.7%) and Welsh (0.8%) are overrepresented in Bulimba compared to the regional averages of 7.4% and 0.5%, respectively. French is also slightly overrepresented at 0.8%.

Bulimba's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Bulimba has a median age of 41, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and Australia's figure of 38. The 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Bulimba at 15.3%, compared to the Greater Brisbane average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 4.0% to 6.2% of the population, and the 55-64 cohort has increased from 13.1% to 15.3%. Conversely, the 35-44 age group has declined from 16.1% to 14.0%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 15.9% to 14.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Bulimba's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 371 people (73%), from 506 to 878. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 66% of total population growth. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 25-34 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.