East Brisbane

East Brisbane has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

East Brisbane's population was approximately 6,850 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 732 people, a 12.0% rise since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6,118. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,661 in June 2024 and an additional 91 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,663 persons per square kilometer, placing East Brisbane in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's 12.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits; thus AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 using 2022 data as the base year. Demographic trends project an above median population growth for statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. East Brisbane is expected to grow by 1,147 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 14.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions East Brisbane among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

East Brisbane has recorded approximately 74 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling 373 homes. As of FY26, 8 approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built over these five years is 1. New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $770,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $17.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Brisbane, East Brisbane records 125.0% more new home approvals per person, offering buyers greater choice and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity shows 4.0% standalone homes and 96.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living to create affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant change from the current housing mix of 44.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 671 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. Population forecasts estimate East Brisbane will gain 958 residents by 2041, with current development patterns suggesting new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Population forecasts indicate East Brisbane will gain 958 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Thirty-one infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include East Brisbane State School Redevelopment & Vertical School Expansion, Banksii at 169 Wellington Road, Cross River Rail - Woolloongabba Station, and Eighteen Park. The following list details those most likely to be 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 employment landscape in East Brisbane shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

East Brisbane has a highly educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate is 5.8% and there was an estimated employment growth of 0.7% in the past year. As of September 2025, 4,441 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.8% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is at 79.0%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 25.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. East Brisbane has a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

However, manufacturing shows lower representation at 3.4% compared to the regional average of 6.4%. The ratio of workers to residents is 0.6, indicating a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7% and labour force increased by 0.7%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged in East Brisbane. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.8%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and a fall in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Brisbane's employment mix, local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes that does not take into account localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The East Brisbane SA2 has an exceptionally high national income level based on the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data compiled by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in East Brisbane is $60,513, while the average income stands at $91,250. These figures are higher than those for Greater Brisbane, which are $58,236 and $72,799 respectively. Using the Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $66,510 (median) and $100,293 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in East Brisbane rank highly nationally, between the 69th and 82nd percentiles. Income distribution data shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket is dominant, with 32.0% of residents (2,192 people) falling within this range, similar to regional levels where 33.3% occupy this bracket. East Brisbane exhibits significant affluence, with 31.1% earning over $3,000 per week, which supports premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 17.2% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 67th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

East Brisbane's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 44.2% houses and 55.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Brisbane was at 18.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.7% and rented ones at 57.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in East Brisbane was $400, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, East Brisbane's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 54.2% of all households, including 18.3% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 6.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 45.8%, with lone person households at 32.2% and group households comprising 13.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

East Brisbane demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

East Brisbane has a notably high educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 50.5% holding university qualifications compared to the broader Queensland state average of 25.7% and the national average of 30.4%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area, which is beneficial for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 32.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.4% and graduate diplomas at 4.5%. Vocational pathways account for 24.9% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.3% and certificates 14.6%.

Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 32.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.7% pursuing tertiary education, 6.0% primary education, and another 6.0% secondary education.

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

East Brisbane has 23 active public transport stops, consisting of both ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 16 different routes, collectively facilitating 2,848 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 128 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 66% of residents, followed by buses at 14% and walking at 6%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.0, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 25.2%, work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 406 trips per day, equating to approximately 123 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

East Brisbane's health outcomes show notable results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 67% of East Brisbane's total population (4,575 people) have private health cover, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 55.8%.

This figure is also above the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 10.9% and 7.7% of residents respectively. Notably, 72.8% of East Brisbane residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among the working-age population are generally typical. The area has 10.4% of residents aged 65 and over (711 people), which is lower than Greater Brisbane's figure of 15.2%. Health outcomes among seniors in East Brisbane are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

East Brisbane's population showed greater linguistic diversity, with 20.3% speaking a language other than English at home, compared to the majority of local markets. Born overseas, 31.8% of East Brisbane residents were not born in Australia. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 40.9%.

However, Judaism's presence was notably higher at 0.2%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, English (25.9%) and Australian (19.2%) were the top groups, followed by Other at 11.2%. French, Irish, and Spanish ethnicities showed notable overrepresentation in East Brisbane: French at 0.9% (regional average 0.5%), Irish at 10.7% (8.2%), and Spanish at 0.7% (0.4%).

East Brisbane's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

East Brisbane has a median age of 33 years, which is younger than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and lower than the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, East Brisbane has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (26.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.3%). This concentration of 25-34-year-olds is above the national average of 14.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 25.2% to 26.3%, while those aged 55-64 have risen from 9.1% to 10.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has decreased from 16.3% to 14.2%, and those aged 5-14 have fallen from 7.7% to 6.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that East Brisbane's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow the most, increasing by 28% to reach 1,083 residents. However, the number of residents aged 0-4 is expected to decrease.