East Brisbane

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

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the resident count of East Brisbane stands at approximately 6,872 as of May 2026. This represents a rise of 754 people (12.3%) from the 6,118 people recorded in the 2021 Census. The change is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 6,833 as of June 2025 combined with 107 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population level yields a density of 3,674 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb in the top quartile of Australian locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 12.3% since the 2021 census outpaced the national average (9.3%) and the broader SA3 region, positioning it as a local growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of these gains, accounting for roughly 88.0% of the overall population increase in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. For locations lacking this data and for periods past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (using 2021 data) are substituted. Because these state-level projections lack age breakdowns, AreaSearch allocates cohort growth using weightings from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 data. Future demographic analysis indicates that the suburb is set to experience population growth above the national median, with projections suggesting an expansion of 1,049 persons by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a cumulative increase of 14.7% over the 16 years.

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

Property developers in East Brisbane have secured approvals for approximately 74 new homes annually, totaling 373 residential approvals over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 9 during FY-26 so far. With an average of 1.3 new residents arriving per approved home over the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), local demand aligns closely with supply to maintain market equilibrium. The average construction value of these new builds sits at $770,000, indicating that building activity is focused on upscale, high-end housing. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $17.2 million this financial year, pointing to a steady rate of commercial construction.

East Brisbane exhibits 126.0% more new home approvals per capita than Greater Brisbane, offering home buyers a broad selection of properties. This volume of building activity is also significantly higher than the national benchmark, demonstrating robust building industry confidence in the suburb. The breakdown of current building activity consists of 4.0% detached homes and 96.0% townhouses or apartments. This heavy concentration of high-density housing options provides lower-cost options for buyers and appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers alike. This represents a substantial shift from the established housing stock (which currently stands at 44.0% houses), reflecting a lack of vacant land alongside changing consumer preferences and affordability constraints. With a ratio of approximately 680 people per dwelling approval, the local residential market shows a high degree of maturity.

Looking forward, projections indicate East Brisbane will add 1,010 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Current construction trajectories suggest that supply will easily accommodate this influx, maintaining favorable purchasing conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth rates above current forecasts.

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

Changes in local infrastructure, major construction works, and planning developments are key drivers of local property performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that are expected to impact this locality. Notable developments include Banksii, 169 Wellington Road, Cross River Rail - Woolloongabba Station, Eighteen Park, and the Social Housing Development on Wellington Road East Brisbane, with key details provided for the most significant works.

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

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Employment performance in East Brisbane has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

The local workforce in East Brisbane is highly educated, featuring a strong concentration of professionals, a joblessness rate of 6.7%, and an estimated job growth rate of 0.7% over the past year. As of March 2026, there are 4,473 employed residents. The unemployment rate is 2.4% higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 4.3%, while the labor participation rate remains exceptionally high at 77.7% compared to the metropolitan average of 70.4%. Census records indicate that a high proportion of employed residents (25.2%) worked from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The suburb shows a notable specialization in professional & technical services, employing residents at 1.7 times the metropolitan rate. In contrast, manufacturing represents a small portion of the workforce at 3.4% compared to 6.4% across the wider region. A ratio of 0.6 local jobs for every resident at the time of the Census indicates a higher than average availability of employment within the immediate area.

Analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that for the year ending March 2026, local employment grew by 0.7% and the labor force expanded by 2.3%, leading to an increase in the unemployment rate of 1.5 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded a 3.2% rise in employment, a 3.4% expansion of the labor force, and a modest 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 provide context for local workforce demand. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local industry mix to model future trends. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry profile suggests East Brisbane's employment will grow by 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.

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

According to the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the financial year 2023, the median income for taxpayers in the East Brisbane SA2 is $60,513, with an average income of $91,250. These statistics place the area among the highest earning regions in the country, comparing favorably to the Greater Brisbane median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the financial year 2023, current income estimates for March 2026 are approximately $67,387 for the median and $101,616 for the average. The 2021 Census confirms that household, family, and individual incomes in the area are high, ranking between the 69th and 82nd percentiles nationally. The largest earnings bracket contains 32.0% of local taxpayers (2,199 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which is consistent with the metropolitan distribution where this cohort accounts for 33.3%. High-earning households generating more than $3,000 weekly make up 31.1% of the total, indicating strong local purchasing power. Residential costs consume 17.2% of household income, but solid earnings keep disposable income at the 67th percentile nationally, with the area's SEIFA income index landing 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

At the time of the latest Census, the housing composition of East Brisbane consisted of 44.2% standalone houses and 55.8% multi-unit dwellings such as townhouses and apartments, differing from the wider Brisbane metropolitan distribution of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership was lower than the metropolitan benchmark at 18.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (24.7%) or tenants (57.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was $2,167, which is higher than the Brisbane metropolitan median of $1,863, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $400 compared to the metropolitan median of $380. Locally, mortgage payments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and typical weekly rents exceed the national median of $375.

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

Family households constitute the majority of local homes at 54.2%, which includes 18.3% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 6.6% single-parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 45.8% of households, consisting of single-person households at 32.2% and share houses at 13.7%. The typical household size is 2.2 residents, 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

Residents of East Brisbane demonstrate high levels of educational attainment, with 50.5% of those aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 25.7% across QLD and 30.4% nationwide. This concentration of higher education positions the community well for professional services and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 32.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 13.4% and graduate diplomas at 4.5%. Vocational training is held by 24.9% of residents aged 15 and over, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (14.6%).

Formal education participation is high in the suburb, with 32.9% of the population enrolled in study. This group is composed of 13.7% in higher education, 6.0% attending primary school, and 6.0% in secondary school.

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

Analysis of public transport infrastructure shows 23 active stops within East Brisbane, consisting of ferry terminals and bus stops. These facilities are served by 16 individual transit routes, providing a total of 2,848 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 128 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute out of the area; private vehicles are the most common transport method at 66%, followed by buses at 14% and walking at 6%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.0 car per household, which is lower than the metropolitan average. The 2021 Census recorded that 25.2% of residents worked from home, which may reflect the impact of pandemic lockdowns.

Public transport services average 406 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 123 weekly trips per transit stop.

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

Local health data shows excellent outcomes for the residents of East Brisbane. Analysis by AreaSearch indicates low mortality rates and a minimal prevalence of chronic illnesses across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with approximately 67% of the population (4,590 people) holding cover. This compares to insurance rates of 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues recorded among residents are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 10.9% and 7.7% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 72.8% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Health metrics for working-age residents are average, and residents aged 65 and over make up 10.2% of the population (702 people), which is lower than the metropolitan share of 15.1%. Senior residents enjoy strong health outcomes, with national health benchmarks matching those of 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 exhibits a higher level of cultural diversity than most Australian suburbs, with 20.3% of the population speaking a non-English language at home and 31.8% of residents born overseas. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, represented by 40.9% of the population. The most distinct religious variance is seen in Judaism, which is practiced by 0.2% of residents compared to 0.1% across the Greater Brisbane area.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages reported in East Brisbane are English at 25.9%, Australian at 19.2%, and Other at 11.2%. There are also distinct concentrations of other ancestral lines, with French heritage representing 0.9% of residents (compared to 0.5% across the region), Irish ancestry at 10.7% (compared to 8.2% regionally), and Spanish background at 0.7% (compared to 0.4% regionally).

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

The median age in East Brisbane is 33 years, making it slightly younger than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 years and younger than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the wider metropolitan area, East Brisbane has a higher proportion of residents aged 25 - 34 (27.1%) but fewer children aged 5 - 14 (6.2%). The concentration of young adults aged 25 - 34 is higher than the national benchmark of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census data indicates the 25 to 34 age bracket has increased from 25.2% to 27.1% of the population, while the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 7.7% to 6.2%, and the 15 to 24 cohort fell from 16.3% to 15.3%. Demographic modeling projects significant shifts in the local age profile by 2041, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 29% (adding 232 residents to total 1,037), while the number of children aged 0 to 4 is projected to decrease by 1.