Wacol

Population growth drivers in Wacol are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Wacol's population, as of Feb 2026, is approximately 6,910. This figure represents an increase of 690 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,220. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,908 in June 2024 and eight validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 362 persons per square kilometer. Wacol's 11.1% growth since the Census exceeded both the SA3 area average (9.9%) and the national average, positioning it as a regionally significant growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 50.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors.

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 or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied for each age cohort. Future population dynamics anticipate lower quartile growth, with the area expected to increase by 370 persons to reach approximately 7,280 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 5.3% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Wacol according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Wacol averaged approximately seven new dwelling approvals per year between FY21 and FY25. A total of 36 homes were approved during these five financial years, with zero approvals recorded so far in FY26. The average population growth associated with each dwelling built over this period was 22.1 people per year.

This suggests a significant lag in supply compared to demand, which typically leads to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost of new properties during this time was $149,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY26, commercial approvals valued at $306.0 million have been registered, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Wacol has significantly less development activity, with 69.0% fewer approvals per person. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

All new construction in the area during this period consisted of detached houses, maintaining its traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. The estimated population count per dwelling approval was 1697 people. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wacol is forecasted to gain 368 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 24 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Waterford Business Park, Wacol Youth Remand Centre, Wacol Logistics Hub, and South Queensland Correctional Facilities Expansion. The following list details those 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.

Employment drivers in Wacol are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Wacol has a balanced workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are strongly present. The unemployment rate was 13.6% in September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.8% over the past year.

As of this date, 1,054 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 9.6%, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Wacol was significantly lower at 19.9% compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, only 8.4% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents include manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Manufacturing has a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average. Professional & technical services have limited presence with 3.8% employment compared to 8.9% regionally. There are 2.0 workers for every resident in Wacol, indicating it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 3.8% while labour force increased by 3.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Wacol's employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment profile.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that income in Wacol SA2 is below the national average. The median assessed income is $53,710, while the average income stands at $60,401. In comparison, Greater Brisbane has a median income of $58,236 and an average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% from June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $59,033 (median) and $66,387 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Wacol fall between the 2nd and 13th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that the largest segment comprises 29.6% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly (2,045 residents), unlike regional patterns where $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

Wacol is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Wacol's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.2% houses and 12.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Brisbane metro's figures of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wacol stood at 19.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.4% and rented ones at 58.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Wacol was recorded at $290, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Wacol's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wacol features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.2% of all households, including 27.0% couples with children, 16.3% couples without children, and 27.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up 27.8%, consisting of lone person households at 22.4% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Wacol faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.9%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.1%) and graduate diplomas (0.5%). Vocational pathways account for 18.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 3.1% and certificates at 15.3%. Educational participation is high, with 68.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 24.2% in primary education, 24.2% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wacol has 32 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 59 routes that facilitate 1,655 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically residing 399 meters from the nearest stop. The area, being primarily residential, sees most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 81%, while trains account for 11%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 236 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 51 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wacol is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Wacol faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low, at approximately 49% of the total population (~3,399 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 11.2 and 9.8% of residents respectively. Conversely, 64.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 8.7% of residents aged 65 and over (601 people), lower than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, with national rankings broadly comparable to those of the general population.

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

Wacol's population shows higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 23.2% born overseas and 32.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wacol, comprising 47.7% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 7.3%, compared to the Greater Brisbane average of 2.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (20.1%), English (19.6%), and Other (12.5%). Some ethnic groups have significant representation: Samoan at 5.3% (regional avg 0.9%), Vietnamese at 7.3% (regional avg 0.8%), and New Zealand at 1.3% (regional avg 1.0%).

Wacol hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Wacol's median age is 36 years, equal to Greater Brisbane's but younger than the national average of 38 years. The 35-44 age group comprises 23.5% of Wacol's population, higher than Greater Brisbane's representation and significantly above the national average of 14.3%. The 5-14 age cohort makes up 7.2%, lower than Greater Brisbane's figure. Between 2021 and present, residents have aged on average by 1.6 years, with the median age rising from 34 to 36. During this period, the 45-54 age group grew from 13.1% to 15.1%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 22.4% to 23.5%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group decreased from 25.6% to 20.6%, and the 15-24 group dropped from 14.9% to 12.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic shifts in Wacol. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow by 27%, adding 281 residents and reaching a total of 1,326. Meanwhile, both the 35-44 and 25-34 age groups are expected to decrease in number.