Wacol

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Wacol's population is around 6,910 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 690 people (11.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,220 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,908 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 8 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 362 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Wacol's 11.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (9.9%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 50.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including overseas migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence, where utilised, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Anticipating future population dynamics, lower quartile growth of statistical areas across the nation is anticipated, with the area expected to increase by 370 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 5.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

Wacol has averaged around 7 new dwelling approvals per year, with 36 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 0 so far in FY-26. With an average of 22.1 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is substantially lagging demand, which generally means heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $149,000—under regional levels—indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. Additionally, $306.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting robust local business investment.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, Wacol has significantly less development activity (69.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is likewise lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints. Furthermore, new construction has been completely comprised of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 1697 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Population forecasts indicate Wacol will gain 368 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 24 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Waterford Business Park, Wacol Youth Remand Centre, Wacol Logistics Hub, and South Queensland Correctional Facilities Expansion, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 possesses a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, an unemployment rate of 13.3%, and 8.8% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 1,086 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 9.2% above Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (20.4% compared to Greater Brisbane's 71.2%). Based on Census responses, a low 8.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in manufacturing, with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average. Meanwhile, professional & technical services have a limited presence with 3.8% employment compared to 8.9% regionally. With 2.0 workers for every resident, as at the Census, the area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 8.8% while the labour force increased by 7.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.3 percentage points. This compares to Greater Brisbane, where employment grew by 3.2%, the labour force expanded by 3.0%, and unemployment fell 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Wacol. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wacol's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Wacol SA2 is below the national average, with the median assessed at $53,710 while the average income stands at $60,401. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane's figures of a median income of $58,236 and an average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $59,033 (median) and $66,387 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Wacol all fall between the 2nd and 13th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the largest segment comprises 29.6% earning $800 - 1,499 weekly (2,045 residents), differing from patterns across the region where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 11th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Wacol, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 87.2% houses and 12.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Wacol lagged that of Brisbane metro, at 19.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (22.4%) or rented (58.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Brisbane metro average at $1,300, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $290, compared to Brisbane metro's $1,863 and $380. Nationally, Wacol's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 72.2% of all households, comprising 27.0% couples with children, 16.3% couples without children, and 27.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.8%, with lone person households at 22.4% and group households comprising 5.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.8 people is 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 faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (10.9%) substantially below the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead 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+ – advanced diplomas (3.1%) and certificates (15.3%).

Educational participation is notably 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

Public transport analysis reveals 32 active transport stops operating within Wacol, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 59 individual routes, collectively providing 1,655 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 399 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 81%, with 11% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 8.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 236 trips per day across all routes, equating 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

Critical health challenges are evident across Wacol, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions have marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~3,399 people). This compares to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 11.2 and 9.8% of residents, respectively, while 64.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 8.7% of residents aged 65 and over (601 people), which is lower than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with 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 is more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 23.2% of its population born overseas and 32.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Wacol is Christianity, which makes up 47.7% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 7.3% of the population, substantially higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.0%.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Wacol are Australian, comprising 20.1% of the population, English, comprising 19.6% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 26.8%, and Other, comprising 12.5% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Samoan is notably overrepresented at 5.3% of Wacol (vs 0.9% regionally), Vietnamese at 7.3% (vs 0.8%) and New Zealand at 1.3% (vs 1.0%).

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

Wacol's median age of 36 years stands equal to Greater Brisbane's 36, though somewhat younger than the 38-year national average. The 35 - 44 age group shows strong representation at 23.5% compared to Greater Brisbane, whereas the 5 - 14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.2%. This 35 - 44 concentration is well above the national 14.3%. In the period since 2021, residents have aged by 1.6 years on average, with the median rising from 34 to 36. Key changes show the 45 to 54 age group has grown from 13.1% to 15.1% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 22.4% to 23.5%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 25.6% to 20.6% and the 15 to 24 group dropped from 14.9% to 12.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Wacol. The 45 to 54 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 27%, adding 281 residents to reach 1,326. In contrast, both the 35 to 44 and 25 to 34 age groups will see reduced numbers.