West End
Statistical Area - sa2

West End lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

West End's population is 17,642 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,689 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,953 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,456 in June 2024 and an additional 739 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 8,955 persons per square kilometer, which places West End in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. West End's growth of 18.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 61.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data were adopted, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Exceptional growth is predicted for West End, placing it in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas, with an expected expansion of 11,730 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, marking a total increase of 65.4% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in West End was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

West End has seen approximately 348 dwellings receive development approval annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that between financial years 2020 to 2025, around 1740 homes were approved, with 100 so far in the current financial year 2026. On average, each home built over these five years attracts 3.1 new residents annually, indicating a significant gap between demand and supply which typically influences property prices positively and intensifies competition among buyers. Developers focus on premium market segments, with an average dwelling construction cost of $1,128,000.

Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $151.2 million, reflecting robust local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Brisbane, West End exhibits moderately higher building activity, standing at 18.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, although recent periods show a moderation in development activity. This level is notably above the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction trends reveal 1.0% detached houses and 99.0% attached dwellings, signifying a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns (currently 20.0% houses), potentially due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

The area has approximately 126 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Projections indicate West End will grow by 11,544 residents by 2041. Construction maintains a reasonable pace with projected growth, although increasing population may intensify buyer competition.

West End has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 60 projects potentially impacting the area. Notable ones are West Village by Sekisui House, Toowong Central (formerly The Aviary), Wesley Hospital Expansion, and The Allere Collection at West Village.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions West End ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

West End has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 3.8%, lower than Greater Brisbane's 4.1%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.8%. As of June 2025, 11,701 residents are employed, with a participation rate of 72.5% compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. Leading industries for West End residents include professional & technical services, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical services, with employment share twice the regional level, while construction is under-represented at 4.6% compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, West End's employment levels increased by 3.8%, labour force grew by 2.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 4.4% and a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections suggest West End's growth may be approximately 7.2% over five years and 14.6% over ten years based on its industry mix.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

West End's median taxpayer income was $59,436 with an average of $85,806 in financial year 2022 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is notably higher than Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520. By March 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $66,396 and average income $95,854 based on a 11.71% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. West End's incomes rank high nationally; household, family, and personal incomes all fall between the 73rd and 87th percentiles. Incomes of $1,500 - 2,999 weekly were reported by 34.8% (6,139 individuals), similar to regional levels at 33.3%. Notably, 30.8% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing costs consume 17.8% of income, but disposable income remains high at the 69th percentile. West End's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

West End features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in West End, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 19.5% houses and 80.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 12.9% houses and 87.2% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in West End was 18.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.9% and rented dwellings at 59.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,100, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure for West End was $450, compared to Brisbane metro's $440. Nationally, West End's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $2,100 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and median weekly rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

West End features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 56.2 percent of all households, consisting of 19.4 percent couples with children, 28.0 percent couples without children, and 7.3 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 43.8 percent, with lone person households at 33.9 percent and group households comprising 9.9 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 1.9.

Educational achievement in West End places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in West End exceeds broader benchmarks with 57.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational pathways account for 19.6%, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 10.1%. Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 14.2% in tertiary, 6.6% in primary, and 6.3% pursuing secondary education.

West End State School and Arethusa College - West End Temporary Facility serve a total of 1,474 students. The area shows significant socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1142. Educational provision is conventional with one primary and one secondary institution each. However, local school capacity is limited at 8.4 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.3, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Transport analysis shows 63 active stops operating in West End, offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 8 individual routes, providing a total of 4930 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 119 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 704 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 78 weekly trips per stop.

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

West End's health outcomes show notably positive results, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 63% of the total population (11,167 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.8 and 7.0% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 75.4%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, closely aligned with Greater Brisbane's figure of 75.5%. As of a recent study (date unspecified), West End has 11.2% of its population aged 65 and over (1,968 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, largely mirroring the general population's health profile.

West End is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

West End's population has a high level of linguistic diversity, with 30.5% speaking a language other than English at home as of 2016. In terms of birthplace, 40.6% were born overseas in the same year. Christianity is the predominant religion in West End, comprising 31.9% of its population.

However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, with 0.3% of West End's population identifying as Jewish versus 0.2%. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (21.9%), Australian (15.9%), and Other (12.1%). Notably, Spanish (1.1%) and French (1.0%) ethnicities are slightly overrepresented in West End compared to regional averages of 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively. Additionally, Vietnamese ethnicity is more prevalent in West End at 2.0%, compared to the regional average of 1.2%.

West End's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

West End has a median age of 34, which is slightly lower than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and substantially under Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, West End has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.6%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 35 to 44 has grown from 16.4% to 17.5%, while the 75 to 84 age group increased from 2.4% to 3.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has declined from 25.3% to 23.6%, and the 15 to 24 age group has dropped from 14.5% to 13.3%. Population forecasts for West End indicate substantial demographic shifts by 2041, with the 45 to 54 age cohort projected to grow significantly by 89%, adding 2,051 residents to reach a total of 4,347 in this age group.