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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Wacol has an estimated 4,613 residents, up from 4,253 at the 2021 Census — a change of 360 people, or 8.5%. Growth has averaged 2.6% a year over five years. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 51.0% of that increase. That puts 260 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Wacol has an estimated resident count of around 4,613 people, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS population updates alongside 7 validated new addresses identified since the Census. This represents an expansion of 360 people (8.5%) from the 4,253 people recorded in the 2021 Census, a calculation derived from the 4,613 figure following the ABS ERP data release in June 2025. With a population density of 260 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample space per resident and room for future expansion.
Over the preceding ten years, the suburb of Wacol maintained steady demographic momentum, recording a 2.2% compound annual growth rate that exceeded the wider SA3 area. The primary catalyst for this expansion was interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 51.0% of recent population additions, complemented by positive inflows from natural increase and overseas arrivals. Population projections for the suburb of Wacol utilise ABS/Geoscience Australia modeling for SA2 areas published in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, supplemented for post-2032 horizons and uncovered zones by Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts released in 2023 from 2021 data. Because the state figures omit cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional distributions from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 data) across age groups. Looking ahead, long-term demographic expansion is positioned in the lowest national quartile, with aggregated SA2 projections anticipating the suburb of Wacol will add 1 persons through to 2041, representing essentially no overall percentage expansion across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
34 new dwellings have been approved in Wacol over the past five years, an average of 6 a year. That is 0.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 1, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Across the previous 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, residential building activity in Wacol averaged roughly 6 new dwelling approvals annually, yielding an estimated total of 34 homes based on AreaSearch's allocation of ABS figures. In FY-25 to date, 1 approvals have been documented. Over this 5 financial years span, population influx averaged 29.4 people per year for every home built, creating substantial excess demand over supply that typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices. Newly approved residential properties feature an average construction value of $190,000, sitting below regional benchmarks to provide relatively accessible building costs.
In addition, the commercial sector has recorded $208.2 million in building approvals during the current financial year, signalling significant commercial development activity. Per capita residential building volumes in Wacol trail Greater Brisbane significantly, sitting 76.0% below the regional rate and similarly lagging national benchmarks, which highlights the established nature of the suburb and potential planning constraints. This limited flow of new stock generally reinforces buyer demand and valuations across existing properties. Recent residential approvals have comprised detached houses exclusively, preserving low-density characteristics and drawing buyers seeking land and space. Furthermore, home builders are delivering detached dwellings at an even higher proportion than the 83.0% share recorded at Census, underscoring ongoing appetite for standalone houses despite broader urban densification. The ratio of 1846 people per approved dwelling highlights an environment characterized by subdued building activity. According to the latest quarterly forecasts from AreaSearch, Wacol is projected to see an increase of 1 residents up to 2041. Given the prevailing pace of residential approvals, planned home building should readily accommodate anticipated demand, generating favorable purchasing conditions and potentially enabling residential expansion beyond current population estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wacol
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Wacol, worth an estimated $1.37 billion. A further 31 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $12.1 billion. 3 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and business parks & technology hubs. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Capital investments, planning strategies, and public infrastructure works play a pivotal role in driving local economic performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 major projects expected to influence the area, with key initiatives including the Maplewood Estate, Wacol Logistics Hub, South Queensland Correctional Facilities Expansion, and Wacol Youth Remand Centre.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Wacol Youth Remand Centre
A new youth remand facility to accommodate approximately 50 young people, providing enhanced access to support services, including education, medical, and therapeutic programs. The project aims to address overcrowding in Queensland's youth detention system and improve rehabilitation outcomes for young offenders.
South Queensland Correctional Facilities Expansion
Queensland Corrective Services expansion program addressing custody capacity constraints across south-east Queensland. The program encompassed major infrastructure works including the delivery of the 1,500-bed Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre at Gatton and operational capacity enhancements at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre in Wacol.
Wacol Logistics Hub
18.2 hectare industrial complex with six warehouses acquired by JD Property for $153M. Major employment hub with proximity to transport networks and Richlands corridor.
Maplewood Estate
An exclusive residential development offering 12 premium lots in Wacol, with sizes ranging from 456sqm to 1528sqm. The estate is located with direct frontage onto a golf course, offering a modern and convenient lifestyle.
QUAD WEST Industrial Estate
14,772sqm industrial estate over two standalone buildings with 13.5m internal clearance, ESFR sprinkler systems, and high-quality office accommodation.
Waterford Business Park
Waterford Business Park comprises 45 architecturally designed strata-titled industrial units across multiple modern warehouse complexes. Developed by Norhart Developments on a prime 2.1-hectare parcel, the project provides functional industrial headquarters near the Ipswich Motorway and Logan Motorway corridors.
Industrial Avenue, Wacol
A medium and high-impact industrial warehouse development with a total Gross Floor Area of approximately 24,000 sqm for warehouse and office space. The project includes three tenancies and is designed to cater to logistics and industrial needs in the region.
Goodna Central Mixed Use Development
Master planning of a $90 million mixed use development to provide the New Town Centre for the CBD of Goodna. Over 2 hectares of land will be converted into a vibrant Community Hub featuring Education and Training Facilities, Medical services, Child Care, Retail, and Affordable housing.
448 residents of Wacol are employed, from a labour force of 498. Unemployment sits at 10.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 10,805, about 2.3 times the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market in Wacol encompasses a mix of blue-collar and white-collar roles, with substantial representation in industrial and production activities. According to aggregated statistical area figures compiled by AreaSearch, 448 residents are employed as of March 2026, alongside an estimated 14.6% increase in employment over the preceding year. However, the local unemployment rate sits at 10.0%, which is 5.7% above the 4.3% benchmark in Greater Brisbane, while the labour force participation rate of 11.3% trails the regional figure of 70.1% by a wide margin. Census records show that only 11.9% of employed locals worked from home, though this metric was subject to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions.
Local workers are concentrated primarily in manufacturing, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Industrial employment is especially prominent, with manufacturing workforce shares tracking at 2.2 times the Greater Brisbane benchmark. Conversely, education & training represents just 5.3% of the resident workforce, underperforming the 9.4% recorded regionally. At the Census, Wacol registered 2.8 workers for every resident, functioning as a major employment destination that draws substantial inbound commuter traffic. During the 12 months leading to March 2026, AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM figures shows local employment expanded by 14.6% against a 12.4% rise in the labour pool, reducing local unemployment by 1.7 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Brisbane experienced a 3.2% increase in employment, a 3.4% rise in the workforce, and a 0.1 percentage points uptick in unemployment. National occupational projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide further context on workforce trends across five and ten-year intervals; when applied to Wacol's occupational distribution, local employment is projected to expand by 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, compared to national baseline projections of 6.6% and 13.7% respectively (noting this is an illustrative weighting model without local demographic adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Wacol is $1,379 a week (about $72,000 a year), with median personal income at $514 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $54,868 a year against an average of $61,252. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to ATO postcode records for financial year 2023 analysed by AreaSearch, earnings in the suburb of Wacol sit below nationwide norms, recording a median income of $54,868 and an average of $61,252, in contrast to Greater Brisbane benchmarks of $58,236 and $72,799. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 reach approximately $61,101 for the median and $68,210 for the average. In the 2021 Census, individual weekly earnings ranked at the 4th percentile ($514 weekly), while household earnings placed at the 26th percentile.
A prominent share of 32.3% of residents (1,489 people) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings bracket, closely tracking the 33.3% regional proportion. With 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, local affordability ranks at the 26th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Wacol had 289 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 83% detached houses and 0% apartments. 24% are owned with a mortgage, 49% rented and 27% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $320 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,387 a month. Rent absorbs 23.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential property across Wacol at the latest Census consisted of 82.9% separate houses alongside 17.1% semi-detached dwellings, apartments, and other housing formats, compared with 73.5% separate houses and 26.5% other dwellings across Brisbane metro. Outright home ownership stood at 27.2%, matching Brisbane metro levels, while 24.3% of residences were being purchased with a mortgage and 48.5% were occupied by renters. Median monthly mortgage commitments were $1,387, well under the Brisbane metro figure of $1,863 and the national benchmark of $1,863. Similarly, median weekly rents were $320, lower than Brisbane metro's $380 and the Australian average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wacol counted 289 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 313 today, averaging 2.4 people each. 21% are couples with children, fewer than in 83% of areas nationally, against 21% couples without children. 25% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local residences, accounting for 65.1% of all households. This group is distributed across couples with children (21.3%), couples without children (20.9%), and single parent households (20.9%). The remaining 34.9% comprises non-family residences, consisting of single-person households at 24.7% and group arrangements at 8.4%. The average household size in the area is 2.4 people, slightly below the 2.6 recorded across Greater Brisbane.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.8% of adults in Wacol hold a university qualification, including 10.0% with a bachelor degree and 0.6% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 94% of areas nationally. A further 11.1% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 368 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 870 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Higher educational attainment in the local community presents challenges, with 10.8% of residents holding university qualifications compared to 30.5% across Greater Brisbane, highlighting potential opportunities for targeted learning programmes. Bachelor degrees form the largest segment at 10.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 0.6% and graduate diplomas at 0.2%. Vocational education constitutes 12.4% of qualifications among residents aged 15+, comprising certificates at 11.1% and advanced diplomas at 1.3%. Formal study engagement is substantial, with 84.8% of the local population enrolled in education programs. This comprises 29.6% attending secondary schools, 25.2% in primary education, and 7.9% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Wacol means driving: households keep an average of 1.1 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
58.4% of residents in Wacol report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 93% of areas nationally. 2.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 8.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic condition incidence and mortality metrics reveal notable health hurdles across Wacol, affecting both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is relatively constrained, held by approximately 51% of the population (~2,374 people), which compares to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane. Mental health conditions and asthma represent the most widespread medical issues reported locally, affecting 16.4 and 8.2% of residents respectively, while 58.4% reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age adults experience heightened chronic health pressures, while seniors aged 65 and over make up 6.1% of the community (281 people), below the 15.0% share across Greater Brisbane.
Senior health outcomes present hurdles, registering national rankings above the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Wacol is largely Australian-born, at 82.1% of residents, with 21.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (22.0%) and English (21.3%). 5.7% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The local community displays above-average cultural variety, with 17.9% of residents born overseas and 21.9% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 46.6% of residents. In addition, Buddhism is distinctly prominent at 2.9% of the population, compared to 2.0% across Greater Brisbane. Regarding parental ancestry, the three most common backgrounds among residents are Australian at 22.0%, English at 21.3% (below the regional benchmark of 26.8%), and Other at 9.5%. Several other heritages show elevated representation relative to Greater Brisbane, including Samoan at 2.8% (vs 0.9% regionally), New Zealand at 2.4% (vs 1.0%), and Maori at 2.1% (vs 1.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Wacol is 36, younger than 76% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 38.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic structure of the suburb of Wacol skews young and predominantly pre-family, with 25 - 44 year olds making up 55.8% of the population as at August 2026 compared to 30.6% across Greater Brisbane, while children and youth aged 0 - 24 represent 15.6% versus 31.8% regionally. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 36, rising from 35 at the 2021 Census and matching the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 36 recorded in that Census. Since the Census, the proportion of young to middle aged adults contracted from 58.3% to an estimated 55.8%, with projections indicating further declines for this cohort.
By 2041, residents aged 45 - 64 are projected to experience the largest numerical increase, adding 281 people (27%) to reach 1,319, while the retiree and elderly cohort (65+) is anticipated to see the strongest proportional growth, expanding by 54% to 433 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wacol
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Sep 2026 last month all 8 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 7 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,253 at the 2021 Census → 4,613 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL32950). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.