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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 4,618 residents, up from 4,253 at the 2021 Census — a change of 365 people, or 8.6%. 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
Based on demographic evaluations from the ABS for the surrounding region, combined with updated addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Wacol has an estimated population of 4,618 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 365 people (8.6%) from the 4,253 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is derived from the estimated resident population of 4,618, which AreaSearch calculated using the ABS June 2025 ERP release alongside 7 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The resulting population density is 260 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and space for potential future development.
Over the last ten years, Wacol has shown steady growth with a compound annual rate of 2.2%, exceeding the SA3 average. The main contributor to these population gains was interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 51.0% of the growth, although natural increase and overseas migration also made positive contributions. Projections for each SA2 region are based on the ABS and Geoscience Australia data published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For areas where this is unavailable, or for periods after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 using 2021 data are substituted. Since the Queensland state data does not detail age cohorts, AreaSearch distributes growth across age segments using proportions from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 data. Based on these combined SA2 projections, Wacol is expected to experience growth in the lower national quartile, adding 18 residents by 2041, which corresponds to a total increase of 0.4% over 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 1.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Few approvals have been recorded in the most recent months, well below the longer-run average; the latest ABS periods are still being reported. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's review of ABS building approvals allocated to local levels, the suburb of Wacol averages approximately 6 approved residential dwellings per year, yielding 34 total homes over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, no approvals have been recorded. With an average of 16.4 new residents arriving per completed home between FY-21 and FY-25, demand remains higher than new supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and intensifies buyer competition. The average cost of new constructions is $145,000, which sits below regional averages and provides more affordable housing options.
Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $208.2 million this financial year, reflecting solid momentum in local commercial development. Compared to the wider Greater Brisbane area, construction activity in the suburb of Wacol is low, registering 57.0% below regional average per person. This limited supply of new builds generally supports the value and demand of established properties. The level also falls below the national average, indicating a developed area with possible planning restrictions. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the low-density profile of the area and appealing to buyers seeking extra space. Builders are focusing on traditional houses at a higher rate than the existing stock (which stood at 83.0% at Census), showing that demand for family homes remains strong despite pressures for density. The ratio of 1154 people per single approved dwelling highlights the quiet and low-key nature of construction in the area. Long-term forecasts indicate that the suburb of Wacol will add 18 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Given the current pace of construction, the supply of new housing is expected to easily accommodate this demand, creating favorable buyer conditions and potentially paving the way for growth that exceeds current population estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wacol
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
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 $475 million. A further 31 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $11.1 billion. 4 are already under construction and 7 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
Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development works are key factors in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects expected to influence this locality. High-profile projects include the Wacol Youth Remand Centre, the Wacol Logistics Hub, Maplewood Estate, and the South Queensland Correctional Facilities Expansion, with the main projects listed below.
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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.
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
A premium industrial park featuring 45 architecturally designed warehouse units. The development is aimed at a diverse range of industrial and commercial users, providing modern and functional industrial headquarters with excellent access to major transport links.
South Queensland Correctional Facilities Expansion
The South Queensland Correctional Facilities Expansion investigates options to relieve capacity constraints due to growing prison population and overcrowding in south-east Queensland, including better use of existing infrastructure, expanding capacity of existing facilities (new cell blocks, upgrading prisoner support facilities), and construction on a greenfield site. Combines Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct (Gatton) expansions.
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.
458 residents of Wacol are employed, from a labour force of 511. Unemployment sits at 10.4%. 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 10,810, 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 suburb of Wacol has a workforce distributed across manual and professional roles, with a strong industrial and manufacturing presence, an unemployment rate of 10.4%, and an annual employment growth rate of 15.1% based on AreaSearch statistical aggregations. In March 2026, there were 458 employed residents, while the unemployment rate sat 6.0% higher than the Greater Brisbane rate of 4.3%. Participation in the labor force is low at 11.6% compared to 70.4% in Greater Brisbane. Census data indicates that only 11.9% of residents worked from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic restrictions.
The primary sectors employing residents are manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Manufacturing is highly concentrated, with a local employment share that is 2.2 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training is less common locally, employing 5.3% of the workforce compared to 9.4% in Greater Brisbane. With a ratio of 2.8 jobs for every resident at the Census, the area acts as a major employment center, drawing in workers from neighboring suburbs. AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS data for the broader region show that in the year ending March 2026, local employment grew by 15.1% and the labor force expanded by 13.1%, leading to a decrease of 1.6 percentage points in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2% and labor force growth of 3.4%, alongside a 0.1 percentage point increase. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context on future demand. When these five-year (6.6% national growth) and ten-year (13.7% national growth) projections are weighted against Wacol's specific industry distribution, local employment is projected to grow by 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years.
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
Postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year shows that taxpayers in the suburb of Wacol had a median income of $54,868 and an average income of $61,252. These figures are below national benchmarks and compare to median and average figures of $58,236 and $72,799 in Greater Brisbane. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, estimated incomes as of March 2026 are approximately $61,101 (median) and $68,210 (average). Census records show individual weekly incomes are in the 4th percentile ($514), while household incomes are in the 26th percentile.
The largest income bracket contains 32.3% of the local population (1,491 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the regional proportion of 33.3%. Housing costs consume a significant portion of earnings, leaving just 83.1% of income remaining, placing the area in the 26th percentile for affordability.
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
At the time of the latest Census, the housing stock in the suburb of Wacol consisted of 82.9% detached houses and 17.1% alternative dwellings (such as townhouses, apartments, or other formats), compared to 73.5% houses and 26.5% other formats in the Brisbane metropolitan area. Home ownership rates matched the Brisbane average at 27.2%, while mortgaged properties accounted for 24.3% and rented properties made up 48.5% of homes. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,387, and the median weekly rent was $320, compared to Brisbane metropolitan averages of $1,863 and $380 respectively.
Nationally, mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wacol counted 289 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 314 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 make up 65.1% of all households in the area. This group consists of couples with children at 21.3%, couples without children at 20.9%, and single-parent homes at 20.9%. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.9%, with single-person households representing 24.7% and group households making up 8.4%. The median household size is 2.4 residents, which is slightly smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
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
Educational attainment in the area is lower than average, with university degree holders making up 10.8% of the population, compared to 30.5% in Greater Brisbane. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 10.0%, with postgraduate qualifications at 0.6% and graduate diplomas at 0.2%. Vocational training accounts for 12.4% of qualifications for residents aged 15 and over, comprising certificates at 11.1% and advanced diplomas at 1.3%. Enrolment in education is high, with 84.8% of local residents participating in formal learning. Secondary school students represent 29.6% of this group, primary school students make up 25.2%, and tertiary students account for 7.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Wacol reaches 19 stops on 59 routes, timetabled for about 1,700 services a week. The typical home sits about 700 m from its nearest stop. Trains carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.1 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
There are 19 active public transport connections in the suburb of Wacol, utilizing both trains and buses. These services cover 59 routes and provide 1,650 weekly passenger trips. Local transit accessibility is limited, with an average distance of 699 meters to the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute out of the area; private cars are the main transit choice at 76%, with trains accounting for 17%. The average number of vehicles per home is 1.1, which is below the metropolitan average. Home-based workers accounted for 11.9% of residents at the 2021 Census, which may have been impacted by pandemic restrictions.
The average frequency of public transport services is 235 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 86 weekly trips for each individual stop.
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
The suburb of Wacol shows notable public health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch metrics on mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older demographics. The rate of private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 51% of residents (~2,377 people) holding coverage, compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane. The most frequent diagnoses among residents are mental health conditions (16.4%) and asthma (8.2%), while 58.4% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The working-age cohort exhibits high rates of chronic illnesses.
Residents aged 65 and older make up 6.4% of the population (295 people), which is lower than the Greater Brisbane share of 15.1%. However, health measures for this older cohort show significant challenges, ranking higher than the national general population baseline.
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
Cultural diversity is high in the suburb of Wacol, where 17.9% of the population was born overseas and 21.9% speak a non-English language at home. Christianity is the dominant religion at 46.6%. The most notable religious variation is in Buddhism, which is practiced by 2.9% of the population compared to 2.0% across Greater Brisbane. Regarding parental country of birth, the main groups in the suburb of Wacol are Australian ancestries at 22.0%, English ancestries at 21.3% (below the regional average of 26.8%), and other backgrounds at 9.5%. There is a higher concentration of certain communities compared to regional averages, including Samoan backgrounds at 2.8% (compared to 0.9% regionally), New Zealand backgrounds at 2.4% (compared to 1.0%), and Maori backgrounds at 2.1% (compared to 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. 38.0% 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 median age in the suburb of Wacol is 36 years, matching Greater Brisbane but younger than the national average of 38. The 35 to 44 cohort is highly represented at 28.8% of the population (compared to 14.3% nationally), while children aged 5 to 14 represent only 2.9%. Since 2021, the median age has risen from 35 to 36, indicating an average aging of 1.4 years. The 35 to 44 age cohort increased from 27.1% to 28.8% and the 45 to 54 group rose from 13.7% to 15.2%, while the 25 to 34 group fell from 31.2% to 26.8% and the 15 to 24 cohort decreased from 14.1% to 11.2%.
Projections for 2041 show significant shifts, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 26%, adding 181 residents to reach 883, while the 35 to 44 and 25 to 34 cohorts are expected to decrease in size.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wacol
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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 May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,253 at the 2021 Census → 4,618 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 May 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.