Wakerley

Wakerley has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, Wakerley's population is estimated at around 9,118 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 400 people (4.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,718 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 9,118, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 93 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,125 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wakerley's 4.6% growth since census positions it within 2.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (7.1%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 is applying 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, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the suburb expected to increase by 625 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 6.8% in total over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Wakerley averaging around 3 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 16 homes were approved, with 1 so far in FY-26. This results in approximately 11.8 new residents arriving annually per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

Demand significantly exceeds supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. New properties are constructed at an average value of $1,000,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, $8.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting limited commercial development focus. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Wakerley shows substantially reduced construction, which is 92.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

Nationally, this is also below average, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New construction has been completely comprised of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (84.0% at Census), indicating persistent strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. The location has approximately 18121 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Future projections show Wakerley adding 625 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Wakerley has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Greenslopes Private Hospital expansion, Wakerley Specialist Centre development, Mayfair Village Shopping Centre expansion (scheduled for completion in 2021), Wakerley Park Residential Estate construction (commenced in June 2019), and The Sanctuary Wakerley project (expected to begin in late 2020).

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Wakerley places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Wakerley has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 1.0% as of December 2025, with estimated employment growth of 5.3% over the past year. This figure is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

There are 5,900 residents in work, and the unemployment rate is 3.1% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation stands at 83.6%, surpassing Greater Brisbane's rate of 69.6%. According to Census responses, 26.9% of residents work from home. The key industries are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training.

Professional & technical employment is notably concentrated, with levels at 1.2 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, comprising only 14.3% of Wakerley's workforce compared to Greater Brisbane's 16.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.3%, while labour force grew by the same percentage, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.2% and labour force growth of 3.0%, with a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Wakerley. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections vary significantly. Applying these projections to Wakerley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch released its latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. The suburb of Wakerley had a median income among taxpayers of $70,004 and an average of $93,771. These figures are among the highest in Australia, with Greater Brisbane's median being $58,236 and average at $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Wakerley would be approximately $77,956 (median) and $104,423 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Wakerley rank highly nationally, between the 91st and 96th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 30.0% of residents earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (2,735 residents), similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 33.3%. A substantial presence of higher earners is noted, with 49.0% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power in the community. Housing accounts for 14.1% of income, and residents rank highly for disposable income at the 96th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Wakerley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Wakerley, as recorded in the latest Census, 84.2% of dwellings were houses while 15.8% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is compared to Brisbane's metropolitan area where 73.5% of dwellings are houses and 26.5% are other types. Home ownership in Wakerley stood at 22.0%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 56.0% and rented ones making up 21.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,362, higher than Brisbane's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Wakerley was recorded at $510 compared to Brisbane's $380. Nationally, Wakerley's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Wakerley features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 88.1 percent of all households, including 54.6 percent couples with children, 22.6 percent couples without children, and 10.2 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 11.9 percent, with lone person households at 10.5 percent and group households making up 1.4 percent of the total. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Wakerley exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Wakerley's educational attainment is notably high. Among residents aged 15 and above, 37.8% have university qualifications, surpassing both the SA4 region (23.7%) and Queensland state average (25.7%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 31.5% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (18.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 35.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.1% in primary education, 10.3% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wakerley has 19 operational public transport stops, offering mixed bus services. These are covered by six distinct routes, facilitating 377 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents situated an average of 297 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Wakerley residents commute outward, with cars being the primary mode at 91%. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. Notably, 26.9% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census; potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions).

Across all routes, service frequency averages 53 trips daily, equating to roughly 19 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

AreaSearch's assessment shows Wakerley has low prevalence of common health conditions across all ages. The area's private health cover rate is high at approximately 64%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 55.8% and the national average of 55.7%. Asthma and mental health issues are the most common conditions, affecting 7.5 and 6.8% respectively.

76.6% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 10.9% residents aged 65 and over (993 people), lower than Greater Brisbane's 15.1%. Senior health outcomes align with national rankings.

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

Wakerley's population, as of the 2016 Census, showed higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas. 16.0% spoke a language other than English at home, while 29.5% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 56.4%.

Judaism, however, had a slightly higher representation in Wakerley at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane. For ancestry, the top groups were English (28.9%), Australian (23.2%), and Other (8.1%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: South Australian (1.7% vs regional 0.6%), New Zealand (1.4% vs 1.0%), and Korean (0.7% vs 0.5%) were more prevalent in Wakerley than the Greater Brisbane average.

Wakerley's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Wakerley's median age is 38 years, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 but equal to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 45-54 age group comprises 18.5% of Wakerley's population, which is greater than Greater Brisbane's percentage and significantly higher than the national average of 12.0%. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age cohort makes up 7.4%, lower than both Greater Brisbane and the national figure. Between 2021 and present day, Wakerley's median age has increased by 1.2 years from 37 to 38 years, indicating an aging population trend. During this period, the 15-24 age group grew from 11.5% to 14.8%, while the 45-54 cohort rose from 16.9% to 18.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group decreased from 19.4% to 16.7%, and the 35-44 age group fell from 18.3% to 15.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Wakerley's age profile. Notably, the 55-64 age group is expected to grow by 27%, adding 271 people, reaching a total of 1,265 from its current figure of 993. In contrast, both the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are projected to decrease in number.