Birkdale
Birkdale is close to a train, but expensive to rent.
Birkdale is close to a train station (Birkdale, about 1,000 m as the crow flies); well served for the everyday — 3 schools and 2 supermarkets. The trade-offs: renting is expensive, a median of $760 a week (RTA, 2026-Q2); an older population (median age 43 at the 2021 Census, against 38 for Queensland), with fewer young families.
Mostly free-standing houses, with a median age of 43 and households on a median $1,944 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, RTA median rents, Queensland Police Service reported offences, Brisbane City Council flood awareness data, OpenStreetMap, TransLink timetables and Queensland Open Data.
What's good
- close to a train station (Birkdale, about 1,000 m as the crow flies)
- well served for the everyday — 3 schools and 2 supermarkets
What to weigh up
- renting is expensive, a median of $760 a week (RTA, 2026-Q2)
- an older population (median age 43 at the 2021 Census, against 38 for Queensland), with fewer young families
Birkdale on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Birkdale, QLD.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Birkdale against the Queensland average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Birkdale population grew from 15,394 in 2016 to 16,024 in 2025, a change of 4.1% over the period, against 17.0% for the Queensland average.
Show the data table
| Year | Birkdale | Queensland average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 15,394 | 4,845,152 |
| 2017 | 15,599 | 4,926,380 |
| 2018 | 15,603 | 5,006,623 |
| 2019 | 15,617 | 5,088,847 |
| 2020 | 15,501 | 5,165,613 |
| 2021 | 15,457 | 5,215,814 |
| 2022 | 15,502 | 5,310,905 |
| 2023 | 15,611 | 5,450,235 |
| 2024 | 15,897 | 5,571,890 |
| 2025 | 16,024 | 5,669,764 |
Where the growth is coming from
Birkdale gained 1,303 residents from internal migration and 164 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 1,320 people moved away — a net addition of 147 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,303
- Internal migration out+1,252
- Overseas migration in+164
- Natural increase-20Natural decrease — deaths exceeded births.
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,922 | 15,230 | +2.1% |
| Median age | 41 | 43 | +2 yrs |
| Median household income | $1,705/wk | $1,944/wk | +14% |
| Median weekly rent | $400/wk | $440/wk | +10% |
| Born overseas | 22.2% | 23.3% | +1.1 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 35.6%
- Mortgaged 41.9%
- Rented 18.5%
- Other / not stated 4.0%
What it costs to rent
Residential Tenancies Authority · 2026-Q2Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the Residential Tenancies Authority's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
Rent over time
All dwellings in Birkdale against the Greater Brisbane median.
Median weekly rent in Birkdale went from $680 in 2024-Q1 to $760 in 2026-Q2, up 12%, against $656 for Greater Brisbane now.
Show the data table
| Year | Birkdale | Greater Brisbane |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-Q1 | $680 | $562 |
| 2024-Q2 | $670 | $590 |
| 2024-Q3 | $670 | $574 |
| 2024-Q4 | $710 | $594 |
| 2025-Q1 | $720 | $585 |
| 2025-Q2 | $695 | $624 |
| 2025-Q3 | $725 | $612 |
| 2025-Q4 | $725 | $633 |
| 2026-Q1 | $725 | $625 |
| 2026-Q2 | $760 | $656 |
By dwelling type — 2026-Q2 quarter
| Type | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | — | $700n=28 | $850n=24 |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure with a small n as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Birkdale was $760 for the 2026-Q2 quarter, up 9% on a year earlier. That is $104 a week above the Greater Brisbane median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $700.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Brisbane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q2 | $760 | +9.4% | $656 |
| 2026-Q1 | $725 | +0.7% | $625 |
| 2025-Q4 | $725 | +2.1% | $633 |
| 2025-Q3 | $725 | +8.2% | $612 |
| 2025-Q2 | $695 | +3.7% | $624 |
| 2025-Q1 | $720 | +5.9% | $585 |
| 2024-Q4 | $710 | +6.0% | $594 |
| 2024-Q3 | $670 | +6.3% | $574 |
| 2024-Q2 | $670 | +3.1% | $590 |
| 2024-Q1 | $680 | +15.3% | $562 |
| 2023-Q4 | $670 | +11.7% | $575 |
| 2023-Q3 | $630 | +8.6% | $536 |
| 2023-Q2 | $650 | +12.1% | $526 |
| 2023-Q1 | $590 | +7.3% | $496 |
| 2022-Q4 | $600 | +15.4% | $495 |
| 2022-Q3 | $580 | +16.0% | $455 |
| 2022-Q2 | $580 | +26.1% | $454 |
| 2022-Q1 | $550 | +22.2% | $428 |
| 2021-Q4 | $520 | +10.6% | $436 |
| 2021-Q3 | $500 | +6.4% | $416 |
| 2021-Q2 | $460 | −4.2% | $408 |
| 2021-Q1 | $450 | −3.2% | $405 |
| 2020-Q4 | $470 | +0.0% | $401 |
| 2020-Q3 | $470 | +6.8% | $392 |
| 2020-Q2 | $480 | +11.6% | $383 |
| 2020-Q1 | $465 | −3.1% | $394 |
| 2019-Q4 | $470 | +4.4% | $391 |
| 2019-Q3 | $440 | +2.3% | $384 |
| 2019-Q2 | $430 | −4.4% | $383 |
| 2019-Q1 | $480 | +3.2% | $387 |
| 2018-Q4 | $450 | +4.7% | $383 |
| 2018-Q3 | $430 | −1.1% | $381 |
| 2018-Q2 | $450 | — | $383 |
| 2018-Q1 | $465 | — | $386 |
| 2017-Q4 | $430 | — | $384 |
| 2017-Q3 | $435 | — | $381 |
Rent data © the State of Queensland (Residential Tenancies Authority), used under CC BY 4.0, June 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. The RTA suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 7score 1,040
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 6score 1,018
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 8score 1,056
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 5score 987
Safety context
Queensland Police Service · July 2026How much crime is reported where Birkdale sits — measured for its whole police division, because that is the finest area the Queensland Police Service publishes.
Birkdale is policed by the Queensland Police Service Capalaba Division, which also covers Alexandra Hills, Belmont - Gumdale, Capalaba and Thorneside. The reported-offence figures below are for the whole division, not Birkdale specifically.
Most-reported offences · Capalaba Division, last 12 months
- Other Theft (excl. Unlawful Entry)1,630 /100k−38% vs QLD↓ 11%
- Drug Offences1,215 /100k−27% vs QLD↓ 10%
- Assault558 /100k−47% vs QLD↓ 18%
- Unlawful Entry311 /100k−54% vs QLD↑ 2%
- Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle174 /100k−48% vs QLD↑ 20%
- Robbery23 /100k−49% vs QLD↓ 28%
Rate per 100,000 people across the whole Capalaba Division — not Birkdale on its own; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, other theft is reported most across the whole Capalaba Division over the last 12 months, running 38% below the Queensland rate and down on the year before. None of this is specific to Birkdale — a police division usually spans several suburbs, so treat it as area context, not a street-level read.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Division | Queensland | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other Theft (excl. Unlawful Entry) | 1,630 per 100k | 2,632 per 100k | ↓ 11% vs prior year |
| Drug Offences | 1,215 per 100k | 1,666 per 100k | ↓ 10% vs prior year |
| Assault | 558 per 100k | 1,053 per 100k | ↓ 18% vs prior year |
| Unlawful Entry | 311 per 100k | 677 per 100k | ↑ 2% vs prior year |
| Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle | 174 per 100k | 338 per 100k | ↑ 20% vs prior year |
| Robbery | 23 per 100k | 45 per 100k | ↓ 28% vs prior year |
Crime statistics © State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service), used under CC BY 4.0, updated July 2026. Reported offences are counted for the Capalaba Division; suburb-level detail is not published as open data. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise, per QPS’s own guidance.
Flood risk
Brisbane City Council · updated August 2026Has this suburb flooded before, and how much of it does Brisbane City Council map as flood-liable? The historic extents are the ground truth; the likelihood bands are the council's modelling of how often flooding is expected.
Historic flood exposure
- 2022<1%
Share of the suburb inside each event’s mapped flood surface. These maps cover only the river and creek extents of those specific events — being outside them does not mean a property is flood-free.
Birkdale has been within a mapped flood extent before — in 2022.
A suburb rollup can’t tell you about an individual property. Check a specific address on Brisbane City Council’s FloodWise Property Report →
Show the data table
| Measure | Share |
|---|---|
| Within the 2022 flood extent | under 1% of the suburb |
| Council likelihood modelling, all bands | 0% of the suburb |
Flood data © Brisbane City Council, used under CC BY 4.0, updated August 2026. The Flood Awareness Maps are an awareness tool, not a substitute for a FloodWise Property Report or professional advice.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Birkdale SA2, OpenStreetMap records 3 childcare and kindergarten centres, 2 supermarkets and 40 green spaces. For families: 24 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 3 cafés and 5 restaurants. Staying active: 3 gyms and 36 sports fields. Also 2 shopping centres. The nearest train station, Birkdale, is about 1,000 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 57 bus stops here.
GPs and clinics and pubs and bars are not well mapped in OpenStreetMap yet, so no count is shown for them here. See this area on OpenStreetMap →
List every mapped place
Schools
- Birkdale South State School
- Birkdale State School
- St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School
Childcare & kindergartens
- Little Ducks Childcare
Gyms & fitness
- Snap Fitness
- UBX Boxing + Strength
Shopping centres
- Birkdale Village Shopping Centre
- Birkdale Fair
Supermarkets
- IGA
- Woolworths
Green spaces
- Tulipwood Drive Park
- Byng Road Park
- Pedwell Place Park
- Creek Road Park
- Remo Place Urban Habitat
- Lachlan Street Park
- Robinson Park
- William Taylor Park
Train stations
- Birkdale
Parks and trails
Brisbane City Council · biannuallyCouncil park and trail data on this site is published by Brisbane City Council, and covers the Brisbane City Council area only. Birkdale is in Redland City, which does not publish an equivalent open dataset, so no council parks are listed here. The green spaces counted in the amenities section above come from OpenStreetMap and are unaffected.
Park locations © Brisbane City Council 2026; tracks and trails © Brisbane City Council 2025. Used under CC BY 4.0.
Getting to the CBD
TransLink timetablesHow to reach the city centre from Birkdale on public transport — the routes you'd catch here, how long they take and how often they run.
From Birkdale, the train runs to Roma Street in the Brisbane CBD in about 51 minutes, roughly every 15 minutes in the morning peak. Times are scheduled and in-vehicle only — they exclude walking, waiting and any transfer.
Routes to the city from Birkdale
- TrainCleveland - Shorncliffe~51 min · every ~15 min in the peak
- TrainCleveland - Brisbane City~51 min · peak only
These are timetabled figures for a typical weekday. Plan a door-to-door trip on the TransLink journey planner →
Show the data table
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Fastest scheduled trip to Roma Street | about 51 min |
| Best route, morning peak (7–9am) | about every 15 min |
| Best route, off-peak (10am–3pm) | about every 30 min |
| Train — Cleveland - Shorncliffe | about 51 min |
| Train — Cleveland - Brisbane City | about 51 min |
Timetable data © State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads, TransLink Division), used under CC BY 4.0. Scheduled in-vehicle times for a representative weekday, city-bound — they exclude walking, waiting and transfer time, and real running times vary with traffic.
Schools
Every open Queensland school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Birkdale SA2 contains 3 schools, of which 2 are government and 1 non-government. Its schools with a published ICSEA average 1022 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Birkdale sits in decile 5 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 60% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Birkdale South State School (primary), Wellington Point State High School (junior secondary), Wellington Point State High School (senior secondary).
Parts of the SA2 also fall in the catchment of Birkdale State School (primary), Alexandra Hills State School (primary), Wellington Point State School (primary), Capalaba State College (primary), Alexandra Hills State High School (junior secondary), Capalaba State College (junior secondary), Alexandra Hills State High School (senior secondary), Capalaba State College (senior secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Show school list
- Birkdale South State School · State · Prep–6
- Birkdale State School · State · Prep–6
- St Mary MacKillop Primary School (Birkdale) · Catholic · Prep–6
School list & catchments: Queensland Government Open Data (Department of Education), licensed CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Capalaba
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereBirkdale+0.8%
- 01Capalaba+0.8%
- 02Alexandra Hills+0.8%
- 03Belmont - Gumdale+0.8%
- 04Wellington Point+0.7%
- 05Thorneside-0.1%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Birkdale: common questions
Is Birkdale a good place to live?
How much does it cost to rent in Birkdale?
Has Birkdale ever flooded?
Is Birkdale a safe suburb?
How long is the commute from Birkdale to the Brisbane CBD?
What schools are in Birkdale?
What amenities and public transport does Birkdale have?
Weighing up another suburb?
Type a name, then pick from the list. Every suburb is compared to the Queensland average.