Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Toowong
4 km²
Among the youngest and most highly educated places in the region, Toowong is a professional hub with a strong international feel. The typical resident is just 30 years old, making it far younger than the national average. This youthful energy is reflected in a population of over 12,500 people where high-income professionals and overseas arrivals live in a landscape of apartments and flats. It is a highly walkable, urban community where the proximity to the city and public transport shapes a fast-paced, modern way of life.
Toowong's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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Toowong is far younger than both Queensland and Australia, with a typical age of 30. This is reflected in the age structure, where 60% of residents are young adults or youth, while seniors make up a much lower 10.4% of the population.
The area has a strong international character, with 34.5% of people born overseas, which is far above the Queensland figure. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries, while China is the most frequent overseas birth place at 6.1%.
Reflecting its diverse birthplace data, 24.5% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is much higher than most similar areas. Mandarin is the most common non-English language spoken.
A majority of residents—52.1%—report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average of 38.9%.
The community is exceptionally well-qualified, with 53.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure of 26.3%. Year 12 completion is also among the highest at this level, reaching 86.3%.
Typical family incomes are well above the state average, and 26.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week. This wealth is consistent with the high proportion of residents with university degrees.
Long-term health conditions are much lower here than in most areas, at 23.3%. However, 10.1% of people report a mental health condition, which is slightly above the national figure.
While 19% of residents volunteer—well above the national figure—very few people provide unpaid care or do heavy housework compared to most other areas.
The First Nations community in Toowong is smaller than in most similar areas, but it is highly successful, with an unemployment rate of only 4.4% and Year 12 completion far above the state average.
Living alone is very common here, with 32% of people in single-person households. This helps explain why the average home size is just 2.1 people, which is lower than most areas.
The housing landscape is dominated by flats and apartments, which make up 67.9% of dwellings. Renting is very common at 54.8%, and typical weekly rents are a little above the national figure at $420.
Public transport use is among the highest at this level, with 10.5% commuting via transit. This is supported by a high density of stops and the fact that 26.2% of the workforce works from home.
The population is very mobile, with 65.1% of people moving in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent overseas arrivals, who make up 32% of the community.
The workforce is highly active, with 71.1% of adults working or looking for work, far above the national figure. Professional and technical roles are the most common industry.
Described as a walker's paradise, almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, schools, and groceries. Its walkability score of 8.9 is far above the Queensland average.