Capalaba, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Capalaba QLD is 18,002 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Capalaba is $804 per week ($41,808 per year). Median rent in Capalaba is $385 per week ($1,668 per month). Capalaba has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Capalaba has a population density of 963 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Capalaba is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (42.4% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Capalaba is $1,785.

There were 5,234 recorded offences in Capalaba in 2025-26, a rate of 291 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (1,692 offences).

Population
18,002
Census 2021
Median income
$804/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$385/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au), 2025-26.

Capalaba vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Capalaba is $804 a week, 8% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 581st of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $385 a week, $65 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 22.0% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 39, 3 years younger than in the typical QLD suburb (42).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureCapalabaTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$804/wk$747/wk +8%$766/wk
Household income$1,747/wk$1,593/wk +10%$1,637/wk
Rent$385/wk$320/wk +20%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,785/mo$1,625/mo +10%$1,733/mo
Median age3942 −3 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.0%20.4% +1.6 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Capalaba, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Capalaba Population

18,002 residents at the 2021 Census.

Capalaba Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$804/wk
$41,808 per year
Ranked 3,564 of 14,663
Median Rent
$385/wk
$1,668 per month
Ranked 2,381 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,785/mo
Avg household size: 2.6 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Capalaba Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,747/wk
Median rent $385/wk
Rent to income 22.0%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Capalaba against your income

About $7,570 a month
Median rent $385/wk
Left after rent $1,362/wk
Rent share 22.0%

Capalaba Schools

11
schools nearby
7
government
1019
avg ICSEA score
6,280
total students
Sheldon College Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,481 students
1124
ICSEA
The Sycamore School Independent
Combined · U · 90 students
1070
ICSEA
St Luke's Catholic Parish School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 359 students
1057
ICSEA
St Anthony's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 508 students
1038
ICSEA
Hilliard State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 560 students
1015
ICSEA
Coolnwynpin State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 328 students
988
ICSEA
Alexandra Hills State High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,460 students
984
ICSEA
Capalaba State College Government
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,022 students
982
ICSEA
Vienna Woods State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 300 students
971
ICSEA
Alexandra Hills State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 172 students
959
ICSEA
Alexandra Hills TAFE Senior Studies Program Government
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Capalaba, with a map

Capalaba Map

Capalaba, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Capalaba, Queensland: 27.5409°S, 153.2035°E

Capalaba Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (11)

People in Capalaba

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.9% (8,800) Female 51.1% (9,201)

Population Density

963
people per km²
18,002 people · 18.7 km²

Households

2.6
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,093
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

New Zealand
5.6%
England
4.2%
South Africa
1.3%
Philippines
1.2%
India
1.1%
China
0.6%
Scotland
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
0.8%
Spanish
0.6%
Punjabi
0.5%
Tagalog
0.5%
Afrikaans
0.5%
Greek
0.4%
Hindi
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
41.9%
Australian
35.7%
Scottish
11.4%
Irish
11.3%
German
6.2%
Australian Aboriginal
2.9%
Italian
2.7%
Chinese
2.0%
Maori
2.0%
Dutch
1.8%
Filipino
1.7%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
42.4%
Catholic
19.2%
Anglican
11.5%
Not stated
5.7%
Uniting Church
3.8%
Christian (other)
2.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.4%
Baptist
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

3.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
46.1% 6,783
Separated
3.4% 499
Divorced
10.8% 1,592
Widowed
4.9% 727
Never married
34.7% 5,098

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
40.2%
Couple: no children
27.3%
Couple: no children under 15
16.6%
One parent: children under 15
8.1%
One parent: no children under 15
7.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
23.6%
2 persons
34.6%
3 persons
17.3%
4 persons
15.2%
5 persons
5.9%
6+ persons
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Capalaba

Housing Tenure

Of the 6,716 occupied private dwellings in Capalaba at the 2021 Census, 25.9% were rented, 29.9% owned outright and 42.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.7% 44 dwellings
Owned outright
29.9% 2,011 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
42.4% 2,847 dwellings
Rented
25.9% 1,742 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.1% 74 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
80.6%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
12.1%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
4.1%
2 bedrooms
12.0%
3 bedrooms
40.6%
4 bedrooms
34.5%
5 bedrooms
7.2%
6+ bedrooms
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.3%
$300-$449/mo
1.4%
$450-$599/mo
1.3%
$600-$799/mo
2.7%
$800-$999/mo
4.8%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
13.4%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
24.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
30.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
10.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.2%
1 vehicle
31.7%
2 vehicles
39.0%
3 vehicles
14.4%
4+ vehicles
9.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Capalaba

Employment

Employed full-time
41.1% 5,459 people
Employed part-time
21.6% 2,861 people
Unemployed
3.2% 429 people
Not in labour force
34.1% 4,522 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
22.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
20.3%
Clerical & Administrative
14.2%
Community & Personal Service
13.7%
Managers
11.6%
Labourers
6.4%
Sales Workers
6.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.4%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.1%
$300-$399/wk
2.4%
$400-$499/wk
6.5%
$500-$649/wk
4.4%
$650-$799/wk
6.2%
$800-$999/wk
6.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.2%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
10.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.1%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
4.4%
$4,000+/wk
8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.3%
$1-$149/wk
4.0%
$150-$299/wk
5.6%
$300-$399/wk
4.8%
$400-$499/wk
3.8%
$500-$649/wk
3.8%
$650-$799/wk
9.3%
$800-$999/wk
11.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.9%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
7.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.3%
$3,500+/wk
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
75.7%
Did not go to work
12.9%
Car (passenger)
4.5%
Bus
2.0%
Walked only
1.4%
Truck
1.1%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.9%
Other
0.5%
Train
0.4%
Bicycle
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
61.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
26.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.7%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
45.1%
Bachelor Degree
23.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.9%
Postgraduate Degree
5.2%
Certificate I/II
3.2%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
22.3%
Engineering
19.4%
Society & Culture
12.8%
Health
11.6%
Education
7.9%
Architecture & Building
7.8%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.6%
Creative Arts
3.3%
Information Technology
3.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.0%
Agriculture & Environment
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
28.6%
Secondary: Government
21.9%
Vocational Education
12.5%
Primary: Catholic
10.1%
Pre-school
9.8%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
6.4%
Secondary: Catholic
5.6%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
89.4%
Has need for assistance
6.5%
Need for assistance not stated
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
2,015
Asthma
758
Arthritis
620
Diabetes
490
Heart disease
464
Lung condition
383
Cancer
273
Stroke
207
Kidney disease
198
Dementia
40

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.3% 1,868
Did not provide
86.7% 12,147

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
12.9% 1,809
Not a volunteer
87.1% 12,235

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 14
Current ADF: Reserves
0.0% 7
Previously served
3.5% 497
Never served
96.3% 13,548

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
30.5%
1 child
13.8%
2 children
29.7%
3 children
16.8%
4 children
7.0%
5+ children
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
33
1951: 1960
165
1961: 1970
318
1971: 1980
421
1981: 1990
587
1991: 2000
503
2001: 2010
1,034
2011: 2015
473
2016
84
2017
58
2018
76
2019
76
2020
30
2021
20

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

12.4%
moved in the last year
37.4%
moved in the last 5 years
4.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
65.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
15,001
Moved from QLD
1,565
Moved: same area (SA2)
323
Moved from overseas
81
Moved from NSW
58
Moved from VIC
34
Moved from TAS
6
Moved from ACT
4
Moved from WA
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
22.4%
5: 14 hours
31.4%
15: 29 hours
13.5%
30+ hours
8.9%
Did not do domestic work
23.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
83.8%
Step family: no other children
9.8%
Blended family: no other children
4.2%
Intact family: other children present
1.5%
Other couple: children only
0.5%
Step family: other children present
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Capalaba Crime Statistics

5,234 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
1,692
Drug Offences
1,222
Assault
548
Break & Enter
411
Domestic Violence
332
Traffic
293
Fraud
256
Property Damage
228
Sexual Offences
140
Weapons
98
Robbery
12
Homicide
2

Total offences by year

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Mundubbera
Income: $742/wk Rent: $220/wk $165/wk less rent
Innisfail Estate
Income: $663/wk Rent: $230/wk $155/wk less rent
Pimlico (Qld)
Income: $738/wk Rent: $240/wk $145/wk less rent
South Gladstone
Income: $712/wk Rent: $240/wk $145/wk less rent
Gladstone Central
Income: $786/wk Rent: $240/wk $145/wk less rent
Telina
Income: $825/wk Rent: $255/wk $130/wk less rent
Manunda
Income: $648/wk Rent: $259/wk $126/wk less rent
Currajong
Income: $809/wk Rent: $270/wk $115/wk less rent

Suburbs near Capalaba

The closest suburb to Capalaba is Alexandra Hills, 2.5 km away.

Alexandra Hills
2.5 km away · income $824/wk · rent $400/wk
Chandler (Qld)
4.1 km away · income $944/wk · rent $368/wk
Birkdale
4.7 km away · income $813/wk · rent $435/wk
Sheldon
4.9 km away · income $849/wk · rent $473/wk
Burbank
5.0 km away · income $901/wk · rent $365/wk
Ormiston
6.2 km away · income $811/wk · rent $450/wk

Compare Capalaba

Frequently Asked Questions About Capalaba

What is the population of Capalaba QLD?

The population of Capalaba QLD is 18,002 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 963 people per km². Capalaba is ranked #185 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Capalaba?

The median personal income in Capalaba QLD is $804 per week, or $41,808 per year. The median household income is $1,747 per week. Family income is $2,093 per week. Capalaba is ranked #3,564 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Capalaba?

Median rent in Capalaba QLD is $385 per week ($1,668 per month). Rent represents 22.0% of household income, which is considered affordable. Capalaba ranks #2,381 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Capalaba?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Capalaba QLD is $1,785. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Capalaba?

The median age in Capalaba QLD is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Capalaba a good suburb to live in?

Capalaba is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 18,002. The median income is $804/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Brisbane Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30524. All dollar figures in AUD.