Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Birkdale

Birkdale sits on the western shore of Moreton Bay and reads like a relaxed bayside suburb. Tree-lined streets mix weatherboard cottages, mid-century houses and modern family builds, with low-rise pockets backing onto parkland and foreshore reserve. It has a local village feel with small shops, community halls and sports fields, and Birkdale railway station on the Cleveland line gives straightforward rail access. Outdoor life centres on the bay front and shared cycle and walking paths, making it a quiet choice for families and anyone after a calm bayside lifestyle.

The suburb is home to 14,816 people with a median age of 43, and housing is predominantly owner-occupied (80.2%) while about one in five dwellings are rented. A large council-planned community precinct will add a whitewater centre with a canoe slalom venue for the Brisbane Olympics, a public swimming lagoon, trails, a restored farm with heritage tours and hospitality and events spaces. Refurbishments at the local state school and a committed redesign of the station park-and-ride are also progressing, bringing new local facilities. Whether Birkdale suits you will depend on what you want from a bayside suburb.

On the figures, renting a house for $773 a week would take about 40.6% of a typical local household's weekly income as recorded at the most recent Census, while renting a unit for $550 a week would take about 28.9%. Buying in Birkdale is more stretched against local incomes: the median house price of $1,335,000 is about 13.5 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which sits well above what people there earned at that time. Whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

The clearest movement in Birkdale over the past year was in unit values, which jumped 25.4%, a strong rise in what units are worth. House values increased more modestly, up 3.6%, so unit prices have been the much stronger performer on the capital growth side.

On the income side, house rents climbed 5.9% over the year, a solid increase that outpaced house value growth. If capital growth is your priority, the unit value change is the figure to watch; if rental income matters more, the house rent movement is the relevant number. Whether those outcomes suit your goals and circumstances is for you to weigh up.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.