Browns Plains
A $424,000 median house price sitting alongside a 39.6th-percentile household income tells the core story of Browns Plains, an affordable detached-house market in Logan City. All four SEIFA indexes land in decile 2, the second-lowest tier nationally, yet the population is young, with a median age of 34 that runs 6.0 years below the national figure. Separate houses make up 78.1% of dwellings and 67.2% have three bedrooms, a family-oriented stock that helped lift the area's population 22.6% over the past decade. Overseas-born residents reach 34.9%, which is 13.3 points above national, giving the suburb a more international mix than its working-class profile might suggest.
Population
6,632
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,390/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
125
Median House
$424K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $424,000 median, Browns Plains is one of the more accessible detached-house markets in Greater Brisbane, and the stock supports families: 78.1% are separate houses, only 3.8% apartments, with three-bedroom homes at 67.2% and four-plus bedrooms at 26.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,434, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 39.6th percentile. That affordability is the buying case, because the same income level would carry far less in a higher-priced Brisbane suburb. Owner-occupiers are split between 31.7% with a mortgage and 19.6% owning outright, while renters at 48.6% form the largest single tenure group, a sign that entry-level buyers compete with investors for the same family housing.
For Buyers
At a $424,000 median, Browns Plains is one of the more accessible detached-house markets in Greater Brisbane, and the stock supports families: 78.1% are separate houses, only 3.8% apartments, with three-bedroom homes at 67.2% and four-plus bedrooms at 26.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,434, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 39.6th percentile. That affordability is the buying case, because the same income level would carry far less in a higher-priced Brisbane suburb. Owner-occupiers are split between 31.7% with a mortgage and 19.6% owning outright, while renters at 48.6% form the largest single tenure group, a sign that entry-level buyers compete with investors for the same family housing.
For Investors
Renters make up 48.6% of households, the largest tenure group, giving landlords a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $350 against the $424,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, far stronger than premium Brisbane suburbs near 1.3%. The vacancy rate of 5.3% is higher than a tight market, so pricing has limited headroom, but demand drivers are positive: balanced migration adds 130 internal and 112 overseas residents a year and population is forecast to grow 1.87% annually. Development activity is steady at 114 applications in 12 months, mostly decks, carports and minor building work rather than new dwelling supply, which keeps the existing detached stock scarce. Rent grew 10.1% over the period, so the case rests on yield and tenant demand rather than rapid capital appreciation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
273
Last 12 Months
125
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+316.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Browns Plains iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Indie School, Logan
9-12 · 586 students
Browns Plains State High School
7-12 · 1185 students
Browns Plains State School
Prep-6 · 597 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6.0 years below national, a young profile reinforced by an average household size of 2.7, which is 0.2 above national and consistent with a family suburb where couples with children (2,107 families) outnumber couples without (1,057). Overseas-born residents reach 34.9%, 13.3 points above national, and the diversity shows in language: Mandarin (101 speakers), Samoan (50), Hindi (45) and Urdu (42) lead the non-English tongues. Ancestry remains English-led at 1,960, followed by Irish (404) and Scottish (377). University qualifications sit at just 19.5%, which is 10.6 points below national, aligning with a workforce concentrated in trades and operational roles rather than knowledge sectors. Islam (378 residents) is the notable second religion behind Christianity (2,472).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.1%
Houses
18.1%
Townhouse
3.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renting: 48.6% rent, 31.7% carry a mortgage and only 19.6% own outright, an unusually low outright-ownership share that reflects the suburb's affordability drawing in recent buyers and investors rather than long-settled debt-free owners. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 78.1%, with semi-detached at 18.1% and apartments just 3.8%, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 67.2%. The $424,000 median, estimated from rent, keeps the price-to-income picture manageable: mortgage-to-income runs 23.8% and rent-to-income 25.2%, both below the 30% stress line. That dual affordability is rare and explains why neither the rent nor mortgage stress flag is triggered, even though household income sits in the 39.6th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,434
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$681
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
121
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.1%
Couples, no children
4,999
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 21.8% (334 workers), followed by Construction at 11.4% (175), Manufacturing at 10.6% (162), Retail at 9.8% (150) and Transport at 7.3% (112), an operational economy rather than a professional one. By occupation, Machinery Operators and Drivers (419) and Labourers (381) top the list, ahead of Clerical (353) and Professionals (282), which matches the decile 2 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is elevated at 10.0% against a participation rate of just 51.9%, and 1,770 residents are not in the labour force, both pulling household income down to the 39.6th percentile. Real incomes fell 4.8% over the decade, a headwind that explains why all four SEIFA indexes hold in decile 2 despite the population's youth.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
4,633
Unemployed
257
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
23.6%
Participation
51.9%
Employed
2,417
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.5%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
34.9%
Dwellings
2,166
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 87.5% of commuters driving and only 3.5% using public transport, well below transit-rich inner suburbs, while just 1.4% walk or cycle, reflecting the low-density 1,296 residents per square kilometre layout. The suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the second-lowest tier, and 8.8% of residents (530 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a lower-advantage area. No schools are recorded inside the 5.12 square kilometre boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. The trade-off for residents is genuine affordability: rent-to-income of 25.2% and mortgage-to-income of 23.8% both stay below the stress line, keeping day-to-day housing costs manageable on a 39.6th-percentile income.
Drive
87.5%
Public Transport
3.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.87%/yr
(+178 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is forecast to grow 1.87% a year, adding about 178 residents annually, with the medium projection reaching 10,317 by 2031, well above a flat established suburb. The 10-year change of 22.6% confirms sustained expansion, driven by balanced migration of 130 internal and 112 overseas arrivals a year rather than a single source. Gentrification reads as active with a score of 44, supported by signals of population up 38% since 2011 and internal migration accelerating from 12% to 24% of growth. Affordability improved from 53.2% in 2011 to 50.0% in 2021, a modest easing that, combined with detached-house supply, keeps drawing younger families and lifting the young-age share by 1.6 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+112
Net Internal / yr
+130
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +38% since 2011, Net internal migration +130/yr, Accelerating: 12% → 24%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Browns Plains compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Browns Plains a good suburb to live in?
Browns Plains suits affordability-focused families, with a $424,000 median house price and housing costs below the stress line at 23.8% mortgage-to-income. The trade-offs are decile 2 SEIFA scores, the second-lowest tier nationally, and 10.0% unemployment. Its young median age of 34 sits 6.0 years below national.
What is the median house price in Browns Plains?
The median house price is $424,000, estimated from rent, among the more accessible detached markets in Greater Brisbane. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,434, giving a gross rental yield near 4.3%, far above premium suburbs nearer 1.3%.
What schools are in Browns Plains?
No schools are recorded inside the 5.12 square kilometre Browns Plains boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The suburb has a young, family-heavy profile with a median age of 34, which is 6.0 years below the national figure.
Is Browns Plains safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Browns Plains in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the second-lowest tier, and 8.8% of its residents (530 people) report needing daily assistance.
Is Browns Plains good for property investment?
Rent of $350 a week against a $424,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.3%, strong for Greater Brisbane, and renters make up 48.6% of households. The 5.3% vacancy rate limits pricing power, but 1.87% annual population growth and balanced migration of 242 residents a year support tenant demand.
How is Browns Plains's population changing?
Population grew 22.6% over the past decade and is forecast to rise 1.87% a year, adding about 178 residents annually toward 10,317 by 2031. Growth is driven by balanced migration of 130 internal and 112 overseas arrivals a year, with the young-age share up 1.6 points.
What languages are spoken in Browns Plains?
About 34.9% of residents were born overseas, 13.3 points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Mandarin (101 speakers), Samoan (50), Hindi (45) and Urdu (42) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a notably international resident mix for an outer suburb.
How much development is happening in Browns Plains?
There were 114 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are decks, carports and minor building work on existing homes rather than new dwelling supply, consistent with a detached suburb where 78.1% of dwellings are separate houses and population is growing 1.87% a year.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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