Browns Plains
A 34-year median age makes Browns Plains younger than the national average, while its overseas-born share is 34.9%, or 13.3 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb houses 6,632 people at a density of 1,296.1 per square kilometre, yet 78.1% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income is at the 39.6th percentile and university attainment is 19.5%, 10.6 points below national, shaping a more budget-sensitive market. Compared with nearby Springwood and Crestmead, Browns Plains has a particularly clear detached-housing profile, which suits families but increases reliance on cars. Its younger age structure and overseas-born population support local demand because family housing and established services attract residents who value practical access over high-density living.
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
182
Browns Plains suits buyers seeking conventional family housing rather than an apartment-led setting. Separate houses make up 78.1% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes account for 67.2% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 26.4%, so the dominant choice is clear. Weekly rent is $350, while the mortgage repayment figure is $1,434 per month, equal to 23.8% of household income. Renting at 48.2% is higher than outright ownership at 19.5%, showing why affordability and deposit size are central decisions. With no median sale price to quote, compare recent settled sales by bedroom count and inspect car access before choosing among Browns Plains, Springwood or Crestmead.
For Buyers
Browns Plains suits buyers seeking conventional family housing rather than an apartment-led setting. Separate houses make up 78.1% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes account for 67.2% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 26.4%, so the dominant choice is clear. Weekly rent is $350, while the mortgage repayment figure is $1,434 per month, equal to 23.8% of household income. Renting at 48.2% is higher than outright ownership at 19.5%, showing why affordability and deposit size are central decisions. With no median sale price to quote, compare recent settled sales by bedroom count and inspect car access before choosing among Browns Plains, Springwood or Crestmead.
For Investors
Investor demand has a broad tenant base because 48.2% of households rent. Weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 5.3%, a level higher than a tightly constrained market would imply, so leasing times should be checked rather than assumed. Rent growth is 10.1%, while 172 development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a new dwelling and upgrades to retail and gym premises. New supply may improve amenity but can also add competing stock, making property type and street selection important. Forecast migration is Balanced, so the case rests on established occupancy as much as on growth. Compare yield with the $1,434 monthly mortgage repayment and $1,390 weekly household income before allowing for costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
335
Last 12 Months
182
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+550.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Browns Plains
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Browns Plains State High School
Browns Plains State School
Demographics
At 34, the median age is 6 years below the national average, and university attainment is 19.5%, 10.6 percentage points below national. In contrast, 34.9% of residents were born overseas, 13.3 points above the national share. Mandarin, Samoan, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi are among the recorded home languages, while English is the largest named ancestry at 1,960 people, followed by Other at 1,351 and Irish at 404. Average household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above national, and couples with children represent 39.7% of families. That family pattern helps explain the strong 3-bedroom housing share, while 30.1% turnover indicates more movement than the 69.9% who stayed at the same address. Compared with a more uniform suburb, Browns Plains requires services that work across age, language and household types.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.1%
Houses
18.1%
Townhouse
3.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing is the defining built-form feature: 78.1% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 18.1% semi-detached homes and 3.8% apartments. The bedroom profile is similarly concentrated, with 67.2% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 26.4% having 4 or more, so family-sized stock is much more common than small dwellings. Tenure is less settled than the built form suggests: 48.2% rent, higher than the 31.5% with a mortgage and 19.5% who own outright. Rent takes 25.2% of household income, while mortgage costs take 23.8%, making holding costs central to both buyer and landlord decisions. Vacancy is 5.3%, which may give renters more choice than a tighter market. Compared with a unit-heavy inner suburb, Browns Plains is a low-rise family market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,434
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $350.
$620
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $620 · units $480
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
39.7%
Couples with children
31.4%
Couples, no children
27.0%
Single parent
1,660
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the named industries at 21.8% and 334 workers, ahead of construction at 11.4% and 175, manufacturing at 10.6% and 162, retail at 9.8% and 150, and transport at 7.3% and 112. Occupations are more hands-on: machinery/drivers number 419, trades 397 and labourers 381, ahead of clerical/admin at 353 and community/personal service at 351. That difference matters because residents may work across the wider Logan and Brisbane labour market. Participation is 56.2%, full-time employment 60.9% and unemployment 9.3%. Household income is $1,390 per week at the 39.6th percentile, while all four SEIFA measures sit in decile 2, below middle deciles. Browns Plains therefore needs value-focused housing and accessible employment more than prestige pricing.
Unemployment
9.3%
Labour Force
2,907
Unemployed
270
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
2,637
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.5%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
34.9%
Dwellings
2,166
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 80.0% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.2% using public transport, while 8.5% work from home and 1.3% walk or cycle. That pattern matters because access to shops, jobs and services is likely to be easier by car than by transit. Browns Plains has 2 government schools, comprising a state school and a state high school, giving families access to both primary and secondary options within the suburb; enrolment zones should still be checked against the exact address. Density is 1,296.1 people per square kilometre across 5.12 square kilometres, enough for an established urban setting without an apartment-dominant form. The IRSAD score is in decile 2, below middle deciles, making value and service access practical considerations. Compare walking routes and bus frequency before choosing a home, since car use is much higher than active or public transport use.
Drive
80.0%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
8.5%
Population Forecast
+1.87%/yr
(+178 people/yr)
EstablishedBrowns Plains has an established forecast profile, with growth running at 1.87% annually and the trajectory labelled Growing (all ages). The primary migration driver is Balanced, so momentum is not tied to one source of arrivals. Population change across the wider area is 22.6% over 10 years, while rent growth is 10.1%, both pointing to continued pressure on housing demand. Gentrification is not a settled story: the gentrification score is 44, with stage Active, while the shift score is 15, with stage Not gentrifying. That contrast suggests expansion and reinvestment are occurring without a clear high-income transformation. The affordability indicator moved lower, from 53.2 in 2011 to 50.0 in 2021, and is labelled Improving, while real income growth was -4.8%. Browns Plains is more likely to grow through steady family and service demand than sudden redevelopment.
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 can suit households wanting detached housing, practical services and a younger age profile. The median age is 34, 78.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 80.0% commute by car. It is less suitable for buyers prioritising frequent public transport, which is used by 3.2%.
What is the median house price in Browns Plains?
There is no reliable median house price to quote for Browns Plains. The $350 weekly rent is a rental figure, not a sale value. Buyers should compare recent settled sales for similar 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom houses, because those categories make up 67.2% and 26.4% of homes.
What schools are in Browns Plains?
Browns Plains has 2 government schools: Browns Plains State School and Browns Plains State High School. That provides a state primary and state high school option, but enrolment zones can differ by street. Check the exact address before relying on proximity, especially when comparing a 3-bedroom family home with a 4-plus-bedroom property.
Is Browns Plains safe?
A suburb-wide crime rate is not available to quote, so a definitive safety judgement would be misleading. Browns Plains has 6,632 residents across 5.12 square kilometres, and conditions can vary by street. Check recent Queensland Police incident information and visit the intended area during both daylight and evening before committing.
Is Browns Plains good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking a high-rental-participation market, but returns need careful checking. Renting accounts for 48.2%, weekly rent is $350, vacancy is 5.3% and 172 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Compare likely yield, the $1,434 monthly mortgage repayment and future competing supply before purchasing, rather than assuming 10.1% rent growth will continue.
How is Browns Plains's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 22.6% over 10 years, with annual growth of 1.87% and a trajectory of Growing (all ages). Migration is labelled Balanced, so the outlook is steady rather than dependent on one source. Browns Plains has 6,632 residents today, and family demand may remain relevant because 39.7% of families are couples with children.
What languages are spoken in Browns Plains?
Yes, Browns Plains has a substantial overseas-born population: 34.9%, which is 13.3 percentage points above the national share. Mandarin is recorded for 101 residents, followed by Samoan 50, Hindi 45, Urdu 42 and Punjabi 40. English is the largest named ancestry at 1,960, so services may need to work across several language groups.
Is there development happening in Browns Plains?
Development activity is material, with 172 applications recorded over 12 months. Examples include a new dwelling, front-end work at an existing Bunnings tenancy and a gym upgrade. This may improve local amenity, but it can also add competing stock, so investors should compare property type, construction timing and vacancy at 5.3% before purchasing.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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