Mcdowall
Healthcare (20.9%) and Education (12.6%) lead employment in a suburb where 46.2% hold university qualifications, 16.1 points above the national average. The IRSD decile 10 places McDowall in the top 10% nationally for low disadvantage. Large homes are the norm: 62.9% have 4+ bedrooms, and 87.7% of dwellings are detached houses. Population grows at 0.97% per year, with early gentrification signs (score 34).
Population
7,612
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,486/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Monthly mortgage of $2,167 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.1%, one of the lowest in this batch. Detached houses at 87.7% dominate, with 62.9% having 4+ bedrooms and 33.7% three-bedroom. Outright owners at 36.7% and mortgage holders at 40.6% combine for 77.3% ownership. McDowall State School (government primary, ICSEA 1,120, 988 students) scores well above the national benchmark. Public transport at 5.3% and car dependency at 86.9% are typical for outer Brisbane. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the family orientation.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage of $2,167 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.1%, one of the lowest in this batch. Detached houses at 87.7% dominate, with 62.9% having 4+ bedrooms and 33.7% three-bedroom. Outright owners at 36.7% and mortgage holders at 40.6% combine for 77.3% ownership. McDowall State School (government primary, ICSEA 1,120, 988 students) scores well above the national benchmark. Public transport at 5.3% and car dependency at 86.9% are typical for outer Brisbane. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the family orientation.
For Investors
Renters at 22.7% form a moderate pool. The 3.7% vacancy rate is tight, the lowest in this batch, suggesting strong rental demand. Only 16 development applications in 12 months means minimal new supply. Net internal migration of 97 per year and overseas migration of 64 provide balanced demand growth. Population grows at 0.97% per year (86 persons). The early gentrification signals (score 34, accelerating from 7% to 13% growth) suggest potential for capital appreciation as the suburb upgrades.
Development Activity
Total DAs
66
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mcdowall iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
McDowall State School
Prep-6 · 988 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national median. University qualifications at 46.2% are 16.1 points above national. Overseas-born at 24.7% is 3.1 points above national, with English (2,691), Irish (971), Italian (583) and Scottish (820) ancestries leading. Mandarin (91), Italian (61), Malayalam (61), Cantonese (31) and Hindi (26) are the top non-English languages. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, reflecting the family-oriented stock. Couples with children (3,187) vastly outnumber childless couples (1,604). Residential stability at 77.3% is above average. The aging trajectory (senior share up 4.1 points) is moderate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.7%
Houses
10.0%
Townhouse
2.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Mortgage holders at 40.6% lead tenure, followed by outright owners at 36.7% and renters at 22.7%. The 77.3% combined ownership rate is strong. Stock is 87.7% detached, 10.0% semi-detached and 2.3% apartments. Large homes dominate: 62.9% have 4+ bedrooms. Mortgage-to-income at 20.1% and rent-to-income at 18.9% are both well below stress levels, reflecting the high income base relative to moderate prices. The IRSD decile 10 is the lowest-disadvantage tier nationally, and the IRSAD decile 9 confirms upper-tier advantage. Affordability improved from 51.5% (2011) to 43.6% (2021).
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Mar 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $470.
$700
Bond data Mar 2026 quarter · houses $700 · units $630
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,059
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.7%
Unoccupied
101
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.8%
Couples, no children
6,751
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 20.9% (633 workers), followed by Education at 12.6% (382), Professional/Tech at 12.0% (363), Public Admin at 11.6% (352) and Construction at 7.5% (229). The public admin share at 11.6% is above average, reflecting Brisbane's government employment base. Professionals (1,332) dominate occupations, with Clerical/Admin (627) and Managers (601) following. Full-time employment at 65.8% is above average, unemployment at 4.1% is below the national rate, and participation at 65.6% is strong. Real income grew 10.6% over the decade, moderate but positive. The IEO decile 8 and IER decile 9 confirm strong outcomes.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
5,647
Unemployed
119
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.8%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
65.6%
Employed
3,801
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.2%
Postgraduate
12.9%
Born Overseas
24.7%
Dwellings
2,636
Transport to Work
McDowall State School (government primary, ICSEA 1,120, 988 students) scores well above the national benchmark and is the suburb's sole school. Public transport at 5.3% and walking/cycling at 1.5% supplement car dependency at 86.9%. The IRSAD decile 9 places McDowall in the top 20% nationally. No crime data is available. Volunteering at 16.6% is above average. Need for assistance at 3.9% (289 people) is below the national average. The tight 3.7% vacancy rate suggests the rental market functions efficiently with minimal oversupply.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.97%/yr
(+86 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 0.97% per year (86 persons), close to the national average. The 10-year change was 11.6%. Medium forecasts project 9,128 by 2031 from 8,886 in 2025. Migration is balanced: 97 internal and 64 overseas per year. The gentrification score of 34 (early signs) with growth accelerating from 7% to 13% indicates the suburb is evolving. Rent grew 15.0% over the decade, modest relative to income growth. Affordability improved from 51.5% (2011) to 43.6% (2021), an 8 percentage point improvement. The aging trajectory (senior share up 4.1 points, working-age share down 2.4) is moderate but consistent.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+64
Net Internal / yr
+97
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +20% since 2011, Net internal migration +97/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mcdowall compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McDowall a good suburb to live in?
McDowall ranks in IRSAD decile 9, placing it in the top 20% nationally. Household income is in the 92nd percentile, and mortgage-to-income at 20.1% is one of the lowest in this batch. McDowall State School scores ICSEA 1,120. Unemployment at 4.1% is below the national rate, and volunteering at 16.6% indicates strong community engagement.
What is the median house price in McDowall?
Monthly mortgage of $2,167 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.1%. Weekly rent is $470 (2021 Census), with a rent-to-income ratio of 18.9%. Both ratios are well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in McDowall?
McDowall State School is the suburb's sole school, a government primary with an ICSEA score of 1,120 (well above the 1,000 national benchmark) and 988 enrolled students. Secondary students access nearby schools in surrounding suburbs.
Is McDowall safe?
No crime rate data is currently available for McDowall. The IRSD decile 10 indicates very low socioeconomic disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, which correlates with lower crime rates. Need for assistance at 3.9% (289 people) is below the national average.
Is McDowall good for property investment?
The 3.7% vacancy rate is the tightest in this batch. Only 16 DAs in 12 months means minimal new supply. Population grows at 0.97% per year with balanced migration. Early gentrification signals (score 34) suggest potential for capital appreciation.
How is McDowall's population changing?
Population grows at 0.97% per year (86 persons), with medium projections of 9,128 by 2031. The 10-year change was 11.6%. Migration is balanced at 97 internal and 64 overseas per year. Growth is accelerating from 7% to 13%, indicating early gentrification signals. The median age of 38 is 2 years below national.
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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