Meadowbrook
With 36.8% of residents born overseas, more than 15 points above the national average, Meadowbrook carries a notably international character for a suburban Brisbane fringe pocket of just 5.77 km2. The median house price sits around $475,000, which places it in affordable territory relative to greater Brisbane. Healthcare dominates employment at 23.3%, nearly double the share of any other sector, suggesting proximity to medical facilities shapes who lives here. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, and 59.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, pointing to a family-oriented stock.
Population
3,069
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,701/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
57
Median House
$475K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a median house price of approximately $475,000, Meadowbrook sits below the broader Brisbane median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of closer-in suburbs. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 85.6% of dwellings are separate houses, and 59.7% have four or more bedrooms, so buyers get substantial living space for the price. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,653, and mortgage-to-income is 22.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, compared to many inner-ring suburbs where that ratio exceeds 35%. The detached-dominant profile means units are rare at just 8.1%, so entry-level apartment options are limited.
For Buyers
At a median house price of approximately $475,000, Meadowbrook sits below the broader Brisbane median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of closer-in suburbs. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 85.6% of dwellings are separate houses, and 59.7% have four or more bedrooms, so buyers get substantial living space for the price. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,653, and mortgage-to-income is 22.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, compared to many inner-ring suburbs where that ratio exceeds 35%. The detached-dominant profile means units are rare at just 8.1%, so entry-level apartment options are limited.
For Investors
The 37.6% renter share and weekly rent of $385 give investors a reliable tenant base in a suburb where detached houses make up 85.6% of stock. Vacancy sits at 3.2%, slightly elevated but not a red flag, providing tenants some choice without signalling oversupply. With a median house price around $475,000, gross yields are modest by national standards. The 53 development applications in 12 months are mostly commercial and minor residential additions, so new supply pressure on rents is low. Household income at the 59.6th national percentile supports steady demand, and a 37-year median age indicates a working-age population likely to remain renters for several years. Healthcare employment at 23.3% suggests proximity to medical facilities may anchor demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
136
Last 12 Months
57
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+159.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Meadowbrook iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ohana College
7-12 · 237 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, and overseas-born residents account for 36.8%, which is 15.2 percentage points above the national average. Samoan (43 speakers), Punjabi (27), Mandarin (24) and Arabic (18) are among the non-English languages, reflecting a genuinely international suburban community. English ancestry leads at 1,008 residents, followed by Irish (244) and Scottish (222). University qualifications at 24.5% are 5.6 points below the national rate, suggesting the workforce leans toward trades and service roles. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, consistent with the large family-home stock and 1,017 couples-with-children families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.6%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
8.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is dominated by detached homes at 85.6%, with apartments at just 8.1%. Nearly 60% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, well above a typical suburban mix, which is why the median rent of $385 per week offers genuine space for the price. Tenure splits roughly evenly: 37.6% rent, 37.4% hold a mortgage, and 25% own outright. Vacancy sits at 3.2%, slightly above a tight market but manageable. Rent-to-income at 22.6% and mortgage-to-income at 22.4% are both below the 30% stress threshold, indicating occupants are not under heavy housing cost pressure despite moderate household incomes at the 59.6th national percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,653
Rent / wk
$385
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$678
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
32
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.5%
Couples, no children
2,404
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 23.3%, nearly double Education at 11.5%, the next largest sector. Construction (8.9%), Retail (8.4%) and Manufacturing (7.4%) follow. Professionals lead occupations at 214 workers, but Community/Personal (184) and Labourers (159) are prominent, consistent with the healthcare and trades orientation. Unemployment at 10.1% sits above the national rate, and participation at 53.9% is lower than average because 807 residents are not in the labour force. This pattern, combined with the dominant healthcare employment share, suggests the area houses a proportion of care-dependent residents, shaping both local employment and household income patterns.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.4%
Part-time
24.5%
Participation
53.9%
Employed
1,207
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.5%
Postgraduate
5.3%
Born Overseas
36.8%
Dwellings
959
Transport to Work
Transport is car-dependent: 84.7% of residents commute by car, compared to just 3.3% using public transport and 3.8% walking or cycling, well below national averages for both active and public transport. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring areas. The 6.7% needing daily assistance (190 people) is above the national baseline, consistent with the healthcare employment concentration at 23.3%. Rent-to-income at 22.6% keeps tenants comfortable, and mortgage-to-income at 22.4% is similarly below stress levels. Volunteering at 11.9% signals moderate community engagement. Income at the 59.6th national percentile places the suburb in the middle tier, neither affluent nor distressed.
Drive
84.7%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Meadowbrook compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meadowbrook a good suburb to live in?
Meadowbrook offers affordable detached housing at a median of around $475,000 with mortgage-to-income at 22.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb's household income sits at the 59.6th national percentile, placing it in the mid-range. The main trade-off is car dependence, with only 3.3% using public transport, and an unemployment rate of 10.1% that is above the national average.
What is the median house price in Meadowbrook?
The estimated median house price in Meadowbrook is approximately $475,000. Weekly rent averages $385 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,653, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, which is comfortably below the 30% stress level.
What schools are in Meadowbrook?
No schools are recorded within the Meadowbrook boundary in this dataset, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The suburb's university qualification rate of 24.5% is 5.6 points below the national average, reflecting a workforce more concentrated in trades and community service roles.
Is Meadowbrook safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime statistics for Meadowbrook are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, housing cost stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 22.4% and rent-to-income at 22.6%, both below the 30% threshold. The 10.1% unemployment rate is above the national average, which can correlate with higher crime risk in some areas.
Is Meadowbrook good for property investment?
Meadowbrook's 37.6% renter share and weekly rent of $385 provide a solid tenant base. Vacancy sits at 3.2%, slightly elevated but not severe. The median price of around $475,000 is in affordable Brisbane territory, and 53 development applications in the past 12 months show active building activity. Income at the 59.6th national percentile supports steady rental demand.
How is Meadowbrook's population changing?
Detailed population forecasts are not available for Meadowbrook in this dataset. The suburb's population stands at 3,069 across 5.77 km2, giving a density of 532 residents per km2. Community stability is high, with 78.4% of residents having stayed in the area and a turnover rate of 21.6%, suggesting an established, settled community.
What languages are spoken in Meadowbrook?
About 36.8% of Meadowbrook residents were born overseas, which is 15.2 percentage points above the national average. Non-English languages include Samoan (43 speakers), Punjabi (27), Mandarin (24), Arabic (18) and Cantonese (16), reflecting a notably international community for a suburban Brisbane fringe location.
How much development is happening in Meadowbrook?
Meadowbrook recorded 53 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent submissions include commercial fitouts, storage facility works and carport or patio additions, indicating incremental activity rather than a large new residential pipeline. Vacancy at 3.2% suggests modest but not oversupplied rental conditions.
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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