North Maclean
With 99% of dwellings separate houses and a median age of 41, North Maclean reads as one of south-east Queensland's most consistently detached-house communities. Population grew 23.3% over the past decade and gentrification signals are active, driven by net internal migration of over 1,000 residents a year flowing into the broader SA2. The household income sits at the 60.8th percentile nationally, above average, yet the median house price of $542,000 remains well below the state capital's benchmark. That affordability gap, combined with strong growth, explains why 44.6% of households carry a mortgage rather than owning outright.
Population
1,581
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,732/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
51
Median House
$542K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $542,000 makes North Maclean accessible compared to Brisbane's inner-suburban market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, which is below the 30% stress threshold and indicates manageable debt loads for the typical buyer. Separate houses account for 99% of stock, so there is almost no apartment alternative. The bedroom mix skews large: 57.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, and 36.8% have 3, meaning families with space requirements dominate demand. Outright owners at 32.4% lag mortgage holders at 44.6%, consistent with a younger-buyer, growth suburb rather than an established equity-rich community. The rent-to-income ratio of 26% for renters also stays below the 30% stress line.
For Buyers
The median house price of $542,000 makes North Maclean accessible compared to Brisbane's inner-suburban market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, which is below the 30% stress threshold and indicates manageable debt loads for the typical buyer. Separate houses account for 99% of stock, so there is almost no apartment alternative. The bedroom mix skews large: 57.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, and 36.8% have 3, meaning families with space requirements dominate demand. Outright owners at 32.4% lag mortgage holders at 44.6%, consistent with a younger-buyer, growth suburb rather than an established equity-rich community. The rent-to-income ratio of 26% for renters also stays below the 30% stress line.
For Investors
Renters make up 23% of households, a moderate pool in a suburb where 99% of stock is separate houses, which tend to attract longer-tenancy families. Weekly rent averages $450, and the vacancy rate of 3.4% is at the softer end of tight, signalling adequate but not excess supply. Development activity is solid at 46 applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling additions and commercial use changes. The strongest demand driver is population trajectory: the broader area grew from 9,849 residents in 2023 to 12,691 in 2025, a 29% increase in two years. Net internal migration averages over 1,000 per year, well above the overseas contribution of 41, meaning growth is domestic lifestyle-driven rather than speculative. Rent grew 13.2% over the observed period, above general inflation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
79
Last 12 Months
51
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+628.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Maclean iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Australian Technology and Agricultural College
10-11 · 4 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, and the suburb is aging: the senior share rose 4.8 points while the working-age share fell 3.6 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 18.7%, which is 2.9 points below national, reflecting an Anglo-Celtic settlement pattern. English ancestry dominates at 688 residents, followed by Irish (163) and Scottish (143). Average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above national, consistent with the 57.4% share of 4-plus bedroom dwellings and the couples-with-children profile: 410 families are couples with children, compared to 323 couples without. University qualifications stand at 15.4%, which is 14.7 points below the national average, pointing to a trade and service workforce rather than a professional knowledge economy.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with 32.4% owning outright, 44.6% under mortgage, and 23% renting. The mortgage-heavy split reflects a suburb attracting buyers in the growth phase rather than long-settled landowners. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99%, with apartments at just 1%, so buyers who want apartments must look elsewhere. Four-plus bedroom homes at 57.4% define the character of the street-level built form, well above national norms. Median house price is $542,000 with monthly repayments of $1,820, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. The IER (economic resources) decile of 9 is notably high, indicating that households hold strong physical and economic assets relative to national peers, even though the IRSAD and IRSD both sit at decile 5 on relative advantage and disadvantage.
Mortgage / mo
$1,820
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$630
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.4%
Unoccupied
18
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.7%
Couples, no children
1,308
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction leads local employment at 17.8% of the workforce (72 workers), ahead of Healthcare at 15.3% (62), Retail at 9.7% (39), Manufacturing at 9.4% (38), and Education at 8.2% (33). By occupation, Clerical and Admin workers are the largest group at 104, followed by Managers (83), Labourers (81), Professionals (74), and Community and Personal service workers (74). The full-time employment rate is 64.9%, and unemployment sits at 7.4%, above the national trend, which may reflect the participation rate of 53.6% in an area where 472 residents are not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 10.9% over the decade. The IRSAD decile of 5 puts the suburb at the national median for socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage, consistent with a mixed-income, trades-oriented community.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
6,133
Unemployed
199
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
27.7%
Participation
53.6%
Employed
649
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
18.7%
Dwellings
505
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 90.8% of commuters driving, with only 1.0% using public transport, reflecting the rural-fringe geography with limited bus coverage. The area spans 20.42 km2 at a density of 77.4 persons per km2, so distances between amenities are real. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families travel to neighbouring areas. The IRSAD decile of 5 places the suburb at the national median for overall socioeconomic advantage. Volunteering runs at 9.6% and 7.1% of residents (106 people) need some form of daily assistance. Housing stress is limited: both rent-to-income (26%) and mortgage-to-income (24.3%) sit below the 30% stress threshold, which is a practical quality-of-life indicator for most households.
Drive
90.8%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.9%/yr
(+368 people/yr)
EstablishedNorth Maclean's population grew 23.3% over the past decade, and the pace is accelerating. The broader SA2 recorded 9,849 residents in 2023, 11,115 in 2024, and 12,691 in 2025, a 29% increase in just two years. Annual growth is running at 2.9%, adding around 368 persons per year. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 12,838 by 2031. The primary driver is internal migration averaging 1,066 net arrivals per year, compared to overseas migration of just 41. Gentrification signals are active, with the score at 40, supported by the rapid in-migration. The young-adult share fell 2.5 points and affordability tightened from 65.2% in 2011 to 54.1% in 2021, reflecting rising demand relative to income over the period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+41
Net Internal / yr
+1,066
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +1066/yr, Accelerating: 2% → 96%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Maclean compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Maclean a good suburb to live in?
North Maclean suits families seeking detached housing at an accessible price point. The median house price of $542,000 is below capital city benchmarks, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-off is car dependence, with 90.8% of residents commuting by car and only 1% using public transport.
What is the median house price in North Maclean?
The median house price is approximately $542,000, based on 2025 rent-derived estimates. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3% remains below the 30% stress threshold, making it more affordable than many south-east Queensland markets.
What schools are in North Maclean?
No schools are recorded inside the North Maclean suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb spans 20.42 km2 with a low density of 77.4 persons per km2, so families travel to neighbouring areas for schooling. About 15.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 14.7 points below the national average.
Is North Maclean safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for North Maclean in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the suburb sits at IRSAD decile 5 (national median for advantage and disadvantage), and housing stress is low with both rent-to-income at 26% and mortgage-to-income at 24.3% below the 30% stress threshold, factors generally associated with community stability.
Is North Maclean good for property investment?
Population in the broader SA2 grew from 9,849 in 2023 to 12,691 in 2025, a 29% rise in two years. Net internal migration averages 1,066 per year. Rent grew 13.2% over the observed period. Weekly rent of $450 against a $542,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.3%, reasonable for a growth suburb, though the 3.4% vacancy rate warrants monitoring.
How is North Maclean's population changing?
North Maclean's population grew 23.3% over the past decade, with the SA2 reaching 12,691 residents in 2025, up from 9,849 in 2023. Annual growth runs at 2.9%, driven primarily by internal migration of 1,066 net arrivals per year. Medium forecasts project the population at 12,838 by 2031 at current trend continuation.
How much development is happening in North Maclean?
There were 46 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including new detached dwelling additions, roofed decks, and a food and drink outlet change of use. This level of activity is consistent with a growing suburb at 2.9% annual population growth. The gentrification score of 40 rates the suburb as actively gentrifying, above the early-signs threshold.
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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