Parkinson
Parkinson's standout feature is its combination of a 44.9% overseas-born population and a family-sized housing profile: 83.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. The suburb has 11,148 residents, a median age of 37, and household income at the 83.3rd percentile, supporting its mortgage-belt identity. Its age is 3 years below the national comparison, yet the trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.9 points. Parkinson sits in Brisbane's southern corridor alongside Calamvale and Algester, with a settled suburban form rather than an apartment-led one.
Population
11,148
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,188/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
37
Parkinson suits buyers seeking detached, higher-capacity homes rather than compact apartments. Separate houses account for 86.1% of dwellings, while 83.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and only 0.1% are apartments. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,950 is recorded, and mortgage costs equal 20.6% of household income, helping explain why 51.6% of homes are mortgaged and 26.9% owned outright. Affordability was 53.7 in 2021, lower than 54.9 in 2011, so buyers should stress-test repayments even though household income ranks at the 83.3rd percentile.
For Buyers
Parkinson suits buyers seeking detached, higher-capacity homes rather than compact apartments. Separate houses account for 86.1% of dwellings, while 83.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and only 0.1% are apartments. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,950 is recorded, and mortgage costs equal 20.6% of household income, helping explain why 51.6% of homes are mortgaged and 26.9% owned outright. Affordability was 53.7 in 2021, lower than 54.9 in 2011, so buyers should stress-test repayments even though household income ranks at the 83.3rd percentile.
For Investors
Parkinson presents as a rental market tied to established family housing. Weekly rent is $450, vacancy is 4.0%, and 19.9% of occupied dwellings are rented, while 86.1% are separate houses. Rent growth of 12.5% supports income momentum, and 37 development records in 12 months indicate ongoing project activity, although the gentrification score is 15 and the stage is Not gentrifying. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while household income ranks at the 83.3rd percentile. Returns still need testing against purchase price, maintenance and insurance because no median house price is available.
Development Activity
Total DAs
92
Last 12 Months
37
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+94.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Parkinson
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
The Spot Academy (Parkinson)
Demographics
Parkinson has 11,148 residents and a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national comparison. Its 44.9% overseas-born share is 23.3 percentage points above the national figure, and 45.1% have university qualifications, 15 points above the national comparison. Families are prominent: 57.2% of families are couples with children, average household size is 3.1, and 81.2% stayed at the same address. English and Chinese ancestry lead at 2,776 and 2,214 people, while Mandarin is spoken by 743 residents. Beside Calamvale and Algester, this makes Parkinson a settled but internationally connected southern Brisbane suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.1%
Houses
13.8%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Parkinson's housing stock is strongly detached and family-sized: 86.1% are separate houses, 13.8% semi-detached and 0.1% apartments. The bedroom profile is even more concentrated, with 83.4% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and 14.1% containing 3. Tenure is mortgage-heavy, with 51.6% paying a mortgage compared with 26.9% owning outright and 19.9% renting. Housing costs equal 20.6% of household income for both rent and mortgage measures. Affordability was 53.7 in 2021, lower than 54.9 in 2011, reinforcing Parkinson's mortgage-belt character compared with denser southern suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $450.
$675
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $675
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$845
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
143
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
57.2%
Couples with children
29.6%
Couples, no children
12.1%
Single parent
3,154
Total families
Economy & Employment
Parkinson's household income sits at the 83.3rd percentile, supported by a 69.0% participation rate and 4.8% unemployment. Healthcare is the largest industry at 18.2% and 716 workers, followed by Education at 12.0% and 471, Professional/Tech at 8.8% and 344, Retail at 8.6% and 337, and Construction at 7.2% and 282. Occupations are led by Professionals at 1,292, Clerical/Admin at 938 and Managers at 704, with Trades at 668. SEIFA IER reaches decile 9, above IEO decile 7, while IRSD and IRSAD both sit at decile 7. The gap points to household resources running stronger than the education and occupation mix alone.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
6,037
Unemployed
289
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.3%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
69.0%
Employed
5,748
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.1%
Postgraduate
13.1%
Born Overseas
44.9%
Dwellings
3,435
Transport to Work
Parkinson is practical for car-based households: 72.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 4.9% using public transport, while 17.6% work from home and only 0.3% walk or cycle. That pattern matters because daily errands and commuting are likely to be organised around private vehicles. The suburb has 1 named local school, The Spot Academy, an independent non-state provider; families should check enrolment zones and nearby options against the exact address. Density is 1,354 people per sq km, and an IRSAD decile of 7 places socioeconomic advantage above lower deciles. Review street-level conditions and Queensland Police information before making a safety decision, since no local crime rate is available.
Drive
72.1%
Public Transport
4.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.3%
Work from Home
17.6%
Population Forecast
+1.44%/yr
(+247 people/yr)
EstablishedParkinson's established-area growth runs at 1.44% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 11.7%, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 4.9 points, the young share fell 1.9 points and the working share fell 2.0 points. Compared with a gentrifying trajectory, Parkinson is classified as Not gentrifying, with a gentrification score of 15. Rent growth reached 12.5%, while affordability moved lower from 54.9 in 2011 to 53.7 in 2021. This points to continued demand from migration, but a maturing population and stable affordability rather than rapid reinvention.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+271
Net Internal / yr
-125
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011, Net internal outflow -125/yr, Strong overseas inflow +271/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Parkinson compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parkinson a good suburb to live in?
Parkinson can suit households wanting larger detached homes, family-oriented layouts and strong car access. It has 11,148 residents, 86.1% separate houses and 83.4% homes with 4 or more bedrooms. The trade-off is that 72.1% drive to work and only 4.9% use public transport, so inspect commuting needs before buying.
What is the median house price in Parkinson?
A current median house price is not available for Parkinson. Buyers can still frame costs using the $1,950 monthly mortgage figure, $450 weekly rent and 20.6% mortgage-to-income measure. Because 86.1% of dwellings are separate houses, compare recent sales for similar 4-plus-bedroom properties rather than relying on apartment benchmarks.
What schools are in Parkinson?
The Spot Academy is the named local school in Parkinson and is an independent, non-state provider. Families should check enrolment zones, year-level availability and nearby public and private options for the exact address. The suburb has 1 named local school, so school access should be assessed alongside the 4-plus-bedroom housing profile and daily transport needs.
Is Parkinson safe?
A blanket yes or no is not reliable without a street-level check. Review Queensland Police crime mapping, visit at different times and speak with nearby residents before deciding. Parkinson's 72.1% car-driver share and 4.9% public-transport share describe travel behaviour, not safety, so they should not be used as a crime proxy.
Is Parkinson good for property investment?
Parkinson may suit investors targeting family-oriented rental demand, with $450 weekly rent, 4.0% vacancy and 19.9% renting. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while 37 development records were recorded over 12 months. The gentrification score is 15 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so compare cash flow carefully because a current median house price is not available.
How is Parkinson's population changing?
Parkinson has 11,148 residents today. Growth runs at 1.44% a year, with overseas migration the primary driver, and population change across the wider area is 11.7% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 4.9 points while the young share is down 1.9 points, so future demand may increasingly reflect established households and older residents.
What languages are spoken in Parkinson?
Parkinson has a 44.9% overseas-born population and notable Mandarin, Canton and Punjabi language communities. Mandarin is spoken by 743 people, Canton by 217 and Punjabi by 209, with Malayalam at 115 and Korean at 90. English and Chinese ancestry counts are 2,776 and 2,214, giving local services and schools a reason to consider multilingual communication.
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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