suburb.guide

QLD · Brisbane Council

McDowall, 4053

Est. population · Jun 2025

8,548

Growth (1 yr)

+3.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+11.3%

Median age

38

Median income

$2,486/wk

Employment rate

68.9%

University qualified

35.4%

Work from home

22%

Languages at home

17.1%non-English

Most common: Mandarin, Italian, Malayalam

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

58.3/100
Good

Top 10% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 93% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
What McDowall is known for: Green suburb, High desirability

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McDowall, QLD suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “McDowall, QLD Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/qld/mcdowall

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Suburb profile

McDowall is a middle-ring metropolitan suburb of Brisbane, in Brisbane Council. It is mainly residential, with little in the way of a distinct commercial centre or landmark identity.

Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median, well above typical levels for middle-ring metropolitan suburbs. Green cover is an exceptional strength, and socio-economic advantage sits well above the peer median, and population has been growing faster than in comparable places, with population growth 103% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher rents and thinner dining and café options, with median rents 23% above the peer median.

McDowall's appeal is better explained by housing, access and location than by a strong standalone precinct or destination.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Middle-ring metropolitan suburb · compared with middle-ring metropolitan suburbs in Queensland (110)

Strengths

  • Green cover is a relative strength
  • Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median
  • Socio-economic advantage sits well above the peer median
  • Population has been growing faster than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Rents run above those in comparable places
  • Dining and cafés are a relative weakness

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How McDowall compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$800/wk

Population (ERP)

8,548

+3.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.7%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#71

among Metro Brisbane · Established

Crime rate

37th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

91st

percentile in QLD

Rented dwellings

23%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

87th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
58.3/100 — Good
State standing
Top 10% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
693rd in Australia
State rank
145th in QLD
Peer rank
#71 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#105 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
Data confidence
93%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$800

Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

8,548(June 2025)

+3.5% annual · +11.3% over 5 years · 91th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+3.5%
5-year growth
+11.3%
Change in 1 year
+289
Change in 5 years
+870
Growth rank in QLD
91th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~9,150), extrapolated at +1.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
7,612
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$2,486
Dwelling vacancy
3.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
101 of 2,735
Median monthly mortgage
$2,167
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$470
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
36.7% / 40.6% / 22.7%
Employment rate
68.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
22% / 3.3% / 60%
Walked or cycled to work
0.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,313 / 263 / 60

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

35.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 21.9% across Queensland. 14.8% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified35.4% · 21.9% QLD
  • Diploma qualified11% · 9.4% QLD
  • Trade / vocational14.8% · 18.9% QLD
  • Year 12 or below38.8% · 49.8% QLD

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Management and commerce27.1%
  • Health14.3%
  • Engineering and related technologies14.1%
  • Society and culture12.2%
  • Education10%
  • Architecture and building4.6%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$71,792

93rd percentile in QLD · +22% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$76,754

93rd percentile in QLD · +18% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
13.0%

73rd percentile in QLD · -6% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$100,856

90th percentile in QLD · +59% vs Australia

Residents with business income
9.0%

33rd percentile in QLD · -13% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 4053 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
32,659
Taxpayers reporting net rent
4,229
Median net rent
-$1,614
Taxpayers reporting business income
2,786
Taxable income vs state median
+30%
Salary / wages vs state median
+26%
Rental investment vs state median
+18%
Super vs state median
+46%
Business income vs state median
-10%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in QLD, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

17.1% speak a language other than English at home; 24.7% born overseas

Language at home
6,160 English only · 1,275 other
Non-English at home
17.1%
Born overseas
1,843 (24.7%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
117 (1.5%)
Australian citizens
6,891
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
29

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Mandarin91 · 16.8%
  • Italian61 · 11.3%
  • Malayalam61 · 11.3%
  • Cantonese31 · 5.7%
  • Spanish28 · 5.2%
  • Hindi26 · 4.8%
  • Persian22 · 4.1%
  • Korean18 · 3.3%

Religion

57%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 57%, while 34.4% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion34.4%40.7%
Christianity57%45.7%
Hinduism2.2%1.3%
Other / not stated6.4%12.2%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic29.6%18.6%
Anglican10.1%11.3%
Baptist3.6%1.7%
Uniting Church3.4%3.6%
Christian (not further defined)2.6%3.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed2.2%2.1%
Pentecostal2%1.4%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 4053, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2026 to Sep 2026)
387
Against the person
56
Against property
203
Rate per 1,000 residents (annualised)
60.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 136 residents
State crime-rate percentile
36.8th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
-0.5%

Most common offence types

  • Drug Offences75
  • Other Property Damage23
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)127
  • Traffic And Related Offences36
  • Good Order Offences27

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Sep 2026; Jan 2026 to Sep 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
4
Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
1,112
Median ICSEA percentile
87th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
4
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
4
School list
  • McDowall State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1120 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 42% · 988 students · Top SEA quarter 47% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
  • Northside Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1145 · 94th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 1,245 students · Top SEA quarter 56% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Prince of Peace Lutheran CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1104 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 653 students · Top SEA quarter 42% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
  • Everton Park State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1084 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 558 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Albany Creek SHSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Aspley SHSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Aspley SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Craigslea SHSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Craigslea SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Everton Park SHSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Everton Park SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • McDowall SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Avenues Early Learning CentreLandis Streetkindergarten
  • McDowall Village Childcare CentreBeckett Roadkindergarten
  • Only About Children McDowallRode Roadkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Childcare centres per 1,000 residents

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

21 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Hamilton Rd at Paramount Circuit, stop 47
  • Hamilton Rd at Trouts Rd, stop 46
  • Old Northern Rd at Chinook
  • Rode Rd at Trouts Road
  • Rode Rd at Trouts Road

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

213 mapped amenities

1 restaurants · 1 supermarkets · 1 places of worship · 13 playgrounds · 5 sports centres · 26 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Reasonably walkable — many shops and services reachable on foot or by bus
  • Great for outdoor family life — 14 parks mapped in suburb, 13 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport — 21 public transport stops
  • Strong local sport and recreation — 45 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
57/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.13
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.84
Food & drink(1)
  • Treasure HouseRestaurant
Shopping(2)
  • BWSBottle shop
  • DrakesSupermarket
Community(4)
  • Avenues Early Learning CentreKindergarten

    51 Landis Street, McDowall

  • McDowall Village Childcare CentreKindergarten

    Unit c 109 Beckett Road

  • Only About Children McDowallKindergarten

    1035 Rode Road, McDowall

  • McDowall State SchoolSchool

    1018 Rode Road, McDowall

Health & services(2)
  • McDowall DentistsDentist
  • Sprenger ProdiatryMedical clinic
Sport & outdoors(73)
  • BBQ (2)
  • Cabbage Tree Creek BikewayCycling route
  • Cabbage Tree Creek PathwayCycling route
  • Downfall Creek BikewayCycling route
  • Little Cabbage Tree Creek BikewayCycling route
  • Drinking water (7)
  • Chermside Hills ReserveNature reserve

    31 Walker Street, McDowall

  • Bisset Place ParkPark

    26 Bisset Place, McDowall

  • Dr Valentine McDowall ParkPark

    99 Streisand Drive

  • Gum Nut NookPark

    27 Boulting Street, McDowall

  • Laurina CrescentPark

    6 Laurina Crescent, McDowall

  • Lyell Crescent ParkPark

    40 Lyell Crescent, McDowall

  • Malaga Street ParkPark

    Malaga Street, McDowall

  • Margaret Street ParkPark

    29 Margaret Street, McDowall

  • McDowall ReservePark
  • McLeod Court ParkPark

    36 Margaret Street, McDowall

  • Park

    23 Pidgeonberry Street, McDowall

  • Ponti Street ParkPark

    27 Ponti Street, McDowall

  • Sunset Place ParkPark

    19 Sunset Place, McDowall

  • Tuckeroo Street ParkPark

    51 Tuckeroo Street, McDowall

  • Ustinov Crescent ParkPark

    57 Beckett Road, McDowall

  • McDowall State SchoolPlayground
  • Playground (12)
  • Sports centre (5)
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (26)
Entertainment(1)
  • Spider HillViewpoint
Transport(19)

19 bus stops

Other(12)
  • Apartment
  • Bench (6)
  • Common (19)
  • Garden (56)
  • BCC Natural Environment NoticesInformation
  • Outdoor Seating (3)
  • McDowall State SchoolParking
  • Parking (13)
  • Christ the Cornerstone Anglican ChurchPlace of worship

    203 Flockton Street, Everton Park

  • Post Box (2)
  • Shelter (7)
  • Waste Basket

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

14 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bisset Place ParkPark
  • Chermside Hills ReserveNature reserve
  • Dr Valentine McDowall ParkPark
  • Gum Nut NookPark
  • Laurina CrescentPark
  • Lyell Crescent ParkPark
  • Malaga Street ParkPark
  • Margaret Street ParkPark
  • McDowall ReservePark
  • McLeod Court ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
28.4%
Woodland / forest cover
26.2%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
25
Parks (OSM)
14
Typical summer maximum
29°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • Christ the Cornerstone Anglican Church

    203 Flockton Street, Everton Park

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
2
Nearest hospital
North West Private Hospital (1.4 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
GP clinics in suburb
1
GPs tagged bulk billing (OSM)
0 of 1

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

  • Sprenger ProdiatryGP
  • McDowall DentistsDentist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
175
Participants per 1,000 residents
20.5

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
29° / 20°
Rainfall
498 mm · ~62 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
26° / 17°
Rainfall
406 mm · ~51 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
196 mm · ~24 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
26° / 15°
Rainfall
256 mm · ~32 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping. Flood cover uses floodplain overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Lilley
Member of Parliament
Anika WELLS (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
118,593
Turnout (2025)
91.1%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+4.0 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 35.5%Labor 64.5%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.2 km away).

Coalition 35.2%Labor 64.8%

0.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +7.6 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • McDowall (Lilley)Labor 63.3% · Coalition 36.7% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
  • Everton Park WestLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
  • Everton ParkLabor 69.2% · Coalition 30.8% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
  • Chermside WestLabor 63.3% · Coalition 36.7% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
  • Stafford HeightsLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)2.4 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Brisbane Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.