Median house price
—
No data available
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%
Languages at home
17.1%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Italian, Malayalam
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
Suburb profile
McDowall is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Brisbane Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local schools rate highly against similar suburbs.
Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, and buses help with longer trips.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Against similar metro suburbs, community and employment stand out and the overall desirability rating is good, with safety less decisive.
At a glance
McDowall snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
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
#84
among Metro Brisbane · Established
Safety
38th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
91st
percentile in QLD
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
- 63.8/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 11% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 660th in Australia
- State rank
- 154th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #84 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #113 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
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 (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Mar 2026 · Updated · Quarterly releases
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
- Employment rate
- 68.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,313 / 263 / 60
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
- 317
- Against the person
- 44
- Against property
- 169
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 37.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 173 residents
- State safety percentile
- 38.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
- -0.9%
Most common offence types
- Drug Offences374
- Good Order Offences128
- Other Property Damage115
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)643
- Traffic And Related Offences179
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 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
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 →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
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 (15%)
Childcare centre count
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 (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
209 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
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 errands 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(1)
- 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(59)
- 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(16)
- BWSAlcohol
- Apartment
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (6)
- Common (19)
- Drinking water (7)
- Garden (56)
- BCC Natural Environment NoticesInformation
- Chermside Hills ReserveNature Reserve
31 Walker Street, McDowall
- 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.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (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
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 25
- Parks (OSM)
- 14
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
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
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
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
- McDowall DentistsDentist
- Sprenger ProdiatryDoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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 (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
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.