QLD · Redland Council

Mount Cotton, 4165

Est. population · Jun 2025

7,010

Growth (1 yr)

+0.6%

Growth (5 yr)

+3.9%

Median age

34

Median income

$2,640/wk

Employment rate

76.2%

Languages at home

5.8%non-English

Most common: Afrikaans, Spanish, Punjabi

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

54.3/100
Average

Top 25% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 85% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
What Mount Cotton is known for: National parks, Green suburb, High desirability, Excellent transport, Education hub

Suburb profile

Mount Cotton sits up in the Redland Council hills, a mid-sized suburb where elevation and tree cover define the mood. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.

Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.

Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.

Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Mount Cotton snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

7,010

+0.6% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

2.9%

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

#140

among Metro Brisbane · Established

Safety

16th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

29th

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

67th

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
54.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 25% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
1636th in Australia
State rank
376th in QLD
Peer rank
#140 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#221 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

7,010(June 2025)

+0.6% annual · +3.9% over 5 years · 29th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.6%
5-year growth
+3.9%
Change in 1 year
+38
Change in 5 years
+260
Growth rank in QLD
29th 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 (~7,700), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
7,302
Median age
34
Median household income / week
$2,640
Dwelling vacancy
2.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
68 of 2,354
Median monthly mortgage
$2,100
Employment rate
76.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,277 / 4 / 3

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

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

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian 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)
176
Against the person
22
Against property
91
Rate per 1,000 residents
25.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 332 residents
State safety percentile
16.4th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
-0.5%

Most common offence types

  • Drug Offences208
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)319
  • Traffic And Related Offences147
  • Assault74
  • Other Property Damage87

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime MapQueensland 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
1
Median school ICSEA
1,047
Median ICSEA percentile
67th
School list
  • Mount Cotton State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1047 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 605 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • My School Child Care & KindergartenValley Waychildcare
  • childcarechildcare

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

12 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Orchid Dr at Durian Street
  • Orchid Dr near Durian Cr
  • Orchid Dr near Flindersia Dr
  • Papaya St near Valley Way
  • Papaya St near Valley Way

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 places of worship · 1 playgrounds · 1 sports centres

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life8 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access12 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
18/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.1
Community(2)
  • Mount Cotton HallCommunity centre
  • Mount Cotton State SchoolSchool

    1246 Mount Cotton Road

Sport & outdoors(3)
  • Playground
  • Sports centre
  • Sports field
Entertainment(1)
  • Viewpoint
Other(13)
  • Bench
  • TarcoolaCamp Site
  • Fountain
  • Rainforest GardensGarden

    193 Mount View Road

  • Mount Cotton HallParking
  • Mount Cotton State SchoolParking
  • Parking (5)
  • St Paul’s Lutheran ChurchPlace of worship

    1257 Mount Cotton Road

  • Public toilets
  • Shelter
  • Track
  • Weighbridge
  • Activity Area 4Yes

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

4 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Boom-ber-pee Nature RefugeNature reserve
  • Eastern Escarpment Conservation AreaNature reserve
  • Hardwood Drive ParkPark
  • Vencotton ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
75
Parks (OSM)
8

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

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • St Paul’s Lutheran Church

    1257 Mount Cotton Road

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
5
Nearest hospital
Redlands Satellite Hospital (8.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Advanced Dental CareDentist
  • Bayview PharmacyValley WayPharmacy
  • Chemist WarehouseValley WayPharmacy
  • Inner Space PsychologyValley WayPsychotherapist
  • Mount Cotton General PracticeValley WayClinic

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
221
Participants per 1,000 residents
31.5

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
28° / 18°
Rainfall
493 mm · ~62 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
25° / 14°
Rainfall
343 mm · ~43 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
20° / 7°
Rainfall
144 mm · ~18 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
25° / 12°
Rainfall
249 mm · ~31 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 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 overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Bowman
Member of Parliament
Henry PIKE (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
122,940
Turnout (2025)
91.1%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+3.1 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 52.4%Labor 47.6%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 8.6 km away).

Coalition 48.4%Labor 51.6%

4.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +5.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Mount CottonLabor 51.9% · Coalition 48.1% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • Redland Bay SouthLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)7.1 km away
  • Victoria Point SouthLabor 55.3% · Coalition 44.7% TPP (2025)7.1 km away
  • Thornlands CentralLabor 48.6% · Coalition 51.4% TPP (2025)7.7 km away
  • Thornlands SouthLabor 49.0% · Coalition 51.0% TPP (2025)8.0 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 (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

More in Redland Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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