Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
McDowall
4 km²
Families with children are a major part of the community in McDowall, where the proportion of children under 15 is much higher than in most similar areas. It is an affluent and well-educated suburb in Brisbane with a population of 7,918 that has grown by 12% since 2011. The area is defined by high typical incomes and a strong presence of professionals, creating a comfortable residential setting where most people live in large, detached family homes.
McDowall's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
McDowall has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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The typical resident is 38 years old, and children under 15 make up 20.4% of the population, which is a little above the national figure. Meanwhile, people aged 65 and over represent 14.5% of the community, a figure that has risen 4 points since 2011.
About 24.4% of residents were born overseas, a figure that has risen 4.8 points since 2011. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, each held by 35.1% of the population.
English is the main language for 80.4% of the area, though the proportion of people using another language at home has risen to 16.9%. This is well above the Queensland figure, while only 1.5% of residents speak little or no English.
Christianity is the most common religion at 56.9%, but the number of people reporting no religion has risen sharply by 18 points since 2011 to reach 34.3%.
McDowall is highly qualified, with 35.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure. This is reflected in school completion rates, as 74.5% of residents finished Year 12.
Typical weekly household incomes are $2,461, which is well above the national figure. The area's wealth is striking, with 36.5% of households earning $3,000 or more per week, a figure that has risen 18 points since 2011.
Residents generally enjoy good health, as only 3.8% need help with daily activities, which is much lower than in most similar areas. About 26.8% of the population has a long-term health condition.
Unpaid care for children is very common here, with 33.3% of people providing this support. The area also has a high proportion of former Defence Force members at 6.7%.
The First Nations community is small, making up 1.5% of the population. However, this group sees much higher typical personal incomes and Year 12 completion rates than the national figures.
Homes tend to be large, with 2.8 people per household, which is a little above the national figure. Large families are common, as 66.6% of households consist of couples with children.
The suburb is dominated by large homes, with 95.3% having three or more bedrooms. While 36.2% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents are $460, which is well above the national figure.
Most people rely on cars, as only 1.9% of homes have no motor vehicle. Working from home is quite common at 21.9%, which is well above the state average.
About 37.9% of the population moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 11.6% of the community, down 4.4 points since 2011.
The workforce is very active, with 71.5% of adults working or looking for work, which is far above the national figure. Many residents are professionals (32%) and work in health, public administration, or education.
McDowall is an area of high advantage, ranking in the top 10% of similar areas for its access to money and resources. Its population has grown by 10.8% since 2021, which is a little above the state average.
The area is much wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,232mm. Typical maximum temperatures are 26.7 degrees.
The suburb is quite walkable, with 90% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and 99.6% within 15 minutes of a park.