Macgregor (Qld)

Macgregor has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Macgregor's population was around 6,622 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 643 people (10.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,979 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,619 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 3 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 2,461 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Macgregor's 10.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (9.8%), along with the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 94.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections were adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. It should be noted that these state projections did not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch applied proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national areas was forecast, with the area expected to increase by 2,826 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 42.6% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Macgregor according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Macgregor has recorded approximately 9 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past 5 financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 45 homes have been approved, with an additional 4 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 9 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed over these years.

This indicates that supply is substantially lagging demand, which typically results in heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average expected construction cost of new dwellings is approximately $434,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In this financial year, around $5.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Macgregor shows substantially reduced construction levels, at 78.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties.

This level is also below average nationally, indicating the area's maturity and potential planning constraints. Recent development in Macgregor has been entirely comprised of detached houses, preserving the area's suburban nature. Detached housing attracts space-seeking buyers, with around 690 people per dwelling approval in the area, reflecting a highly mature market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Macgregor is projected to add approximately 2,823 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Macgregor has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 29 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Macgregor State High School Major Upgrade & Expansion (commencing in June 2018), Macgregor Gardens Retirement Village Expansion (scheduled for completion by December 2020), Salina Towers (expected to be completed by mid-2021), and Archer Street Residential Developments (commenced on 1st January 2019). The following list details those projects likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Macgregor remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Macgregor's workforce is highly educated with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9%. As of September 2025, 3,535 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.5% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation lagged at 64.1%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 14.9% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. The area had a particular specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share twice the regional level.

Public administration & safety had limited presence at 4.6%, compared to the regional level of 7.0%. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally, as indicated by the working population count versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.9% and labour force increased by 0.8%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. Greater Brisbane recorded higher growth rates during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Macgregor's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, although this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Macgregor SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $41,080 and an average of $53,292 in financial year 2023. This was lower than the national average, contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. By September 2025, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 9.91%, estimated incomes were approximately $45,151 (median) and $58,573 (average). In the 2021 Census, individual incomes ranked at the 16th percentile ($634 weekly), while household income was at the 50th percentile. Most residents, 33.1% or 2,191 people, fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, similar to regional levels where this cohort also represented 33.3%. Housing costs consumed 15.3% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 52nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

Macgregor is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Macgregor's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.7% houses and 14.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Macgregor was at 38.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.7% and rented ones at 36.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Macgregor was $430, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Macgregor's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Macgregor features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.8% of all households, including 30.1% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.2%, with lone person households at 17.9% and group households comprising 11.0%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Macgregor exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Macgregor is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2021, 40.2% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% in Australia. This high educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.9% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%.

Trade and technical skills are also prominent, with 25.3% of residents holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 14.2%. Educational participation is notably high in Macgregor, with 32.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2021 census. This includes 11.4% in tertiary education, 6.8% in primary education, and 6.2% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Macgregor has 35 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 14 different routes that together facilitate 2,123 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 163 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most Macgregor residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 77% of residents, while buses are used by 15%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in the area.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.9% of Macgregor residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 303 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 60 weekly trips per individual stop.

Macgregor's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Macgregor's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (around 3,065 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions, affecting 5.3% and 5.2% of residents respectively. Around 78.3% of residents report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The area has 15.1% of residents aged 65 and over (around 1,000 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, generally aligning with national rankings for the broader population.

Macgregor is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Macgregor has a population where 60.0% speak a language other than English at home, with 59.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 38.0%. Buddhism is notably higher at 8.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's average of 2.0%.

The top three ancestral groups are Chinese (29.6%), English (14.8%), and Other (13.6%). Korean (2.8%) and Vietnamese (2.6%) show notable overrepresentation, while Russian is slightly higher at 0.7%.

Macgregor hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Macgregor has a median age of 33 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and significantly lower than the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Macgregor has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (22.1%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national figure of 14.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of Macgregor's population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 20.2% to 22.1%, while the proportion of those aged 65 to 74 has declined from 8.7% to 7.3%. Demographic modeling indicates that Macgregor's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 45-54 cohort, which is expected to increase by 67%, adding 493 residents and reaching a total of 1,231.