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 6,684 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 705 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,979 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,684 from the ABS as of June 2025 and four validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 2,484 persons per square kilometer, placing Macgregor in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 11.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%) and that of the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 95.6% 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 areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections were used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections did not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings were applied in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase was forecast, with the area expected to increase by 2,486 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 37.2% in total over the 16 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 FY21 to FY25, 45 homes were approved, with a further 7 approved so far in FY26. On average, around 9 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed during these years.

This indicates that supply is significantly lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction value of new dwellings is $434,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $5.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Macgregor shows significantly reduced construction, at 78.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties.

This level is also below national average, indicating the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached houses, preserving Macgregor's suburban nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 690 people per dwelling approval, Macgregor reflects a highly mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Macgregor is projected to add 2,486 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition 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 impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include Macgregor State High School Major Upgrade & Expansion (scheduled for completion in 2023), Macgregor Gardens Retirement Village Expansion (commencing in late 2022), Salina Towers (due to begin construction in Q4 2023), and Archer Street Residential Developments (planned for commencement in early 2024). The following list details projects likely to be 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 has an educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.4% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.7%. As of December 2025, 3617 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.6%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 4.1%.

Workforce participation was 64.4%, below Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. Home workership stood at 14.9% in Census responses. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. Accommodation & food had a particularly high share of 2.0 times the regional level.

Public administration & safety had limited presence with 4.6% employment compared to 7.0% regionally. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census data. Between December 2024 and 2025, employment levels increased by 2.7%, labour force by 2.7%, with unemployment unchanged. Greater Brisbane recorded higher growth rates of 3.2% for employment and 3.0% for labour force, with a slight fall in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Macgregor's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though 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 the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This was lower than national averages, contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $45,747 (median) and $59,346 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, individual incomes were at the 16th percentile ($634 weekly), while household income was at the 50th percentile. Income analysis showed that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 33.1% of residents (2,212 people), aligning with regional levels where this cohort also represented 33.3%. High housing costs consumed 15.3% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 52nd percentile and 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 (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). 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 $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $430, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Macgregor's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 constitute 70.8 percent of all households, including 30.1 percent couples with children, 26.3 percent couples without children, and 12.1 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 29.2 percent, with lone person households at 17.9 percent and group households comprising 11.0 percent of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is 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

In Macgregor, a significant proportion of residents aged 15 and above have attained university qualifications, with 40.2% surpassing the broader benchmarks of Queensland (25.7%) and Australia (30.4%). This educational advantage is reflected in the variety of qualifications held by residents: Bachelor degrees lead at 25.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.3% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (14.2%). Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 32.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

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 serving buses. These stops are covered by 14 different routes, offering a total of 2,123 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average living 163 meters from the nearest stop. Most Macgregor residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 77% of residents, while 15% opt for buses. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.9% of Macgregor residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 303 trips per day, equating to roughly 60 weekly trips per 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 excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (around 3,094 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 55.8% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were asthma and mental health issues, affecting 5.3% and 5.2% of residents respectively. A total of 78.3% of residents reported being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. In Macgregor, 14.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (around 981 people). Health outcomes among seniors align with national rankings and are broadly in line with the general 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 one of the highest cultural diversities in the country, with 60.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 59.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 38.0%. Buddhism, however, is significantly higher at 8.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's average of 2.0%.

In terms of ancestry, Chinese comprise 29.6%, substantially higher than the regional average of 3.4%. English is notably lower at 14.8% versus the regional average of 26.8%. Other ancestry makes up 13.6%. Korean (2.8%), Russian (0.7%), and Vietnamese (2.6%) are also notably overrepresented compared to regional averages.

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 Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Macgregor has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.8%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census data shows that younger residents have shifted Macgregor's median age down by one year to 33 years. Key changes include an increase in the proportion of 25-34 year-olds from 20.2% to 23.8%, a decline in the proportion of 65-74 year-olds from 8.7% to 7.1%, and a decrease in the proportion of 55-64 year-olds from 9.0% to 8.0%. Demographic modeling suggests that Macgregor's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 45-54 cohort, which is expected to increase by 61%, adding 445 residents to reach a total of 1,177.