Parkinson - Drewvale

An assessment of population growth drivers in Parkinson - Drewvale reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

AreaSearch's analysis indicates Parkinson - Drewvale's population was approximately 16,999 as of February 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 904 people (5.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,095. The increase is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 16,999 in June 2024 and an additional 134 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,341 persons per square kilometer, higher than average national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated nationally, with the area expected to grow by 744 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 4.4% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Parkinson - Drewvale recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Parkinson - Drewvale averaged approximately 35 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 178 homes approved during this period and an additional 24 approved so far in FY26. On average, around 3.1 new residents arrived per year for each dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating that demand significantly exceeded new supply. This imbalance typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition, with new dwellings being developed at an average expected construction cost of $322,000.

In the current financial year, $6.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. When compared to Greater Brisbane, Parkinson - Drewvale shows significantly reduced construction levels, with 77.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction often reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. Additionally, new construction has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, preserving the area's traditional suburban character and appealing to families seeking space. The location currently has approximately 501 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area with future projections estimating an increase of 744 residents by 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

However, given current development patterns, new housing supply is expected to readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Parkinson - Drewvale has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 24 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Loganlea Station Relocation Project, Logan Plan, Paradise in Parkinson, and Grand Plaza Shopping Centre Refurbishment. The following details projects expected to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment environment in Parkinson - Drewvale shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Parkinson - Drewvale has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%. Over the past year, it has maintained relative employment stability.

As of September 2025, 9,162 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is 0.6% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Brisbane's at 70.7%. According to Census responses, 16.4% of residents work from home.

The key industries of employment are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Professional & technical services have lower representation at 7.0%, compared to the regional average of 8.9%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the ratio of working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.6% while employment decreased by 0.3%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.8% and unemployment fall by 0.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkinson - Drewvale's current employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Parkinson - Drewvale SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $53,048 and an average income of $62,475. These figures are lower than the national averages of $58,236 and $72,799 respectively for Greater Brisbane. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $58,305 and $68,666 respectively. Census 2021 income data ranks household income at the 77th percentile ($2,194 weekly) and personal income at the 57th percentile. The earnings profile indicates that 39.8% of locals (6,765 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the surrounding region where 33.3% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 15.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 77th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Parkinson - Drewvale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Parkinson - Drewvale, as evaluated at the latest Census, 87.3% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 12.7% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Parkinson - Drewvale was 24.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 54.1% and rented ones at 21.2%. 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 was $450, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Parkinson - Drewvale's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $450 compared to the national figure of $375.

Parkinson - Drewvale features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 88.0% of all households, including 53.3% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 12.0%, with lone person households at 10.2% and group households comprising 1.6% of the total. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

Educational qualifications in Parkinson - Drewvale trail regional benchmarks; 33.6% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to the SA4 region's 42.1%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 30.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them; advanced diplomas account for 11.7% and certificates for 18.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.0% currently enrolled in formal education; this includes 12.4% in primary, 9.8% in secondary, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Parkinson-Drewvale has 27 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 12 different routes that collectively facilitate 2398 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 368 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 89%, while bus usage stands at 8%. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 342 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 88 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Parkinson - Drewvale is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Parkinson - Drewvale faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~8,567 people), compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane.

Nationally, this compares to an average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 6.2% and 5.6% of residents respectively. 77.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,410 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Parkinson-Drewvale has a high cultural diversity, with 45.7% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 46.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Parkinson-Drewvale, comprising 45.9% of people. The most notable overrepresentation is in the 'Other' category, which makes up 3.8% of the population compared to 1.3% across Greater Brisbane.

In terms of ancestry, English is the top group at 18.3%, followed by Australian at 16.5%. However, these percentages are lower than regional averages of 26.8% and 23.2% respectively. The 'Other' category comprises 14.7%, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 9.4%. Certain ethnic groups show notable divergences: Korean at 1.8% (vs 0.5%), Indian at 7.6% (vs 2.0%) and Samoan at 1.3% (vs 0.9%).

Parkinson - Drewvale's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Parkinson-Drewvale's median age is 37 years, nearly matching Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and close to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Parkinson-Drewvale has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (16.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.5%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 12.8% to 14.8%, while those aged 75-84 have increased from 3.1% to 4.6%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has declined from 11.0% to 8.5%, and those aged 35-44 have dropped from 17.1% to 15.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Parkinson-Drewvale's age profile. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 65%, adding 504 residents to reach 1,281. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 62% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.