Macgregor (Qld)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Macgregor's population is estimated at around 7063 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1083 people (18.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5980 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7063, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 97 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2615 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Macgregor's 18.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Anticipating future population dynamics, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas is forecast, with the suburb of Macgregor expected to increase by 2487 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 35.2% in total over the 16 years.

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

Macgregor has recorded approximately 14 residential properties granted approval each year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 71 homes were approved, with a further 13 approved in FY-26. On average, 9.6 new residents arrive per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

This supply lagging demand leads to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. Developers focus on the premium market, constructing new properties at an average value of $555,000. In FY-26, $5.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Macgregor has markedly lower building activity, 66.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

The national average is also not met, suggesting potential planning limitations. New development consists of 88.0% detached dwellings and 12.0% attached dwellings, sustaining Macgregor's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The area has approximately 483 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its established nature. Future projections show Macgregor adding 2,487 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

AreaSearch has identified 31 infrastructure projects that could impact the area's performance. Key projects include Macgregor State High School Major Upgrade & Expansion, Macgregor Gardens Retirement Village Expansion, Salina Towers, and Archer Street Residential Developments. The following list details those likely 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 landscape in Macgregor shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Macgregor's workforce is highly educated with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.4% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.6%. As of December 2025, 3,615 residents were employed, an unemployment rate of 4.6%, and a workforce participation rate of 61.0%.

14.9% of residents worked from home in the Census response, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. Accommodation & food has a significant share at 2.0 times the regional level, while public administration & safety is limited at 4.7% compared to 7.0% regionally. Local employment opportunities appear limited, with Census working population count lower than resident population.

Between December 2024 and 2025, employment increased by 2.6%, labour force by 2.7%, while unemployment remained unchanged. In contrast, Greater Brisbane had employment growth of 3.2% and labour force growth of 3.0%, with a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying by industry sector. 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, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Macgregor's median income among taxpayers is $39,995. The average income in the suburb is $52,606. Both figures are lower than national averages. In Greater Brisbane, the median income is $58,236 and the average is $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Macgregor as of March 2026 would be approximately $44,538 (median) and $58,582 (average). Census data reveals individual incomes lag at the 16th percentile ($634 weekly), while household income is at the 50th percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.1% of Macgregor's community (2,337 individuals). High housing costs consume 15.3% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 52nd percentile. Macgregor's SEIFA income ranking places 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 structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.7% houses and 14.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 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 constitute 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 account for 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

In Macgregor, residents aged 15+ have higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 40.2% hold university qualifications compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.3% of residents holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 14.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.9% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% 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 34 active public transport stops, all bus services. These are covered by 14 routes, offering a total of 2,123 weekly passenger trips. Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 163 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode at 77%, with buses at 15%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.5.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 303 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 62 weekly trips per individual stop.

Macgregor's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Macgregor based on AreaSearch's assessment as of January 2022. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups, with approximately 48% of the total population (~3,393 people) having private health cover compared to Greater Brisbane's 55.8%. Nationally, this figure is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in Macgregor were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 5.3% and 5.2% of residents respectively, while 78.3% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. As of January 2022, 14.7% of Macgregor's residents were aged 65 and over (1,038 people). Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings 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, making up 38.1% of Macgregor's population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 8.8%, compared to Greater Brisbane's average of 2.0%.

In terms of ancestry, Chinese make up 29.5%, substantially higher than the regional average of 3.4%. English ancestry comprises 14.8%, significantly lower than the regional average of 26.8%. Other ancestry makes up 13.6%. Korean (2.8% vs 0.5%), Russian (0.7% vs 0.3%), and Serbian (0.7% vs 0.2%) ethnic groups are notably overrepresented in Macgregor compared to regional averages.

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

Macgregor's median age is 33 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and significantly lower than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Macgregor has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (23.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.4%). This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 20.2% to 23.5% of Macgregor's population, while the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 8.7% to 7.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Macgregor's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 45 to 54 cohort is projected to grow by 57%, adding 445 residents to reach a total of 1,222.