Murarrie

Murarrie lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Murarrie is around 5,374, reflecting an increase of 428 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,946. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,359 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 26 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 635 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Murarrie has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.9%, outpacing the state. Natural growth contributed approximately 55% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration were positive factors. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 and based on 2021 data are adopted. By 2041, the suburb is expected to grow by 1,400 persons, reflecting a gain of 25.7% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Murarrie among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Murarrie has seen approximately 27 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 136 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 4.4 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five financial years.

This demand outpaces supply, potentially influencing prices and competition among buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $434,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $20.8 million, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Building activity shows 19.0% detached houses and 81.0% medium to high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

This shift from the current housing mix of 69.0% houses reflects reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands. Murarrie has around 113 people per approval, indicating a developing area with population forecasts estimating an increase of 1,382 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Rivermakers Masterplan, scheduled for completion in June 2023, and another Rivermakers Masterplan project starting in October 2024. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Murarrie rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Murarrie has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.2% based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 3,707 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 1.7% below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is high at 84.8%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 24.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and construction.

The area specializes in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Health care & social assistance employs 14.0% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 16.1%. There are 2.9 workers for every resident, indicating Murarrie functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 6.2% while labour force increased by 5.9%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.8%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and a fall in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Murarrie's employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Murarrie has a median taxpayer income of $66,149 and an average income of $82,269, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is among the highest in Australia, contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. By September 2025, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% would be approximately $72,704 (median) and $90,422 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Murarrie rank highly nationally, between the 86th and 86th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 36.5% of the population (1,961 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 33.3% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 36.1% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.2% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 84th percentile nationally, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Murarrie displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Murarrie's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 68.8% houses and 31.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Murarrie was 19.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.9% and rented ones at 37.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Murarrie's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Murarrie features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 73.1% of all households, including 31.6% couples with children, 27.9% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 26.9%, with lone person households at 20.9% and group households comprising 6.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Brisbane average.

Murarrie shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 35.6% of residents aged 15+, surpassing Queensland's average of 25.7% and Australia's rate of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.6% and certificates for 21.5%.

Educational participation is notably high at 29.2%, including 9.3% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Murarrie has 16 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 34 routes, providing 2,779 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is good, with residents typically living 255 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Murarrie's residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 79%, while trains account for 12%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 24% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 397 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 173 weekly trips per stop.

Murarrie's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Murarrie residents have experienced relatively positive health outcomes, according to data analyzed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and health conditions are largely comparable to national benchmarks, with common health issues seen across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (3,213 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane. Mental health issues and asthma were the most prevalent conditions, affecting 9.1 and 8.0% of residents respectively, while 72.2% reported no medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical. The area has 9.6% of residents aged 65 and over (515 people), lower than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane, with national rankings broadly comparable to the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Murarrie was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Murarrie had a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 16.1% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 28.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Murarrie, making up 48.6% of its population. Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, comprising 0.1% of Murarrie's population.

The top three ancestry groups were English (26.2%), Australian (22.9%), and Irish (9.5%). Notably, New Zealanders were overrepresented at 1.5%, Maori at 1.0%, and French at 0.6%.

Murarrie's population is younger than the national pattern

Murarrie's median age in 2021 was 36 years, equal to Greater Brisbane's but younger than the national average of 38 years. The 35-44 age group constituted 18.3%, higher than Greater Brisbane, while the 65-74 cohort made up 5.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 55-64 age group grew from 9.2% to 10.7%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 2.1% to 3.5%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort declined from 19.4% to 16.2%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 12.0% to 10.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Murarrie. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to increase by 371 people (45%), from 822 to 1,194. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort grows modestly by 8% (25 people).