Chermside West vs Mcdowall

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Chermside West, about half of households are couple families. In McDowall, most households are couple families. Chermside West is closer to the city centre: 11.9 km, against 13.9 km. On these figures, McDowall tends to suit couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

McDowall

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 11)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 65%)
  • But Chermside West has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

McDowall

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($695,000 vs $810,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Chermside West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (11.9 km vs 13.9 km)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Chermside West

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 15%)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Chermside West and Mcdowall drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Chermside West Mcdowall
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Chermside West Mcdowall
Walkability 79 / 69
Chermside West — Walkability: 79/100 Mcdowall — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 67 / 70
Chermside West — Safety: 67/100 Mcdowall — Safety: 70/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Chermside West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mcdowall — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

McDowall has higher household incomes ($129,272 vs $110,448).

Chermside West Mcdowall
Population 6,965 7,612
+9% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.9% +5.2%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $110,448/yr $129,272/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $455/wk $470/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chermside West Mcdowall
0-4 5.5% / 6.4%
Chermside West — 0-4: 5.5% Mcdowall — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 12.2% / 14.2%
Chermside West — 5-14: 12.2% Mcdowall — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 5.7% / 6.4%
Chermside West — 15-19: 5.7% Mcdowall — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.3% / 6.4%
Chermside West — 20-24: 6.3% Mcdowall — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 13.1% / 10.6%
Chermside West — 25-34: 13.1% Mcdowall — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 13.8% / 15.2%
Chermside West — 35-44: 13.8% Mcdowall — 35-44: 15.2%
45-54 12.0% / 14.2%
Chermside West — 45-54: 12.0% Mcdowall — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 10.5% / 11.8%
Chermside West — 55-64: 10.5% Mcdowall — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 8.2% / 9.2%
Chermside West — 65-74: 8.2% Mcdowall — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 7.9% / 4.5%
Chermside West — 75-84: 7.9% Mcdowall — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 4.7% / 1.1%
Chermside West — 85+: 4.7% Mcdowall — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chermside West 48.9% couple families
Chermside West — Couple Families: 48.9% Chermside West — Lone Person: 26.8% Chermside West — One Parent Families: 16.3% Chermside West — Group Household: 5.2% Chermside West — Other Families: 2.9%
Mcdowall 63.1% couple families
Mcdowall — Couple Families: 63.1% Mcdowall — Lone Person: 19.9% Mcdowall — One Parent Families: 12.7% Mcdowall — Group Household: 3.3% Mcdowall — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chermside West 25.4% renting
Chermside West — Owned Outright: 37.2% Chermside West — Mortgage: 37.5% Chermside West — Renting: 25.4%
Mcdowall 22.7% renting
Mcdowall — Owned Outright: 36.7% Mcdowall — Mortgage: 40.6% Mcdowall — Renting: 22.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Chermside West Mcdowall
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 18.0%
Chermside West — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Mcdowall — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Certificate III & IV 12.0% / 11.8%
Chermside West — Certificate III & IV: 12.0% Mcdowall — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.8%
Chermside West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Mcdowall — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 4.9% / 7.0%
Chermside West — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9% Mcdowall — Postgraduate Degree: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.0%
Chermside West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Mcdowall — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Chermside West Mcdowall
England 2.7% / 3.8%
Chermside West — England: 2.7% Mcdowall — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 3.7% / 2.5%
Chermside West — New Zealand: 3.7% Mcdowall — New Zealand: 2.5%
India 3.4% / 2.6%
Chermside West — India: 3.4% Mcdowall — India: 2.6%
China 1.5% / 1.5%
Chermside West — China: 1.5% Mcdowall — China: 1.5%
South Africa 0.7% / 1.6%
Chermside West — South Africa: 0.7% Mcdowall — South Africa: 1.6%
Philippines 1.4% / 0.8%
Chermside West — Philippines: 1.4% Mcdowall — Philippines: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chermside West 89.4% houses
Chermside West — Houses: 89.4% Chermside West — Townhouses: 2.7% Chermside West — Flats / Apartments: 7.8%
Mcdowall 87.7% houses
Mcdowall — Houses: 87.7% Mcdowall — Townhouses: 10.0% Mcdowall — Flats / Apartments: 2.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Chermside West Mcdowall
Median house price $1,290,000 $1,310,000
Median unit price $810,000 $695,000
Median land price — $1,200,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 54 sales
 23 days
from 79 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Chermside West Mcdowall
3 bed $1.24M / $1.2M
Chermside West — 3 bed: $1.24M (79 sales) Mcdowall — 3 bed: $1.2M (34 sales)

79 vs 34 sales

4 bed $1.45M / $1.33M
Chermside West — 4 bed: $1.45M (37 sales) Mcdowall — 4 bed: $1.33M (56 sales)

37 vs 56 sales

5 bed $1.61M / $1.68M
Chermside West — 5 bed: $1.61M (10 sales) Mcdowall — 5 bed: $1.68M (21 sales)

10 vs 21 sales

Development activity

Chermside West Mcdowall
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Chermside West Mcdowall
Houses 3.5%
$835/wk on $1.23M
 3.3%
$835/wk on $1.3M
Units — 4.5%
$700/wk on $810K

Ranking within QLD

Chermside West Mcdowall
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of QLD Higher than 19% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 52% of QLD

Liveability

Chermside West is more walkable (79 vs 69).

Chermside West Mcdowall
Grade A+
same for both
Score 86/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Chermside West Mcdowall
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
33/100
 Low
30/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Chermside West Mcdowall
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Brisbane Campus, 6.9 km
 3
Kelvin Grove, 7.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 3.1%

Schools in Chermside West

  • Craigslea State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Craigslea State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Mcdowall

  • McDowall State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Chermside West Mcdowall
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 11 16
Childcare 6 4
GPs 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 5 6

Mobility

McDowall sits further from the CBD (13.9 km vs 11.9 km).

Chermside West Mcdowall
Walkability score 79/100 69/100
Distance to Brisbane 11.9 km 13.9 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 24 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 108.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 77.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 4032
 1.8%
postcode 4053
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 4032
 46
postcode 4053

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Chermside West Mcdowall
Car (driver) 63.9% / 63.3%
Chermside West — Car (driver): 63.9% Mcdowall — Car (driver): 63.3%
Worked from Home 20.8% / 25.5%
Chermside West — Worked from Home: 20.8% Mcdowall — Worked from Home: 25.5%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 4.6%
Chermside West — Car (passenger): 5.4% Mcdowall — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bus 5.3% / 2.8%
Chermside West — Bus: 5.3% Mcdowall — Bus: 2.8%
Train 1.6% / 2.7%
Chermside West — Train: 1.6% Mcdowall — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 2.2% / 0.5%
Chermside West — Walked Only: 2.2% Mcdowall — Walked Only: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.9%).

Setting

Chermside West Mcdowall
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 63 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.1 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 10.6 km

NBN connectivity

Chermside West Mcdowall
Connectivity score 76/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
2,752 premises
 22%
3,119 premises

Climate

Chermside West Mcdowall
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Chermside West Mcdowall
PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.74 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Chermside West Mcdowall
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Chermside West Mcdowall
Division Lilley
same for both
Member Anika Wells
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Chermside West Mcdowall
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Chermside West

Middle-Ring Parks Quiet

Mcdowall

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chermside West

Chermside West vs Aspley Chermside West vs Chermside Chermside West vs Kedron Chermside West vs Stafford Heights

Other comparisons with Mcdowall

Mcdowall vs Albany Creek Mcdowall vs Aspley Mcdowall vs Bridgeman Downs Mcdowall vs Everton Park Mcdowall vs Stafford Heights Mcdowall vs Everton Hills
Full data on Chermside West Full data on Mcdowall
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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