Lawnton vs Murrumba Downs

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Murrumba Downs, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Murrumba Downs: a median of $1.09 million, against $915,000 in Lawnton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Lawnton tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Murrumba Downs suits 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

Murrumba Downs

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 81/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 9)
  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Lawnton

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($795,000 vs $1,240,000)
  • has cheaper units ($632,500 vs $780,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($915,000 vs $1,087,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lawnton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Murrumba Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 81/100)

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

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

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
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.

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Walkability 79 / 84
Lawnton — Walkability: 79/100 Murrumba Downs — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 19 / 50
Lawnton — Safety: 19/100 Murrumba Downs — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lawnton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Murrumba Downs — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Murrumba Downs has more residents (10,795 vs 5,905); Murrumba Downs has higher household incomes ($95,004 vs $71,292).

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Population 5,905 10,795
+83% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.4% +1.1%
Median age 37 39
Median household income $71,292/yr $95,004/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $360/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
0-4 6.5% / 5.6%
Lawnton — 0-4: 6.5% Murrumba Downs — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 12.4% / 14.7%
Lawnton — 5-14: 12.4% Murrumba Downs — 5-14: 14.7%
15-19 5.9% / 7.1%
Lawnton — 15-19: 5.9% Murrumba Downs — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 7.1% / 5.1%
Lawnton — 20-24: 7.1% Murrumba Downs — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 15.2% / 11.3%
Lawnton — 25-34: 15.2% Murrumba Downs — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 13.3% / 13.6%
Lawnton — 35-44: 13.3% Murrumba Downs — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 12.8% / 14.4%
Lawnton — 45-54: 12.8% Murrumba Downs — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 10.5% / 11.2%
Lawnton — 55-64: 10.5% Murrumba Downs — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 8.8% / 9.4%
Lawnton — 65-74: 8.8% Murrumba Downs — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 5.2% / 5.4%
Lawnton — 75-84: 5.2% Murrumba Downs — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 2.3% / 2.3%
Lawnton — 85+: 2.3% Murrumba Downs — 85+: 2.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lawnton 31.9% couple families
Lawnton — Couple Families: 31.9% Lawnton — Lone Person: 38.7% Lawnton — One Parent Families: 21.8% Lawnton — Group Household: 5.8% Lawnton — Other Families: 1.9%
Murrumba Downs 49.9% couple families
Murrumba Downs — Couple Families: 49.9% Murrumba Downs — Lone Person: 27.4% Murrumba Downs — One Parent Families: 18.8% Murrumba Downs — Group Household: 2.8% Murrumba Downs — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lawnton 41.9% renting
Lawnton — Owned Outright: 21.2% Lawnton — Mortgage: 36.8% Lawnton — Renting: 41.9%
Murrumba Downs 28.1% renting
Murrumba Downs — Owned Outright: 28.3% Murrumba Downs — Mortgage: 43.6% Murrumba Downs — Renting: 28.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
New Zealand 5.0% / 5.1%
Lawnton — New Zealand: 5.0% Murrumba Downs — New Zealand: 5.1%
England 3.3% / 4.8%
Lawnton — England: 3.3% Murrumba Downs — England: 4.8%
Philippines 1.9% / 1.1%
Lawnton — Philippines: 1.9% Murrumba Downs — Philippines: 1.1%
India 0.9% / 1.7%
Lawnton — India: 0.9% Murrumba Downs — India: 1.7%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.8%
Lawnton — South Africa: 0.8% Murrumba Downs — South Africa: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

Qualifications

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

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 16.8%
Lawnton — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Murrumba Downs — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 10.8%
Lawnton — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Murrumba Downs — Bachelor Degree: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 9.4%
Lawnton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Murrumba Downs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 2.5%
Lawnton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Murrumba Downs — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.8%
Lawnton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Murrumba Downs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lawnton 69.3% houses
Lawnton — Houses: 69.3% Lawnton — Townhouses: 24.5% Lawnton — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Murrumba Downs 73.5% houses
Murrumba Downs — Houses: 73.5% Murrumba Downs — Townhouses: 26.3% Murrumba Downs — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Median house price $915,000 $1,087,500
Median unit price $632,500 $780,000
Median land price $795,000 $1,240,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 77 sales
 27 days
from 128 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.

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
3 bed $878K / $860K
Lawnton — 3 bed: $878K (70 sales) Murrumba Downs — 3 bed: $860K (34 sales)

70 vs 34 sales

4 bed $980K / $1.08M
Lawnton — 4 bed: $980K (43 sales) Murrumba Downs — 4 bed: $1.08M (122 sales)

43 vs 122 sales

5 bed $1.06M / $1.4M
Lawnton — 5 bed: $1.06M (5 sales) Murrumba Downs — 5 bed: $1.4M (35 sales)

5 vs 35 sales

Development activity

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
New dwellings approved 6,996
across Moreton Bay
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
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.

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Houses 3.9%
$642/wk on $850K
 4.3%
$750/wk on $899K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 68% of QLD
Schools Higher than 26% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD

Liveability

Murrumba Downs scores higher overall (61 vs 42).

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Grade C B
Score 42/100 61/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Lawnton carries more crime risk (81 vs 50).

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Moreton Bay, 2.1 km
 1
UniSC Moreton Bay, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.2% 1.7%

Schools in Lawnton

  • Lawnton State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Pine Rivers Special School Government · Combined · Special school
  • YOS Lawnton Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Murrumba Downs

  • Undurba State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Living Faith Lutheran Primary School Independent · Primary below peers
  • Murrumba State Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 9 13
Childcare 4 5
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 7 12

Mobility

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Walkability score 79/100 84/100
Distance to Brisbane 24.4 km 24.8 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 33 min
Public transport score 91/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 61.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 80.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4501
 1.0%
postcode 4503
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 65
postcode 4501
 56
postcode 4503

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.

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Car (driver) 68.7% / 71.4%
Lawnton — Car (driver): 68.7% Murrumba Downs — Car (driver): 71.4%
Worked from Home 14.0% / 17.0%
Lawnton — Worked from Home: 14.0% Murrumba Downs — Worked from Home: 17.0%
Train 9.3% / 4.7%
Lawnton — Train: 9.3% Murrumba Downs — Train: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 5.2%
Lawnton — Car (passenger): 4.9% Murrumba Downs — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 1.7% / 0.9%
Lawnton — Walked Only: 1.7% Murrumba Downs — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.4%).

Setting

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.4 km 2.5 km

NBN connectivity

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Connectivity score 69/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 41%
3,402 premises
 66%
4,561 premises

Climate

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
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)

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
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

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Moreton Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Division Dickson
same for both
Member Ali France
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lawnton Murrumba Downs
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lawnton

Outer Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

Murrumba Downs

Coastal Outer Parks River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lawnton

Lawnton vs Strathpine Lawnton vs Bray Park Lawnton vs Petrie Lawnton vs Bald Hills Lawnton vs Joyner

Other comparisons with Murrumba Downs

Murrumba Downs vs Kallangur Murrumba Downs vs Mango Hill Murrumba Downs vs Griffin Murrumba Downs vs Petrie Murrumba Downs vs Bald Hills
Full data on Lawnton Full data on Murrumba Downs
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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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