Macgregor vs Nathan

Nathan is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 34 in Macgregor. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Macgregor: a median of $1.49 million, against $1.19 million in Nathan, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Macgregor tends to suit share households, while Nathan suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Macgregor

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (59% vs 47%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 74%)

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

First-home buyers

Nathan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,190,000 vs $1,494,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nathan

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $430/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Macgregor

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 48/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Nathan

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 14%)
  • But Macgregor is more walkable (85/100 vs 48/100)

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

Investors

Macgregor

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (2.3% vs -8.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Macgregor Nathan
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.

Macgregor Nathan
Walkability 85 / 48
Macgregor — Walkability: 85/100 Nathan — Walkability: 48/100
Safety 24 / 20
Macgregor — Safety: 24/100 Nathan — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Macgregor — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nathan — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Macgregor has more residents (5,980 vs 1,085); Macgregor rents higher ($430/wk vs $300/wk).

Macgregor Nathan
Population 5,980
+82% vs other
 1,085
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.3% -8.3%
Median age 34 28
Median household income $91,104/yr
+4% vs other
 $87,464/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+30% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Macgregor Nathan
0-4 4.4% / 3.1%
Macgregor — 0-4: 4.4% Nathan — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 8.9% / 7.6%
Macgregor — 5-14: 8.9% Nathan — 5-14: 7.6%
15-19 5.6% / 16.1%
Macgregor — 15-19: 5.6% Nathan — 15-19: 16.1%
20-24 11.0% / 19.8%
Macgregor — 20-24: 11.0% Nathan — 20-24: 19.8%
25-34 20.2% / 12.7%
Macgregor — 25-34: 20.2% Nathan — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 13.6% / 10.9%
Macgregor — 35-44: 13.6% Nathan — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 11.1% / 9.8%
Macgregor — 45-54: 11.1% Nathan — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 8.9% / 10.0%
Macgregor — 55-64: 8.9% Nathan — 55-64: 10.0%
65-74 8.7% / 6.8%
Macgregor — 65-74: 8.7% Nathan — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 6.0% / 3.7%
Macgregor — 75-84: 6.0% Nathan — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 1.5% / 1.2%
Macgregor — 85+: 1.5% Nathan — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Macgregor 41.0% couple families
Macgregor — Couple Families: 41.0% Macgregor — Lone Person: 23.8% Macgregor — One Parent Families: 17.7% Macgregor — Group Household: 14.7% Macgregor — Other Families: 2.9%
Nathan 35.5% couple families
Nathan — Couple Families: 35.5% Nathan — Lone Person: 41.9% Nathan — One Parent Families: 11.3% Nathan — Group Household: 8.1% Nathan — Other Families: 3.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Macgregor 36.6% renting
Macgregor — Owned Outright: 38.8% Macgregor — Mortgage: 24.6% Macgregor — Renting: 36.6%
Nathan 34.1% renting
Nathan — Owned Outright: 32.8% Nathan — Mortgage: 33.1% Nathan — Renting: 34.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Macgregor Nathan
Bachelor Degree 19.7% / 13.9%
Macgregor — Bachelor Degree: 19.7% Nathan — Bachelor Degree: 13.9%
Certificate III & IV 8.8% / 12.5%
Macgregor — Certificate III & IV: 8.8% Nathan — Certificate III & IV: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.9%
Macgregor — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Nathan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 4.3%
Macgregor — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Nathan — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 3.2%
Macgregor — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Nathan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Macgregor Nathan
China 17.1% / 1.7%
Macgregor — China: 17.1% Nathan — China: 1.7%
Taiwan 6.3% / —
Macgregor — Taiwan: 6.3% Nathan — Taiwan: not among its largest
India 4.6% / 1.4%
Macgregor — India: 4.6% Nathan — India: 1.4%
New Zealand 2.4% / 2.7%
Macgregor — New Zealand: 2.4% Nathan — New Zealand: 2.7%
Philippines 2.2% / 1.5%
Macgregor — Philippines: 2.2% Nathan — Philippines: 1.5%
Malaysia 2.6% / 0.8%
Macgregor — Malaysia: 2.6% Nathan — Malaysia: 0.8%
England 1.2% / 2.2%
Macgregor — England: 1.2% Nathan — England: 2.2%
Vietnam 2.8% / —
Macgregor — Vietnam: 2.8% Nathan — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Macgregor 85.5% houses
Macgregor — Houses: 85.5% Macgregor — Flats / Apartments: 11.4% Macgregor — Townhouses: 3.1%
Nathan 73.5% houses
Nathan — Houses: 73.5% Nathan — Flats / Apartments: 26.5% Nathan — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Macgregor Nathan
Median house price $1,494,500 $1,190,000
Median unit price $715,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 34 sales
 21 days
from 6 sales

Development activity

Macgregor Nathan
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Macgregor Nathan
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 100% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD

Liveability

Macgregor is more walkable (85 vs 48).

Macgregor Nathan
Grade B
same for both
Score 65/100 63/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Macgregor Nathan
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
76/100
 High
80/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Macgregor Nathan
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 2.7 km
 3
Brisbane South (Nathan), 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.7% 24.3%

Schools in Macgregor

  • MacGregor State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • MacGregor State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Nathan

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Macgregor Nathan
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 1 2
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 5 20

Mobility

Macgregor Nathan
Walkability score 85/100 48/100
Distance to Brisbane 13.4 km
+10% vs other
 12.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 17 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 73.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 127.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 4109
 4.9%
postcode 4111
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 4109
 56
postcode 4111

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.

Macgregor Nathan
Car (driver) 61.6% / 63.4%
Macgregor — Car (driver): 61.6% Nathan — Car (driver): 63.4%
Worked from Home 15.5% / 20.0%
Macgregor — Worked from Home: 15.5% Nathan — Worked from Home: 20.0%
Bus 11.9% / 9.7%
Macgregor — Bus: 11.9% Nathan — Bus: 9.7%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 2.1%
Macgregor — Car (passenger): 6.6% Nathan — Car (passenger): 2.1%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.5%
Macgregor — Walked Only: 3.4% Nathan — Walked Only: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.4%).

Setting

Macgregor Nathan
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.5 km 14.7 km

NBN connectivity

Macgregor Nathan
Connectivity score 77/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
2,279 premises
 0%
465 premises

Climate

Macgregor Nathan
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)

Macgregor Nathan
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.99 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Macgregor Nathan
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Macgregor Nathan
Division Moreton
same for both
Member Julie-Ann Campbell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Macgregor Nathan
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Macgregor

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium River

Nathan

Easy Commute Middle-Ring River Students Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Macgregor

Macgregor vs Eight Mile Plains Macgregor vs Upper Mount Gravatt Macgregor vs Sunnybank Macgregor vs Robertson

Other comparisons with Nathan

Nathan vs Tarragindi Nathan vs Upper Mount Gravatt Nathan vs Salisbury Nathan vs Holland Park West Nathan vs Coopers Plains Nathan vs Robertson
Full data on Macgregor Full data on Nathan
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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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