Algester vs Calamvale

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Algester, about half of households are couple families. In Calamvale, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Calamvale: a median of $1.36 million, against $1.1 million in Algester. On these figures, Algester tends to suit 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

Algester

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 57/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (81% vs 64%)
  • But Calamvale has more parks and reserves (28 vs 11)

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

First-home buyers

Algester

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($899,000 vs $1,391,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $1,357,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

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

Calamvale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (36% vs 19%)
  • But Algester carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 57/100)

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

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

Algester Calamvale
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.

Algester Calamvale
Walkability 75 / 75
Algester — Walkability: 75/100 Calamvale — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 55 / 43
Algester — Safety: 55/100 Calamvale — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Algester — Low fire risk: 100/100 Calamvale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Calamvale has more residents (17,994 vs 9,020); Algester skews older (36 vs 34).

Algester Calamvale
Population 9,020 17,994
+99% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.0% +5.1%
Median age 36 34
Median household income $89,232/yr $97,448/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $395/wk $410/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Algester Calamvale
0-4 7.1% / 7.1%
Algester — 0-4: 7.1% Calamvale — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 14.6% / 14.6%
Algester — 5-14: 14.6% Calamvale — 5-14: 14.6%
15-19 5.3% / 5.8%
Algester — 15-19: 5.3% Calamvale — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.4% / 6.0%
Algester — 20-24: 5.4% Calamvale — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 14.7% / 16.8%
Algester — 25-34: 14.7% Calamvale — 25-34: 16.8%
35-44 17.2% / 18.1%
Algester — 35-44: 17.2% Calamvale — 35-44: 18.1%
45-54 11.1% / 11.4%
Algester — 45-54: 11.1% Calamvale — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 9.2% / 9.1%
Algester — 55-64: 9.2% Calamvale — 55-64: 9.1%
65-74 9.5% / 7.4%
Algester — 65-74: 9.5% Calamvale — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 4.6% / 2.8%
Algester — 75-84: 4.6% Calamvale — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 1.3% / 0.9%
Algester — 85+: 1.3% Calamvale — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Algester 49.9% couple families
Algester — Couple Families: 49.9% Algester — Lone Person: 24.0% Algester — One Parent Families: 19.3% Algester — Group Household: 5.1% Algester — Other Families: 1.7%
Calamvale 57.5% couple families
Calamvale — Couple Families: 57.5% Calamvale — Lone Person: 18.1% Calamvale — One Parent Families: 18.3% Calamvale — Group Household: 4.6% Calamvale — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Algester 31.1% renting
Algester — Owned Outright: 27.2% Algester — Mortgage: 41.7% Algester — Renting: 31.1%
Calamvale 35.1% renting
Calamvale — Owned Outright: 25.2% Calamvale — Mortgage: 39.6% Calamvale — Renting: 35.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Algester Calamvale
Bachelor Degree 13.3% / 18.7%
Algester — Bachelor Degree: 13.3% Calamvale — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 13.1% / 8.3%
Algester — Certificate III & IV: 13.1% Calamvale — Certificate III & IV: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.1%
Algester — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Calamvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 8.4%
Algester — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Calamvale — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.7%
Algester — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Calamvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

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.

Algester Calamvale
China 5.8% / 13.6%
Algester — China: 5.8% Calamvale — China: 13.6%
India 4.4% / 5.9%
Algester — India: 4.4% Calamvale — India: 5.9%
New Zealand 4.9% / 3.8%
Algester — New Zealand: 4.9% Calamvale — New Zealand: 3.8%
Taiwan 1.6% / 4.1%
Algester — Taiwan: 1.6% Calamvale — Taiwan: 4.1%
England 2.8% / 1.5%
Algester — England: 2.8% Calamvale — England: 1.5%
Philippines 2.0% / 2.2%
Algester — Philippines: 2.0% Calamvale — Philippines: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Algester 80.8% houses
Algester — Houses: 80.8% Algester — Townhouses: 16.3% Algester — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Calamvale 63.8% houses
Calamvale — Houses: 63.8% Calamvale — Townhouses: 35.9% Calamvale — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Algester Calamvale
Median house price $1,100,000 $1,357,500
Median unit price $725,000 $708,000
Median land price $899,000 $1,391,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 94 sales
 24 days
from 142 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.

Algester Calamvale
3 bed $970K / $961K
Algester — 3 bed: $970K (59 sales) Calamvale — 3 bed: $961K (32 sales)

59 vs 32 sales

4 bed $1.15M / $1.35M
Algester — 4 bed: $1.15M (62 sales) Calamvale — 4 bed: $1.35M (98 sales)

62 vs 98 sales

5 bed $1.3M / $1.62M
Algester — 5 bed: $1.3M (28 sales) Calamvale — 5 bed: $1.62M (38 sales)

28 vs 38 sales

Development activity

Algester Calamvale
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.

Algester Calamvale
Houses 3.8%
$770/wk on $1.05M
 4.1%
$750/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Algester Calamvale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 44% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD

Liveability

Algester scores higher overall (72 vs 61).

Algester Calamvale
Grade A B
Score 72/100 61/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Calamvale carries more crime risk (57 vs 45).

Algester Calamvale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
45/100
 Moderate
57/100
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
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Algester Calamvale
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 7.4 km
 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 8.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.6% 2.8%

Schools in Algester

  • Algester State School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Stephen's School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Calamvale

  • Calamvale Community College Government · Combined below peers
  • Wisdom College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Calamvale Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Algester Calamvale
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 1 11
Parks & reserves 11 28
Childcare 5 11
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 0 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 2

Mobility

Algester Calamvale
Walkability score 75/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 21.2 km
+6% vs other
 19.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 26 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 110.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 203.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 4115
 2.9%
postcode 4116
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 80
postcode 4115
 74
postcode 4116

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.

Algester Calamvale
Car (driver) 70.8% / 69.2%
Algester — Car (driver): 70.8% Calamvale — Car (driver): 69.2%
Worked from Home 16.5% / 15.6%
Algester — Worked from Home: 16.5% Calamvale — Worked from Home: 15.6%
Bus 5.9% / 7.2%
Algester — Bus: 5.9% Calamvale — Bus: 7.2%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 6.1%
Algester — Car (passenger): 5.0% Calamvale — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Train 0.8% / 1.1%
Algester — Train: 0.8% Calamvale — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.8%).

Setting

Algester Calamvale
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.0 km 21.8 km

NBN connectivity

Algester Calamvale
Connectivity score 99/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 98%
3,619 premises
 87%
6,828 premises

Climate

Algester Calamvale
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)

Algester Calamvale
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³ 5.3 µg/m³
PM10 17.3 µg/m³ 14.6 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.99 pphm 0.48 pphm

Council rates

Algester Calamvale
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Algester Calamvale
Division Rankin
same for both
Member Jim Chalmers
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Algester Calamvale
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Algester

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Quiet

Calamvale

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Algester

Algester vs Sunnybank Hills Algester vs Parkinson Algester vs Acacia Ridge Algester vs Pallara Algester vs Willawong

Other comparisons with Calamvale

Calamvale vs Sunnybank Hills Calamvale vs Runcorn Calamvale vs Parkinson Calamvale vs Drewvale Calamvale vs Stretton
Full data on Algester Full data on Calamvale
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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