Arundel vs Coombabah

Arundel is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 51 in Coombabah. In both, most households own their home. In Arundel, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In Coombabah, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Arundel: a median of $1.26 million, against $1 million in Coombabah, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Arundel tends to suit couples, while Coombabah suits people living alone, older residents, 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

Arundel

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 49%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 44%)
  • But Coombabah carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 61/100)

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

First-home buyers

Coombabah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,000,000 vs $1,260,000)
  • has cheaper units ($700,000 vs $778,500)
  • But Arundel leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 35%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Arundel leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 38%)
  • Coombabah has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $470/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Arundel

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (53 min vs 60 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Coombabah

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 17%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 20%)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 61/100)
  • But Arundel is more walkable (58/100 vs 10/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Arundel is growing faster (9.0% vs -0.9%)
  • Coombabah returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.2% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Arundel Coombabah
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.

Arundel Coombabah
Walkability 58 / 10
Arundel — Walkability: 58/100 Coombabah — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 39 / 60
Arundel — Safety: 39/100 Coombabah — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Arundel — Low fire risk: 100/100 Coombabah — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Arundel has higher household incomes ($87,464 vs $56,784); Coombabah skews older (51 vs 41).

Arundel Coombabah
Population 11,171
+8% vs other
 10,298
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.0% -0.9%
Median age 41 51
Median household income $87,464/yr
+35% vs other
 $56,784/yr
Median weekly rent $470/wk
+12% vs other
 $415/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Arundel Coombabah
0-4 5.2% / 3.8%
Arundel — 0-4: 5.2% Coombabah — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 11.8% / 10.0%
Arundel — 5-14: 11.8% Coombabah — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 5.8% / 4.1%
Arundel — 15-19: 5.8% Coombabah — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 6.8% / 4.0%
Arundel — 20-24: 6.8% Coombabah — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 11.8% / 9.7%
Arundel — 25-34: 11.8% Coombabah — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 12.8% / 11.0%
Arundel — 35-44: 12.8% Coombabah — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 13.2% / 11.4%
Arundel — 45-54: 13.2% Coombabah — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 12.2% / 12.7%
Arundel — 55-64: 12.2% Coombabah — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 10.6% / 16.5%
Arundel — 65-74: 10.6% Coombabah — 65-74: 16.5%
75-84 7.4% / 12.6%
Arundel — 75-84: 7.4% Coombabah — 75-84: 12.6%
85+ 2.2% / 4.3%
Arundel — 85+: 2.2% Coombabah — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Arundel 25.9% lone person
Arundel — Lone Person: 25.9% Arundel — Couple Families: 47.6% Arundel — One Parent Families: 19.1% Arundel — Group Household: 5.9% Arundel — Other Families: 1.5%
Coombabah 49.3% lone person
Coombabah — Lone Person: 49.3% Coombabah — Couple Families: 26.1% Coombabah — One Parent Families: 17.8% Coombabah — Group Household: 5.4% Coombabah — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Arundel 28.4% renting
Arundel — Owned Outright: 34.2% Arundel — Mortgage: 37.4% Arundel — Renting: 28.4%
Coombabah 28.9% renting
Coombabah — Owned Outright: 43.0% Coombabah — Mortgage: 28.1% Coombabah — Renting: 28.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Arundel Coombabah
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 17.4%
Arundel — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% Coombabah — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 7.9%
Arundel — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Coombabah — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 9.0%
Arundel — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Coombabah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 2.3%
Arundel — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Coombabah — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.4%
Arundel — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Coombabah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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.

Arundel Coombabah
New Zealand 8.0% / 9.1%
Arundel — New Zealand: 8.0% Coombabah — New Zealand: 9.1%
England 5.3% / 7.3%
Arundel — England: 5.3% Coombabah — England: 7.3%
China 3.1% / 1.1%
Arundel — China: 3.1% Coombabah — China: 1.1%
Philippines 1.5% / 1.2%
Arundel — Philippines: 1.5% Coombabah — Philippines: 1.2%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.2%
Arundel — South Africa: 1.4% Coombabah — South Africa: 1.2%
India 1.9% / 0.5%
Arundel — India: 1.9% Coombabah — India: 0.5%
Scotland 0.7% / 1.1%
Arundel — Scotland: 0.7% Coombabah — Scotland: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Arundel 82.7% houses
Arundel — Houses: 82.7% Arundel — Townhouses: 16.1% Arundel — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Coombabah 49.3% houses
Coombabah — Houses: 49.3% Coombabah — Townhouses: 41.6% Coombabah — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Arundel Coombabah
Median house price $1,260,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price $778,500 $700,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 103 sales
 34 days
from 91 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.

Arundel Coombabah
2 bed $830K / $707K
Arundel — 2 bed: $830K (5 sales) Coombabah — 2 bed: $707K (20 sales)

5 vs 20 sales

3 bed $990K / $1M
Arundel — 3 bed: $990K (58 sales) Coombabah — 3 bed: $1M (111 sales)

58 vs 111 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.24M
Arundel — 4 bed: $1.3M (98 sales) Coombabah — 4 bed: $1.24M (50 sales)

98 vs 50 sales

5 bed $1.63M / $1.08M
Arundel — 5 bed: $1.63M (30 sales) Coombabah — 5 bed: $1.08M (5 sales)

30 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Arundel Coombabah
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
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.

Arundel Coombabah
Houses 3.8%
$880/wk on $1.2M
 5.2%
$850/wk on $854K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Arundel Coombabah
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of QLD Higher than 19% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD

Liveability

Arundel is more walkable (58 vs 10); Arundel scores higher overall (63 vs 53).

Arundel Coombabah
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 53/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Arundel carries more crime risk (61 vs 40).

Arundel Coombabah
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
61/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Arundel Coombabah
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 5.5 km
 1
Gold Coast, 7.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 1.0%

Schools in Arundel

  • A B Paterson College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Arundel State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Coombabah

  • Coombabah State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Coombabah State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Arundel Coombabah
Parks & reserves 16 15
Childcare 6 4
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 7 4

Mobility

Arundel Coombabah
Walkability score 58/100 10/100
Distance to Brisbane 67.4 km 68.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 53 min 60 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 115.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 126.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 4214
 1.4%
postcode 4216
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 4214
 44
postcode 4216

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.

Arundel Coombabah
Car (driver) 75.0% / 78.7%
Arundel — Car (driver): 75.0% Coombabah — Car (driver): 78.7%
Worked from Home 13.8% / 12.1%
Arundel — Worked from Home: 13.8% Coombabah — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 5.1%
Arundel — Car (passenger): 5.7% Coombabah — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 1.6% / 1.4%
Arundel — Walked Only: 1.6% Coombabah — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 1.4% / 1.3%
Arundel — Bus: 1.4% Coombabah — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.7%).

Setting

Arundel Coombabah
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.4 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 3.4 km

NBN connectivity

Arundel Coombabah
Connectivity score 86/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
5,473 premises
 23%
5,177 premises

Climate

Arundel Coombabah
Annual rainfall 1,351 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Arundel Coombabah
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 19.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.91 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Arundel Coombabah
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Arundel Coombabah
Division Fadden
same for both
Member Cameron Caldwell
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Arundel Coombabah
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Arundel

Parks Regional Centre Trams

Coombabah

Regional Centre Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Arundel

Arundel vs Southport Arundel vs Helensvale Arundel vs Labrador Arundel vs Biggera Waters Arundel vs Parkwood Arundel vs Molendinar

Other comparisons with Coombabah

Coombabah vs Helensvale Coombabah vs Biggera Waters Coombabah vs Runaway Bay Coombabah vs Paradise Point Coombabah vs Hollywell
Full data on Arundel Full data on Coombabah
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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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