Arundel vs Molendinar

Molendinar is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 41 in Arundel. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families.

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 childcare (6 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

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

Arundel

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 43/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (67.4 km vs 69.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Arundel

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 43/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Arundel

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.0% vs 1.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Arundel and Molendinar 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 Molendinar
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 Molendinar
Walkability 58 / 43
Arundel — Walkability: 58/100 Molendinar — Walkability: 43/100
Safety 39 / 20
Arundel — Safety: 39/100 Molendinar — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Arundel — Low fire risk: 100/100 Molendinar — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Arundel has more residents (11,171 vs 6,450); Arundel skews older (41 vs 37).

Arundel Molendinar
Population 11,171
+42% vs other
 6,450
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.0% +1.2%
Median age 41 37
Median household income $87,464/yr $91,884/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $470/wk
+4% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Arundel Molendinar
0-4 5.2% / 5.5%
Arundel — 0-4: 5.2% Molendinar — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 11.8% / 13.3%
Arundel — 5-14: 11.8% Molendinar — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 5.8% / 7.5%
Arundel — 15-19: 5.8% Molendinar — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 6.8% / 7.3%
Arundel — 20-24: 6.8% Molendinar — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 11.8% / 12.5%
Arundel — 25-34: 11.8% Molendinar — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 12.8% / 14.1%
Arundel — 35-44: 12.8% Molendinar — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 13.2% / 15.3%
Arundel — 45-54: 13.2% Molendinar — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 12.2% / 11.8%
Arundel — 55-64: 12.2% Molendinar — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 10.6% / 8.2%
Arundel — 65-74: 10.6% Molendinar — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 7.4% / 3.8%
Arundel — 75-84: 7.4% Molendinar — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 2.2% / 0.9%
Arundel — 85+: 2.2% Molendinar — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Arundel 47.6% couple families
Arundel — Couple Families: 47.6% Arundel — Lone Person: 25.9% Arundel — One Parent Families: 19.1% Arundel — Group Household: 5.9% Arundel — Other Families: 1.5%
Molendinar 50.6% couple families
Molendinar — Couple Families: 50.6% Molendinar — Lone Person: 19.1% Molendinar — One Parent Families: 21.0% Molendinar — Group Household: 8.3% Molendinar — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Molendinar 35.5% renting
Molendinar — Owned Outright: 23.1% Molendinar — Mortgage: 41.4% Molendinar — Renting: 35.5%
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.

Arundel Molendinar
New Zealand 8.0% / 6.8%
Arundel — New Zealand: 8.0% Molendinar — New Zealand: 6.8%
England 5.3% / 3.2%
Arundel — England: 5.3% Molendinar — England: 3.2%
China 3.1% / 4.6%
Arundel — China: 3.1% Molendinar — China: 4.6%
India 1.9% / 2.0%
Arundel — India: 1.9% Molendinar — India: 2.0%
Philippines 1.5% / 1.8%
Arundel — Philippines: 1.5% Molendinar — Philippines: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

Qualifications

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

Arundel Molendinar
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 14.8%
Arundel — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% Molendinar — Certificate III & IV: 14.8%
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 12.5%
Arundel — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Molendinar — Bachelor Degree: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.4%
Arundel — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Molendinar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 4.0%
Arundel — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Molendinar — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.6%
Arundel — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Molendinar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

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%
Molendinar 84.3% houses
Molendinar — Houses: 84.3% Molendinar — Townhouses: 15.4% Molendinar — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Arundel Molendinar
Median house price $1,260,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $778,500 $830,000
Median land price — $1,575,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 103 sales
 38 days
from 25 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 Molendinar
3 bed $990K / $942K
Arundel — 3 bed: $990K (58 sales) Molendinar — 3 bed: $942K (23 sales)

58 vs 23 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.24M
Arundel — 4 bed: $1.3M (98 sales) Molendinar — 4 bed: $1.24M (24 sales)

98 vs 24 sales

5 bed $1.63M / $1.36M
Arundel — 5 bed: $1.63M (30 sales) Molendinar — 5 bed: $1.36M (8 sales)

30 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Arundel Molendinar
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 Molendinar
Houses 3.8%
$880/wk on $1.2M
 4.2%
$1,050/wk on $1.3M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Arundel Molendinar
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of QLD Higher than 65% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 64% of QLD

Liveability

Arundel is more walkable (58 vs 43); Arundel scores higher overall (63 vs 51).

Arundel Molendinar
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 51/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
same for both

Risk profile

Molendinar carries more crime risk (80 vs 61).

Arundel Molendinar
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
61/100
 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 8
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Arundel Molendinar
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 5.5 km
 1
Gold Coast, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 2.9%

Schools in Arundel

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

Schools in Molendinar

  • Trinity Lutheran College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Arundel Molendinar
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 16 14
Childcare 6 2
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 2 3
Waterways 7 3

Mobility

Molendinar sits further from the CBD (69.8 km vs 67.4 km).

Arundel Molendinar
Walkability score 58/100 43/100
Distance to Brisbane 67.4 km 69.8 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 53 min 54 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 115.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 4214
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 4214
same for both

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 Molendinar
Car (driver) 75.0% / 77.2%
Arundel — Car (driver): 75.0% Molendinar — Car (driver): 77.2%
Worked from Home 13.8% / 11.4%
Arundel — Worked from Home: 13.8% Molendinar — Worked from Home: 11.4%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 7.7%
Arundel — Car (passenger): 5.7% Molendinar — Car (passenger): 7.7%
Walked Only 1.6% / 1.0%
Arundel — Walked Only: 1.6% Molendinar — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.4% / 0.9%
Arundel — Bus: 1.4% Molendinar — Bus: 0.9%
Train 1.3% / 0.9%
Arundel — Train: 1.3% Molendinar — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.2%).

Setting

Arundel Molendinar
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.4 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 5.3 km

NBN connectivity

Arundel Molendinar
Connectivity score 86/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
5,473 premises
 24%
3,613 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Arundel Molendinar
Division Fadden Moncrieff
Member Cameron Caldwell Angie Bell
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Arundel Molendinar
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

Molendinar

Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Arundel

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

Other comparisons with Molendinar

Molendinar vs Southport Molendinar vs Nerang Molendinar vs Ashmore Molendinar vs Parkwood Molendinar vs Gaven
Full data on Arundel Full data on Molendinar
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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