Atherton vs Watsonville

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Atherton, about half of households are people living alone. In Watsonville, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Watsonville tends to suit people living alone and families with children.

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

Atherton

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Watsonville carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 90/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Atherton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 14%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 37%)

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

Commuting to the city

Atherton

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1180 min vs 1222 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1705.9 km vs 1713.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Atherton

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 7%)
  • But Watsonville carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Atherton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.4% vs -7.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Atherton Watsonville
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.

Atherton Watsonville
Walkability 88 / 0
Atherton — Walkability: 88/100 Watsonville — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 10 / 79
Atherton — Safety: 10/100 Watsonville — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 26 / 30
Atherton — Low fire risk: 26/100 Watsonville — Low fire risk: 30/100

Demographics

Atherton has more residents (7,724 vs 176); Atherton has higher household incomes ($57,148 vs $36,140).

Atherton Watsonville
Population 7,724
+98% vs other
 176
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% -7.9%
Median age 46 44
Median household income $57,148/yr
+37% vs other
 $36,140/yr
Median weekly rent $280/wk
+7% vs other
 $260/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Atherton Watsonville
0-4 4.5% / 5.7%
Atherton — 0-4: 4.5% Watsonville — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.4% / 15.3%
Atherton — 5-14: 12.4% Watsonville — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 6.1% / 7.4%
Atherton — 15-19: 6.1% Watsonville — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 4.6% / 3.4%
Atherton — 20-24: 4.6% Watsonville — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 11.6% / 6.8%
Atherton — 25-34: 11.6% Watsonville — 25-34: 6.8%
35-44 9.5% / 13.1%
Atherton — 35-44: 9.5% Watsonville — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 11.9% / 8.5%
Atherton — 45-54: 11.9% Watsonville — 45-54: 8.5%
55-64 12.3% / 17.0%
Atherton — 55-64: 12.3% Watsonville — 55-64: 17.0%
65-74 13.8% / 15.9%
Atherton — 65-74: 13.8% Watsonville — 65-74: 15.9%
75-84 9.0% / 5.1%
Atherton — 75-84: 9.0% Watsonville — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 4.3% / —
Atherton — 85+: 4.3% Watsonville — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Atherton 47.8% lone person
Atherton — Lone Person: 47.8% Atherton — Couple Families: 26.4% Atherton — One Parent Families: 18.9% Atherton — Group Household: 4.9% Atherton — Other Families: 2.0%
Watsonville 56.9% lone person
Watsonville — Lone Person: 56.9% Watsonville — Couple Families: 25.5% Watsonville — One Parent Families: 7.8% Watsonville — Group Household: 9.8% Watsonville — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Atherton 38.5% renting
Atherton — Owned Outright: 38.5% Atherton — Mortgage: 23.0% Atherton — Renting: 38.5%
Watsonville 14.3% renting
Watsonville — Owned Outright: 57.1% Watsonville — Mortgage: 28.6% Watsonville — Renting: 14.3%
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.

Atherton Watsonville
England 2.8% / 3.4%
Atherton — England: 2.8% Watsonville — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.9% / —
Atherton — New Zealand: 1.9% Watsonville — New Zealand: not among its largest
Italy 0.8% / —
Atherton — Italy: 0.8% Watsonville — Italy: not among its largest
Philippines 0.8% / —
Atherton — Philippines: 0.8% Watsonville — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 0.7% / —
Atherton — Germany: 0.7% Watsonville — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

Qualifications

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

Atherton Watsonville
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 21.6%
Atherton — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Watsonville — Certificate III & IV: 21.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 8.0%
Atherton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Watsonville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 6.2%
Atherton — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Watsonville — Bachelor Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.3%
Atherton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Watsonville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / —
Atherton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Watsonville — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Atherton 81.7% houses
Atherton — Houses: 81.7% Atherton — Townhouses: 9.6% Atherton — Flats / Apartments: 8.7%
Watsonville 98.2% houses
Watsonville — Houses: 98.2% Watsonville — Townhouses: 7.0% Watsonville — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Atherton Watsonville
Median house price $574,000 —
Median unit price $384,000 —
Median land price $687,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 94 sales
 —

Development activity

Atherton Watsonville
New dwellings approved 167
across Tablelands
 76
across Mareeba
Approvals change year on year -80% -23%

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.

Atherton Watsonville
Houses 3.7%
$510/wk on $722K
 —
Units 4.8%
$385/wk on $415K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Atherton Watsonville
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 19% of QLD Higher than 2% of QLD
Schools Higher than 65% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 63% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 51% of QLD Higher than 16% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 21% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 66% of QLD —

Liveability

Atherton is more walkable (88 vs 0).

Atherton Watsonville
Grade C —
Score 36/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Atherton carries more crime risk (90 vs 21).

Atherton Watsonville
Bushfire High
74/100
 High
70/100
Crime High
90/100
 Low
21/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Atherton Watsonville
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 3 0

Schools in Atherton

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Atherton State High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Atherton State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Jubilee Christian College Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Watsonville

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

Amenities in the suburb

Atherton Watsonville
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 12 0
Parks & reserves 15 2
Childcare 5 0
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 12 2

Mobility

Watsonville sits further from the CBD (1713.5 km vs 1705.9 km).

Atherton Watsonville
Walkability score 88/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 1705.9 km 1713.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1180 min 1222 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4883
 0.1%
postcode 4887
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 4883
 49
postcode 4887

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.

Atherton Watsonville
Car (driver) 75.2% / 68.6%
Atherton — Car (driver): 75.2% Watsonville — Car (driver): 68.6%
Car (passenger) 8.2% / 20.0%
Atherton — Car (passenger): 8.2% Watsonville — Car (passenger): 20.0%
Worked from Home 8.6% / 11.4%
Atherton — Worked from Home: 8.6% Watsonville — Worked from Home: 11.4%
Walked Only 6.0% / —
Atherton — Walked Only: 6.0% Watsonville — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 1.3% / —
Atherton — Bus: 1.3% Watsonville — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.2%).

Setting

Atherton Watsonville
Elevation 785 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 910 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Atherton Watsonville
Connectivity score 70/100 15/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
4,376 premises
 0%
83 premises

Climate

Atherton Watsonville
Annual rainfall 1,114 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.3°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 13.8°C
same for both

Council rates

Atherton Watsonville
Average residential rate $1,609/yr $1,628/yr
Council Tablelands Mareeba

Federal electorate

Atherton Watsonville
Division Kennedy
same for both
Member Bob Katter
same for both
Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Atherton Watsonville
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Atherton

Affordable Parks Retirees River

Watsonville

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Atherton

Atherton vs Tolga Atherton vs Kairi Atherton vs East Barron Atherton vs Wongabel Atherton vs Carrington

Other comparisons with Watsonville

Watsonville vs Tolga Watsonville vs Herberton Watsonville vs Mutchilba Watsonville vs Wongabel Watsonville vs Moomin Watsonville vs Carrington
Full data on Atherton Full data on Watsonville
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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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