Balnagowan vs Pleystowe

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Balnagowan, most households are couple families. In Pleystowe, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Balnagowan: a median of $1.24 million, against $790,000 in Pleystowe, though rent is higher in Pleystowe. On these figures, Balnagowan tends to suit couples, while Pleystowe suits 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

Balnagowan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (84% vs 67%)

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

First-home buyers

Pleystowe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($790,000 vs $1,240,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Balnagowan has cheaper rent ($275/wk vs $303/wk)
  • Pleystowe has a bigger rental market to choose from (18% vs 8%)

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

Commuting to the city

Pleystowe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (977 km vs 980.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Pleystowe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 11%)

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

Investors

Pleystowe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.7% vs 4.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Balnagowan Pleystowe
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.

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Walkability 0 / 0
Balnagowan — Walkability: 0/100 Pleystowe — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 59 / 62
Balnagowan — Safety: 59/100 Pleystowe — Safety: 62/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balnagowan — Low fire risk: 100/100 Pleystowe — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balnagowan has higher household incomes ($143,000 vs $106,600); Pleystowe rents higher ($303/wk vs $275/wk).

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Population 438
+5% vs other
 418
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +12.7%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $143,000/yr
+25% vs other
 $106,600/yr
Median weekly rent $275/wk $303/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balnagowan Pleystowe
0-4 5.0% / 6.2%
Balnagowan — 0-4: 5.0% Pleystowe — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 17.1% / 15.3%
Balnagowan — 5-14: 17.1% Pleystowe — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 11.2% / 5.7%
Balnagowan — 15-19: 11.2% Pleystowe — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 3.7% / 4.1%
Balnagowan — 20-24: 3.7% Pleystowe — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 8.7% / 10.5%
Balnagowan — 25-34: 8.7% Pleystowe — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 14.4% / 13.2%
Balnagowan — 35-44: 14.4% Pleystowe — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 17.8% / 12.7%
Balnagowan — 45-54: 17.8% Pleystowe — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 11.6% / 15.1%
Balnagowan — 55-64: 11.6% Pleystowe — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 8.9% / 9.3%
Balnagowan — 65-74: 8.9% Pleystowe — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 2.3% / 6.0%
Balnagowan — 75-84: 2.3% Pleystowe — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ — / 1.4%
Balnagowan — 85+: not among its largest Pleystowe — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balnagowan 71.3% couple families
Balnagowan — Couple Families: 71.3% Balnagowan — Lone Person: 16.0% Balnagowan — One Parent Families: 12.8% Balnagowan — Other Families: 0.0%
Pleystowe 53.7% couple families
Pleystowe — Couple Families: 53.7% Pleystowe — Lone Person: 28.4% Pleystowe — One Parent Families: 13.7% Pleystowe — Other Families: 4.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balnagowan 7.8% renting
Balnagowan — Owned Outright: 37.2% Balnagowan — Mortgage: 55.0% Balnagowan — Renting: 7.8%
Pleystowe 18.5% renting
Pleystowe — Owned Outright: 40.0% Pleystowe — Mortgage: 41.5% Pleystowe — Renting: 18.5%
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.

Balnagowan Pleystowe
New Zealand 2.7% / 1.7%
Balnagowan — New Zealand: 2.7% Pleystowe — New Zealand: 1.7%
South Africa 2.1% / 2.2%
Balnagowan — South Africa: 2.1% Pleystowe — South Africa: 2.2%
England 0.7% / 1.0%
Balnagowan — England: 0.7% Pleystowe — England: 1.0%
Scotland — / 1.2%
Balnagowan — Scotland: not among its largest Pleystowe — Scotland: 1.2%
Fiji — / 0.7%
Balnagowan — Fiji: not among its largest Pleystowe — Fiji: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

Qualifications

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

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 23.0%
Balnagowan — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Pleystowe — Certificate III & IV: 23.0%
Bachelor Degree 6.2% / 8.1%
Balnagowan — Bachelor Degree: 6.2% Pleystowe — Bachelor Degree: 8.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.9% / 5.3%
Balnagowan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9% Pleystowe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.0%
Balnagowan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Pleystowe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree — / 0.7%
Balnagowan — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Pleystowe — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balnagowan 100.0% houses
Balnagowan — Houses: 100.0%
Pleystowe 100.8% houses
Pleystowe — Houses: 100.8%
Houses

Property market

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Median house price $1,240,500 $790,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Development activity

Balnagowan Pleystowe
New dwellings approved 574
across Mackay
same for both
Approvals change year on year -6%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Balnagowan Pleystowe
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 26% of QLD Higher than 35% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 40% of QLD Higher than 9% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 55% of QLD Higher than 57% of QLD

Liveability

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Low
38/100
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

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Parks & reserves 1 0
Waterways 15 3

Mobility

Balnagowan sits further from the CBD (980.6 km vs 977 km).

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 980.6 km 977 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 674 min 670 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4740
 0.1%
postcode 4741
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 4740
 70
postcode 4741

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.

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Car (driver) 77.7% / 89.8%
Balnagowan — Car (driver): 77.7% Pleystowe — Car (driver): 89.8%
Worked from Home 11.7% / 4.8%
Balnagowan — Worked from Home: 11.7% Pleystowe — Worked from Home: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.4%
Balnagowan — Car (passenger): 5.3% Pleystowe — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 2.9% / —
Balnagowan — Walked Only: 2.9% Pleystowe — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 2.4% / —
Balnagowan — Bus: 2.4% Pleystowe — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (89.8%).

Setting

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.3 km 17.4 km

NBN connectivity

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
152 premises
 0%
169 premises

Climate

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Annual rainfall 1,517 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Balnagowan Pleystowe
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Average residential rate $1,873/yr
same for both
Council Mackay
same for both

Federal electorate

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Division Dawson Capricornia
Member Andrew Willcox Michelle Landry
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balnagowan Pleystowe
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balnagowan

Family River Rural

Pleystowe

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balnagowan

Balnagowan vs Marian Balnagowan vs Walkerston Balnagowan vs Farleigh Balnagowan vs The Leap Balnagowan vs Hampden Balnagowan vs Dumbleton

Other comparisons with Pleystowe

Pleystowe vs Marian Pleystowe vs Walkerston Pleystowe vs Greenmount
Full data on Balnagowan Full data on Pleystowe
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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