Biggera Waters vs Runaway Bay

Biggera Waters is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 54 in Runaway Bay. In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Biggera Waters, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Runaway Bay, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Runaway Bay: a median of $1.84 million, against $1.24 million in Biggera Waters. On these figures, Biggera Waters tends to suit renters and buyers on a tighter budget, while Runaway Bay suits older residents.

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

Runaway Bay

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (45% vs 20%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Biggera Waters

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,240,000 vs $1,840,000)
  • has cheaper units ($785,000 vs $995,000)
  • But Runaway Bay has cheaper land ($1,220,000 vs $1,450,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Biggera Waters

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 26%)

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

Runaway Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (34% vs 22%)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 5)
  • carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Biggera Waters has more units and townhouses to downsize into (80% vs 55%)

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

Investors

Biggera Waters

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.9% vs 2.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 3.6%)
  • But Runaway Bay returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
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.

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Walkability 79 / 74
Biggera Waters — Walkability: 79/100 Runaway Bay — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 19 / 34
Biggera Waters — Safety: 19/100 Runaway Bay — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 100 / 52
Biggera Waters — Low fire risk: 100/100 Runaway Bay — Low fire risk: 52/100

Demographics

Runaway Bay skews older (54 vs 44).

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Population 9,973
+7% vs other
 9,308
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.9% +2.6%
Median age 44 54
Median household income $68,328/yr $71,864/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $435/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
0-4 3.9% / 3.2%
Biggera Waters — 0-4: 3.9% Runaway Bay — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 7.8% / 8.5%
Biggera Waters — 5-14: 7.8% Runaway Bay — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 4.7% / 4.6%
Biggera Waters — 15-19: 4.7% Runaway Bay — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 7.1% / 4.1%
Biggera Waters — 20-24: 7.1% Runaway Bay — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 15.6% / 7.0%
Biggera Waters — 25-34: 15.6% Runaway Bay — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 12.0% / 9.3%
Biggera Waters — 35-44: 12.0% Runaway Bay — 35-44: 9.3%
45-54 13.4% / 14.2%
Biggera Waters — 45-54: 13.4% Runaway Bay — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 13.7% / 15.3%
Biggera Waters — 55-64: 13.7% Runaway Bay — 55-64: 15.3%
65-74 12.3% / 16.6%
Biggera Waters — 65-74: 12.3% Runaway Bay — 65-74: 16.6%
75-84 6.8% / 12.7%
Biggera Waters — 75-84: 6.8% Runaway Bay — 75-84: 12.7%
85+ 2.7% / 4.5%
Biggera Waters — 85+: 2.7% Runaway Bay — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters 46.9% lone person
Biggera Waters — Lone Person: 46.9% Biggera Waters — Couple Families: 24.3% Biggera Waters — One Parent Families: 17.6% Biggera Waters — Group Household: 9.0% Biggera Waters — Other Families: 2.1%
Runaway Bay 45.8% lone person
Runaway Bay — Lone Person: 45.8% Runaway Bay — Couple Families: 32.0% Runaway Bay — One Parent Families: 15.0% Runaway Bay — Group Household: 5.7% Runaway Bay — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters 48.3% renting
Biggera Waters — Owned Outright: 26.9% Biggera Waters — Mortgage: 24.8% Biggera Waters — Renting: 48.3%
Runaway Bay 25.5% renting
Runaway Bay — Owned Outright: 45.3% Runaway Bay — Mortgage: 29.2% Runaway Bay — Renting: 25.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 16.3%
Biggera Waters — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Runaway Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 11.6%
Biggera Waters — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Runaway Bay — Bachelor Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 10.2%
Biggera Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Runaway Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 3.5%
Biggera Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Runaway Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.7%
Biggera Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Runaway Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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.

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
New Zealand 7.7% / 7.0%
Biggera Waters — New Zealand: 7.7% Runaway Bay — New Zealand: 7.0%
England 4.8% / 6.7%
Biggera Waters — England: 4.8% Runaway Bay — England: 6.7%
China 3.1% / 1.3%
Biggera Waters — China: 3.1% Runaway Bay — China: 1.3%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.3%
Biggera Waters — South Africa: 0.9% Runaway Bay — South Africa: 1.3%
Philippines 1.0% / 1.0%
Biggera Waters — Philippines: 1.0% Runaway Bay — Philippines: 1.0%
India 1.2% / —
Biggera Waters — India: 1.2% Runaway Bay — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters 60.9% flats / apartments
Biggera Waters — Flats / Apartments: 60.9% Biggera Waters — Houses: 20.4% Biggera Waters — Townhouses: 18.7%
Runaway Bay 28.3% flats / apartments
Runaway Bay — Flats / Apartments: 28.3% Runaway Bay — Houses: 45.3% Runaway Bay — Townhouses: 26.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Median house price $1,240,000 $1,840,000
Median unit price $785,000 $995,000
Median land price $1,450,000 $1,220,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 39 sales
 29 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.

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
3 bed $1.2M / $1.2M
Biggera Waters — 3 bed: $1.2M (29 sales) Runaway Bay — 3 bed: $1.2M (49 sales)

29 vs 49 sales

4 bed $1.74M / $1.93M
Biggera Waters — 4 bed: $1.74M (20 sales) Runaway Bay — 4 bed: $1.93M (52 sales)

20 vs 52 sales

5 bed $1.86M / $2.5M
Biggera Waters — 5 bed: $1.86M (5 sales) Runaway Bay — 5 bed: $2.5M (31 sales)

5 vs 31 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
1 bed $554K / $671K
Biggera Waters — 1 bed: $554K (30 sales) Runaway Bay — 1 bed: $671K (10 sales)

30 vs 10 sales

2 bed $778K / $930K
Biggera Waters — 2 bed: $778K (153 sales) Runaway Bay — 2 bed: $930K (58 sales)

153 vs 58 sales

3 bed $900K / $1.15M
Biggera Waters — 3 bed: $900K (54 sales) Runaway Bay — 3 bed: $1.15M (33 sales)

54 vs 33 sales

Development activity

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
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.

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Houses 3.0%
$865/wk on $1.49M
 4.1%
$1,228/wk on $1.55M
Units 4.7%
$760/wk on $849K
 3.6%
$750/wk on $1.09M

Ranking within QLD

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 35% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of QLD Higher than 13% of QLD

Liveability

Biggera Waters scores higher overall (54 vs 49).

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Grade B C
Score 54/100 49/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Runaway Bay carries more bushfire risk (48 vs 0); Biggera Waters carries more crime risk (81 vs 66).

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
48/100
Crime High
81/100
 Moderate
66/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
14/100
 High
87/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 4.8 km
 1
Gold Coast, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 1.4%

Schools in Biggera Waters

  • Biggera Waters State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Runaway Bay

  • St Francis Xavier School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Supermarkets 2 3
Cafes & restaurants 9 2
Parks & reserves 7 10
Childcare 2 5
GPs 5 7
Pharmacies 3 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 5
Fuel stations 0 5
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Walkability score 79/100 74/100
Distance to Brisbane 70.7 km 71.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 106.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 126.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4216
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 4216
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.

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Car (driver) 75.0% / 71.2%
Biggera Waters — Car (driver): 75.0% Runaway Bay — Car (driver): 71.2%
Worked from Home 13.3% / 20.4%
Biggera Waters — Worked from Home: 13.3% Runaway Bay — Worked from Home: 20.4%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.3%
Biggera Waters — Car (passenger): 5.1% Runaway Bay — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Walked Only 2.8% / 1.9%
Biggera Waters — Walked Only: 2.8% Runaway Bay — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 1.6% / 0.9%
Biggera Waters — Bus: 1.6% Runaway Bay — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.0%).

Setting

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km
1.9 km to a named beach
 474 m
3.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
4,819 premises
 17%
5,073 premises

Climate

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
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)

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Division Fadden
same for both
Member Cameron Caldwell
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Biggera Waters Runaway Bay
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Biggera Waters

Apartments Coastal Parks Regional Centre Urban

Runaway Bay

Coastal Parks Premium Regional Centre Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Biggera Waters

Biggera Waters vs Labrador Biggera Waters vs Arundel Biggera Waters vs Coombabah Biggera Waters vs Main Beach Biggera Waters vs South Stradbroke

Other comparisons with Runaway Bay

Runaway Bay vs Coombabah Runaway Bay vs Hollywell Runaway Bay vs South Stradbroke
Full data on Biggera Waters Full data on Runaway Bay
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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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