Bowen Hills vs Albion

Bowen Hills is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 33 in Albion. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Albion: a median of $784,000, against $686,000 in Bowen Hills. On these figures, Bowen Hills tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Albion

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (22% vs 3%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (24% vs 12%)
  • But Bowen Hills has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Bowen Hills has cheaper units ($686,000 vs $784,000)
  • Albion has cheaper houses ($1,367,500 vs $2,200,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bowen Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (84% vs 64%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bowen Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 84/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Bowen Hills

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (97% vs 78%)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 84/100)
  • But Albion has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 4%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bowen Hills Albion
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.

Bowen Hills Albion
Walkability 94 / 84
Bowen Hills — Walkability: 94/100 Albion — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 9 / 17
Bowen Hills — Safety: 9/100 Albion — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bowen Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100 Albion — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bowen Hills has more residents (4,898 vs 3,446); Albion has higher household incomes ($102,544 vs $80,652).

Bowen Hills Albion
Population 4,898
+30% vs other
 3,446
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +51.8% +50.1%
Median age 30 33
Median household income $80,652/yr $102,544/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $410/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bowen Hills Albion
0-4 2.2% / 3.6%
Bowen Hills — 0-4: 2.2% Albion — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 2.3% / 5.5%
Bowen Hills — 5-14: 2.3% Albion — 5-14: 5.5%
15-19 2.5% / 3.0%
Bowen Hills — 15-19: 2.5% Albion — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 18.1% / 10.4%
Bowen Hills — 20-24: 18.1% Albion — 20-24: 10.4%
25-34 40.9% / 30.8%
Bowen Hills — 25-34: 40.9% Albion — 25-34: 30.8%
35-44 16.5% / 14.8%
Bowen Hills — 35-44: 16.5% Albion — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 8.0% / 10.7%
Bowen Hills — 45-54: 8.0% Albion — 45-54: 10.7%
55-64 5.3% / 7.7%
Bowen Hills — 55-64: 5.3% Albion — 55-64: 7.7%
65-74 2.8% / 5.8%
Bowen Hills — 65-74: 2.8% Albion — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 1.1% / 5.0%
Bowen Hills — 75-84: 1.1% Albion — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 0.2% / 2.6%
Bowen Hills — 85+: 0.2% Albion — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (40.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bowen Hills 68.3% lone person
Bowen Hills — Lone Person: 68.3% Bowen Hills — Group Household: 17.4% Bowen Hills — Couple Families: 7.4% Bowen Hills — One Parent Families: 4.6% Bowen Hills — Other Families: 2.3%
Albion 57.8% lone person
Albion — Lone Person: 57.8% Albion — Group Household: 14.5% Albion — Couple Families: 15.7% Albion — One Parent Families: 8.5% Albion — Other Families: 3.5%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bowen Hills 83.5% renting
Bowen Hills — Owned Outright: 4.7% Bowen Hills — Mortgage: 11.8% Bowen Hills — Renting: 83.5%
Albion 64.2% renting
Albion — Owned Outright: 14.4% Albion — Mortgage: 21.4% Albion — Renting: 64.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bowen Hills Albion
Bachelor Degree 28.6% / 26.8%
Bowen Hills — Bachelor Degree: 28.6% Albion — Bachelor Degree: 26.8%
Certificate III & IV 11.0% / 11.7%
Bowen Hills — Certificate III & IV: 11.0% Albion — Certificate III & IV: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 9.6%
Bowen Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Albion — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 7.0%
Bowen Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Albion — Postgraduate Degree: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.4%
Bowen Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Albion — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.6%).

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.

Bowen Hills Albion
New Zealand 3.6% / 4.2%
Bowen Hills — New Zealand: 3.6% Albion — New Zealand: 4.2%
England 3.1% / 4.3%
Bowen Hills — England: 3.1% Albion — England: 4.3%
India 2.9% / 1.4%
Bowen Hills — India: 2.9% Albion — India: 1.4%
Brazil 2.4% / 1.3%
Bowen Hills — Brazil: 2.4% Albion — Brazil: 1.3%
Philippines 1.8% / 1.4%
Bowen Hills — Philippines: 1.8% Albion — Philippines: 1.4%
China 2.1% / 1.0%
Bowen Hills — China: 2.1% Albion — China: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bowen Hills 94.6% flats / apartments
Bowen Hills — Flats / Apartments: 94.6% Bowen Hills — Houses: 3.0% Bowen Hills — Townhouses: 2.4%
Albion 74.4% flats / apartments
Albion — Flats / Apartments: 74.4% Albion — Houses: 22.2% Albion — Townhouses: 3.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Bowen Hills Albion
Median house price $2,200,000 $1,367,500
Median unit price $686,000 $784,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 3 sales
 18 days
from 20 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.

Bowen Hills Albion
1 bed $585K / $658K
Bowen Hills — 1 bed: $585K (105 sales) Albion — 1 bed: $658K (34 sales)

105 vs 34 sales

2 bed $759K / $820K
Bowen Hills — 2 bed: $759K (111 sales) Albion — 2 bed: $820K (65 sales)

111 vs 65 sales

3 bed $820K / $1.01M
Bowen Hills — 3 bed: $820K (14 sales) Albion — 3 bed: $1.01M (11 sales)

14 vs 11 sales

Development activity

Bowen Hills Albion
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

Bowen Hills Albion
Houses — 3.9%
$900/wk on $1.19M
Units 5.6%
$730/wk on $682K
 5.2%
$750/wk on $754K

Ranking within QLD

Bowen Hills Albion
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 51% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 51% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD

Liveability

Bowen Hills is more walkable (94 vs 84); Albion scores higher overall (73 vs 68).

Bowen Hills Albion
Grade A
same for both
Score 68/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Bowen Hills Albion
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 High
83/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Bowen Hills Albion
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
Universities within 10 km 3
90 Bowen Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, 1.3 km
 3
90 Bowen Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.2% 3.7%

Amenities in the suburb

Bowen Hills Albion
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 9 23
Parks & reserves 5 4
Childcare 4 0
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Bowen Hills Albion
Walkability score 94/100 84/100
Distance to Brisbane 5.1 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 11 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Bus
 90/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 144.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 82.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.6%
postcode 4006
 1.9%
postcode 4010
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 4006
 15
postcode 4010

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.

Bowen Hills Albion
Car (driver) 35.4% / 52.8%
Bowen Hills — Car (driver): 35.4% Albion — Car (driver): 52.8%
Worked from Home 21.7% / 23.9%
Bowen Hills — Worked from Home: 21.7% Albion — Worked from Home: 23.9%
Train 13.5% / 11.7%
Bowen Hills — Train: 13.5% Albion — Train: 11.7%
Walked Only 19.1% / 4.3%
Bowen Hills — Walked Only: 19.1% Albion — Walked Only: 4.3%
Bus 5.8% / 2.9%
Bowen Hills — Bus: 5.8% Albion — Bus: 2.9%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.3%
Bowen Hills — Car (passenger): 3.2% Albion — Car (passenger): 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.8%).

Setting

Bowen Hills Albion
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.4 km
2.8 km to a named beach
 7.5 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bowen Hills Albion
Connectivity score 84/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
3,820 premises
 53%
2,532 premises

Climate

Bowen Hills Albion
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bowen Hills Albion
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bowen Hills Albion
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Bowen Hills Albion
Division Brisbane
same for both
Member Madonna Jarrett
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bowen Hills Albion
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bowen Hills

Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals River Students Trains Transport Hub

Albion

Apartments Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bowen Hills

Bowen Hills vs Fortitude Valley Bowen Hills vs Windsor Bowen Hills vs Newstead Bowen Hills vs Spring Hill Bowen Hills vs Herston

Other comparisons with Albion

Albion vs Clayfield Albion vs Hamilton Albion vs Windsor Albion vs Newstead Albion vs Ascot Albion vs Lutwyche
Full data on Bowen Hills Full data on Albion
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or