Bracken Ridge vs Bald Hills

In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Bald Hills is closer to the city centre: 20.6 km, against 28.7 km.

Bracken Ridge is a larger, more established suburb with 17,488 residents compared to Bald Hills' 7,000, and it scores notably higher on walkability (76 versus 41) and liveability (68 versus 58). Bald Hills sits closer to the CBD at 20.6 km, while Bracken Ridge is 28.7 km out, and offers a slightly higher rental yield at 4.3% against Bracken Ridge's 3.9%. Both suburbs have similar median ages and low risk profiles, though Bracken Ridge's stronger walkability and community amenities may appeal to those prioritising convenience, while Bald Hills suits buyers seeking proximity to the city centre.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Bracken Ridge

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 9)

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

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Bracken Ridge is more walkable (76/100 vs 41/100)
  • Bald Hills sits closer to the CBD (20.6 km vs 28.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Bracken Ridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 41/100)

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 house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
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.

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Walkability 76 / 41
Bracken Ridge — Walkability: 76/100 Bald Hills — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 42 / 40
Bracken Ridge — Safety: 42/100 Bald Hills — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bracken Ridge — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bald Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bracken Ridge has more residents (17,488 vs 7,000).

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Population 17,488
+60% vs other
 7,000
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +7.7%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $102,544/yr
+2% vs other
 $100,412/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+5% vs other
 $388/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
0-4 6.4% / 6.7%
Bracken Ridge — 0-4: 6.4% Bald Hills — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 13.9% / 14.2%
Bracken Ridge — 5-14: 13.9% Bald Hills — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 6.4% / 5.5%
Bracken Ridge — 15-19: 6.4% Bald Hills — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 5.8% / 5.4%
Bracken Ridge — 20-24: 5.8% Bald Hills — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 13.3% / 15.7%
Bracken Ridge — 25-34: 13.3% Bald Hills — 25-34: 15.7%
35-44 15.0% / 15.1%
Bracken Ridge — 35-44: 15.0% Bald Hills — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 12.9% / 12.8%
Bracken Ridge — 45-54: 12.9% Bald Hills — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 11.5% / 10.4%
Bracken Ridge — 55-64: 11.5% Bald Hills — 55-64: 10.4%
65-74 9.1% / 8.3%
Bracken Ridge — 65-74: 9.1% Bald Hills — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 4.6% / 4.2%
Bracken Ridge — 75-84: 4.6% Bald Hills — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.2% / 1.5%
Bracken Ridge — 85+: 1.2% Bald Hills — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge 53.1% couple families
Bracken Ridge — Couple Families: 53.1% Bracken Ridge — Lone Person: 21.9% Bracken Ridge — One Parent Families: 19.0% Bracken Ridge — Group Household: 4.1% Bracken Ridge — Other Families: 1.9%
Bald Hills 49.5% couple families
Bald Hills — Couple Families: 49.5% Bald Hills — Lone Person: 24.8% Bald Hills — One Parent Families: 19.5% Bald Hills — Group Household: 4.3% Bald Hills — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge 24.5% renting
Bracken Ridge — Owned Outright: 29.9% Bracken Ridge — Mortgage: 45.5% Bracken Ridge — Renting: 24.5%
Bald Hills 26.0% renting
Bald Hills — Owned Outright: 26.9% Bald Hills — Mortgage: 47.0% Bald Hills — Renting: 26.0%
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.

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
New Zealand 4.2% / 4.1%
Bracken Ridge — New Zealand: 4.2% Bald Hills — New Zealand: 4.1%
India 4.0% / 2.7%
Bracken Ridge — India: 4.0% Bald Hills — India: 2.7%
England 3.2% / 3.3%
Bracken Ridge — England: 3.2% Bald Hills — England: 3.3%
Philippines 2.4% / 2.5%
Bracken Ridge — Philippines: 2.4% Bald Hills — Philippines: 2.5%
Fiji 0.7% / 0.8%
Bracken Ridge — Fiji: 0.7% Bald Hills — Fiji: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

Qualifications

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

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 17.2%
Bracken Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Bald Hills — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 11.6%
Bracken Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Bald Hills — Bachelor Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.2%
Bracken Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Bald Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 2.6%
Bracken Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Bald Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.4%
Bracken Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Bald Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge 88.3% houses
Bracken Ridge — Houses: 88.3% Bracken Ridge — Townhouses: 8.2% Bracken Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 3.5%
Bald Hills 93.8% houses
Bald Hills — Houses: 93.8% Bald Hills — Townhouses: 5.6% Bald Hills — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Median house price $1,050,500 $1,000,000
Median unit price $732,500 $734,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 197 sales
 19 days
from 60 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.

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
3 bed $976K / $920K
Bracken Ridge — 3 bed: $976K (148 sales) Bald Hills — 3 bed: $920K (91 sales)

148 vs 91 sales

4 bed $1.12M / $1.11M
Bracken Ridge — 4 bed: $1.12M (123 sales) Bald Hills — 4 bed: $1.11M (61 sales)

123 vs 61 sales

5 bed $1.27M / $1.27M
Bracken Ridge — 5 bed: $1.27M (25 sales) Bald Hills — 5 bed: $1.27M (6 sales)

25 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
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.

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Houses 3.8%
$760/wk on $1.05M
 4.0%
$700/wk on $900K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 74% of QLD
Schools Higher than 77% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 57% of QLD

Liveability

Bracken Ridge is more walkable (76 vs 41); Bracken Ridge scores higher overall (70 vs 62).

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Grade A B
Score 70/100 62/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
41/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Inside the suburb 6 2
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-Brisbane Campus, 8.2 km
 1
UniSC Moreton Bay, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 1.4%

Schools in Bracken Ridge

  • St John Fisher College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Bracken Ridge State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Bracken Ridge State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Norris Road State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Queensland Pathways State College - Bracken Ridge Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Bald Hills

  • Bald Hills State School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Paul's School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 17 9
Childcare 8 7
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 4 15

Mobility

Bracken Ridge sits further from the CBD (28.7 km vs 20.6 km).

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Walkability score 76/100 41/100
Distance to Brisbane 28.7 km
+28% vs other
 20.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 199.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4017
 1.0%
postcode 4036
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 4017
 69
postcode 4036

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.

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Car (driver) 69.8% / 69.3%
Bracken Ridge — Car (driver): 69.8% Bald Hills — Car (driver): 69.3%
Worked from Home 17.2% / 17.0%
Bracken Ridge — Worked from Home: 17.2% Bald Hills — Worked from Home: 17.0%
Train 4.0% / 6.8%
Bracken Ridge — Train: 4.0% Bald Hills — Train: 6.8%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 3.9%
Bracken Ridge — Car (passenger): 4.9% Bald Hills — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Bus 3.1% / 1.3%
Bracken Ridge — Bus: 3.1% Bald Hills — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.8%).

Setting

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km 2.2 km

NBN connectivity

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Connectivity score 75/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 11%
6,800 premises
 10%
2,799 premises

Climate

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
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)

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.74 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Division Petrie
same for both
Member Emma Comer
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bracken Ridge Bald Hills
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bracken Ridge

Middle-Ring Parks

Bald Hills

Coastal Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring River Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bracken Ridge

Bracken Ridge vs Brighton Bracken Ridge vs Fitzgibbon Bracken Ridge vs Sandgate Bracken Ridge vs Deagon

Other comparisons with Bald Hills

Bald Hills vs Griffin Bald Hills vs Bridgeman Downs Bald Hills vs Murrumba Downs Bald Hills vs Strathpine Bald Hills vs Carseldine Bald Hills vs Brighton
Full data on Bracken Ridge Full data on Bald Hills
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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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