Bracken Ridge vs Sandgate

Bracken Ridge is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 49 in Sandgate. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Bracken Ridge, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Sandgate: a median of $1.3 million, against $1.05 million in Bracken Ridge, though rent is higher in Bracken Ridge. Sandgate is closer to the city centre: 20.8 km, against 28.7 km. On these figures, Bracken Ridge tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Sandgate suits people living alone and 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

Bracken Ridge

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 5)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 52%)

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

First-home buyers

Bracken Ridge

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($732,500 vs $1,023,750)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,050,500 vs $1,300,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sandgate

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($294/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sandgate

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (20.8 km vs 28.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bracken Ridge has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • Sandgate has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bracken Ridge and Sandgate 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 Sandgate
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 Sandgate
Walkability 76 / 80
Bracken Ridge — Walkability: 76/100 Sandgate — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 42 / 25
Bracken Ridge — Safety: 42/100 Sandgate — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bracken Ridge — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sandgate — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bracken Ridge has more residents (17,488 vs 4,926); Bracken Ridge rents higher ($410/wk vs $294/wk).

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Population 17,488
+72% vs other
 4,926
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +0.3%
Median age 37 49
Median household income $102,544/yr
+9% vs other
 $93,808/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+28% vs other
 $294/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
0-4 6.4% / 4.1%
Bracken Ridge — 0-4: 6.4% Sandgate — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 13.9% / 11.7%
Bracken Ridge — 5-14: 13.9% Sandgate — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 6.4% / 6.4%
Bracken Ridge — 15-19: 6.4% Sandgate — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.8% / 4.0%
Bracken Ridge — 20-24: 5.8% Sandgate — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 13.3% / 6.1%
Bracken Ridge — 25-34: 13.3% Sandgate — 25-34: 6.1%
35-44 15.0% / 10.9%
Bracken Ridge — 35-44: 15.0% Sandgate — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 12.9% / 17.7%
Bracken Ridge — 45-54: 12.9% Sandgate — 45-54: 17.7%
55-64 11.5% / 13.6%
Bracken Ridge — 55-64: 11.5% Sandgate — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 9.1% / 10.8%
Bracken Ridge — 65-74: 9.1% Sandgate — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 4.6% / 8.7%
Bracken Ridge — 75-84: 4.6% Sandgate — 75-84: 8.7%
85+ 1.2% / 5.9%
Bracken Ridge — 85+: 1.2% Sandgate — 85+: 5.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

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%
Sandgate 39.9% couple families
Sandgate — Couple Families: 39.9% Sandgate — Lone Person: 43.8% Sandgate — One Parent Families: 11.8% Sandgate — Group Household: 3.6% Sandgate — Other Families: 0.9%
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%
Sandgate 32.7% renting
Sandgate — Owned Outright: 32.1% Sandgate — Mortgage: 35.1% Sandgate — Renting: 32.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 16.3%
Bracken Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Sandgate — Bachelor Degree: 16.3%
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 12.4%
Bracken Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Sandgate — Certificate III & IV: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.2%
Bracken Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Sandgate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 5.5%
Bracken Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Sandgate — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 3.3%
Bracken Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Sandgate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

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.

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
England 3.2% / 5.5%
Bracken Ridge — England: 3.2% Sandgate — England: 5.5%
New Zealand 4.2% / 3.7%
Bracken Ridge — New Zealand: 4.2% Sandgate — New Zealand: 3.7%
India 4.0% / —
Bracken Ridge — India: 4.0% Sandgate — India: not among its largest
Philippines 2.4% / 0.6%
Bracken Ridge — Philippines: 2.4% Sandgate — Philippines: 0.6%
Scotland — / 0.8%
Bracken Ridge — Scotland: not among its largest Sandgate — Scotland: 0.8%
Fiji 0.7% / —
Bracken Ridge — Fiji: 0.7% Sandgate — Fiji: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.6%
Bracken Ridge — Germany: not among its largest Sandgate — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge 88.3% houses
Bracken Ridge — Houses: 88.3% Bracken Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 3.5% Bracken Ridge — Townhouses: 8.2%
Sandgate 72.1% houses
Sandgate — Houses: 72.1% Sandgate — Flats / Apartments: 25.7% Sandgate — Townhouses: 2.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Median house price $1,050,500 $1,300,000
Median unit price $732,500 $1,023,750
Median land price — $675,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 197 sales
 32 days
from 34 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 Sandgate
3 bed $976K / $1.25M
Bracken Ridge — 3 bed: $976K (148 sales) Sandgate — 3 bed: $1.25M (27 sales)

148 vs 27 sales

4 bed $1.12M / $1.62M
Bracken Ridge — 4 bed: $1.12M (123 sales) Sandgate — 4 bed: $1.62M (14 sales)

123 vs 14 sales

5 bed $1.27M / $1.85M
Bracken Ridge — 5 bed: $1.27M (25 sales) Sandgate — 5 bed: $1.85M (7 sales)

25 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
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 Sandgate
Houses 3.8%
$760/wk on $1.05M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 67% of QLD
Schools Higher than 77% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of QLD —

Liveability

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Sandgate carries more crime risk (75 vs 58).

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
58/100
 High
75/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Inside the suburb 6 2
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-Brisbane Campus, 8.2 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-Brisbane Campus, 7.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 2.3%

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 Sandgate

  • Sandgate State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Sacred Heart Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 11
Parks & reserves 17 5
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 2 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 3
same for both
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Bracken Ridge sits further from the CBD (28.7 km vs 20.8 km).

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Walkability score 76/100 80/100
Distance to Brisbane 28.7 km
+28% vs other
 20.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 199.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 104.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4017
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 4017
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.

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Car (driver) 69.8% / 57.2%
Bracken Ridge — Car (driver): 69.8% Sandgate — Car (driver): 57.2%
Worked from Home 17.2% / 26.9%
Bracken Ridge — Worked from Home: 17.2% Sandgate — Worked from Home: 26.9%
Train 4.0% / 7.5%
Bracken Ridge — Train: 4.0% Sandgate — Train: 7.5%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 3.9%
Bracken Ridge — Car (passenger): 4.9% Sandgate — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Bus 3.1% / 0.7%
Bracken Ridge — Bus: 3.1% Sandgate — Bus: 0.7%
Walked Only 0.7% / 2.7%
Bracken Ridge — Walked Only: 0.7% Sandgate — Walked Only: 2.7%

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

Setting

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km 654 m

NBN connectivity

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Connectivity score 75/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 11%
6,800 premises
 3%
2,754 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
Division Petrie Lilley
Member Emma Comer Anika Wells
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bracken Ridge Sandgate
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

Sandgate

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Retirees River Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bracken Ridge

Bracken Ridge vs Brighton Bracken Ridge vs Bald Hills Bracken Ridge vs Fitzgibbon Bracken Ridge vs Deagon

Other comparisons with Sandgate

Sandgate vs Brighton Sandgate vs Boondall Sandgate vs Deagon Sandgate vs Shorncliffe
Full data on Bracken Ridge Full data on Sandgate
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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