Brisbane City vs Kelvin Grove

Kelvin Grove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 31 in Brisbane City. In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Brisbane City, most households are people living alone. Brisbane City is the city centre itself; Kelvin Grove is 3.8 km out. On these figures, Brisbane City tends to suit 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

Kelvin Grove

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (31% vs 0%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (37% vs 18%)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 98/100)
  • But Brisbane City has more parks and reserves (22 vs 12)

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

First-home buyers

Brisbane City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($740,000 vs $1,500,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kelvin Grove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $460/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Brisbane City

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (0 min vs 9 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (0 km vs 3.8 km)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 85/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brisbane City

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (18 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 69%)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 85/100)
  • But Kelvin Grove carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

Brisbane City

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (33.1% vs -0.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 4.9%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
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.

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Walkability 99 / 85
Brisbane City — Walkability: 99/100 Kelvin Grove — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 2 / 27
Brisbane City — Safety: 2/100 Kelvin Grove — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Brisbane City — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kelvin Grove — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Brisbane City has more residents (12,587 vs 7,909); Brisbane City rents higher ($460/wk vs $400/wk).

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Population 12,587
+37% vs other
 7,909
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +33.1% -0.2%
Median age 31 28
Median household income $93,704/yr
+7% vs other
 $86,840/yr
Median weekly rent $460/wk
+13% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
0-4 2.1% / 3.8%
Brisbane City — 0-4: 2.1% Kelvin Grove — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 2.7% / 9.6%
Brisbane City — 5-14: 2.7% Kelvin Grove — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 6.2% / 9.4%
Brisbane City — 15-19: 6.2% Kelvin Grove — 15-19: 9.4%
20-24 16.8% / 17.8%
Brisbane City — 20-24: 16.8% Kelvin Grove — 20-24: 17.8%
25-34 30.2% / 22.8%
Brisbane City — 25-34: 30.2% Kelvin Grove — 25-34: 22.8%
35-44 14.9% / 14.1%
Brisbane City — 35-44: 14.9% Kelvin Grove — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 9.9% / 10.4%
Brisbane City — 45-54: 9.9% Kelvin Grove — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 8.9% / 5.8%
Brisbane City — 55-64: 8.9% Kelvin Grove — 55-64: 5.8%
65-74 5.5% / 3.6%
Brisbane City — 65-74: 5.5% Kelvin Grove — 65-74: 3.6%
75-84 2.3% / 1.9%
Brisbane City — 75-84: 2.3% Kelvin Grove — 75-84: 1.9%
85+ 0.4% / 1.0%
Brisbane City — 85+: 0.4% Kelvin Grove — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City 60.8% lone person
Brisbane City — Lone Person: 60.8% Brisbane City — Group Household: 18.5% Brisbane City — Couple Families: 11.9% Brisbane City — One Parent Families: 6.4% Brisbane City — Other Families: 2.4%
Kelvin Grove 40.5% lone person
Kelvin Grove — Lone Person: 40.5% Kelvin Grove — Group Household: 19.2% Kelvin Grove — Couple Families: 25.7% Kelvin Grove — One Parent Families: 11.7% Kelvin Grove — Other Families: 2.9%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City 68.4% renting
Brisbane City — Owned Outright: 15.8% Brisbane City — Mortgage: 15.8% Brisbane City — Renting: 68.4%
Kelvin Grove 66.0% renting
Kelvin Grove — Owned Outright: 13.1% Kelvin Grove — Mortgage: 20.9% Kelvin Grove — Renting: 66.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Bachelor Degree 27.7% / 25.1%
Brisbane City — Bachelor Degree: 27.7% Kelvin Grove — Bachelor Degree: 25.1%
Postgraduate Degree 13.3% / 12.7%
Brisbane City — Postgraduate Degree: 13.3% Kelvin Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.4%
Brisbane City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Kelvin Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 7.2% / 7.0%
Brisbane City — Certificate III & IV: 7.2% Kelvin Grove — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.2%
Brisbane City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Kelvin Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.7%).

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.

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
China 8.3% / 5.7%
Brisbane City — China: 8.3% Kelvin Grove — China: 5.7%
India 3.5% / 3.6%
Brisbane City — India: 3.5% Kelvin Grove — India: 3.6%
England 3.4% / 2.5%
Brisbane City — England: 3.4% Kelvin Grove — England: 2.5%
New Zealand 2.9% / 2.3%
Brisbane City — New Zealand: 2.9% Kelvin Grove — New Zealand: 2.3%
Philippines 2.3% / 1.2%
Brisbane City — Philippines: 2.3% Kelvin Grove — Philippines: 1.2%
Vietnam — / 2.1%
Brisbane City — Vietnam: not among its largest Kelvin Grove — Vietnam: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City 99.8% flats / apartments
Brisbane City — Flats / Apartments: 99.8% Brisbane City — Houses: 0.1% Brisbane City — Townhouses: 0.1%
Kelvin Grove 62.5% flats / apartments
Kelvin Grove — Flats / Apartments: 62.5% Kelvin Grove — Houses: 31.2% Kelvin Grove — Townhouses: 6.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Median house price $740,000 $1,500,000
Median unit price $740,000 $720,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 106 days
from 3 sales
 25 days
from 37 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.

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
1 bed $558K / $650K
Brisbane City — 1 bed: $558K (302 sales) Kelvin Grove — 1 bed: $650K (65 sales)

302 vs 65 sales

2 bed $850K / $844K
Brisbane City — 2 bed: $850K (303 sales) Kelvin Grove — 2 bed: $844K (71 sales)

303 vs 71 sales

3 bed $1.69M / $1.08M
Brisbane City — 3 bed: $1.69M (71 sales) Kelvin Grove — 3 bed: $1.08M (6 sales)

71 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
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.

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Houses —
same for both
Units 5.4%
$800/wk on $765K
 4.9%
$665/wk on $704K

Ranking within QLD

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 67% of QLD Higher than 60% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 39% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 100% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD

Liveability

Brisbane City is more walkable (99 vs 85); Brisbane City scores higher overall (68 vs 62).

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Grade A B
Score 68/100 62/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Brisbane City carries more crime risk (98 vs 73).

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
73/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane C.Q.U. Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Kelvin Grove, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.4% 14.2%

Schools in Brisbane City

  • Indie School, Logan - Brisbane City Campus Independent · Secondary
  • The BUSY School - Brisbane Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in Kelvin Grove

  • Compass Independent School Independent · Combined below peers
  • Kelvin Grove State College Government · Combined below peers
  • Queensland Academy for Creative Industries Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Supermarkets 10 2
Cafes & restaurants 198 14
Parks & reserves 22 12
Childcare 7 4
GPs 18 0
Pharmacies 11 1
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 28 1
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Kelvin Grove sits further from the CBD (3.8 km vs 0 km).

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Walkability score 99/100 85/100
Distance to Brisbane 0 km 3.8 km
(not reported on the other side)
Drive time (normal traffic) 0 min 9 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus · Ferry
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2112.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 236.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.2%
postcode 4000
 2.6%
postcode 4059
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 4000
 23
postcode 4059

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.

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Car (driver) 20.2% / 41.5%
Brisbane City — Car (driver): 20.2% Kelvin Grove — Car (driver): 41.5%
Worked from Home 25.5% / 25.2%
Brisbane City — Worked from Home: 25.5% Kelvin Grove — Worked from Home: 25.2%
Walked Only 35.5% / 9.2%
Brisbane City — Walked Only: 35.5% Kelvin Grove — Walked Only: 9.2%
Bus 9.9% / 15.4%
Brisbane City — Bus: 9.9% Kelvin Grove — Bus: 15.4%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 4.3%
Brisbane City — Car (passenger): 2.8% Kelvin Grove — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Train 4.0% / 1.6%
Brisbane City — Train: 4.0% Kelvin Grove — Train: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (41.5%).

Setting

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.4 km 10.9 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Connectivity score 70/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
19,326 premises
 22%
3,155 premises

Climate

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
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)

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Division Brisbane
same for both
Member Madonna Jarrett
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Brisbane City Kelvin Grove
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Brisbane City

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

Kelvin Grove

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Students Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brisbane City

Brisbane City vs South Brisbane Brisbane City vs Fortitude Valley Brisbane City vs Kangaroo Point Brisbane City vs Spring Hill Brisbane City vs Milton Brisbane City vs Petrie Terrace

Other comparisons with Kelvin Grove

Kelvin Grove vs Spring Hill Kelvin Grove vs Red Hill Kelvin Grove vs Newmarket Kelvin Grove vs Wilston Kelvin Grove vs Herston Kelvin Grove vs Petrie Terrace
Full data on Brisbane City Full data on Kelvin Grove
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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