Bulimba vs Hawthorne

Hawthorne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Bulimba. In both, most households own their home. In Hawthorne, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Hawthorne: a median of $2.55 million, against $2.2 million in Bulimba, though rent is higher in Bulimba. Hawthorne is closer to the city centre: 7.1 km, against 9.3 km.

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

Hawthorne

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (62% vs 46%)
  • But Bulimba has more parks and reserves (11 vs 2)

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

  • Bulimba has cheaper houses ($2,200,000 vs $2,550,000)
  • Hawthorne has cheaper units ($848,000 vs $985,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hawthorne

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (14 min vs 19 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (7.1 km vs 9.3 km)
  • But Bulimba is more walkable (82/100 vs 71/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Bulimba

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 8%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (54% vs 38%)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 71/100)

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

Investors

Bulimba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.4% vs 2.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bulimba Hawthorne
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.

Bulimba Hawthorne
Walkability 82 / 71
Bulimba — Walkability: 82/100 Hawthorne — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 33 / 38
Bulimba — Safety: 33/100 Hawthorne — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bulimba — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hawthorne — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bulimba has more residents (7,623 vs 5,090); Bulimba rents higher ($500/wk vs $430/wk).

Bulimba Hawthorne
Population 7,623
+33% vs other
 5,090
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.4% +2.0%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $145,860/yr $157,508/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+14% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bulimba Hawthorne
0-4 5.5% / 5.2%
Bulimba — 0-4: 5.5% Hawthorne — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 12.3% / 14.5%
Bulimba — 5-14: 12.3% Hawthorne — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 5.6% / 7.2%
Bulimba — 15-19: 5.6% Hawthorne — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 5.0% / 6.3%
Bulimba — 20-24: 5.0% Hawthorne — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 13.3% / 12.8%
Bulimba — 25-34: 13.3% Hawthorne — 25-34: 12.8%
35-44 16.3% / 16.2%
Bulimba — 35-44: 16.3% Hawthorne — 35-44: 16.2%
45-54 15.9% / 17.3%
Bulimba — 45-54: 15.9% Hawthorne — 45-54: 17.3%
55-64 12.9% / 11.7%
Bulimba — 55-64: 12.9% Hawthorne — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 8.1% / 5.7%
Bulimba — 65-74: 8.1% Hawthorne — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 3.9% / 2.1%
Bulimba — 75-84: 3.9% Hawthorne — 75-84: 2.1%
85+ 1.4% / 0.6%
Bulimba — 85+: 1.4% Hawthorne — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bulimba 44.7% couple families
Bulimba — Couple Families: 44.7% Bulimba — Lone Person: 36.9% Bulimba — One Parent Families: 12.0% Bulimba — Group Household: 5.0% Bulimba — Other Families: 1.5%
Hawthorne 48.4% couple families
Hawthorne — Couple Families: 48.4% Hawthorne — Lone Person: 31.3% Hawthorne — One Parent Families: 12.1% Hawthorne — Group Household: 6.8% Hawthorne — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bulimba 37.5% renting
Bulimba — Owned Outright: 27.7% Bulimba — Mortgage: 34.8% Bulimba — Renting: 37.5%
Hawthorne 37.1% renting
Hawthorne — Owned Outright: 24.8% Hawthorne — Mortgage: 38.1% Hawthorne — Renting: 37.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bulimba Hawthorne
Bachelor Degree 24.8% / 25.6%
Bulimba — Bachelor Degree: 24.8% Hawthorne — Bachelor Degree: 25.6%
Postgraduate Degree 9.4% / 8.9%
Bulimba — Postgraduate Degree: 9.4% Hawthorne — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.4%
Bulimba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Hawthorne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Certificate III & IV 8.0% / 7.6%
Bulimba — Certificate III & IV: 8.0% Hawthorne — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 3.8%
Bulimba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Hawthorne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.6%).

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.

Bulimba Hawthorne
England 6.8% / 5.2%
Bulimba — England: 6.8% Hawthorne — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 3.5% / 3.2%
Bulimba — New Zealand: 3.5% Hawthorne — New Zealand: 3.2%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.3%
Bulimba — South Africa: 1.4% Hawthorne — South Africa: 1.3%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.8%
Bulimba — Scotland: 1.0% Hawthorne — Scotland: 0.8%
Brazil 0.7% / —
Bulimba — Brazil: 0.7% Hawthorne — Brazil: not among its largest
India — / 0.7%
Bulimba — India: not among its largest Hawthorne — India: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bulimba 45.7% houses
Bulimba — Houses: 45.7% Bulimba — Flats / Apartments: 39.6% Bulimba — Townhouses: 14.7%
Hawthorne 61.7% houses
Hawthorne — Houses: 61.7% Hawthorne — Flats / Apartments: 26.5% Hawthorne — Townhouses: 11.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bulimba Hawthorne
Median house price $2,200,000 $2,550,000
Median unit price $985,000 $848,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 91 sales
 25 days
from 58 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.

Bulimba Hawthorne
2 bed $910K / $830K
Bulimba — 2 bed: $910K (62 sales) Hawthorne — 2 bed: $830K (35 sales)

62 vs 35 sales

3 bed $1.51M / $1.2M
Bulimba — 3 bed: $1.51M (24 sales) Hawthorne — 3 bed: $1.2M (12 sales)

24 vs 12 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.

Bulimba Hawthorne
3 bed $1.81M / $1.94M
Bulimba — 3 bed: $1.81M (28 sales) Hawthorne — 3 bed: $1.94M (23 sales)

28 vs 23 sales

4 bed $2.16M / $2.19M
Bulimba — 4 bed: $2.16M (33 sales) Hawthorne — 4 bed: $2.19M (32 sales)

33 vs 32 sales

5 bed $3M / $3.07M
Bulimba — 5 bed: $3M (34 sales) Hawthorne — 5 bed: $3.07M (33 sales)

34 vs 33 sales

Development activity

Bulimba Hawthorne
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.

Bulimba Hawthorne
Houses 2.8%
$1,200/wk on $2.2M
 3.0%
$1,100/wk on $1.9M
Units 2.6%
$800/wk on $1.57M
 —

Ranking within QLD

Bulimba Hawthorne
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of QLD Higher than 11% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 3% of QLD —

Liveability

Bulimba is more walkable (82 vs 71).

Bulimba Hawthorne
Grade A+
same for both
Score 82/100 81/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bulimba Hawthorne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Bulimba Hawthorne
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
90 Bowen Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, 2.5 km
 3
90 Bowen Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 4.0%

Schools in Bulimba

  • Bulimba State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Hawthorne

  • Lourdes Hill College Catholic · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bulimba Hawthorne
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 24 7
Parks & reserves 11 2
Childcare 4 2
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both

Mobility

Bulimba sits further from the CBD (9.3 km vs 7.1 km).

Bulimba Hawthorne
Walkability score 82/100 71/100
Distance to Brisbane 9.3 km
+24% vs other
 7.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 14 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 124.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 60.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 4171
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 4171
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.

Bulimba Hawthorne
Car (driver) 50.4% / 55.0%
Bulimba — Car (driver): 50.4% Hawthorne — Car (driver): 55.0%
Worked from Home 37.4% / 33.3%
Bulimba — Worked from Home: 37.4% Hawthorne — Worked from Home: 33.3%
Bus 4.5% / 3.1%
Bulimba — Bus: 4.5% Hawthorne — Bus: 3.1%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 3.8%
Bulimba — Car (passenger): 2.9% Hawthorne — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 2.7% / 1.9%
Bulimba — Walked Only: 2.7% Hawthorne — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.0%).

Setting

Bulimba Hawthorne
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.4 km
4.5 km to a named beach
 7.2 km

NBN connectivity

Bulimba Hawthorne
Connectivity score 75/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
4,086 premises
 26%
2,328 premises

Climate

Bulimba Hawthorne
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)

Bulimba Hawthorne
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.68 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bulimba Hawthorne
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Bulimba Hawthorne
Division Griffith
same for both
Member Renee Coffey
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bulimba Hawthorne
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bulimba

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

Hawthorne

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bulimba

Bulimba vs Morningside Bulimba vs Hamilton Bulimba vs Newstead Bulimba vs Teneriffe Bulimba vs Balmoral

Other comparisons with Hawthorne

Hawthorne vs New Farm Hawthorne vs Morningside Hawthorne vs Norman Park Hawthorne vs Teneriffe Hawthorne vs Balmoral
Full data on Bulimba Full data on Hawthorne
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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