Burleigh Heads vs Reedy Creek

Reedy Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Burleigh Heads. In both, most households own their home. In Burleigh Heads, about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Reedy Creek, most homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. On these figures, Burleigh Heads tends to suit people living alone, share households, and older residents, while Reedy Creek suits families with children and couples.

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

Reedy Creek

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 83/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 43%)
  • But Burleigh Heads has more parks and reserves (24 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Reedy Creek

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($785,000 vs $1,200,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Burleigh Heads has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 18%)
  • Reedy Creek leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Burleigh Heads

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (61% vs 30%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 12%)
  • But Reedy Creek carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Reedy Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.3% vs 4.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
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.

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Walkability 43 / 36
Burleigh Heads — Walkability: 43/100 Reedy Creek — Walkability: 36/100
Safety 17 / 61
Burleigh Heads — Safety: 17/100 Reedy Creek — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 76 / 100
Burleigh Heads — Low fire risk: 76/100 Reedy Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Burleigh Heads has more residents (10,572 vs 7,412); Reedy Creek has higher household incomes ($115,908 vs $88,452).

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Population 10,572
+30% vs other
 7,412
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +11.3%
Median age 42 37
Median household income $88,452/yr $115,908/yr
+31% vs other
Median weekly rent $480/wk
+6% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
0-4 4.5% / 5.7%
Burleigh Heads — 0-4: 4.5% Reedy Creek — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 8.6% / 17.3%
Burleigh Heads — 5-14: 8.6% Reedy Creek — 5-14: 17.3%
15-19 3.9% / 8.3%
Burleigh Heads — 15-19: 3.9% Reedy Creek — 15-19: 8.3%
20-24 5.9% / 5.6%
Burleigh Heads — 20-24: 5.9% Reedy Creek — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 17.0% / 9.2%
Burleigh Heads — 25-34: 17.0% Reedy Creek — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 13.3% / 15.3%
Burleigh Heads — 35-44: 13.3% Reedy Creek — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 12.5% / 16.8%
Burleigh Heads — 45-54: 12.5% Reedy Creek — 45-54: 16.8%
55-64 12.4% / 9.5%
Burleigh Heads — 55-64: 12.4% Reedy Creek — 55-64: 9.5%
65-74 12.6% / 7.8%
Burleigh Heads — 65-74: 12.6% Reedy Creek — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 6.5% / 3.7%
Burleigh Heads — 75-84: 6.5% Reedy Creek — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 2.7% / 0.8%
Burleigh Heads — 85+: 2.7% Reedy Creek — 85+: 0.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads 29.6% couple families
Burleigh Heads — Couple Families: 29.6% Burleigh Heads — Lone Person: 43.9% Burleigh Heads — One Parent Families: 13.3% Burleigh Heads — Group Household: 11.9% Burleigh Heads — Other Families: 1.3%
Reedy Creek 62.3% couple families
Reedy Creek — Couple Families: 62.3% Reedy Creek — Lone Person: 16.1% Reedy Creek — One Parent Families: 17.9% Reedy Creek — Group Household: 2.7% Reedy Creek — 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.

Burleigh Heads 34.7% renting
Burleigh Heads — Owned Outright: 34.9% Burleigh Heads — Mortgage: 30.4% Burleigh Heads — Renting: 34.7%
Reedy Creek 18.4% renting
Reedy Creek — Owned Outright: 24.3% Reedy Creek — Mortgage: 57.3% Reedy Creek — Renting: 18.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Bachelor Degree 16.0% / 13.2%
Burleigh Heads — Bachelor Degree: 16.0% Reedy Creek — Bachelor Degree: 13.2%
Certificate III & IV 14.9% / 14.0%
Burleigh Heads — Certificate III & IV: 14.9% Reedy Creek — Certificate III & IV: 14.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 9.9%
Burleigh Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Reedy Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 4.1%
Burleigh Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Reedy Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.0%
Burleigh Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Reedy Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

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.

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
New Zealand 5.1% / 5.9%
Burleigh Heads — New Zealand: 5.1% Reedy Creek — New Zealand: 5.9%
England 4.2% / 5.7%
Burleigh Heads — England: 4.2% Reedy Creek — England: 5.7%
South Africa 0.9% / 2.8%
Burleigh Heads — South Africa: 0.9% Reedy Creek — South Africa: 2.8%
Brazil 1.6% / —
Burleigh Heads — Brazil: 1.6% Reedy Creek — Brazil: not among its largest
India — / 1.1%
Burleigh Heads — India: not among its largest Reedy Creek — India: 1.1%
China — / 1.0%
Burleigh Heads — China: not among its largest Reedy Creek — China: 1.0%
Canada 0.5% / —
Burleigh Heads — Canada: 0.5% Reedy Creek — Canada: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads 39.0% houses
Burleigh Heads — Houses: 39.0% Burleigh Heads — Flats / Apartments: 47.2% Burleigh Heads — Townhouses: 13.8%
Reedy Creek 69.9% houses
Reedy Creek — Houses: 69.9% Reedy Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.4% Reedy Creek — Townhouses: 29.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Median house price $1,677,500 $1,630,000
Median unit price $1,200,000 $785,000
Median land price $1,417,500 $1,500,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 108 sales
 33 days
from 77 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.

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
3 bed $1.7M / $1.24M
Burleigh Heads — 3 bed: $1.7M (54 sales) Reedy Creek — 3 bed: $1.24M (26 sales)

54 vs 26 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $1.6M
Burleigh Heads — 4 bed: $1.6M (67 sales) Reedy Creek — 4 bed: $1.6M (70 sales)

67 vs 70 sales

5 bed $2.09M / $1.9M
Burleigh Heads — 5 bed: $2.09M (21 sales) Reedy Creek — 5 bed: $1.9M (39 sales)

21 vs 39 sales

6 bed $2.8M / $1.64M
Burleigh Heads — 6 bed: $2.8M (5 sales) Reedy Creek — 6 bed: $1.64M (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
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.

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Houses 4.2%
$1,372/wk on $1.7M
 4.5%
$1,200/wk on $1.4M
Units 4.1%
$1,075/wk on $1.35M
 —

Ranking within QLD

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 17% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 36% of QLD —

Liveability

Reedy Creek scores higher overall (61 vs 48).

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Grade C B
Score 48/100 61/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Burleigh Heads carries more bushfire risk (24 vs 0); Burleigh Heads carries more crime risk (83 vs 39).

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Bushfire Low
24/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
83/100
 Low
39/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 5.4 km
 1
Gold Coast campus, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 2.3%

Schools in Burleigh Heads

  • Burleigh Heads State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Reedy Creek

  • Gold Coast Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Hillcrest Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • King's Christian College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 55 3
Parks & reserves 24 2
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 5 2
Pharmacies 2 1
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 37 10

Mobility

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Walkability score 43/100 36/100
Distance to Brisbane 87.8 km
+1% vs other
 86.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 64 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 72/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 153.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 27.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4220
 1.6%
postcode 4227
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 4220
 50
postcode 4227

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.

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Car (driver) 70.1% / 75.0%
Burleigh Heads — Car (driver): 70.1% Reedy Creek — Car (driver): 75.0%
Worked from Home 19.4% / 17.5%
Burleigh Heads — Worked from Home: 19.4% Reedy Creek — Worked from Home: 17.5%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 5.0%
Burleigh Heads — Car (passenger): 3.2% Reedy Creek — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Walked Only 4.0% / 0.6%
Burleigh Heads — Walked Only: 4.0% Reedy Creek — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bicycle 1.4% / 0.5%
Burleigh Heads — Bicycle: 1.4% Reedy Creek — Bicycle: 0.5%
Bus 1.3% / 0.6%
Burleigh Heads — Bus: 1.3% Reedy Creek — Bus: 0.6%
Train 0.5% / 0.8%
Burleigh Heads — Train: 0.5% Reedy Creek — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.0%).

Setting

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 6.3 km

NBN connectivity

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Connectivity score 71/100 66/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
9,499 premises
 38%
2,146 premises

Climate

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Annual rainfall 1,637 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Division McPherson
same for both
Member Leon Rebello
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burleigh Heads Reedy Creek
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Burleigh Heads

Apartments Coastal Premium Regional Centre

Reedy Creek

Family Premium River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads vs Varsity Lakes Burleigh Heads vs Palm Beach Burleigh Heads vs Burleigh Waters Burleigh Heads vs Elanora Burleigh Heads vs Miami Burleigh Heads vs Tallebudgera

Other comparisons with Reedy Creek

Reedy Creek vs Robina Reedy Creek vs Varsity Lakes Reedy Creek vs Mudgeeraba Reedy Creek vs Bonogin Reedy Creek vs Tallebudgera Valley
Full data on Burleigh Heads Full data on Reedy Creek
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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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