Chinderah vs Fingal Head

Fingal Head is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 62 in Chinderah. In both, most households own their home. In Chinderah, about half of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Fingal Head, the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Fingal Head: a median of $2.05 million, against $1.14 million in Chinderah, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Chinderah tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Fingal Head

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 24%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 46%)
  • But Chinderah has more childcare (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Chinderah has cheaper houses ($1,137,500 vs $2,052,500)
  • Fingal Head leaves households under less mortgage stress (34% vs 63%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fingal Head

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 17%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 34%)
  • But Chinderah has cheaper rent ($245/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Chinderah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (510 min vs 515 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (800.4 km vs 806.9 km)
  • But Fingal Head is more walkable (32/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Chinderah has more residents already 65 and over (45% vs 19%)
  • Fingal Head is more walkable (32/100 vs 0/100)

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

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

Chinderah Fingal Head
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.

Chinderah Fingal Head
Walkability 0 / 32
Chinderah — Walkability: 0/100 Fingal Head — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 13 / 36
Chinderah — Safety: 13/100 Fingal Head — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 53 / 59
Chinderah — Low fire risk: 53/100 Fingal Head — Low fire risk: 59/100

Demographics

Chinderah has more residents (1,639 vs 615); Fingal Head has higher household incomes ($83,928 vs $37,388).

Chinderah Fingal Head
Population 1,639
+62% vs other
 615
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.7% +3.9%
Median age 62 46
Median household income $37,388/yr $83,928/yr
+124% vs other
Median weekly rent $245/wk $400/wk
+63% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chinderah Fingal Head
0-4 1.6% / 3.3%
Chinderah — 0-4: 1.6% Fingal Head — 0-4: 3.3%
5-14 6.3% / 12.4%
Chinderah — 5-14: 6.3% Fingal Head — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 3.4% / 6.0%
Chinderah — 15-19: 3.4% Fingal Head — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 2.7% / 4.9%
Chinderah — 20-24: 2.7% Fingal Head — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 5.7% / 8.0%
Chinderah — 25-34: 5.7% Fingal Head — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 6.6% / 12.0%
Chinderah — 35-44: 6.6% Fingal Head — 35-44: 12.0%
45-54 9.9% / 15.3%
Chinderah — 45-54: 9.9% Fingal Head — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 18.2% / 18.9%
Chinderah — 55-64: 18.2% Fingal Head — 55-64: 18.9%
65-74 26.4% / 12.5%
Chinderah — 65-74: 26.4% Fingal Head — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 14.9% / 4.1%
Chinderah — 75-84: 14.9% Fingal Head — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 3.8% / 2.1%
Chinderah — 85+: 3.8% Fingal Head — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chinderah 70.6% lone person
Chinderah — Lone Person: 70.6% Chinderah — Couple Families: 14.2% Chinderah — One Parent Families: 9.5% Chinderah — Group Household: 3.9% Chinderah — Other Families: 1.8%
Fingal Head 31.1% lone person
Fingal Head — Lone Person: 31.1% Fingal Head — Couple Families: 41.9% Fingal Head — One Parent Families: 19.2% Fingal Head — Group Household: 4.2% Fingal Head — Other Families: 3.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chinderah 16.6% renting
Chinderah — Owned Outright: 72.3% Chinderah — Mortgage: 11.1% Chinderah — Renting: 16.6%
Fingal Head 32.3% renting
Fingal Head — Owned Outright: 43.8% Fingal Head — Mortgage: 24.0% Fingal Head — Renting: 32.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Chinderah Fingal Head
Certificate III & IV 19.8% / 13.3%
Chinderah — Certificate III & IV: 19.8% Fingal Head — Certificate III & IV: 13.3%
Bachelor Degree 4.9% / 18.9%
Chinderah — Bachelor Degree: 4.9% Fingal Head — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 10.6%
Chinderah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Fingal Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 3.3%
Chinderah — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Fingal Head — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / 2.0%
Chinderah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Fingal Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

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.

Chinderah Fingal Head
England 5.9% / 6.3%
Chinderah — England: 5.9% Fingal Head — England: 6.3%
New Zealand 3.9% / 3.4%
Chinderah — New Zealand: 3.9% Fingal Head — New Zealand: 3.4%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.5%
Chinderah — Netherlands: 0.5% Fingal Head — Netherlands: 0.5%
China 0.3% / 0.5%
Chinderah — China: 0.3% Fingal Head — China: 0.5%
Germany 0.7% / —
Chinderah — Germany: 0.7% Fingal Head — Germany: not among its largest
Scotland 0.5% / —
Chinderah — Scotland: 0.5% Fingal Head — Scotland: not among its largest
Sri Lanka — / 0.5%
Chinderah — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Fingal Head — Sri Lanka: 0.5%
Zimbabwe — / 0.5%
Chinderah — Zimbabwe: not among its largest Fingal Head — Zimbabwe: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chinderah 46.0% houses
Chinderah — Houses: 46.0% Chinderah — Flats / Apartments: 52.8% Chinderah — Townhouses: 1.2%
Fingal Head 77.3% houses
Fingal Head — Houses: 77.3% Fingal Head — Flats / Apartments: 15.3% Fingal Head — Townhouses: 7.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Chinderah Fingal Head
Median house price $1,137,500 $2,052,500
Median unit price — $1,000,000
Median land price $888,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 65 days
from 15 sales
 130 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Chinderah has more rural and farming land (70% vs 1%).

Chinderah Fingal Head
Other and special use 6% 82%
Rural and farming 70% 1%
Residential 5% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 6%
Industrial 5% 0%
Environmental 4% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Chinderah Fingal Head
New dwellings approved 331
across Tweed
same for both
Approvals change year on year -50%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Chinderah Fingal Head
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Income Higher than 2% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW

Liveability

Fingal Head is more walkable (32 vs 0); Fingal Head scores higher overall (39 vs 8).

Chinderah Fingal Head
Grade D C
Score 8/100 39/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Chinderah carries more crime risk (87 vs 64).

Chinderah Fingal Head
Bushfire Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
41/100
Crime High
87/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
91/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Chinderah Fingal Head
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
Gold Coast Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 7.3 km

Schools in Chinderah

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Fingal Head

  • Fingal Head Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Chinderah Fingal Head
Cafes & restaurants 3 1
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 3 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Fingal Head sits further from the CBD (806.9 km vs 800.4 km).

Chinderah Fingal Head
Walkability score 0/100 32/100
Distance to Sydney 800.4 km 806.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 510 min 515 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 20/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 46.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2487
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 2487
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.

Chinderah Fingal Head
Car (driver) 73.6% / 71.1%
Chinderah — Car (driver): 73.6% Fingal Head — Car (driver): 71.1%
Worked from Home 11.0% / 23.6%
Chinderah — Worked from Home: 11.0% Fingal Head — Worked from Home: 23.6%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / 4.1%
Chinderah — Car (passenger): 6.2% Fingal Head — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 6.0% / —
Chinderah — Walked Only: 6.0% Fingal Head — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 2.2% / —
Chinderah — Bus: 2.2% Fingal Head — Bus: not among its largest
Bicycle 1.0% / 1.2%
Chinderah — Bicycle: 1.0% Fingal Head — Bicycle: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.6%).

Setting

Chinderah Fingal Head
Elevation 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km
4.5 km to a named beach
 410 m
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Chinderah Fingal Head
Connectivity score 55/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
1,628 premises
 53%
314 premises

Climate

Chinderah Fingal Head
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

Council rates

Chinderah Fingal Head
Average residential rate $1,745/yr
same for both
Council Tweed
same for both

Federal electorate

Chinderah Fingal Head
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Chinderah Fingal Head
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Chinderah

Retirees

Fingal Head

Coastal Premium Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chinderah

Chinderah vs Banora Point Chinderah vs Kingscliff Chinderah vs Terranora Chinderah vs Cudgen Chinderah vs North Tumbulgum

Other comparisons with Fingal Head

Fingal Head vs Banora Point Fingal Head vs Tweed Heads Fingal Head vs Kingscliff Fingal Head vs Tweed Heads South
Full data on Chinderah Full data on Fingal Head
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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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