Darling Heights vs Drayton

Darling Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 36 in Drayton. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Darling Heights, about half of households rent. In Drayton, most households own their home. On these figures, Darling Heights tends to suit families with children.

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

Darling Heights

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 87/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (59% vs 50%)

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

First-home buyers

Drayton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($480,000 vs $835,000)

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

Renters

Drayton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Darling Heights carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 87/100)
  • Drayton has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Darling Heights returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.3%)
  • Drayton is growing faster (6.0% vs -0.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Darling Heights Drayton
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.

Darling Heights Drayton
Walkability 39 / 36
Darling Heights — Walkability: 39/100 Drayton — Walkability: 36/100
Safety 40 / 13
Darling Heights — Safety: 40/100 Drayton — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Darling Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Drayton — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Darling Heights has more residents (5,157 vs 1,813); Drayton skews older (36 vs 30).

Darling Heights Drayton
Population 5,157
+65% vs other
 1,813
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.7% +6.0%
Median age 30 36
Median household income $76,388/yr
+7% vs other
 $70,824/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+9% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darling Heights Drayton
0-4 6.3% / 4.9%
Darling Heights — 0-4: 6.3% Drayton — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 13.8% / 11.1%
Darling Heights — 5-14: 13.8% Drayton — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 6.9% / 7.9%
Darling Heights — 15-19: 6.9% Drayton — 15-19: 7.9%
20-24 11.3% / 8.9%
Darling Heights — 20-24: 11.3% Drayton — 20-24: 8.9%
25-34 19.1% / 14.7%
Darling Heights — 25-34: 19.1% Drayton — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 11.4% / 10.6%
Darling Heights — 35-44: 11.4% Drayton — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 8.4% / 11.4%
Darling Heights — 45-54: 8.4% Drayton — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 8.7% / 12.1%
Darling Heights — 55-64: 8.7% Drayton — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 8.2% / 12.1%
Darling Heights — 65-74: 8.2% Drayton — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 4.8% / 4.7%
Darling Heights — 75-84: 4.8% Drayton — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.2% / 1.3%
Darling Heights — 85+: 1.2% Drayton — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darling Heights 33.5% lone person
Darling Heights — Lone Person: 33.5% Darling Heights — Couple Families: 38.7% Darling Heights — One Parent Families: 19.9% Darling Heights — Group Household: 6.1% Darling Heights — Other Families: 1.8%
Drayton 38.1% lone person
Drayton — Lone Person: 38.1% Drayton — Couple Families: 32.3% Drayton — One Parent Families: 17.4% Drayton — Group Household: 7.9% Drayton — Other Families: 4.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Darling Heights 45.3% renting
Darling Heights — Owned Outright: 25.9% Darling Heights — Mortgage: 28.8% Darling Heights — Renting: 45.3%
Drayton 42.1% renting
Drayton — Owned Outright: 28.7% Drayton — Mortgage: 29.2% Drayton — Renting: 42.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darling Heights Drayton
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 19.9%
Darling Heights — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Drayton — Certificate III & IV: 19.9%
Bachelor Degree 11.9% / 8.9%
Darling Heights — Bachelor Degree: 11.9% Drayton — Bachelor Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 6.5%
Darling Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Drayton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 3.3%
Darling Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Drayton — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.3%
Darling Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Drayton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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.

Darling Heights Drayton
India 6.8% / 2.0%
Darling Heights — India: 6.8% Drayton — India: 2.0%
Nepal 3.1% / 0.8%
Darling Heights — Nepal: 3.1% Drayton — Nepal: 0.8%
Iraq 2.8% / 0.7%
Darling Heights — Iraq: 2.8% Drayton — Iraq: 0.7%
Philippines 2.0% / 0.8%
Darling Heights — Philippines: 2.0% Drayton — Philippines: 0.8%
England 1.1% / 1.2%
Darling Heights — England: 1.1% Drayton — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.0%
Darling Heights — New Zealand: 1.0% Drayton — New Zealand: 1.0%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Darling Heights 78.9% houses
Darling Heights — Houses: 78.9% Darling Heights — Flats / Apartments: 13.0% Darling Heights — Townhouses: 8.1%
Drayton 72.2% houses
Drayton — Houses: 72.2% Drayton — Flats / Apartments: 16.3% Drayton — Townhouses: 11.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Darling Heights Drayton
Median house price $780,000 $764,000
Median unit price $585,000 $570,000
Median land price $835,000 $480,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 18 sales
 38 days
from 11 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.

Darling Heights Drayton
3 bed $750K / $670K
Darling Heights — 3 bed: $750K (23 sales) Drayton — 3 bed: $670K (13 sales)

23 vs 13 sales

4 bed $830K / $934K
Darling Heights — 4 bed: $830K (21 sales) Drayton — 4 bed: $934K (8 sales)

21 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Darling Heights Drayton
New dwellings approved 1,513
across Toowoomba
same for both
Approvals change year on year -25%
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.

Darling Heights Drayton
Houses 4.0%
$610/wk on $799K
 3.3%
$540/wk on $860K
Units — 4.7%
$500/wk on $559K

Ranking within QLD

Darling Heights Drayton
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 47% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 17% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 58% of QLD

Liveability

Darling Heights scores higher overall (48 vs 35).

Darling Heights Drayton
Grade C
same for both
Score 48/100 35/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Drayton carries more crime risk (87 vs 60).

Darling Heights Drayton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
60/100
 High
87/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Darling Heights Drayton
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 5.8 km
 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.0% 1.3%

Schools in Darling Heights

  • Darling Heights State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Drayton

  • Drayton State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Darling Heights Drayton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 17 15
Childcare 3 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Darling Heights Drayton
Walkability score 39/100 36/100
Distance to Brisbane 132.5 km 132.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 110 min 107 min
Public transport score 74/100
Bus
 57/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 58.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 4350
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 4350
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.

Darling Heights Drayton
Car (driver) 80.6% / 84.6%
Darling Heights — Car (driver): 80.6% Drayton — Car (driver): 84.6%
Car (passenger) 8.6% / 7.4%
Darling Heights — Car (passenger): 8.6% Drayton — Car (passenger): 7.4%
Worked from Home 5.4% / 5.5%
Darling Heights — Worked from Home: 5.4% Drayton — Worked from Home: 5.5%
Walked Only 2.8% / 2.0%
Darling Heights — Walked Only: 2.8% Drayton — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 1.9% / 0.5%
Darling Heights — Bus: 1.9% Drayton — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.6%).

Setting

Darling Heights Drayton
Elevation 687 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 611 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Darling Heights Drayton
Connectivity score 71/100 57/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
2,123 premises
 23%
966 premises

Climate

Darling Heights Drayton
Annual rainfall 643 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Darling Heights Drayton
PM2.5 2.4 µg/m³ 4.9 µg/m³
PM10 3.8 µg/m³ 12.0 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Darling Heights Drayton
Average residential rate $1,618/yr
same for both
Council Toowoomba
same for both

Federal electorate

Darling Heights Drayton
Division Groom
same for both
Member Garth Hamilton
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Darling Heights Drayton
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Darling Heights

Parks

Drayton

Parks

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Drayton

Drayton vs Harristown Drayton vs Glenvale Drayton vs Westbrook Drayton vs Finnie
Full data on Darling Heights Full data on Drayton
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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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