Darling Heights vs Kearneys Spring

Darling Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 35 in Kearneys Spring. In both, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Kearneys Spring 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

Darling Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (79% vs 59%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (59% vs 49%)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 71/100)
  • But Kearneys Spring has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Darling Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 26%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Kearneys Spring

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 39/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (130 km vs 132.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kearneys Spring

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (41% vs 21%)
  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 39/100)
  • But Darling Heights carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 71/100)

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 3.4%)
  • Kearneys Spring is growing faster (10.1% vs -0.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Darling Heights and Kearneys Spring 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 Kearneys Spring
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 Kearneys Spring
Walkability 39 / 69
Darling Heights — Walkability: 39/100 Kearneys Spring — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 40 / 29
Darling Heights — Safety: 40/100 Kearneys Spring — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Darling Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kearneys Spring — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kearneys Spring has more residents (9,419 vs 5,157); Kearneys Spring skews older (35 vs 30).

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Population 5,157 9,419
+83% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.7% +10.1%
Median age 30 35
Median household income $76,388/yr
+9% vs other
 $69,420/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+3% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
0-4 6.3% / 7.1%
Darling Heights — 0-4: 6.3% Kearneys Spring — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 13.8% / 12.7%
Darling Heights — 5-14: 13.8% Kearneys Spring — 5-14: 12.7%
15-19 6.9% / 5.3%
Darling Heights — 15-19: 6.9% Kearneys Spring — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 11.3% / 6.5%
Darling Heights — 20-24: 11.3% Kearneys Spring — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 19.1% / 17.0%
Darling Heights — 25-34: 19.1% Kearneys Spring — 25-34: 17.0%
35-44 11.4% / 13.4%
Darling Heights — 35-44: 11.4% Kearneys Spring — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 8.4% / 9.2%
Darling Heights — 45-54: 8.4% Kearneys Spring — 45-54: 9.2%
55-64 8.7% / 8.3%
Darling Heights — 55-64: 8.7% Kearneys Spring — 55-64: 8.3%
65-74 8.2% / 9.5%
Darling Heights — 65-74: 8.2% Kearneys Spring — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 4.8% / 7.0%
Darling Heights — 75-84: 4.8% Kearneys Spring — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 1.2% / 4.2%
Darling Heights — 85+: 1.2% Kearneys Spring — 85+: 4.2%

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%
Kearneys Spring 44.1% lone person
Kearneys Spring — Lone Person: 44.1% Kearneys Spring — Couple Families: 32.3% Kearneys Spring — One Parent Families: 16.9% Kearneys Spring — Group Household: 5.1% Kearneys Spring — Other Families: 1.6%
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%
Kearneys Spring 45.3% renting
Kearneys Spring — Owned Outright: 28.4% Kearneys Spring — Mortgage: 26.2% Kearneys Spring — Renting: 45.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 13.4%
Darling Heights — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Kearneys Spring — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Bachelor Degree 11.9% / 12.8%
Darling Heights — Bachelor Degree: 11.9% Kearneys Spring — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 6.8%
Darling Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Kearneys Spring — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 5.1%
Darling Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Kearneys Spring — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.8%
Darling Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Kearneys Spring — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

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.

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
India 6.8% / 5.6%
Darling Heights — India: 6.8% Kearneys Spring — India: 5.6%
Nepal 3.1% / 2.8%
Darling Heights — Nepal: 3.1% Kearneys Spring — Nepal: 2.8%
Iraq 2.8% / 2.0%
Darling Heights — Iraq: 2.8% Kearneys Spring — Iraq: 2.0%
Philippines 2.0% / 1.2%
Darling Heights — Philippines: 2.0% Kearneys Spring — Philippines: 1.2%
England 1.1% / 1.6%
Darling Heights — England: 1.1% Kearneys Spring — England: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.4%
Darling Heights — New Zealand: 1.0% Kearneys Spring — New Zealand: 1.4%

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 — Townhouses: 8.1% Darling Heights — Flats / Apartments: 13.0%
Kearneys Spring 59.4% houses
Kearneys Spring — Houses: 59.4% Kearneys Spring — Townhouses: 34.1% Kearneys Spring — Flats / Apartments: 6.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Median house price $780,000 $832,500
Median unit price $585,000 $600,500
Median land price $835,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 18 sales
 27 days
from 84 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 Kearneys Spring
3 bed $750K / $720K
Darling Heights — 3 bed: $750K (23 sales) Kearneys Spring — 3 bed: $720K (66 sales)

23 vs 66 sales

4 bed $830K / $931K
Darling Heights — 4 bed: $830K (21 sales) Kearneys Spring — 4 bed: $931K (92 sales)

21 vs 92 sales

Development activity

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
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 Kearneys Spring
Houses 4.0%
$610/wk on $799K
 3.4%
$625/wk on $949K
Units — 4.1%
$470/wk on $599K

Ranking within QLD

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 47% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 91% 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 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 22% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 34% of QLD

Liveability

Kearneys Spring is more walkable (69 vs 39).

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Grade C B
Score 48/100 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kearneys Spring carries more crime risk (71 vs 60).

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
60/100
 High
71/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 5.8 km
 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.0% 1.5%

Schools in Darling Heights

  • Darling Heights State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Kearneys Spring

  • Highlands Christian College Independent · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 3 6
Parks & reserves 17 24
Childcare 3 5
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 5
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 1 4
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

Darling Heights sits further from the CBD (132.5 km vs 130 km).

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Walkability score 39/100 69/100
Distance to Brisbane 132.5 km
+2% vs other
 130 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 110 min 106 min
Public transport score 74/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 58.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 67.0
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 Kearneys Spring
Car (driver) 80.6% / 82.7%
Darling Heights — Car (driver): 80.6% Kearneys Spring — Car (driver): 82.7%
Car (passenger) 8.6% / 7.8%
Darling Heights — Car (passenger): 8.6% Kearneys Spring — Car (passenger): 7.8%
Worked from Home 5.4% / 6.2%
Darling Heights — Worked from Home: 5.4% Kearneys Spring — Worked from Home: 6.2%
Walked Only 2.8% / 1.7%
Darling Heights — Walked Only: 2.8% Kearneys Spring — Walked Only: 1.7%
Bus 1.9% / 1.0%
Darling Heights — Bus: 1.9% Kearneys Spring — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.7%).

Setting

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Elevation 687 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 669 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
Connectivity score 71/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
2,123 premises
 82%
4,642 premises

Climate

Darling Heights Kearneys Spring
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 Kearneys Spring
PM2.5 2.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 3.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

Tags

Darling Heights

Parks

Kearneys Spring

Parks Regional Centre Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darling Heights

Darling Heights vs Harristown Darling Heights vs Drayton Darling Heights vs Top Camp Darling Heights vs Mount Rascal Darling Heights vs Finnie

Other comparisons with Kearneys Spring

Kearneys Spring vs Harristown Kearneys Spring vs Middle Ridge Kearneys Spring vs Centenary Heights Kearneys Spring vs South Toowoomba Kearneys Spring vs Top Camp Kearneys Spring vs Preston
Full data on Darling Heights Full data on Kearneys Spring
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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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