Darra vs Wacol

In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Darra, most households own their home. In Wacol, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Darra: a median of $948,000, against $848,000 in Wacol, and rent is higher there too. Darra is closer to the city centre: 17.9 km, against 21 km. On these figures, Darra tends to suit families with children, while Wacol suits young adults.

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

Darra

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 7)
  • But Wacol has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Wacol

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($650,000 vs $1,095,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($847,500 vs $947,500)
  • But Darra has cheaper land ($730,000 vs $1,615,625)

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

Renters

Wacol

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Darra

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 52/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (17.9 km vs 21 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Darra

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 5%)
  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 52/100)

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

Investors

Wacol

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs -5.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Darra Wacol
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.

Darra Wacol
Walkability 70 / 52
Darra — Walkability: 70/100 Wacol — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 11 / 8
Darra — Safety: 11/100 Wacol — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Darra — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wacol — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Darra has higher household incomes ($81,120 vs $71,708).

Darra Wacol
Population 4,098 4,253
+4% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.6% +13.1%
Median age 36 35
Median household income $81,120/yr
+12% vs other
 $71,708/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+9% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darra Wacol
0-4 6.3% / 0.8%
Darra — 0-4: 6.3% Wacol — 0-4: 0.8%
5-14 12.2% / 2.0%
Darra — 5-14: 12.2% Wacol — 5-14: 2.0%
15-19 5.4% / 4.6%
Darra — 15-19: 5.4% Wacol — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.3% / 9.5%
Darra — 20-24: 6.3% Wacol — 20-24: 9.5%
25-34 17.5% / 31.2%
Darra — 25-34: 17.5% Wacol — 25-34: 31.2%
35-44 15.2% / 27.1%
Darra — 35-44: 15.2% Wacol — 35-44: 27.1%
45-54 13.5% / 13.7%
Darra — 45-54: 13.5% Wacol — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 10.9% / 6.4%
Darra — 55-64: 10.9% Wacol — 55-64: 6.4%
65-74 8.3% / 3.0%
Darra — 65-74: 8.3% Wacol — 65-74: 3.0%
75-84 3.3% / 1.5%
Darra — 75-84: 3.3% Wacol — 75-84: 1.5%
85+ 1.1% / 0.4%
Darra — 85+: 1.1% Wacol — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darra 40.1% couple families
Darra — Couple Families: 40.1% Darra — Lone Person: 31.1% Darra — One Parent Families: 19.4% Darra — Group Household: 6.4% Darra — Other Families: 3.1%
Wacol 27.7% couple families
Wacol — Couple Families: 27.7% Wacol — Lone Person: 31.6% Wacol — One Parent Families: 26.8% Wacol — Group Household: 10.8% Wacol — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Darra 43.4% renting
Darra — Owned Outright: 25.6% Darra — Mortgage: 31.0% Darra — Renting: 43.4%
Wacol 47.1% renting
Wacol — Owned Outright: 29.3% Wacol — Mortgage: 23.6% Wacol — Renting: 47.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darra Wacol
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 7.9%
Darra — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Wacol — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 8.2%
Darra — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Wacol — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 1.0%
Darra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Wacol — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 0.4%
Darra — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Wacol — Postgraduate Degree: 0.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 0.2%
Darra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Wacol — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.2%).

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.

Darra Wacol
Vietnam 14.6% / 0.9%
Darra — Vietnam: 14.6% Wacol — Vietnam: 0.9%
New Zealand 3.1% / 5.1%
Darra — New Zealand: 3.1% Wacol — New Zealand: 5.1%
England 1.6% / 1.9%
Darra — England: 1.6% Wacol — England: 1.9%
India 2.6% / 0.4%
Darra — India: 2.6% Wacol — India: 0.4%
Philippines 1.6% / 0.8%
Darra — Philippines: 1.6% Wacol — Philippines: 0.8%
Fiji 0.7% / 0.4%
Darra — Fiji: 0.7% Wacol — Fiji: 0.4%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Darra 88.6% houses
Darra — Houses: 88.6% Darra — Townhouses: 9.6% Darra — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Wacol 82.4% houses
Wacol — Houses: 82.4% Wacol — Townhouses: 17.0% Wacol — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Darra Wacol
Median house price $947,500 $847,500
Median unit price $1,095,000 $650,000
Median land price $730,000 $1,615,625
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 40 sales
 32 days
from 3 sales

Development activity

Darra Wacol
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.

Darra Wacol
Houses 4.1%
$650/wk on $819K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Darra Wacol
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 51% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 44% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 87% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 61% of QLD —

Liveability

Darra scores higher overall (47 vs 32); Darra is more walkable (70 vs 52).

Darra Wacol
Grade C D
Score 47/100 32/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Darra Wacol
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 High
92/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Darra Wacol
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
St Lucia Campus, 9.3 km
 None

Schools in Darra

  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Darra State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Wacol

  • Carole Park State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brisbane Youth Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school
  • Wacol Youth Remand Education Support Hub Government · Combined · Special school
  • West Moreton Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Darra Wacol
Supermarkets 2 0
Parks & reserves 11 7
Childcare 6 2
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 11 8

Mobility

Wacol sits further from the CBD (21 km vs 17.9 km).

Darra Wacol
Walkability score 70/100 52/100
Distance to Brisbane 17.9 km 21 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 25 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 81/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 50.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 44.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4076
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 68
postcode 4076
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.

Darra Wacol
Car (driver) 65.2% / 65.7%
Darra — Car (driver): 65.2% Wacol — Car (driver): 65.7%
Worked from Home 17.3% / 12.6%
Darra — Worked from Home: 17.3% Wacol — Worked from Home: 12.6%
Train 8.9% / 10.1%
Darra — Train: 8.9% Wacol — Train: 10.1%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 7.2%
Darra — Car (passenger): 5.7% Wacol — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Walked Only 1.8% / 3.2%
Darra — Walked Only: 1.8% Wacol — Walked Only: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.7%).

Setting

Darra Wacol
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.6 km 26.3 km

NBN connectivity

Darra Wacol
Connectivity score 76/100 93/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
2,395 premises
 85%
993 premises

Climate

Darra Wacol
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)

Darra Wacol
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.99 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Darra Wacol
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Darra Wacol
Division Oxley
same for both
Member Milton Dick
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Darra Wacol
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Darra

Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Trains Transport Hub

Wacol

Middle-Ring Multicultural Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darra

Darra vs Inala Darra vs Oxley Darra vs Sinnamon Park Darra vs Richlands Darra vs Jamboree Heights Darra vs Seventeen Mile Rocks

Other comparisons with Wacol

Wacol vs Forest Lake Wacol vs Goodna Wacol vs Richlands Wacol vs Moggill Wacol vs Riverhills Wacol vs Ellen Grove
Full data on Darra Full data on Wacol
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or