Deception Bay vs North Lakes

North Lakes is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 40 in Deception Bay. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In North Lakes, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in North Lakes: a median of $1 million, against $840,000 in Deception Bay, and rent is higher there too. North Lakes is closer to the city centre: 30.9 km, against 36.4 km. On these figures, Deception Bay tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while North Lakes 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

North Lakes

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (36 vs 16)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 59%)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 11)
  • But Deception Bay has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Deception Bay

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($840,000 vs $1,000,000)
  • has cheaper units ($620,000 vs $691,000)
  • But North Lakes 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

  • Deception Bay has cheaper rent ($325/wk vs $420/wk)
  • North Lakes leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Deception Bay is more walkable (50/100 vs 38/100)
  • North Lakes sits closer to the CBD (30.9 km vs 36.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Deception Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (50/100 vs 38/100)

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

Investors

North Lakes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.3% vs -1.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Deception Bay North Lakes
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.

Deception Bay North Lakes
Walkability 50 / 38
Deception Bay — Walkability: 50/100 North Lakes — Walkability: 38/100
Safety 25 / 31
Deception Bay — Safety: 25/100 North Lakes — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Deception Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Lakes — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Lakes has higher household incomes ($108,784 vs $66,040); North Lakes rents higher ($420/wk vs $325/wk).

Deception Bay North Lakes
Population 19,573 23,030
+18% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.4% +6.3%
Median age 40 35
Median household income $66,040/yr $108,784/yr
+65% vs other
Median weekly rent $325/wk $420/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Deception Bay North Lakes
0-4 5.6% / 6.8%
Deception Bay — 0-4: 5.6% North Lakes — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 13.9% / 17.1%
Deception Bay — 5-14: 13.9% North Lakes — 5-14: 17.1%
15-19 6.6% / 7.6%
Deception Bay — 15-19: 6.6% North Lakes — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 6.1% / 5.7%
Deception Bay — 20-24: 6.1% North Lakes — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 10.9% / 12.7%
Deception Bay — 25-34: 10.9% North Lakes — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 12.5% / 15.9%
Deception Bay — 35-44: 12.5% North Lakes — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 13.0% / 14.7%
Deception Bay — 45-54: 13.0% North Lakes — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 12.4% / 8.4%
Deception Bay — 55-64: 12.4% North Lakes — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 10.9% / 5.9%
Deception Bay — 65-74: 10.9% North Lakes — 65-74: 5.9%
75-84 5.9% / 3.9%
Deception Bay — 75-84: 5.9% North Lakes — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 2.2% / 1.4%
Deception Bay — 85+: 2.2% North Lakes — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Deception Bay 34.4% couple families
Deception Bay — Couple Families: 34.4% Deception Bay — Lone Person: 34.7% Deception Bay — One Parent Families: 24.7% Deception Bay — Group Household: 4.3% Deception Bay — Other Families: 1.9%
North Lakes 57.7% couple families
North Lakes — Couple Families: 57.7% North Lakes — Lone Person: 20.5% North Lakes — One Parent Families: 17.9% North Lakes — Group Household: 2.9% North Lakes — 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.

Deception Bay 39.9% renting
Deception Bay — Owned Outright: 25.7% Deception Bay — Mortgage: 34.4% Deception Bay — Renting: 39.9%
North Lakes 38.7% renting
North Lakes — Owned Outright: 18.2% North Lakes — Mortgage: 43.1% North Lakes — Renting: 38.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Deception Bay North Lakes
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 14.5%
Deception Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% North Lakes — Certificate III & IV: 14.5%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 12.6%
Deception Bay — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% North Lakes — Bachelor Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 9.4%
Deception Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% North Lakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 3.9%
Deception Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% North Lakes — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.8%
Deception Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% North Lakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

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

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.

Deception Bay North Lakes
New Zealand 6.3% / 7.1%
Deception Bay — New Zealand: 6.3% North Lakes — New Zealand: 7.1%
England 3.9% / 6.3%
Deception Bay — England: 3.9% North Lakes — England: 6.3%
South Africa 0.6% / 3.6%
Deception Bay — South Africa: 0.6% North Lakes — South Africa: 3.6%
Philippines 1.4% / 1.7%
Deception Bay — Philippines: 1.4% North Lakes — Philippines: 1.7%
India — / 3.0%
Deception Bay — India: not among its largest North Lakes — India: 3.0%
Fiji 0.4% / 0.7%
Deception Bay — Fiji: 0.4% North Lakes — Fiji: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Deception Bay 84.1% houses
Deception Bay — Houses: 84.1% Deception Bay — Townhouses: 9.6% Deception Bay — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
North Lakes 84.9% houses
North Lakes — Houses: 84.9% North Lakes — Townhouses: 12.0% North Lakes — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Deception Bay North Lakes
Median house price $840,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price $620,000 $691,000
Median land price $1,200,000 $1,148,056
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 200 sales
 26 days
from 302 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Deception Bay North Lakes
2 bed $630K / $685K
Deception Bay — 2 bed: $630K (16 sales) North Lakes — 2 bed: $685K (5 sales)

16 vs 5 sales

3 bed $628K / $645K
Deception Bay — 3 bed: $628K (12 sales) North Lakes — 3 bed: $645K (9 sales)

12 vs 9 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.

Deception Bay North Lakes
3 bed $801K / $900K
Deception Bay — 3 bed: $801K (183 sales) North Lakes — 3 bed: $900K (128 sales)

183 vs 128 sales

4 bed $900K / $1.02M
Deception Bay — 4 bed: $900K (102 sales) North Lakes — 4 bed: $1.02M (303 sales)

102 vs 303 sales

5 bed $1.09M / $1.38M
Deception Bay — 5 bed: $1.09M (20 sales) North Lakes — 5 bed: $1.38M (53 sales)

20 vs 53 sales

Development activity

Deception Bay North Lakes
New dwellings approved 6,996
across Moreton Bay
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
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.

Deception Bay North Lakes
Houses 3.7%
$610/wk on $850K
 3.8%
$700/wk on $949K
Units 4.5%
$565/wk on $650K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Deception Bay North Lakes
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 31% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
Schools Higher than 47% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 55% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of QLD Higher than 43% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of QLD —

Liveability

Deception Bay is more walkable (50 vs 38); North Lakes scores higher overall (53 vs 42).

Deception Bay North Lakes
Grade C B
Score 42/100 53/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Deception Bay North Lakes
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
75/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
65/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Deception Bay North Lakes
Inside the suburb 9 4
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 4 3
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Moreton Bay, 9.9 km
 1
UniSC Moreton Bay, 6.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.8% 2.1%

Schools in Deception Bay

  • Christ the King Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Deception Bay State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Deception Bay North State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Deception Bay State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Moreton Downs State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Arethusa College Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers

Schools in North Lakes

  • The Lakes College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Bounty Boulevard State School Government · Primary below peers
  • North Lakes State College Government · Combined below peers
  • Y Schools Queensland - Moreton Bay Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Deception Bay North Lakes
Supermarkets 5
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 12 41
Parks & reserves 16 36
Childcare 11 14
GPs 9 8
Pharmacies 3 6
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 10
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 9 23

Mobility

Deception Bay sits further from the CBD (36.4 km vs 30.9 km).

Deception Bay North Lakes
Walkability score 50/100 38/100
Distance to Brisbane 36.4 km
+15% vs other
 30.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 43 min 40 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 130.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 157.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4508
 1.7%
postcode 4509
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 59
postcode 4508
 65
postcode 4509

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.

Deception Bay North Lakes
Car (driver) 77.9% / 70.0%
Deception Bay — Car (driver): 77.9% North Lakes — Car (driver): 70.0%
Worked from Home 10.2% / 18.7%
Deception Bay — Worked from Home: 10.2% North Lakes — Worked from Home: 18.7%
Car (passenger) 6.4% / 4.9%
Deception Bay — Car (passenger): 6.4% North Lakes — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train 2.5% / 4.4%
Deception Bay — Train: 2.5% North Lakes — Train: 4.4%
Walked Only 1.6% / 1.2%
Deception Bay — Walked Only: 1.6% North Lakes — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.9%).

Setting

Deception Bay North Lakes
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.4 km 3.7 km

NBN connectivity

Deception Bay North Lakes
Connectivity score 73/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
8,407 premises
 59%
9,612 premises

Climate

Deception Bay North Lakes
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)

Deception Bay North Lakes
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Deception Bay North Lakes
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Moreton Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Deception Bay North Lakes
Division Petrie
same for both
Member Emma Comer
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Deception Bay North Lakes
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Deception Bay

Coastal Outer Parks

North Lakes

Family Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Deception Bay

Deception Bay vs Narangba Deception Bay vs Burpengary Deception Bay vs Burpengary East Deception Bay vs Rothwell

Other comparisons with North Lakes

North Lakes vs Kallangur North Lakes vs Narangba North Lakes vs Mango Hill North Lakes vs Rothwell North Lakes vs Dakabin
Full data on Deception Bay Full data on North Lakes
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