Esk vs Biarra

Biarra is the younger of the two, with a median age of 54 against 58 in Esk. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Esk, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Esk tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

Biarra

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 58/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 38%)
  • But Esk has more parks and reserves (7 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Esk

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 36%)

Weighs 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

Esk

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (81 min vs 102 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (101 km vs 119.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Esk

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (37% vs 26%)
  • But Biarra carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 58/100)

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

Investors

Biarra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.1% vs -3.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Esk Biarra
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.

Esk Biarra
Walkability 17 / 0
Esk — Walkability: 17/100 Biarra — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 42 / 75
Esk — Safety: 42/100 Biarra — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 100 / 39
Esk — Low fire risk: 100/100 Biarra — Low fire risk: 39/100

Demographics

Esk has more residents (1,641 vs 270); Biarra has higher household incomes ($54,600 vs $47,320).

Esk Biarra
Population 1,641
+84% vs other
 270
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.4% +5.1%
Median age 58 54
Median household income $47,320/yr $54,600/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $260/wk
+4% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Esk Biarra
0-4 2.6% / 3.7%
Esk — 0-4: 2.6% Biarra — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 7.9% / 10.4%
Esk — 5-14: 7.9% Biarra — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 4.3% / 8.1%
Esk — 15-19: 4.3% Biarra — 15-19: 8.1%
20-24 2.9% / 2.2%
Esk — 20-24: 2.9% Biarra — 20-24: 2.2%
25-34 6.1% / 5.6%
Esk — 25-34: 6.1% Biarra — 25-34: 5.6%
35-44 7.9% / 7.0%
Esk — 35-44: 7.9% Biarra — 35-44: 7.0%
45-54 12.1% / 11.9%
Esk — 45-54: 12.1% Biarra — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 18.7% / 21.5%
Esk — 55-64: 18.7% Biarra — 55-64: 21.5%
65-74 23.1% / 13.7%
Esk — 65-74: 23.1% Biarra — 65-74: 13.7%
75-84 11.8% / 12.2%
Esk — 75-84: 11.8% Biarra — 75-84: 12.2%
85+ 2.3% / —
Esk — 85+: 2.3% Biarra — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Esk 54.0% lone person
Esk — Lone Person: 54.0% Esk — Couple Families: 24.2% Esk — One Parent Families: 13.4% Esk — Group Household: 7.3% Esk — Other Families: 1.1%
Biarra 33.9% lone person
Biarra — Lone Person: 33.9% Biarra — Couple Families: 37.1% Biarra — One Parent Families: 19.4% Biarra — Group Household: 9.7% Biarra — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Esk 19.8% renting
Esk — Owned Outright: 52.3% Esk — Mortgage: 27.9% Esk — Renting: 19.8%
Biarra 19.8% renting
Biarra — Owned Outright: 48.5% Biarra — Mortgage: 31.7% Biarra — Renting: 19.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Esk Biarra
England 6.0% / 5.9%
Esk — England: 6.0% Biarra — England: 5.9%
New Zealand 3.6% / 1.1%
Esk — New Zealand: 3.6% Biarra — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.1%
Esk — Philippines: 0.8% Biarra — Philippines: 1.1%
Germany 1.0% / —
Esk — Germany: 1.0% Biarra — Germany: not among its largest
Scotland 0.9% / —
Esk — Scotland: 0.9% Biarra — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

Qualifications

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

Esk Biarra
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 14.8%
Esk — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Biarra — Certificate III & IV: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 5.9%
Esk — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Biarra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Bachelor Degree 6.2% / 7.4%
Esk — Bachelor Degree: 6.2% Biarra — Bachelor Degree: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / —
Esk — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Biarra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / —
Esk — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Biarra — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Esk 92.2% houses
Esk — Houses: 92.2% Esk — Flats / Apartments: 6.5% Esk — Townhouses: 1.3%
Biarra 100.0% houses
Biarra — Houses: 100.0% Biarra — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Biarra — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Esk Biarra
Median house price $620,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $472,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 61 days
from 24 sales
 —

Development activity

Esk Biarra
New dwellings approved 363
across Somerset
same for both
Approvals change year on year +375%
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.

Esk Biarra
Houses 4.4%
$550/wk on $649K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Esk Biarra
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 10% of QLD Higher than 17% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 16% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 54% of QLD Higher than 12% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 34% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of QLD —

Liveability

Esk is more walkable (17 vs 0).

Esk Biarra
Grade C —
Score 41/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Biarra carries more bushfire risk (61 vs 0); Esk carries more crime risk (58 vs 25).

Esk Biarra
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
61/100
Crime Moderate
58/100
 Low
25/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Esk Biarra
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Esk

  • Esk State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Biarra

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

Amenities in the suburb

Esk Biarra
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 7 2
Childcare 1 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 24 37

Mobility

Biarra sits further from the CBD (119.9 km vs 101 km).

Esk Biarra
Walkability score 17/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 101 km 119.9 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 102 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4312
 0.1%
postcode 4313
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 91
postcode 4312
 73
postcode 4313

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.

Esk Biarra
Car (driver) 75.0% / 63.5%
Esk — Car (driver): 75.0% Biarra — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 9.6% / 29.4%
Esk — Worked from Home: 9.6% Biarra — Worked from Home: 29.4%
Car (passenger) 7.2% / 7.1%
Esk — Car (passenger): 7.2% Biarra — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Walked Only 7.4% / —
Esk — Walked Only: 7.4% Biarra — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 0.9% / —
Esk — Bicycle: 0.9% Biarra — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.0%).

Setting

Esk Biarra
Elevation 123 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 150 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Esk Biarra
Connectivity score 67/100 26/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
992 premises
 0%
131 premises

Climate

Esk Biarra
Annual rainfall 950 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Esk Biarra
Average residential rate $1,063/yr
same for both
Council Somerset
same for both

Federal electorate

Esk Biarra
Division Blair
same for both
Member Shayne Neumann
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Esk Biarra
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Esk

Acreage Affordable Retirees

Biarra

Retirees River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Esk

Esk vs Mount Hallen Esk vs Redbank Creek Esk vs Glen Esk Esk vs Coal Creek

Other comparisons with Biarra

Biarra vs Toogoolawah Biarra vs Ravensbourne Biarra vs Redbank Creek Biarra vs Ottaba Biarra vs Coal Creek
Full data on Esk Full data on Biarra
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.

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