Fernvale vs Wivenhoe Pocket

Fernvale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 47 in Wivenhoe Pocket. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Fernvale tends to suit families with children, while Wivenhoe Pocket suits 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

Fernvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fernvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 13%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fernvale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (61.8 km vs 65.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fernvale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Wivenhoe Pocket has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Fernvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs -5.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
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.

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Walkability 22 / 0
Fernvale — Walkability: 22/100 Wivenhoe Pocket — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 37 / 43
Fernvale — Safety: 37/100 Wivenhoe Pocket — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Fernvale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wivenhoe Pocket — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fernvale has more residents (3,629 vs 417); Wivenhoe Pocket skews older (47 vs 35).

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Population 3,629
+89% vs other
 417
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.1% -5.2%
Median age 35 47
Median household income $92,092/yr
+11% vs other
 $81,692/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+7% vs other
 $325/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
0-4 7.1% / 2.2%
Fernvale — 0-4: 7.1% Wivenhoe Pocket — 0-4: 2.2%
5-14 18.7% / 15.8%
Fernvale — 5-14: 18.7% Wivenhoe Pocket — 5-14: 15.8%
15-19 6.4% / 5.5%
Fernvale — 15-19: 6.4% Wivenhoe Pocket — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.0% / 2.6%
Fernvale — 20-24: 4.0% Wivenhoe Pocket — 20-24: 2.6%
25-34 12.6% / 5.8%
Fernvale — 25-34: 12.6% Wivenhoe Pocket — 25-34: 5.8%
35-44 15.0% / 13.2%
Fernvale — 35-44: 15.0% Wivenhoe Pocket — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 13.4% / 16.1%
Fernvale — 45-54: 13.4% Wivenhoe Pocket — 45-54: 16.1%
55-64 11.0% / 14.6%
Fernvale — 55-64: 11.0% Wivenhoe Pocket — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 8.3% / 16.8%
Fernvale — 65-74: 8.3% Wivenhoe Pocket — 65-74: 16.8%
75-84 2.8% / 3.4%
Fernvale — 75-84: 2.8% Wivenhoe Pocket — 75-84: 3.4%
85+ 0.6% / 1.0%
Fernvale — 85+: 0.6% Wivenhoe Pocket — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fernvale 54.3% couple families
Fernvale — Couple Families: 54.3% Fernvale — Lone Person: 21.7% Fernvale — One Parent Families: 20.0% Fernvale — Group Household: 2.8% Fernvale — Other Families: 1.2%
Wivenhoe Pocket 53.3% couple families
Wivenhoe Pocket — Couple Families: 53.3% Wivenhoe Pocket — Lone Person: 27.8% Wivenhoe Pocket — One Parent Families: 14.4% Wivenhoe Pocket — Group Household: 4.4% Wivenhoe Pocket — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fernvale 23.5% renting
Fernvale — Owned Outright: 24.9% Fernvale — Mortgage: 51.6% Fernvale — Renting: 23.5%
Wivenhoe Pocket 12.8% renting
Wivenhoe Pocket — Owned Outright: 44.0% Wivenhoe Pocket — Mortgage: 43.3% Wivenhoe Pocket — Renting: 12.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Certificate III & IV 20.1% / 18.5%
Fernvale — Certificate III & IV: 20.1% Wivenhoe Pocket — Certificate III & IV: 18.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 9.1%
Fernvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Wivenhoe Pocket — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Bachelor Degree 5.8% / 6.2%
Fernvale — Bachelor Degree: 5.8% Wivenhoe Pocket — Bachelor Degree: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 2.4%
Fernvale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Wivenhoe Pocket — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 0.7%
Fernvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Wivenhoe Pocket — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
England 3.1% / 3.6%
Fernvale — England: 3.1% Wivenhoe Pocket — England: 3.6%
New Zealand 4.5% / 1.4%
Fernvale — New Zealand: 4.5% Wivenhoe Pocket — New Zealand: 1.4%
Germany 0.3% / 0.7%
Fernvale — Germany: 0.3% Wivenhoe Pocket — Germany: 0.7%
Fiji — / 0.7%
Fernvale — Fiji: not among its largest Wivenhoe Pocket — Fiji: 0.7%
South Africa 0.5% / —
Fernvale — South Africa: 0.5% Wivenhoe Pocket — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / —
Fernvale — Philippines: 0.4% Wivenhoe Pocket — Philippines: not among its largest
Scotland 0.3% / —
Fernvale — Scotland: 0.3% Wivenhoe Pocket — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fernvale 99.1% houses
Fernvale — Houses: 99.1% Fernvale — Townhouses: 0.8% Fernvale — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Wivenhoe Pocket 92.6% houses
Wivenhoe Pocket — Houses: 92.6% Wivenhoe Pocket — Townhouses: 6.1% Wivenhoe Pocket — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Median house price $835,000 $902,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $591,805 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 46 sales
 —

Development activity

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
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.

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Houses 4.2%
$680/wk on $850K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 65% of QLD Higher than 53% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 32% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 86% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 56% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 62% of QLD —

Liveability

Fernvale is more walkable (22 vs 0).

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Grade B —
Score 50/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
57/100
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 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
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 Fernvale

  • Fernvale State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Wivenhoe Pocket

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

Amenities in the suburb

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 4 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 10 4

Mobility

Wivenhoe Pocket sits further from the CBD (65.4 km vs 61.8 km).

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Walkability score 22/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 61.8 km 65.4 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 59 min
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4306
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.

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Car (driver) 80.7% / 72.9%
Fernvale — Car (driver): 80.7% Wivenhoe Pocket — Car (driver): 72.9%
Worked from Home 11.4% / 18.1%
Fernvale — Worked from Home: 11.4% Wivenhoe Pocket — Worked from Home: 18.1%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 3.6%
Fernvale — Car (passenger): 5.2% Wivenhoe Pocket — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 1.4% / 5.4%
Fernvale — Walked Only: 1.4% Wivenhoe Pocket — Walked Only: 5.4%
Train 1.0% / —
Fernvale — Train: 1.0% Wivenhoe Pocket — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.7%).

Setting

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Elevation 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 40.9 km 43.9 km

NBN connectivity

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Connectivity score 75/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
1,536 premises
 0%
177 premises

Climate

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Annual rainfall — 897 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 31.3°C
Winter min (Jul) — 6.1°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.64 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Average residential rate $1,063/yr
same for both
Council Somerset
same for both

Federal electorate

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Division Blair
same for both
Member Shayne Neumann
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fernvale Wivenhoe Pocket
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Fernvale

Acreage Family Outer Quiet

Wivenhoe Pocket

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fernvale

Fernvale vs Vernor Fernvale vs Fairney View Fernvale vs Borallon

Other comparisons with Wivenhoe Pocket

Wivenhoe Pocket vs Lowood Wivenhoe Pocket vs Vernor Wivenhoe Pocket vs Patrick Estate
Full data on Fernvale Full data on Wivenhoe Pocket
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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