Helensvale vs Arundel

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Helensvale, most households are couple families. In Arundel, about half of households are couple families.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Helensvale has more parks and reserves (66 vs 16)
  • Arundel has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

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

Arundel

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 47/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Arundel

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 47/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 75/100)
  • But Helensvale has more GPs (8 vs 2)

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

Investors

Helensvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Helensvale Arundel
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.

Helensvale Arundel
Walkability 47 / 58
Helensvale — Walkability: 47/100 Arundel — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 25 / 39
Helensvale — Safety: 25/100 Arundel — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Helensvale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Arundel — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Helensvale has more residents (18,949 vs 11,171); Helensvale has higher household incomes ($104,728 vs $87,464).

Helensvale Arundel
Population 18,949
+41% vs other
 11,171
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.4% +9.0%
Median age 41
same for both
Median household income $104,728/yr
+16% vs other
 $87,464/yr
Median weekly rent $495/wk
+5% vs other
 $470/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Helensvale Arundel
0-4 5.2% / 5.2%
Helensvale — 0-4: 5.2% Arundel — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 13.0% / 11.8%
Helensvale — 5-14: 13.0% Arundel — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 7.3% / 5.8%
Helensvale — 15-19: 7.3% Arundel — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.9% / 6.8%
Helensvale — 20-24: 5.9% Arundel — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 10.6% / 11.8%
Helensvale — 25-34: 10.6% Arundel — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 13.0% / 12.8%
Helensvale — 35-44: 13.0% Arundel — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 15.4% / 13.2%
Helensvale — 45-54: 15.4% Arundel — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 12.4% / 12.2%
Helensvale — 55-64: 12.4% Arundel — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 9.4% / 10.6%
Helensvale — 65-74: 9.4% Arundel — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 5.5% / 7.4%
Helensvale — 75-84: 5.5% Arundel — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 2.3% / 2.2%
Helensvale — 85+: 2.3% Arundel — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Helensvale 55.4% couple families
Helensvale — Couple Families: 55.4% Helensvale — Lone Person: 23.0% Helensvale — One Parent Families: 16.5% Helensvale — Group Household: 3.7% Helensvale — Other Families: 1.5%
Arundel 47.6% couple families
Arundel — Couple Families: 47.6% Arundel — Lone Person: 25.9% Arundel — One Parent Families: 19.1% Arundel — Group Household: 5.9% Arundel — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Helensvale 19.8% renting
Helensvale — Owned Outright: 32.3% Helensvale — Mortgage: 48.0% Helensvale — Renting: 19.8%
Arundel 28.4% renting
Arundel — Owned Outright: 34.2% Arundel — Mortgage: 37.4% Arundel — Renting: 28.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Helensvale Arundel
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 14.2%
Helensvale — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Arundel — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Bachelor Degree 11.9% / 13.2%
Helensvale — Bachelor Degree: 11.9% Arundel — Bachelor Degree: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 8.6%
Helensvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Arundel — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 5.2%
Helensvale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Arundel — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.6%
Helensvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Arundel — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

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.

Helensvale Arundel
New Zealand 7.7% / 8.0%
Helensvale — New Zealand: 7.7% Arundel — New Zealand: 8.0%
England 7.7% / 5.3%
Helensvale — England: 7.7% Arundel — England: 5.3%
China 2.3% / 3.1%
Helensvale — China: 2.3% Arundel — China: 3.1%
South Africa 1.7% / 1.4%
Helensvale — South Africa: 1.7% Arundel — South Africa: 1.4%
India 0.9% / 1.9%
Helensvale — India: 0.9% Arundel — India: 1.9%
Philippines 0.7% / 1.5%
Helensvale — Philippines: 0.7% Arundel — Philippines: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Helensvale 81.3% houses
Helensvale — Houses: 81.3% Helensvale — Townhouses: 14.4% Helensvale — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Arundel 82.7% houses
Arundel — Houses: 82.7% Arundel — Townhouses: 16.1% Arundel — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Helensvale Arundel
Median house price $1,359,000 $1,260,000
Median unit price $759,500 $778,500
Median land price $1,600,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 212 sales
 24 days
from 103 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.

Helensvale Arundel
3 bed $1.03M / $990K
Helensvale — 3 bed: $1.03M (67 sales) Arundel — 3 bed: $990K (58 sales)

67 vs 58 sales

4 bed $1.4M / $1.3M
Helensvale — 4 bed: $1.4M (169 sales) Arundel — 4 bed: $1.3M (98 sales)

169 vs 98 sales

5 bed $1.95M / $1.63M
Helensvale — 5 bed: $1.95M (65 sales) Arundel — 5 bed: $1.63M (30 sales)

65 vs 30 sales

6 bed $2.48M / $1.89M
Helensvale — 6 bed: $2.48M (10 sales) Arundel — 6 bed: $1.89M (6 sales)

10 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Helensvale Arundel
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
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.

Helensvale Arundel
Houses 5.0%
$1,200/wk on $1.25M
 3.8%
$880/wk on $1.2M
Units 5.5%
$850/wk on $797K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Helensvale Arundel
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 42% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 81% of QLD —

Liveability

Arundel is more walkable (58 vs 47).

Helensvale Arundel
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 63/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Helensvale carries more crime risk (75 vs 61).

Helensvale Arundel
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
75/100
 Moderate
61/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Helensvale Arundel
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
Gold Coast, 5.5 km

Schools in Helensvale

  • Helensvale State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Helensvale State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Arundel

  • A B Paterson College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Arundel State School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Helensvale Arundel
Supermarkets 6 0
Cafes & restaurants 8 0
Parks & reserves 66 16
Childcare 9 6
GPs 8 2
Pharmacies 4 1
Banks & Bank@Post 12 0
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

Helensvale Arundel
Walkability score 47/100 58/100
Distance to Brisbane 65.9 km 67.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 53 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 148.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 115.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 4212
 1.5%
postcode 4214
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 73
postcode 4212
 69
postcode 4214

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.

Helensvale Arundel
Car (driver) 73.8% / 75.0%
Helensvale — Car (driver): 73.8% Arundel — Car (driver): 75.0%
Worked from Home 17.5% / 13.8%
Helensvale — Worked from Home: 17.5% Arundel — Worked from Home: 13.8%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 5.7%
Helensvale — Car (passenger): 4.6% Arundel — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Train 1.5% / 1.3%
Helensvale — Train: 1.5% Arundel — Train: 1.3%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.6%
Helensvale — Walked Only: 1.0% Arundel — Walked Only: 1.6%
Tram / Light Rail 1.0% / 0.9%
Helensvale — Tram / Light Rail: 1.0% Arundel — Tram / Light Rail: 0.9%
Bus 0.5% / 1.4%
Helensvale — Bus: 0.5% Arundel — Bus: 1.4%

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

Setting

Helensvale Arundel
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.9 km 4.4 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Helensvale Arundel
Connectivity score 73/100 86/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
8,208 premises
 43%
5,473 premises

Climate

Helensvale Arundel
Annual rainfall 1,351 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Helensvale Arundel
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³ 5.4 µg/m³
PM10 14.5 µg/m³ 19.3 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.42 pphm 0.91 pphm

Council rates

Helensvale Arundel
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Helensvale Arundel
Division Fadden
same for both
Member Cameron Caldwell
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Helensvale Arundel
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Helensvale

Parks Regional Centre Trams

Arundel

Parks Regional Centre Trams

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Helensvale

Helensvale vs Upper Coomera Helensvale vs Coomera Helensvale vs Hope Island Helensvale vs Oxenford Helensvale vs Coombabah Helensvale vs Paradise Point

Other comparisons with Arundel

Arundel vs Southport Arundel vs Labrador Arundel vs Coombabah Arundel vs Biggera Waters Arundel vs Parkwood Arundel vs Molendinar
Full data on Helensvale Full data on Arundel
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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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