Herston vs Wilston

Herston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 37 in Wilston. In Herston, most households rent. In Wilston, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wilston: a median of $2.03 million, against $1.72 million in Herston. Herston is closer to the city centre: 3.4 km, against 5.6 km. On these figures, Herston tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Wilston 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

Wilston

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (70% vs 43%)
  • carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

Herston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,720,000 vs $2,030,000)
  • has cheaper units ($720,000 vs $798,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Herston has a bigger rental market to choose from (60% vs 35%)
  • Wilston leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 19%)

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

  • Herston sits closer to the CBD (3.4 km vs 5.6 km)
  • Wilston gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 1%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Herston

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (57% vs 30%)
  • But Wilston carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 94/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Herston Wilston
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.

Herston Wilston
Walkability 82 / 79
Herston — Walkability: 82/100 Wilston — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 6 / 39
Herston — Safety: 6/100 Wilston — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Herston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wilston — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wilston has more residents (4,110 vs 2,311); Wilston has higher household incomes ($154,492 vs $108,472).

Herston Wilston
Population 2,311 4,110
+78% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.3% +4.4%
Median age 31 37
Median household income $108,472/yr $154,492/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $405/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Herston Wilston
0-4 4.5% / 5.1%
Herston — 0-4: 4.5% Wilston — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 8.8% / 13.4%
Herston — 5-14: 8.8% Wilston — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 5.5% / 7.4%
Herston — 15-19: 5.5% Wilston — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 14.7% / 7.7%
Herston — 20-24: 14.7% Wilston — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 24.6% / 13.4%
Herston — 25-34: 24.6% Wilston — 25-34: 13.4%
35-44 14.8% / 14.3%
Herston — 35-44: 14.8% Wilston — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 12.5% / 16.8%
Herston — 45-54: 12.5% Wilston — 45-54: 16.8%
55-64 7.6% / 11.7%
Herston — 55-64: 7.6% Wilston — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 4.3% / 6.4%
Herston — 65-74: 4.3% Wilston — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 2.1% / 2.8%
Herston — 75-84: 2.1% Wilston — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 0.9% / 0.9%
Herston — 85+: 0.9% Wilston — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Herston 27.7% couple families
Herston — Couple Families: 27.7% Herston — Lone Person: 33.3% Herston — Group Household: 24.5% Herston — One Parent Families: 12.6% Herston — Other Families: 1.9%
Wilston 49.9% couple families
Wilston — Couple Families: 49.9% Wilston — Lone Person: 30.0% Wilston — Group Household: 7.7% Wilston — One Parent Families: 10.5% Wilston — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Herston 59.5% renting
Herston — Owned Outright: 16.6% Herston — Mortgage: 23.8% Herston — Renting: 59.5%
Wilston 34.6% renting
Wilston — Owned Outright: 30.7% Wilston — Mortgage: 34.7% Wilston — Renting: 34.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Herston Wilston
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 27.3%
Herston — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Wilston — Bachelor Degree: 27.3%
Postgraduate Degree 11.9% / 10.0%
Herston — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9% Wilston — Postgraduate Degree: 10.0%
Certificate III & IV 7.2% / 7.2%
Herston — Certificate III & IV: 7.2% Wilston — Certificate III & IV: 7.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 6.8%
Herston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Wilston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 4.1%
Herston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Wilston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.3%).

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.

Herston Wilston
England 2.6% / 3.9%
Herston — England: 2.6% Wilston — England: 3.9%
India 2.9% / 1.4%
Herston — India: 2.9% Wilston — India: 1.4%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.1%
Herston — New Zealand: 2.0% Wilston — New Zealand: 2.1%
China 2.3% / 0.5%
Herston — China: 2.3% Wilston — China: 0.5%
Sri Lanka 1.2% / —
Herston — Sri Lanka: 1.2% Wilston — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.9%
Herston — Italy: not among its largest Wilston — Italy: 0.9%
South Africa — / 0.8%
Herston — South Africa: not among its largest Wilston — South Africa: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Herston 43.2% houses
Herston — Houses: 43.2% Herston — Flats / Apartments: 37.8% Herston — Townhouses: 18.9%
Wilston 70.3% houses
Wilston — Houses: 70.3% Wilston — Flats / Apartments: 20.9% Wilston — Townhouses: 8.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Herston Wilston
Median house price $1,720,000 $2,030,000
Median unit price $720,000 $798,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 6 sales
 22 days
from 36 sales

Development activity

Herston Wilston
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Herston Wilston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD

Liveability

Wilston scores higher overall (84 vs 67).

Herston Wilston
Grade A A+
Score 67/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Herston carries more crime risk (94 vs 61).

Herston Wilston
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
94/100
 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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Herston Wilston
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Kelvin Grove, 1.0 km
 3
Kelvin Grove, 1.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.7% 4.4%

Schools in Herston

  • QCHS - Royal Brisbane and ACT for Kids Campus Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Wilston

  • St Columba's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Herston Wilston
Cafes & restaurants 8 16
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 4 2
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Wilston sits further from the CBD (5.6 km vs 3.4 km).

Herston Wilston
Walkability score 82/100 79/100
Distance to Brisbane 3.4 km 5.6 km
+65% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 13 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 90/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 314.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 51.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.6%
postcode 4006
 2.6%
postcode 4051
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 4006
 38
postcode 4051

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.

Herston Wilston
Car (driver) 45.7% / 46.1%
Herston — Car (driver): 45.7% Wilston — Car (driver): 46.1%
Worked from Home 22.6% / 33.6%
Herston — Worked from Home: 22.6% Wilston — Worked from Home: 33.6%
Walked Only 11.1% / 4.1%
Herston — Walked Only: 11.1% Wilston — Walked Only: 4.1%
Bus 12.2% / 2.2%
Herston — Bus: 12.2% Wilston — Bus: 2.2%
Train 1.3% / 7.6%
Herston — Train: 1.3% Wilston — Train: 7.6%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 3.8%
Herston — Car (passenger): 3.4% Wilston — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Bicycle 3.7% / 2.5%
Herston — Bicycle: 3.7% Wilston — Bicycle: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.1%).

Setting

Herston Wilston
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.9 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 10.0 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Herston Wilston
Connectivity score 82/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
1,272 premises
 1%
1,803 premises

Climate

Herston Wilston
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)

Herston Wilston
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Herston Wilston
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Herston Wilston
Division Brisbane
same for both
Member Madonna Jarrett
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Herston Wilston
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Herston

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Students

Wilston

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Herston

Herston vs Kelvin Grove Herston vs Windsor Herston vs Spring Hill Herston vs Bowen Hills

Other comparisons with Wilston

Wilston vs Kelvin Grove Wilston vs Windsor Wilston vs Newmarket Wilston vs Grange
Full data on Herston Full data on Wilston
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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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