Highgate Hill vs West End

West End is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Highgate Hill. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Highgate Hill, about half of households rent. In West End, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone.

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

West End

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Highgate Hill has more separate houses rather than flats (38% vs 20%)

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

First-home buyers

West End

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,070,000 vs $2,310,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Highgate Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

West End

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (80% vs 62%)

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

Investors

West End

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (55.5% vs 0.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.6% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Highgate Hill West End
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.

Highgate Hill West End
Walkability 99 / 99
Highgate Hill — Walkability: 99/100 West End — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 28 / 36
Highgate Hill — Safety: 28/100 West End — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Highgate Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 West End — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West End has more residents (14,730 vs 6,229); West End rents higher ($450/wk vs $380/wk).

Highgate Hill West End
Population 6,229 14,730
+136% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.6% +55.5%
Median age 37 34
Median household income $100,724/yr $109,928/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $450/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highgate Hill West End
0-4 2.3% / 3.5%
Highgate Hill — 0-4: 2.3% West End — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 9.9% / 8.9%
Highgate Hill — 5-14: 9.9% West End — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 6.8% / 5.0%
Highgate Hill — 15-19: 6.8% West End — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 9.1% / 9.4%
Highgate Hill — 20-24: 9.1% West End — 20-24: 9.4%
25-34 18.4% / 25.2%
Highgate Hill — 25-34: 18.4% West End — 25-34: 25.2%
35-44 14.6% / 16.5%
Highgate Hill — 35-44: 14.6% West End — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 14.9% / 13.1%
Highgate Hill — 45-54: 14.9% West End — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 11.4% / 9.3%
Highgate Hill — 55-64: 11.4% West End — 55-64: 9.3%
65-74 7.0% / 5.9%
Highgate Hill — 65-74: 7.0% West End — 65-74: 5.9%
75-84 3.7% / 2.4%
Highgate Hill — 75-84: 3.7% West End — 75-84: 2.4%
85+ 1.8% / 0.8%
Highgate Hill — 85+: 1.8% West End — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highgate Hill 41.9% lone person
Highgate Hill — Lone Person: 41.9% Highgate Hill — Couple Families: 29.6% Highgate Hill — Group Household: 14.5% Highgate Hill — One Parent Families: 12.1% Highgate Hill — Other Families: 1.8%
West End 46.9% lone person
West End — Lone Person: 46.9% West End — Couple Families: 27.1% West End — Group Household: 13.6% West End — One Parent Families: 10.2% West End — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Highgate Hill 51.8% renting
Highgate Hill — Owned Outright: 25.0% Highgate Hill — Mortgage: 23.3% Highgate Hill — Renting: 51.8%
West End 59.5% renting
West End — Owned Outright: 18.4% West End — Mortgage: 22.1% West End — Renting: 59.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Highgate Hill West End
Bachelor Degree 25.6% / 27.6%
Highgate Hill — Bachelor Degree: 25.6% West End — Bachelor Degree: 27.6%
Postgraduate Degree 13.4% / 14.4%
Highgate Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4% West End — Postgraduate Degree: 14.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 7.6%
Highgate Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% West End — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 7.0% / 6.6%
Highgate Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.0% West End — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.7%
Highgate Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% West End — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.6%).

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.

Highgate Hill West End
England 3.6% / 4.3%
Highgate Hill — England: 3.6% West End — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 2.5% / 3.0%
Highgate Hill — New Zealand: 2.5% West End — New Zealand: 3.0%
China 1.9% / 3.6%
Highgate Hill — China: 1.9% West End — China: 3.6%
India 1.7% / 2.5%
Highgate Hill — India: 1.7% West End — India: 2.5%
Vietnam 2.1% / 1.9%
Highgate Hill — Vietnam: 2.1% West End — Vietnam: 1.9%
Greece 2.7% / 1.1%
Highgate Hill — Greece: 2.7% West End — Greece: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highgate Hill 57.9% flats / apartments
Highgate Hill — Flats / Apartments: 57.9% Highgate Hill — Houses: 37.9% Highgate Hill — Townhouses: 4.2%
West End 76.1% flats / apartments
West End — Flats / Apartments: 76.1% West End — Houses: 19.6% West End — Townhouses: 4.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Highgate Hill West End
Median house price $2,310,000 $2,070,000
Median unit price $900,000 $909,500
Median land price $1,037,250 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 46 sales
 31 days
from 61 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.

Highgate Hill West End
3 bed $1.86M / $1.91M
Highgate Hill — 3 bed: $1.86M (23 sales) West End — 3 bed: $1.91M (24 sales)

23 vs 24 sales

4 bed $2.6M / $2.28M
Highgate Hill — 4 bed: $2.6M (22 sales) West End — 4 bed: $2.28M (18 sales)

22 vs 18 sales

5 bed $2.7M / $2.41M
Highgate Hill — 5 bed: $2.7M (9 sales) West End — 5 bed: $2.41M (8 sales)

9 vs 8 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.

Highgate Hill West End
1 bed $596K / $710K
Highgate Hill — 1 bed: $596K (22 sales) West End — 1 bed: $710K (121 sales)

22 vs 121 sales

2 bed $890K / $935K
Highgate Hill — 2 bed: $890K (43 sales) West End — 2 bed: $935K (223 sales)

43 vs 223 sales

3 bed $1.4M / $1.65M
Highgate Hill — 3 bed: $1.4M (21 sales) West End — 3 bed: $1.65M (84 sales)

21 vs 84 sales

4 bed $3.13M / $2.35M
Highgate Hill — 4 bed: $3.13M (7 sales) West End — 4 bed: $2.35M (11 sales)

7 vs 11 sales

Development activity

Highgate Hill West End
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

Highgate Hill West End
Houses 1.8%
$950/wk on $2.7M
 2.6%
$1,000/wk on $1.99M
Units 4.0%
$560/wk on $724K
 4.0%
$800/wk on $1.05M

Ranking within QLD

Highgate Hill West End
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 75% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 1% of QLD Higher than 6% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of QLD Higher than 29% of QLD

Liveability

West End scores higher overall (84 vs 79).

Highgate Hill West End
Grade A A+
Score 79/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Highgate Hill West End
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Highgate Hill West End
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane City, 1.1 km
 3
Brisbane City, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.2% 5.1%

Schools in Highgate Hill

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

Schools in West End

  • West End State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Arethusa College - West End Campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Highgate Hill West End
Supermarkets 1 13
Cafes & restaurants 8 87
Parks & reserves 10 12
Childcare 0 9
GPs 3 4
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Highgate Hill West End
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 4.7 km
+2% vs other
 4.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 95.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 425.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 4101
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 4101
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.

Highgate Hill West End
Car (driver) 41.0% / 37.3%
Highgate Hill — Car (driver): 41.0% West End — Car (driver): 37.3%
Worked from Home 28.6% / 31.9%
Highgate Hill — Worked from Home: 28.6% West End — Worked from Home: 31.9%
Bus 7.8% / 12.2%
Highgate Hill — Bus: 7.8% West End — Bus: 12.2%
Walked Only 10.0% / 9.3%
Highgate Hill — Walked Only: 10.0% West End — Walked Only: 9.3%
Bicycle 5.8% / 5.1%
Highgate Hill — Bicycle: 5.8% West End — Bicycle: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (41.0%).

Setting

Highgate Hill West End
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.1 km 12.9 km

NBN connectivity

Highgate Hill West End
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
101 premises
 100%
3,335 premises

Climate

Highgate Hill West End
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)

Highgate Hill West End
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³ 5.4 µg/m³
PM10 16.5 µg/m³ 14.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 1.25 pphm —

Council rates

Highgate Hill West End
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Highgate Hill West End
Division Griffith
same for both
Member Renee Coffey
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Highgate Hill West End
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Highgate Hill

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Parks Professionals River Urban

West End

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highgate Hill

Highgate Hill vs South Brisbane Highgate Hill vs St Lucia Highgate Hill vs Dutton Park

Other comparisons with West End

West End vs South Brisbane West End vs Toowong West End vs St Lucia West End vs Auchenflower West End vs Milton
Full data on Highgate Hill Full data on West End
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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