Kawana vs Norman Gardens

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Norman Gardens, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Norman Gardens: a median of $713,000, against $621,000 in Kawana, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Norman Gardens tends to suit 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

They split

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

  • Kawana has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • Norman Gardens has more childcare (7 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Kawana

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($250,000 vs $768,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($620,995 vs $713,000)
  • But Norman Gardens has cheaper units ($480,000 vs $580,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kawana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($255/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kawana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 38/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Kawana is more walkable (51/100 vs 38/100)
  • Norman Gardens has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Kawana returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 4.4%)
  • Norman Gardens is growing faster (5.9% vs 0.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kawana Norman Gardens
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.

Kawana Norman Gardens
Walkability 51 / 38
Kawana — Walkability: 51/100 Norman Gardens — Walkability: 38/100
Safety 13 / 20
Kawana — Safety: 13/100 Norman Gardens — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 20
Kawana — Low fire risk: 100/100 Norman Gardens — Low fire risk: 20/100

Demographics

Norman Gardens has more residents (10,534 vs 4,434); Norman Gardens has higher household incomes ($92,040 vs $69,004).

Kawana Norman Gardens
Population 4,434 10,534
+138% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.2% +5.9%
Median age 38 37
Median household income $69,004/yr $92,040/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $255/wk $300/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kawana Norman Gardens
0-4 5.8% / 6.0%
Kawana — 0-4: 5.8% Norman Gardens — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 13.5% / 14.5%
Kawana — 5-14: 13.5% Norman Gardens — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 6.5% / 6.4%
Kawana — 15-19: 6.5% Norman Gardens — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.4% / 6.2%
Kawana — 20-24: 6.4% Norman Gardens — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 13.2% / 13.5%
Kawana — 25-34: 13.2% Norman Gardens — 25-34: 13.5%
35-44 13.2% / 13.9%
Kawana — 35-44: 13.2% Norman Gardens — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 10.6% / 12.0%
Kawana — 45-54: 10.6% Norman Gardens — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 11.2% / 11.5%
Kawana — 55-64: 11.2% Norman Gardens — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 9.7% / 8.5%
Kawana — 65-74: 9.7% Norman Gardens — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 5.8% / 5.8%
Kawana — 75-84: 5.8% Norman Gardens — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 4.2% / 1.8%
Kawana — 85+: 4.2% Norman Gardens — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kawana 32.3% couple families
Kawana — Couple Families: 32.3% Kawana — Lone Person: 38.0% Kawana — One Parent Families: 23.0% Kawana — Group Household: 4.7% Kawana — Other Families: 2.0%
Norman Gardens 45.7% couple families
Norman Gardens — Couple Families: 45.7% Norman Gardens — Lone Person: 31.7% Norman Gardens — One Parent Families: 17.1% Norman Gardens — Group Household: 3.6% Norman Gardens — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kawana 38.9% renting
Kawana — Owned Outright: 27.7% Kawana — Mortgage: 33.4% Kawana — Renting: 38.9%
Norman Gardens 29.1% renting
Norman Gardens — Owned Outright: 33.2% Norman Gardens — Mortgage: 37.7% Norman Gardens — Renting: 29.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kawana Norman Gardens
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 15.7%
Kawana — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Norman Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 10.5%
Kawana — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% Norman Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.5% / 5.9%
Kawana — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5% Norman Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 3.0%
Kawana — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Norman Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.5%
Kawana — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Norman Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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.

Kawana Norman Gardens
Philippines 2.0% / 2.4%
Kawana — Philippines: 2.0% Norman Gardens — Philippines: 2.4%
India 0.6% / 1.9%
Kawana — India: 0.6% Norman Gardens — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.2%
Kawana — New Zealand: 1.2% Norman Gardens — New Zealand: 1.2%
England 1.0% / 1.1%
Kawana — England: 1.0% Norman Gardens — England: 1.1%
Nepal 0.9% / 0.9%
Kawana — Nepal: 0.9% Norman Gardens — Nepal: 0.9%
China 0.8% / 0.9%
Kawana — China: 0.8% Norman Gardens — China: 0.9%
Vietnam — / 1.1%
Kawana — Vietnam: not among its largest Norman Gardens — Vietnam: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kawana 85.7% houses
Kawana — Houses: 85.7% Kawana — Townhouses: 12.0% Kawana — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Norman Gardens 86.8% houses
Norman Gardens — Houses: 86.8% Norman Gardens — Townhouses: 11.0% Norman Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 2.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kawana Norman Gardens
Median house price $620,995 $713,000
Median unit price $580,000 $480,000
Median land price $250,000 $768,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 35 sales
 29 days
from 111 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.

Kawana Norman Gardens
3 bed $602K / $620K
Kawana — 3 bed: $602K (75 sales) Norman Gardens — 3 bed: $620K (107 sales)

75 vs 107 sales

4 bed $699K / $770K
Kawana — 4 bed: $699K (45 sales) Norman Gardens — 4 bed: $770K (176 sales)

45 vs 176 sales

5 bed $750K / $860K
Kawana — 5 bed: $750K (8 sales) Norman Gardens — 5 bed: $860K (23 sales)

8 vs 23 sales

Development activity

Kawana Norman Gardens
New dwellings approved 390
across Rockhampton
same for both
Approvals change year on year +133%
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.

Kawana Norman Gardens
Houses 5.0%
$580/wk on $599K
 4.4%
$640/wk on $749K
Units — 5.6%
$450/wk on $415K

Ranking within QLD

Kawana Norman Gardens
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 36% of QLD Higher than 65% of QLD
Schools Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 44% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 55% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 74% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 84% of QLD

Liveability

Kawana scores higher overall (44 vs 28); Kawana is more walkable (51 vs 38).

Kawana Norman Gardens
Grade C D
Score 44/100 28/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Norman Gardens carries more bushfire risk (80 vs 0).

Kawana Norman Gardens
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
80/100
Crime High
87/100
 High
80/100
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 6
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Kawana Norman Gardens
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Rockhampton C.Q.U. Campus, 3.4 km
 1
Rockhampton C.Q.U. Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.0% 1.8%

Schools in Kawana

  • Capricornia (Rockhampton Campus) School of Dist Ed Government · Combined above peers
  • Heights College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Glenmore State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Glenmore State High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Norman Gardens

  • St Anthony's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Lighthouse Christian School Independent · Combined below peers
  • Emmaus College - Yaamba Road Campus Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Kawana Norman Gardens
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 13 15
Childcare 4 7
GPs 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 16 4

Mobility

Kawana Norman Gardens
Walkability score 51/100 38/100
Distance to Brisbane 636.2 km 638.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 441 min 444 min
Public transport score 64/100
Bus
 69/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 22.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 32.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4701
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 4701
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.

Kawana Norman Gardens
Car (driver) 82.2% / 83.3%
Kawana — Car (driver): 82.2% Norman Gardens — Car (driver): 83.3%
Car (passenger) 9.9% / 8.2%
Kawana — Car (passenger): 9.9% Norman Gardens — Car (passenger): 8.2%
Worked from Home 3.0% / 4.8%
Kawana — Worked from Home: 3.0% Norman Gardens — Worked from Home: 4.8%
Walked Only 2.4% / 1.5%
Kawana — Walked Only: 2.4% Norman Gardens — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus 1.8% / 1.5%
Kawana — Bus: 1.8% Norman Gardens — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.3%).

Setting

Kawana Norman Gardens
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 67 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.8 km 17.1 km

NBN connectivity

Kawana Norman Gardens
Connectivity score 63/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
2,152 premises
 51%
4,311 premises

Climate

Kawana Norman Gardens
Annual rainfall 811 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 32.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 11.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kawana Norman Gardens
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 8.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Kawana Norman Gardens
Average residential rate $1,313/yr
same for both
Council Rockhampton
same for both

Federal electorate

Kawana Norman Gardens
Division Capricornia
same for both
Member Michelle Landry
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kawana Norman Gardens
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kawana

Affordable Large Blocks Parks River

Norman Gardens

Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kawana

Kawana vs Park Avenue Kawana vs Wandal Kawana vs Parkhurst Kawana vs Pink Lily

Other comparisons with Norman Gardens

Norman Gardens vs Frenchville Norman Gardens vs Berserker Norman Gardens vs Park Avenue Norman Gardens vs Parkhurst Norman Gardens vs Limestone Creek Norman Gardens vs Mount Archer
Full data on Kawana Full data on Norman Gardens
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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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