Kearneys Spring vs South Toowoomba

In both, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. In South Toowoomba, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Kearneys Spring: a median of $832,000, against $765,000 in South Toowoomba, and rent is higher there too.

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

  • Kearneys Spring has more parks and reserves (24 vs 9)
  • South Toowoomba has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

South Toowoomba

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (99 min vs 106 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (125.9 km vs 130 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kearneys Spring

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (41% vs 31%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 16%)
  • carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
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.

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Walkability 69 / 70
Kearneys Spring — Walkability: 69/100 South Toowoomba — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 29 / 15
Kearneys Spring — Safety: 29/100 South Toowoomba — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kearneys Spring — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Toowoomba — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kearneys Spring has more residents (9,419 vs 5,512).

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Population 9,419
+41% vs other
 5,512
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.1% +5.5%
Median age 35 36
Median household income $69,420/yr $70,408/yr
+1% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+6% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
0-4 7.1% / 5.8%
Kearneys Spring — 0-4: 7.1% South Toowoomba — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 12.7% / 11.0%
Kearneys Spring — 5-14: 12.7% South Toowoomba — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 5.3% / 5.9%
Kearneys Spring — 15-19: 5.3% South Toowoomba — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.5% / 8.1%
Kearneys Spring — 20-24: 6.5% South Toowoomba — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 17.0% / 17.6%
Kearneys Spring — 25-34: 17.0% South Toowoomba — 25-34: 17.6%
35-44 13.4% / 12.8%
Kearneys Spring — 35-44: 13.4% South Toowoomba — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 9.2% / 12.5%
Kearneys Spring — 45-54: 9.2% South Toowoomba — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 8.3% / 10.7%
Kearneys Spring — 55-64: 8.3% South Toowoomba — 55-64: 10.7%
65-74 9.5% / 8.7%
Kearneys Spring — 65-74: 9.5% South Toowoomba — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 7.0% / 4.7%
Kearneys Spring — 75-84: 7.0% South Toowoomba — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 4.2% / 2.2%
Kearneys Spring — 85+: 4.2% South Toowoomba — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kearneys Spring 44.1% lone person
Kearneys Spring — Lone Person: 44.1% Kearneys Spring — Couple Families: 32.3% Kearneys Spring — One Parent Families: 16.9% Kearneys Spring — Group Household: 5.1% Kearneys Spring — Other Families: 1.6%
South Toowoomba 48.6% lone person
South Toowoomba — Lone Person: 48.6% South Toowoomba — Couple Families: 24.3% South Toowoomba — One Parent Families: 17.6% South Toowoomba — Group Household: 7.3% South Toowoomba — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kearneys Spring 45.3% renting
Kearneys Spring — Owned Outright: 28.4% Kearneys Spring — Mortgage: 26.2% Kearneys Spring — Renting: 45.3%
South Toowoomba 49.7% renting
South Toowoomba — Owned Outright: 22.2% South Toowoomba — Mortgage: 28.1% South Toowoomba — Renting: 49.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Certificate III & IV 13.4% / 15.9%
Kearneys Spring — Certificate III & IV: 13.4% South Toowoomba — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Bachelor Degree 12.8% / 13.4%
Kearneys Spring — Bachelor Degree: 12.8% South Toowoomba — Bachelor Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 6.9%
Kearneys Spring — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% South Toowoomba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 4.0%
Kearneys Spring — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% South Toowoomba — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.1%
Kearneys Spring — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% South Toowoomba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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.

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
India 5.6% / 1.7%
Kearneys Spring — India: 5.6% South Toowoomba — India: 1.7%
Iraq 2.0% / 3.5%
Kearneys Spring — Iraq: 2.0% South Toowoomba — Iraq: 3.5%
Nepal 2.8% / 0.7%
Kearneys Spring — Nepal: 2.8% South Toowoomba — Nepal: 0.7%
England 1.6% / 1.8%
Kearneys Spring — England: 1.6% South Toowoomba — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.5%
Kearneys Spring — New Zealand: 1.4% South Toowoomba — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines 1.2% / 1.1%
Kearneys Spring — Philippines: 1.2% South Toowoomba — Philippines: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kearneys Spring 59.4% houses
Kearneys Spring — Houses: 59.4% Kearneys Spring — Townhouses: 34.1% Kearneys Spring — Flats / Apartments: 6.6%
South Toowoomba 69.4% houses
South Toowoomba — Houses: 69.4% South Toowoomba — Townhouses: 25.0% South Toowoomba — Flats / Apartments: 5.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Median house price $832,500 $765,000
Median unit price $600,500 $580,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 84 sales
 29 days
from 66 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.

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
2 bed $559K / $522K
Kearneys Spring — 2 bed: $559K (36 sales) South Toowoomba — 2 bed: $522K (28 sales)

36 vs 28 sales

3 bed $670K / $629K
Kearneys Spring — 3 bed: $670K (27 sales) South Toowoomba — 3 bed: $629K (10 sales)

27 vs 10 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.

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
2 bed $581K / $720K
Kearneys Spring — 2 bed: $581K (6 sales) South Toowoomba — 2 bed: $720K (11 sales)

6 vs 11 sales

3 bed $720K / $764K
Kearneys Spring — 3 bed: $720K (66 sales) South Toowoomba — 3 bed: $764K (82 sales)

66 vs 82 sales

4 bed $931K / $818K
Kearneys Spring — 4 bed: $931K (92 sales) South Toowoomba — 4 bed: $818K (32 sales)

92 vs 32 sales

Development activity

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
New dwellings approved 1,513
across Toowoomba
same for both
Approvals change year on year -25%
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.

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Houses 3.4%
$625/wk on $949K
 3.8%
$580/wk on $799K
Units 4.1%
$470/wk on $599K
 3.6%
$450/wk on $649K

Ranking within QLD

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 36% of QLD Higher than 37% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of QLD Higher than 39% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 34% of QLD Higher than 16% of QLD

Liveability

Kearneys Spring scores higher overall (50 vs 42).

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Grade B C
Score 50/100 42/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Toowoomba carries more crime risk (85 vs 71).

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 High
85/100
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 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 5.0 km
 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 1.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.5% 1.0%

Schools in Kearneys Spring

  • Highlands Christian College Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in South Toowoomba

  • St Saviour's College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Saviour's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 6 5
Parks & reserves 24 9
Childcare 5
same for both
GPs 3
same for both
Pharmacies 5 0
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 4 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 5 8

Mobility

Kearneys Spring sits further from the CBD (130 km vs 125.9 km).

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Walkability score 69/100 70/100
Distance to Brisbane 130 km
+3% vs other
 125.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 106 min 99 min
Public transport score 74/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 67.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 42.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 4350
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 4350
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.

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Car (driver) 82.7% / 78.5%
Kearneys Spring — Car (driver): 82.7% South Toowoomba — Car (driver): 78.5%
Car (passenger) 7.8% / 7.2%
Kearneys Spring — Car (passenger): 7.8% South Toowoomba — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Worked from Home 6.2% / 7.2%
Kearneys Spring — Worked from Home: 6.2% South Toowoomba — Worked from Home: 7.2%
Walked Only 1.7% / 5.4%
Kearneys Spring — Walked Only: 1.7% South Toowoomba — Walked Only: 5.4%
Bicycle 0.7% / 1.3%
Kearneys Spring — Bicycle: 0.7% South Toowoomba — Bicycle: 1.3%
Bus 1.0% / 0.4%
Kearneys Spring — Bus: 1.0% South Toowoomba — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.7%).

Setting

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Elevation 669 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 624 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Connectivity score 91/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 82%
4,642 premises
 86%
3,230 premises

Climate

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Annual rainfall 643 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
PM2.5 2.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 3.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Average residential rate $1,618/yr
same for both
Council Toowoomba
same for both

Federal electorate

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Division Groom
same for both
Member Garth Hamilton
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kearneys Spring

Parks Regional Centre Townhouses

South Toowoomba

Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kearneys Spring

Kearneys Spring vs Harristown Kearneys Spring vs Middle Ridge Kearneys Spring vs Centenary Heights Kearneys Spring vs Darling Heights Kearneys Spring vs Top Camp Kearneys Spring vs Preston

Other comparisons with South Toowoomba

South Toowoomba vs Newtown South Toowoomba vs Harristown South Toowoomba vs Rangeville South Toowoomba vs Centenary Heights South Toowoomba vs East Toowoomba South Toowoomba vs Toowoomba City
Full data on Kearneys Spring Full data on South Toowoomba
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or