Meridan Plains vs Birtinya

In Meridan Plains, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. In Birtinya, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Birtinya: a median of $1.25 million, against $970,000 in Meridan Plains, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Meridan Plains tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget, while Birtinya suits renters, young adults, and share households.

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

Meridan Plains

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (72% vs 42%)
  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 75/100)
  • But Birtinya has more parks and reserves (22 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

Meridan Plains

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($970,000 vs $1,255,000)
  • has cheaper units ($745,500 vs $843,750)

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

Renters

Birtinya

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (64% vs 45%)

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

Commuting to the city

Meridan Plains

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (71 min vs 77 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (86.5 km vs 91.6 km)
  • But Birtinya is more walkable (72/100 vs 6/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Birtinya

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 6/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 28%)
  • But Meridan Plains carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 75/100)

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

  • Meridan Plains returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.1%)
  • Birtinya is growing faster (126.5% vs 24.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Meridan Plains Birtinya
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.

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Walkability 6 / 72
Meridan Plains — Walkability: 6/100 Birtinya — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 55 / 25
Meridan Plains — Safety: 55/100 Birtinya — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 42 / 100
Meridan Plains — Low fire risk: 42/100 Birtinya — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Birtinya has higher household incomes ($94,848 vs $79,508).

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Population 4,589
+5% vs other
 4,378
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.9% +126.5%
Median age 36
same for both
Median household income $79,508/yr $94,848/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $460/wk $490/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Meridan Plains Birtinya
0-4 6.1% / 4.4%
Meridan Plains — 0-4: 6.1% Birtinya — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 14.7% / 9.5%
Meridan Plains — 5-14: 14.7% Birtinya — 5-14: 9.5%
15-19 7.5% / 5.1%
Meridan Plains — 15-19: 7.5% Birtinya — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 5.8% / 9.2%
Meridan Plains — 20-24: 5.8% Birtinya — 20-24: 9.2%
25-34 14.1% / 19.9%
Meridan Plains — 25-34: 14.1% Birtinya — 25-34: 19.9%
35-44 13.1% / 12.9%
Meridan Plains — 35-44: 13.1% Birtinya — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 12.7% / 11.7%
Meridan Plains — 45-54: 12.7% Birtinya — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 7.1% / 10.6%
Meridan Plains — 55-64: 7.1% Birtinya — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 7.1% / 8.3%
Meridan Plains — 65-74: 7.1% Birtinya — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 9.0% / 5.8%
Meridan Plains — 75-84: 9.0% Birtinya — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 2.9% / 2.5%
Meridan Plains — 85+: 2.9% Birtinya — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Meridan Plains 40.7% couple families
Meridan Plains — Couple Families: 40.7% Meridan Plains — Lone Person: 31.6% Meridan Plains — One Parent Families: 22.2% Meridan Plains — Group Household: 4.8% Meridan Plains — Other Families: 0.7%
Birtinya 30.9% couple families
Birtinya — Couple Families: 30.9% Birtinya — Lone Person: 38.8% Birtinya — One Parent Families: 15.5% Birtinya — Group Household: 13.2% Birtinya — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Meridan Plains 45.1% renting
Meridan Plains — Owned Outright: 22.3% Meridan Plains — Mortgage: 32.6% Meridan Plains — Renting: 45.1%
Birtinya 63.7% renting
Birtinya — Owned Outright: 15.6% Birtinya — Mortgage: 20.6% Birtinya — Renting: 63.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Meridan Plains Birtinya
England 6.1% / 5.6%
Meridan Plains — England: 6.1% Birtinya — England: 5.6%
New Zealand 4.3% / 4.7%
Meridan Plains — New Zealand: 4.3% Birtinya — New Zealand: 4.7%
India 2.0% / 1.1%
Meridan Plains — India: 2.0% Birtinya — India: 1.1%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.7%
Meridan Plains — South Africa: 1.1% Birtinya — South Africa: 1.7%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.2%
Meridan Plains — Philippines: 0.6% Birtinya — Philippines: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

Qualifications

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

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 14.2%
Meridan Plains — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Birtinya — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 18.7%
Meridan Plains — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Birtinya — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.8%
Meridan Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Birtinya — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 5.6%
Meridan Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Birtinya — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 2.3%
Meridan Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Birtinya — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Meridan Plains 71.5% houses
Meridan Plains — Houses: 71.5% Meridan Plains — Flats / Apartments: 4.4% Meridan Plains — Townhouses: 24.1%
Birtinya 42.3% houses
Birtinya — Houses: 42.3% Birtinya — Flats / Apartments: 47.7% Birtinya — Townhouses: 10.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Median house price $970,000 $1,255,000
Median unit price $745,500 $843,750
Median land price $1,055,000 $1,030,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 19 sales
 21 days
from 45 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.

Meridan Plains Birtinya
3 bed $909K / $1.08M
Meridan Plains — 3 bed: $909K (21 sales) Birtinya — 3 bed: $1.08M (24 sales)

21 vs 24 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $1.33M
Meridan Plains — 4 bed: $1.11M (24 sales) Birtinya — 4 bed: $1.33M (59 sales)

24 vs 59 sales

5 bed $1.45M / $1.46M
Meridan Plains — 5 bed: $1.45M (6 sales) Birtinya — 5 bed: $1.46M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Meridan Plains Birtinya
New dwellings approved 2,962
across Sunshine Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -41%
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.

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Houses 4.2%
$750/wk on $934K
 3.1%
$830/wk on $1.37M
Units — 3.5%
$650/wk on $970K

Ranking within QLD

Meridan Plains Birtinya
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 50% of QLD Higher than 68% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 69% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 14% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 12% of QLD

Liveability

Birtinya is more walkable (72 vs 6); Birtinya scores higher overall (65 vs 35).

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Grade C B
Score 35/100 65/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Meridan Plains carries more bushfire risk (58 vs 0); Birtinya carries more crime risk (75 vs 45).

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
45/100
 High
75/100
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 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 4.6 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 3.6%

Schools in Meridan Plains

  • Pacific Lutheran College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Meridan State College Government · Combined below peers

Schools in Birtinya

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

Amenities in the suburb

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 7
Parks & reserves 10 22
Childcare 4
same for both
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 4
Hospitals 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 11 0

Mobility

Birtinya sits further from the CBD (91.6 km vs 86.5 km).

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Walkability score 6/100 72/100
Distance to Brisbane 86.5 km 91.6 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 71 min 77 min
Public transport score 38/100
Bus
 73/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 7 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4551
 1.4%
postcode 4575
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 4551
 64
postcode 4575

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.

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Car (driver) 78.6% / 63.8%
Meridan Plains — Car (driver): 78.6% Birtinya — Car (driver): 63.8%
Worked from Home 11.6% / 16.2%
Meridan Plains — Worked from Home: 11.6% Birtinya — Worked from Home: 16.2%
Walked Only 1.2% / 11.2%
Meridan Plains — Walked Only: 1.2% Birtinya — Walked Only: 11.2%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 4.1%
Meridan Plains — Car (passenger): 6.0% Birtinya — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Bicycle 1.9% / 2.6%
Meridan Plains — Bicycle: 1.9% Birtinya — Bicycle: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.6%).

Setting

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.6 km 2.1 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Connectivity score 85/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 66%
1,936 premises
 73%
2,464 premises

Climate

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Annual rainfall 1,052 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 14.7°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Meridan Plains Birtinya
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.31 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Average residential rate $1,690/yr
same for both
Council Sunshine Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Division Fisher
same for both
Member Andrew Wallace
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Meridan Plains Birtinya
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Meridan Plains

Townhouses

Birtinya

Apartments Coastal Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Meridan Plains

Meridan Plains vs Little Mountain Meridan Plains vs Currimundi Meridan Plains vs Palmview Meridan Plains vs Aroona Meridan Plains vs Glenview

Other comparisons with Birtinya

Birtinya vs Sippy Downs Birtinya vs Currimundi Birtinya vs Wurtulla Birtinya vs Palmview Birtinya vs Warana Birtinya vs Bokarina
Full data on Meridan Plains Full data on Birtinya
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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