Milton vs West End

Milton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 34 in West End. In both, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Milton, most households are people living alone. In West End, about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in West End: a median of $910,000, against $785,000 in Milton. Milton is closer to the city centre: 2.5 km, against 4.6 km. On these figures, Milton tends to suit renters, young adults, and 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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 4)
  • is already more of a family suburb (37% vs 24%)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Milton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($785,000 vs $909,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Milton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (70% vs 60%)

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

Commuting to the city

Milton

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (13% vs 1%)
  • has a shorter drive in (6 min vs 12 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (2.5 km vs 4.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

West End

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 91/100)

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

  • Milton returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 4.0%)
  • West End is growing faster (55.5% vs 38.3%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Milton 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.

Milton 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.

Milton West End
Walkability 99 / 99
Milton — Walkability: 99/100 West End — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 9 / 36
Milton — Safety: 9/100 West End — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Milton — Low fire risk: 100/100 West End — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West End has more residents (14,730 vs 3,144); West End skews older (34 vs 30).

Milton West End
Population 3,144 14,730
+369% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +38.3% +55.5%
Median age 30 34
Median household income $108,524/yr $109,928/yr
+1% vs other
Median weekly rent $435/wk $450/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Milton West End
0-4 3.6% / 3.5%
Milton — 0-4: 3.6% West End — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 4.9% / 8.9%
Milton — 5-14: 4.9% West End — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 3.7% / 5.0%
Milton — 15-19: 3.7% West End — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 16.0% / 9.4%
Milton — 20-24: 16.0% West End — 20-24: 9.4%
25-34 33.4% / 25.2%
Milton — 25-34: 33.4% West End — 25-34: 25.2%
35-44 16.0% / 16.5%
Milton — 35-44: 16.0% West End — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 9.8% / 13.1%
Milton — 45-54: 9.8% West End — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 7.1% / 9.3%
Milton — 55-64: 7.1% West End — 55-64: 9.3%
65-74 4.0% / 5.9%
Milton — 65-74: 4.0% West End — 65-74: 5.9%
75-84 1.5% / 2.4%
Milton — 75-84: 1.5% West End — 75-84: 2.4%
85+ 0.3% / 0.8%
Milton — 85+: 0.3% West End — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Milton 55.6% lone person
Milton — Lone Person: 55.6% Milton — Couple Families: 18.1% Milton — Group Household: 17.6% Milton — One Parent Families: 5.5% Milton — Other Families: 3.2%
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.

Milton 69.9% renting
Milton — Owned Outright: 12.3% Milton — Mortgage: 17.9% Milton — Renting: 69.9%
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.

Milton West End
Bachelor Degree 33.8% / 27.6%
Milton — Bachelor Degree: 33.8% West End — Bachelor Degree: 27.6%
Postgraduate Degree 12.5% / 14.4%
Milton — Postgraduate Degree: 12.5% West End — Postgraduate Degree: 14.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 7.6%
Milton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% West End — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 7.7% / 6.6%
Milton — Certificate III & IV: 7.7% West End — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 3.7%
Milton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% West End — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.8%).

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.

Milton West End
England 3.7% / 4.3%
Milton — England: 3.7% West End — England: 4.3%
China 3.3% / 3.6%
Milton — China: 3.3% West End — China: 3.6%
New Zealand 2.5% / 3.0%
Milton — New Zealand: 2.5% West End — New Zealand: 3.0%
India 2.4% / 2.5%
Milton — India: 2.4% West End — India: 2.5%
Brazil 1.1% / 1.1%
Milton — Brazil: 1.1% West End — Brazil: 1.1%
Vietnam — / 1.9%
Milton — Vietnam: not among its largest West End — Vietnam: 1.9%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Milton 76.9% flats / apartments
Milton — Flats / Apartments: 76.9% Milton — Houses: 21.0% Milton — Townhouses: 2.0%
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

Milton West End
Median house price $2,000,000 $2,070,000
Median unit price $785,000 $909,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 20 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.

Milton West End
2 bed $1.54M / $1.5M
Milton — 2 bed: $1.54M (5 sales) West End — 2 bed: $1.5M (13 sales)

5 vs 13 sales

3 bed $2.03M / $1.91M
Milton — 3 bed: $2.03M (12 sales) West End — 3 bed: $1.91M (24 sales)

12 vs 24 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.

Milton West End
1 bed $600K / $710K
Milton — 1 bed: $600K (24 sales) West End — 1 bed: $710K (121 sales)

24 vs 121 sales

2 bed $818K / $935K
Milton — 2 bed: $818K (56 sales) West End — 2 bed: $935K (223 sales)

56 vs 223 sales

3 bed $1.5M / $1.65M
Milton — 3 bed: $1.5M (9 sales) West End — 3 bed: $1.65M (84 sales)

9 vs 84 sales

Development activity

Milton 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.

Milton West End
Houses — 2.6%
$1,000/wk on $1.99M
Units 4.7%
$720/wk on $800K
 4.0%
$800/wk on $1.05M

Ranking within QLD

Milton West End
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Schools Higher than 17% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 100% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 6% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 61% of QLD Higher than 29% of QLD

Liveability

West End scores higher overall (84 vs 60).

Milton West End
Grade B A+
Score 60/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Milton carries more crime risk (91 vs 64).

Milton West End
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 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 9
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Milton West End
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane City, 1.8 km
 3
Brisbane City, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.2% 5.1%

Schools in Milton

  • Milton State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Hubbard's School Independent · Secondary
  • Hubbard's School Independent · Secondary

Schools in West End

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

Amenities in the suburb

Milton West End
Supermarkets 0 13
Cafes & restaurants 28 87
Parks & reserves 8 12
Childcare 4 9
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 7 0

Mobility

West End sits further from the CBD (4.6 km vs 2.5 km).

Milton West End
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 2.5 km 4.6 km
+84% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 6 min 12 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 210.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 425.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 4064
 3.2%
postcode 4101
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 4064
 10
postcode 4101

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.

Milton West End
Car (driver) 38.5% / 37.3%
Milton — Car (driver): 38.5% West End — Car (driver): 37.3%
Worked from Home 27.2% / 31.9%
Milton — Worked from Home: 27.2% West End — Worked from Home: 31.9%
Walked Only 11.5% / 9.3%
Milton — Walked Only: 11.5% West End — Walked Only: 9.3%
Bus 3.6% / 12.2%
Milton — Bus: 3.6% West End — Bus: 12.2%
Train 13.0% / 0.9%
Milton — Train: 13.0% West End — Train: 0.9%
Bicycle 2.5% / 5.1%
Milton — Bicycle: 2.5% West End — Bicycle: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (38.5%).

Setting

Milton West End
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.2 km 12.9 km

NBN connectivity

Milton West End
Connectivity score 80/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
3,194 premises
 100%
3,335 premises

Climate

Milton 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)

Milton West End
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Milton West End
Division Brisbane Griffith
Member Madonna Jarrett Renee Coffey
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Milton

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

West End

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Milton

Milton vs South Brisbane Milton vs Brisbane City Milton vs Paddington Milton vs Auchenflower Milton vs Petrie Terrace

Other comparisons with West End

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