Molendinar vs Parkwood

Comparing Molendinar and Parkwood, QLD: Parkwood is more walkable (62 vs 43); Parkwood has more residents (8,837 vs 6,450); and Molendinar carries more crime risk (80 vs 62).

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

  • Molendinar has more parks and reserves (14 vs 7)
  • Parkwood carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Parkwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($515,000 vs $830,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Molendinar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $538/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Parkwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (62/100 vs 43/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Parkwood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (62/100 vs 43/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Molendinar Parkwood
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.

Molendinar Parkwood
Walkability 43 / 62
Molendinar — Walkability: 43/100 Parkwood — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 20 / 38
Molendinar — Safety: 20/100 Parkwood — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Molendinar — Low fire risk: 100/100 Parkwood — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Parkwood has more residents (8,837 vs 6,450); Parkwood rents higher ($538/wk vs $450/wk).

Molendinar Parkwood
Population 6,450 8,837
+37% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.2% +1.6%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $91,884/yr $107,328/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $538/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Molendinar Parkwood
0-4 5.5% / 4.6%
Molendinar — 0-4: 5.5% Parkwood — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 13.3% / 11.8%
Molendinar — 5-14: 13.3% Parkwood — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 7.5% / 7.2%
Molendinar — 15-19: 7.5% Parkwood — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 7.3% / 10.0%
Molendinar — 20-24: 7.3% Parkwood — 20-24: 10.0%
25-34 12.5% / 13.3%
Molendinar — 25-34: 12.5% Parkwood — 25-34: 13.3%
35-44 14.1% / 12.2%
Molendinar — 35-44: 14.1% Parkwood — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 15.3% / 13.6%
Molendinar — 45-54: 15.3% Parkwood — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 11.8% / 13.7%
Molendinar — 55-64: 11.8% Parkwood — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 8.2% / 8.5%
Molendinar — 65-74: 8.2% Parkwood — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 3.8% / 3.8%
Molendinar — 75-84: 3.8% Parkwood — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 0.9% / 1.3%
Molendinar — 85+: 0.9% Parkwood — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Molendinar 50.6% couple families
Molendinar — Couple Families: 50.6% Molendinar — One Parent Families: 21.0% Molendinar — Lone Person: 19.1% Molendinar — Group Household: 8.3% Molendinar — Other Families: 1.1%
Parkwood 52.6% couple families
Parkwood — Couple Families: 52.6% Parkwood — One Parent Families: 19.1% Parkwood — Lone Person: 17.2% Parkwood — Group Household: 9.2% Parkwood — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Molendinar 35.5% renting
Molendinar — Owned Outright: 23.1% Molendinar — Mortgage: 41.4% Molendinar — Renting: 35.5%
Parkwood 30.3% renting
Parkwood — Owned Outright: 27.9% Parkwood — Mortgage: 41.8% Parkwood — Renting: 30.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Molendinar Parkwood
Certificate III & IV 14.8% / 15.3%
Molendinar — Certificate III & IV: 14.8% Parkwood — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 13.1%
Molendinar — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Parkwood — Bachelor Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.7%
Molendinar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Parkwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 4.9%
Molendinar — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Parkwood — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.5%
Molendinar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Parkwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

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.

Molendinar Parkwood
New Zealand 6.8% / 8.3%
Molendinar — New Zealand: 6.8% Parkwood — New Zealand: 8.3%
China 4.6% / 2.6%
Molendinar — China: 4.6% Parkwood — China: 2.6%
England 3.2% / 3.8%
Molendinar — England: 3.2% Parkwood — England: 3.8%
Philippines 1.8% / 1.5%
Molendinar — Philippines: 1.8% Parkwood — Philippines: 1.5%
India 2.0% / 1.1%
Molendinar — India: 2.0% Parkwood — India: 1.1%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.1%
Molendinar — South Africa: 1.0% Parkwood — South Africa: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Molendinar 84.3% houses
Molendinar — Houses: 84.3% Molendinar — Townhouses: 15.4% Molendinar — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Parkwood 90.5% houses
Parkwood — Houses: 90.5% Parkwood — Townhouses: 7.7% Parkwood — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Molendinar Parkwood
Median house price $1,200,000 $1,270,000
Median unit price $830,000 $515,000
Median land price $1,575,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 25 sales
 28 days
from 112 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.

Molendinar Parkwood
3 bed $942K / $975K
Molendinar — 3 bed: $942K (23 sales) Parkwood — 3 bed: $975K (47 sales)

23 vs 47 sales

4 bed $1.24M / $1.29M
Molendinar — 4 bed: $1.24M (24 sales) Parkwood — 4 bed: $1.29M (111 sales)

24 vs 111 sales

5 bed $1.36M / $1.45M
Molendinar — 5 bed: $1.36M (8 sales) Parkwood — 5 bed: $1.45M (21 sales)

8 vs 21 sales

Development activity

Molendinar Parkwood
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
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.

Molendinar Parkwood
Houses 4.2%
$1,050/wk on $1.3M
 3.9%
$1,000/wk on $1.35M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Molendinar Parkwood
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 65% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 45% of QLD

Liveability

Parkwood is more walkable (62 vs 43); Parkwood scores higher overall (66 vs 51).

Molendinar Parkwood
Grade B
same for both
Score 51/100 66/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Molendinar carries more crime risk (80 vs 62).

Molendinar Parkwood
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood —
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
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Molendinar Parkwood
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 4.0 km
 1
Gold Coast, 4.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 4.7%

Schools in Molendinar

  • Trinity Lutheran College Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Parkwood

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

Amenities in the suburb

Molendinar Parkwood
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 14 7
Childcare 2 4
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Fuel stations 3 4
Waterways 3 6

Mobility

Molendinar Parkwood
Walkability score 43/100 62/100
Distance to Brisbane 69.8 km 70.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 54 min 56 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 77.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 4214
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 4214
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.

Molendinar Parkwood
Car (driver) 77.2% / 75.0%
Molendinar — Car (driver): 77.2% Parkwood — Car (driver): 75.0%
Worked from Home 11.4% / 12.9%
Molendinar — Worked from Home: 11.4% Parkwood — Worked from Home: 12.9%
Car (passenger) 7.7% / 5.4%
Molendinar — Car (passenger): 7.7% Parkwood — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.7%
Molendinar — Walked Only: 1.0% Parkwood — Walked Only: 1.7%
Tram / Light Rail 0.3% / 2.1%
Molendinar — Tram / Light Rail: 0.3% Parkwood — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1%
Train 0.9% / 1.3%
Molendinar — Train: 0.9% Parkwood — Train: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.2%).

Setting

Molendinar Parkwood
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.3 km 4.5 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Molendinar Parkwood
Connectivity score 75/100 90/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
3,613 premises
 55%
3,137 premises

Climate

Molendinar Parkwood
Annual rainfall 1,351 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Molendinar Parkwood
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 19.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.91 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Molendinar Parkwood
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Molendinar Parkwood
Division Moncrieff Fadden
Member Angie Bell Cameron Caldwell
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Molendinar Parkwood
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Molendinar

Parks

Parkwood

Large Blocks Regional Centre Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Molendinar

Molendinar vs Southport Molendinar vs Nerang Molendinar vs Ashmore Molendinar vs Arundel Molendinar vs Gaven

Other comparisons with Parkwood

Parkwood vs Southport Parkwood vs Arundel
Full data on Molendinar Full data on Parkwood
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