Morningside vs Hawthorne

Morningside is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Hawthorne. In Morningside, about half of households rent. In Hawthorne, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Hawthorne: a median of $2.55 million, against $1.65 million in Morningside. Hawthorne is closer to the city centre: 7.1 km, against 8.9 km. On these figures, Morningside tends to suit renters, young adults, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Hawthorne suits 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

Hawthorne

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (62% vs 41%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (60% vs 47%)
  • But Morningside has more parks and reserves (11 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Morningside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,650,000 vs $2,550,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Morningside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 37%)

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

Commuting to the city

Morningside

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (6% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 71/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Morningside

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (59% vs 38%)
  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 71/100)

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

Investors

Morningside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.2% vs 2.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Morningside Hawthorne
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.

Morningside Hawthorne
Walkability 83 / 71
Morningside — Walkability: 83/100 Hawthorne — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 29 / 38
Morningside — Safety: 29/100 Hawthorne — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Morningside — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hawthorne — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Morningside has more residents (11,755 vs 5,090); Hawthorne has higher household incomes ($157,508 vs $118,560).

Morningside Hawthorne
Population 11,755
+57% vs other
 5,090
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.2% +2.0%
Median age 34 37
Median household income $118,560/yr $157,508/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Morningside Hawthorne
0-4 6.4% / 5.2%
Morningside — 0-4: 6.4% Hawthorne — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.2% / 14.5%
Morningside — 5-14: 10.2% Hawthorne — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 4.3% / 7.2%
Morningside — 15-19: 4.3% Hawthorne — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 8.9% / 6.3%
Morningside — 20-24: 8.9% Hawthorne — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 22.2% / 12.8%
Morningside — 25-34: 22.2% Hawthorne — 25-34: 12.8%
35-44 18.4% / 16.2%
Morningside — 35-44: 18.4% Hawthorne — 35-44: 16.2%
45-54 12.7% / 17.3%
Morningside — 45-54: 12.7% Hawthorne — 45-54: 17.3%
55-64 8.5% / 11.7%
Morningside — 55-64: 8.5% Hawthorne — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 4.9% / 5.7%
Morningside — 65-74: 4.9% Hawthorne — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 2.2% / 2.1%
Morningside — 75-84: 2.2% Hawthorne — 75-84: 2.1%
85+ 1.1% / 0.6%
Morningside — 85+: 1.1% Hawthorne — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Morningside 33.8% couple families
Morningside — Couple Families: 33.8% Morningside — Lone Person: 37.9% Morningside — One Parent Families: 13.2% Morningside — Group Household: 12.6% Morningside — Other Families: 2.6%
Hawthorne 48.4% couple families
Hawthorne — Couple Families: 48.4% Hawthorne — Lone Person: 31.3% Hawthorne — One Parent Families: 12.1% Hawthorne — Group Household: 6.8% Hawthorne — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Morningside 47.7% renting
Morningside — Owned Outright: 16.3% Morningside — Mortgage: 36.0% Morningside — Renting: 47.7%
Hawthorne 37.1% renting
Hawthorne — Owned Outright: 24.8% Hawthorne — Mortgage: 38.1% Hawthorne — Renting: 37.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Morningside Hawthorne
Bachelor Degree 23.3% / 25.6%
Morningside — Bachelor Degree: 23.3% Hawthorne — Bachelor Degree: 25.6%
Certificate III & IV 11.7% / 7.6%
Morningside — Certificate III & IV: 11.7% Hawthorne — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 8.4%
Morningside — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Hawthorne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 8.9%
Morningside — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Hawthorne — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.8%
Morningside — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Hawthorne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.6%).

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.

Morningside Hawthorne
England 4.1% / 5.2%
Morningside — England: 4.1% Hawthorne — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 3.8% / 3.2%
Morningside — New Zealand: 3.8% Hawthorne — New Zealand: 3.2%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.3%
Morningside — South Africa: 1.4% Hawthorne — South Africa: 1.3%
India 1.7% / 0.7%
Morningside — India: 1.7% Hawthorne — India: 0.7%
Ireland 0.9% / 0.6%
Morningside — Ireland: 0.9% Hawthorne — Ireland: 0.6%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.8%
Morningside — Scotland: 0.6% Hawthorne — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Morningside 40.8% houses
Morningside — Houses: 40.8% Morningside — Flats / Apartments: 27.6% Morningside — Townhouses: 31.6%
Hawthorne 61.7% houses
Hawthorne — Houses: 61.7% Hawthorne — Flats / Apartments: 26.5% Hawthorne — Townhouses: 11.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Morningside Hawthorne
Median house price $1,650,000 $2,550,000
Median unit price $855,000 $848,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 70 sales
 25 days
from 58 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.

Morningside Hawthorne
2 bed $830K / $830K
Morningside — 2 bed: $830K (54 sales) Hawthorne — 2 bed: $830K (35 sales)

54 vs 35 sales

3 bed $968K / $1.2M
Morningside — 3 bed: $968K (20 sales) Hawthorne — 3 bed: $1.2M (12 sales)

20 vs 12 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.

Morningside Hawthorne
3 bed $1.4M / $1.94M
Morningside — 3 bed: $1.4M (53 sales) Hawthorne — 3 bed: $1.94M (23 sales)

53 vs 23 sales

4 bed $1.95M / $2.19M
Morningside — 4 bed: $1.95M (33 sales) Hawthorne — 4 bed: $2.19M (32 sales)

33 vs 32 sales

5 bed $2.45M / $3.07M
Morningside — 5 bed: $2.45M (25 sales) Hawthorne — 5 bed: $3.07M (33 sales)

25 vs 33 sales

Development activity

Morningside Hawthorne
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.

Morningside Hawthorne
Houses 3.4%
$850/wk on $1.29M
 3.0%
$1,100/wk on $1.9M
Units 4.3%
$690/wk on $839K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Morningside Hawthorne
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of QLD Higher than 11% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 43% of QLD —

Liveability

Morningside is more walkable (83 vs 71).

Morningside Hawthorne
Grade A A+
Score 78/100 81/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Morningside Hawthorne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Morningside Hawthorne
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
90 Bowen Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, 4.1 km
 3
90 Bowen Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 4.0%

Schools in Morningside

  • Morningside State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Hawthorne

  • Lourdes Hill College Catholic · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Morningside Hawthorne
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 11 7
Parks & reserves 11 2
Childcare 10 2
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 3 1
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Morningside Hawthorne
Walkability score 83/100 71/100
Distance to Brisbane 8.9 km
+20% vs other
 7.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 14 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 151.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 60.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 4170
 3.3%
postcode 4171
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 4170
 40
postcode 4171

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.

Morningside Hawthorne
Car (driver) 55.4% / 55.0%
Morningside — Car (driver): 55.4% Hawthorne — Car (driver): 55.0%
Worked from Home 28.0% / 33.3%
Morningside — Worked from Home: 28.0% Hawthorne — Worked from Home: 33.3%
Train 6.5% / 1.5%
Morningside — Train: 6.5% Hawthorne — Train: 1.5%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 3.8%
Morningside — Car (passenger): 4.0% Hawthorne — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Bus 3.2% / 3.1%
Morningside — Bus: 3.2% Hawthorne — Bus: 3.1%
Walked Only 1.6% / 1.9%
Morningside — Walked Only: 1.6% Hawthorne — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.4%).

Setting

Morningside Hawthorne
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.6 km 7.2 km

NBN connectivity

Morningside Hawthorne
Connectivity score 81/100 83/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
6,277 premises
 26%
2,328 premises

Climate

Morningside Hawthorne
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)

Morningside Hawthorne
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.68 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Morningside Hawthorne
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Morningside Hawthorne
Division Griffith
same for both
Member Renee Coffey
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Morningside Hawthorne
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Morningside

Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Townhouses

Hawthorne

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Morningside

Morningside vs Hamilton Morningside vs Bulimba Morningside vs Norman Park Morningside vs Cannon Hill Morningside vs Murarrie Morningside vs Balmoral

Other comparisons with Hawthorne

Hawthorne vs New Farm Hawthorne vs Bulimba Hawthorne vs Norman Park Hawthorne vs Teneriffe Hawthorne vs Balmoral
Full data on Morningside Full data on Hawthorne
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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