Mount Cotton vs Redland Bay

Mount Cotton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Redland Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Mount Cotton is closer to the city centre: 34.4 km, against 46.7 km. On these figures, Mount Cotton tends to suit families with children and 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

Mount Cotton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 51/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (86% vs 76%)
  • But Redland Bay has more parks and reserves (42 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Cotton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 24%)

Weighs house prices, land 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

Mount Cotton

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (34.4 km vs 46.7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (38 min vs 45 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Mount Cotton is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • Redland Bay has more GPs (5 vs 1)

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

Investors

Redland Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.0% vs 6.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
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.

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Walkability 13 / 0
Mount Cotton — Walkability: 13/100 Redland Bay — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 71 / 49
Mount Cotton — Safety: 71/100 Redland Bay — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 61 / 58
Mount Cotton — Low fire risk: 61/100 Redland Bay — Low fire risk: 58/100

Demographics

Redland Bay has more residents (17,056 vs 7,302); Mount Cotton has higher household incomes ($137,280 vs $106,392).

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Population 7,302 17,056
+134% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% +14.0%
Median age 34 40
Median household income $137,280/yr
+22% vs other
 $106,392/yr
Median weekly rent $475/wk
+2% vs other
 $465/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
0-4 8.3% / 5.6%
Mount Cotton — 0-4: 8.3% Redland Bay — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 17.6% / 14.2%
Mount Cotton — 5-14: 17.6% Redland Bay — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 6.6% / 6.8%
Mount Cotton — 15-19: 6.6% Redland Bay — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 4.5% / 5.7%
Mount Cotton — 20-24: 4.5% Redland Bay — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 13.2% / 10.6%
Mount Cotton — 25-34: 13.2% Redland Bay — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 17.9% / 12.8%
Mount Cotton — 35-44: 17.9% Redland Bay — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 14.7% / 14.2%
Mount Cotton — 45-54: 14.7% Redland Bay — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 9.7% / 12.9%
Mount Cotton — 55-64: 9.7% Redland Bay — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 5.2% / 10.4%
Mount Cotton — 65-74: 5.2% Redland Bay — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 1.8% / 5.4%
Mount Cotton — 75-84: 1.8% Redland Bay — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 0.5% / 1.4%
Mount Cotton — 85+: 0.5% Redland Bay — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Cotton 73.9% couple families
Mount Cotton — Couple Families: 73.9% Mount Cotton — Lone Person: 11.9% Mount Cotton — One Parent Families: 12.3% Mount Cotton — Group Household: 1.6% Mount Cotton — Other Families: 0.3%
Redland Bay 58.3% couple families
Redland Bay — Couple Families: 58.3% Redland Bay — Lone Person: 20.3% Redland Bay — One Parent Families: 17.3% Redland Bay — Group Household: 3.1% Redland Bay — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mount Cotton 13.8% renting
Mount Cotton — Owned Outright: 19.3% Mount Cotton — Mortgage: 66.8% Mount Cotton — Renting: 13.8%
Redland Bay 23.0% renting
Redland Bay — Owned Outright: 30.8% Redland Bay — Mortgage: 46.2% Redland Bay — Renting: 23.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 19.8%
Mount Cotton — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Redland Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.8%
Bachelor Degree 11.3% / 8.9%
Mount Cotton — Bachelor Degree: 11.3% Redland Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 9.0%
Mount Cotton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Redland Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 2.2%
Mount Cotton — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Redland Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.4%
Mount Cotton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Redland Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

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.

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
England 5.9% / 5.9%
Mount Cotton — England: 5.9% Redland Bay — England: 5.9%
New Zealand 4.3% / 5.2%
Mount Cotton — New Zealand: 4.3% Redland Bay — New Zealand: 5.2%
South Africa 2.5% / 1.9%
Mount Cotton — South Africa: 2.5% Redland Bay — South Africa: 1.9%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.9%
Mount Cotton — Scotland: 0.5% Redland Bay — Scotland: 0.9%
India 0.6% / 0.3%
Mount Cotton — India: 0.6% Redland Bay — India: 0.3%
Philippines — / 0.5%
Mount Cotton — Philippines: not among its largest Redland Bay — Philippines: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Cotton 99.6% houses
Mount Cotton — Houses: 99.6% Mount Cotton — Townhouses: 0.2% Mount Cotton — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Redland Bay 94.3% houses
Redland Bay — Houses: 94.3% Redland Bay — Townhouses: 3.5% Redland Bay — Flats / Apartments: 2.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Median house price $1,127,500 $1,100,000
Median unit price — $942,500
Median land price $1,310,000 $1,157,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 103 sales
 24 days
from 202 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.

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
3 bed $910K / $968K
Mount Cotton — 3 bed: $910K (21 sales) Redland Bay — 3 bed: $968K (60 sales)

21 vs 60 sales

4 bed $1.1M / $1.1M
Mount Cotton — 4 bed: $1.1M (116 sales) Redland Bay — 4 bed: $1.1M (177 sales)

116 vs 177 sales

5 bed $1.4M / $1.32M
Mount Cotton — 5 bed: $1.4M (27 sales) Redland Bay — 5 bed: $1.32M (51 sales)

27 vs 51 sales

6 bed $1.6M / $1.36M
Mount Cotton — 6 bed: $1.6M (5 sales) Redland Bay — 6 bed: $1.36M (7 sales)

5 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
New dwellings approved 1,598
across Redland
same for both
Approvals change year on year -26%
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.

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Houses 3.5%
$750/wk on $1.11M
 3.6%
$830/wk on $1.2M
Units — 3.6%
$650/wk on $950K

Ranking within QLD

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 75% of QLD Higher than 30% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 83% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of QLD Higher than 29% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 13% of QLD

Liveability

Mount Cotton is more walkable (13 vs 0); Mount Cotton scores higher overall (65 vs 40).

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Grade B C
Score 65/100 40/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Redland Bay carries more crime risk (51 vs 29).

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Bushfire Low
39/100
 Moderate
42/100
Crime Low
29/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
66/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Mount Cotton

  • Mount Cotton State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Redland Bay

  • Redland Bay State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Scenic Shores State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 7
same for both
Parks & reserves 10 42
Childcare 3 8
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 23 53

Mobility

Redland Bay sits further from the CBD (46.7 km vs 34.4 km).

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Walkability score 13/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 34.4 km 46.7 km
+36% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 38 min 45 min
Public transport score 48/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 12.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 142.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4165
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 88
postcode 4165
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.

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Car (driver) 74.0% / 76.4%
Mount Cotton — Car (driver): 74.0% Redland Bay — Car (driver): 76.4%
Worked from Home 20.0% / 16.3%
Mount Cotton — Worked from Home: 20.0% Redland Bay — Worked from Home: 16.3%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 4.0%
Mount Cotton — Car (passenger): 3.2% Redland Bay — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Bus 1.5% / 1.5%
Mount Cotton — Bus: 1.5% Redland Bay — Bus: 1.5%
Walked Only 0.6% / 1.1%
Mount Cotton — Walked Only: 0.6% Redland Bay — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.4%).

Setting

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.7 km 1.5 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Connectivity score 89/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 80%
1,746 premises
 61%
6,922 premises

Climate

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
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)

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.48 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Average residential rate $1,879/yr
same for both
Council Redland
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Division Bowman
same for both
Member Henry Pike
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Cotton Redland Bay
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Cotton

Acreage Family Outer River

Redland Bay

Acreage Coastal Outer River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Cotton

Mount Cotton vs Thornlands Mount Cotton vs Victoria Point Mount Cotton vs Shailer Park Mount Cotton vs Cornubia Mount Cotton vs Daisy Hill Mount Cotton vs Sheldon

Other comparisons with Redland Bay

Redland Bay vs Victoria Point Redland Bay vs Carbrook Redland Bay vs Alberton Redland Bay vs Woongoolba
Full data on Mount Cotton Full data on Redland Bay
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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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