Parkinson vs Calamvale

Calamvale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Parkinson. In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Calamvale is closer to the city centre: 19.9 km, against 29.1 km. On these figures, Parkinson tends to suit 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

Calamvale

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 10)
  • But Parkinson carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 57/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Calamvale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Calamvale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 29/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (19.9 km vs 29.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Calamvale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (36% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 29/100)
  • But Parkinson carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 57/100)

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

Investors

Calamvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Parkinson Calamvale
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.

Parkinson Calamvale
Walkability 29 / 75
Parkinson — Walkability: 29/100 Calamvale — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 58 / 43
Parkinson — Safety: 58/100 Calamvale — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Parkinson — Low fire risk: 100/100 Calamvale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Calamvale has more residents (17,994 vs 11,148); Parkinson has higher household incomes ($113,776 vs $97,448).

Parkinson Calamvale
Population 11,148 17,994
+61% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.5% +5.1%
Median age 37 34
Median household income $113,776/yr
+14% vs other
 $97,448/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+9% vs other
 $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Parkinson Calamvale
0-4 5.9% / 7.1%
Parkinson — 0-4: 5.9% Calamvale — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 15.7% / 14.6%
Parkinson — 5-14: 15.7% Calamvale — 5-14: 14.6%
15-19 7.1% / 5.8%
Parkinson — 15-19: 7.1% Calamvale — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.9% / 6.0%
Parkinson — 20-24: 5.9% Calamvale — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 11.3% / 16.8%
Parkinson — 25-34: 11.3% Calamvale — 25-34: 16.8%
35-44 16.0% / 18.1%
Parkinson — 35-44: 16.0% Calamvale — 35-44: 18.1%
45-54 13.9% / 11.4%
Parkinson — 45-54: 13.9% Calamvale — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 12.0% / 9.1%
Parkinson — 55-64: 12.0% Calamvale — 55-64: 9.1%
65-74 7.3% / 7.4%
Parkinson — 65-74: 7.3% Calamvale — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 3.1% / 2.8%
Parkinson — 75-84: 3.1% Calamvale — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 1.8% / 0.9%
Parkinson — 85+: 1.8% Calamvale — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Parkinson 68.1% couple families
Parkinson — Couple Families: 68.1% Parkinson — One Parent Families: 14.5% Parkinson — Lone Person: 13.9% Parkinson — Group Household: 2.3% Parkinson — Other Families: 1.2%
Calamvale 57.5% couple families
Calamvale — Couple Families: 57.5% Calamvale — One Parent Families: 18.3% Calamvale — Lone Person: 18.1% Calamvale — Group Household: 4.6% Calamvale — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Parkinson 20.2% renting
Parkinson — Owned Outright: 27.4% Parkinson — Mortgage: 52.4% Parkinson — Renting: 20.2%
Calamvale 35.1% renting
Calamvale — Owned Outright: 25.2% Calamvale — Mortgage: 39.6% Calamvale — Renting: 35.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Parkinson Calamvale
Bachelor Degree 16.0% / 18.7%
Parkinson — Bachelor Degree: 16.0% Calamvale — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 11.2% / 8.3%
Parkinson — Certificate III & IV: 11.2% Calamvale — Certificate III & IV: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.1%
Parkinson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Calamvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 8.4%
Parkinson — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Calamvale — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.7%
Parkinson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Calamvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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

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.

Parkinson Calamvale
China 9.4% / 13.6%
Parkinson — China: 9.4% Calamvale — China: 13.6%
India 5.1% / 5.9%
Parkinson — India: 5.1% Calamvale — India: 5.9%
New Zealand 4.3% / 3.8%
Parkinson — New Zealand: 4.3% Calamvale — New Zealand: 3.8%
Taiwan 1.8% / 4.1%
Parkinson — Taiwan: 1.8% Calamvale — Taiwan: 4.1%
England 2.9% / 1.5%
Parkinson — England: 2.9% Calamvale — England: 1.5%
Philippines 1.5% / 2.2%
Parkinson — Philippines: 1.5% Calamvale — Philippines: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Parkinson 86.0% houses
Parkinson — Houses: 86.0% Parkinson — Townhouses: 13.8% Parkinson — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Calamvale 63.8% houses
Calamvale — Houses: 63.8% Calamvale — Townhouses: 35.9% Calamvale — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Parkinson Calamvale
Median house price $1,358,000 $1,357,500
Median unit price $740,000 $708,000
Median land price — $1,391,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 121 sales
 24 days
from 142 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.

Parkinson Calamvale
4 bed $1.31M / $1.35M
Parkinson — 4 bed: $1.31M (114 sales) Calamvale — 4 bed: $1.35M (98 sales)

114 vs 98 sales

5 bed $1.49M / $1.62M
Parkinson — 5 bed: $1.49M (43 sales) Calamvale — 5 bed: $1.62M (38 sales)

43 vs 38 sales

Development activity

Parkinson Calamvale
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.

Parkinson Calamvale
Houses 3.0%
$860/wk on $1.47M
 4.1%
$750/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Parkinson Calamvale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 44% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 12% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD

Liveability

Calamvale is more walkable (75 vs 29); Parkinson scores higher overall (73 vs 61).

Parkinson Calamvale
Grade A B
Score 73/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Calamvale carries more crime risk (57 vs 42).

Parkinson Calamvale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Parkinson Calamvale
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km None 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 8.2 km

Schools in Parkinson

  • Y Schools Queensland - Brisbane South (Parkinson Campus) Independent · Secondary

Schools in Calamvale

  • Calamvale Community College Government · Combined below peers
  • Wisdom College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Calamvale Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Parkinson Calamvale
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 1 11
Parks & reserves 10 28
Childcare 2 11
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 1 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 2

Mobility

Parkinson sits further from the CBD (29.1 km vs 19.9 km).

Parkinson Calamvale
Walkability score 29/100 75/100
Distance to Brisbane 29.1 km
+32% vs other
 19.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 26 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 126.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 203.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 4115
 2.9%
postcode 4116
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 80
postcode 4115
 74
postcode 4116

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.

Parkinson Calamvale
Car (driver) 71.0% / 69.2%
Parkinson — Car (driver): 71.0% Calamvale — Car (driver): 69.2%
Worked from Home 17.3% / 15.6%
Parkinson — Worked from Home: 17.3% Calamvale — Worked from Home: 15.6%
Bus 5.5% / 7.2%
Parkinson — Bus: 5.5% Calamvale — Bus: 7.2%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 6.1%
Parkinson — Car (passenger): 5.0% Calamvale — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Train 0.8% / 1.1%
Parkinson — Train: 0.8% Calamvale — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.0%).

Setting

Parkinson Calamvale
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.6 km 21.8 km

NBN connectivity

Parkinson Calamvale
Connectivity score 98/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 95%
3,863 premises
 87%
6,828 premises

Climate

Parkinson Calamvale
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)

Parkinson Calamvale
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

Parkinson Calamvale
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Parkinson Calamvale
Division Rankin
same for both
Member Jim Chalmers
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Parkinson Calamvale
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Parkinson

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural

Calamvale

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Parkinson

Parkinson vs Algester Parkinson vs Browns Plains Parkinson vs Hillcrest Parkinson vs Drewvale Parkinson vs Pallara Parkinson vs Forestdale

Other comparisons with Calamvale

Calamvale vs Sunnybank Hills Calamvale vs Runcorn Calamvale vs Algester Calamvale vs Drewvale Calamvale vs Stretton
Full data on Parkinson Full data on Calamvale
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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