Pimpama vs Willow Vale

Pimpama is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 32 in Willow Vale. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Pimpama, most households rent and about half of households are couple families. In Willow Vale, most households own their home and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Willow Vale: a median of $1.2 million, against $960,000 in Pimpama. On these figures, Pimpama tends to suit renters, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Willow Vale 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

Pimpama

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (20 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 5)
  • But Willow Vale carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 67/100)

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

First-home buyers

Pimpama

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($973,000 vs $1,440,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($960,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Pimpama

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 40%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Pimpama

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (19% vs 9%)
  • But Willow Vale carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 67/100)

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

Investors

Pimpama

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (161.8% vs 8.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Pimpama Willow Vale
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.

Pimpama Willow Vale
Walkability 17 / 14
Pimpama — Walkability: 17/100 Willow Vale — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 33 / 76
Pimpama — Safety: 33/100 Willow Vale — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Pimpama — Low fire risk: 100/100 Willow Vale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Pimpama has more residents (24,601 vs 2,279); Willow Vale has higher household incomes ($110,968 vs $96,876).

Pimpama Willow Vale
Population 24,601
+91% vs other
 2,279
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +161.8% +8.7%
Median age 29 32
Median household income $96,876/yr $110,968/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+2% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pimpama Willow Vale
0-4 10.8% / 8.8%
Pimpama — 0-4: 10.8% Willow Vale — 0-4: 8.8%
5-14 16.7% / 14.7%
Pimpama — 5-14: 16.7% Willow Vale — 5-14: 14.7%
15-19 5.3% / 7.2%
Pimpama — 15-19: 5.3% Willow Vale — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 7.8% / 6.9%
Pimpama — 20-24: 7.8% Willow Vale — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 22.4% / 15.4%
Pimpama — 25-34: 22.4% Willow Vale — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 15.1% / 13.2%
Pimpama — 35-44: 15.1% Willow Vale — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 8.9% / 13.5%
Pimpama — 45-54: 8.9% Willow Vale — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 5.6% / 11.4%
Pimpama — 55-64: 5.6% Willow Vale — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 4.8% / 6.4%
Pimpama — 65-74: 4.8% Willow Vale — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 2.1% / 2.3%
Pimpama — 75-84: 2.1% Willow Vale — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 0.5% / —
Pimpama — 85+: 0.5% Willow Vale — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pimpama 52.4% couple families
Pimpama — Couple Families: 52.4% Pimpama — One Parent Families: 24.3% Pimpama — Lone Person: 15.6% Pimpama — Group Household: 6.1% Pimpama — Other Families: 1.5%
Willow Vale 65.0% couple families
Willow Vale — Couple Families: 65.0% Willow Vale — One Parent Families: 17.3% Willow Vale — Lone Person: 13.3% Willow Vale — Group Household: 3.4% Willow Vale — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pimpama 57.9% renting
Pimpama — Owned Outright: 10.0% Pimpama — Mortgage: 32.1% Pimpama — Renting: 57.9%
Willow Vale 40.4% renting
Willow Vale — Owned Outright: 16.1% Willow Vale — Mortgage: 43.5% Willow Vale — Renting: 40.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pimpama Willow Vale
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 17.4%
Pimpama — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Willow Vale — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 10.4%
Pimpama — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Willow Vale — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 9.1%
Pimpama — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Willow Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 3.1%
Pimpama — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Willow Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.3%
Pimpama — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Willow Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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.

Pimpama Willow Vale
New Zealand 10.9% / 7.2%
Pimpama — New Zealand: 10.9% Willow Vale — New Zealand: 7.2%
England 3.4% / 5.4%
Pimpama — England: 3.4% Willow Vale — England: 5.4%
South Africa 1.4% / 2.8%
Pimpama — South Africa: 1.4% Willow Vale — South Africa: 2.8%
India 3.5% / 0.4%
Pimpama — India: 3.5% Willow Vale — India: 0.4%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.7%
Pimpama — Philippines: 1.0% Willow Vale — Philippines: 0.7%
Canada — / 0.8%
Pimpama — Canada: not among its largest Willow Vale — Canada: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pimpama 80.8% houses
Pimpama — Houses: 80.8% Pimpama — Townhouses: 17.7% Pimpama — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Willow Vale 91.1% houses
Willow Vale — Houses: 91.1% Willow Vale — Townhouses: 5.6% Willow Vale — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pimpama Willow Vale
Median house price $960,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $737,000 —
Median land price $973,000 $1,440,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 430 sales
 40 days
from 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.

Pimpama Willow Vale
3 bed $862K / $862K
Pimpama — 3 bed: $862K (122 sales) Willow Vale — 3 bed: $862K (6 sales)

122 vs 6 sales

4 bed $983K / $1.04M
Pimpama — 4 bed: $983K (432 sales) Willow Vale — 4 bed: $1.04M (15 sales)

432 vs 15 sales

Development activity

Pimpama Willow Vale
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.

Pimpama Willow Vale
Houses 4.1%
$750/wk on $950K
 —
Units 4.3%
$695/wk on $850K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Pimpama Willow Vale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Schools Higher than 48% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 88% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 61% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 42% of QLD —

Liveability

Willow Vale scores higher overall (72 vs 50).

Pimpama Willow Vale
Grade B A
Score 50/100 72/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Pimpama carries more crime risk (67 vs 24).

Pimpama Willow Vale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
67/100
 Low
24/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Pimpama Willow Vale
Inside the suburb 7 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Pimpama

  • Pimpama State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Ormeau State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Pimpama State Primary College Government · Primary at peers
  • Pimpama State Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Gainsborough State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Willow Vale

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

Amenities in the suburb

Pimpama Willow Vale
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 11 0
Parks & reserves 18 5
Childcare 20 1
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 6 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 7 16

Mobility

Pimpama Willow Vale
Walkability score 17/100 14/100
Distance to Brisbane 52.9 km 53.9 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 47 min 44 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 22/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 181.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 1.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 30 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 4209
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 61
postcode 4209
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.

Pimpama Willow Vale
Car (driver) 79.7% / 73.4%
Pimpama — Car (driver): 79.7% Willow Vale — Car (driver): 73.4%
Worked from Home 12.1% / 19.6%
Pimpama — Worked from Home: 12.1% Willow Vale — Worked from Home: 19.6%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 4.4%
Pimpama — Car (passenger): 5.2% Willow Vale — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.9%
Pimpama — Walked Only: 0.7% Willow Vale — Walked Only: 1.9%
Train 1.7% / 0.3%
Pimpama — Train: 1.7% Willow Vale — Train: 0.3%
Bus 0.4% / 0.4%
Pimpama — Bus: 0.4% Willow Vale — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

Pimpama Willow Vale
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.2 km 11.8 km

NBN connectivity

Pimpama Willow Vale
Connectivity score 93/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 87%
8,619 premises
 85%
676 premises

Climate

Pimpama Willow Vale
Annual rainfall 1,351 mm 1,682 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C —
Winter min (Jul) 12.5°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Pimpama Willow Vale
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.42 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Pimpama Willow Vale
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Pimpama Willow Vale
Division Fadden Forde
Member Cameron Caldwell Rowan Holzberger
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Pimpama Willow Vale
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Pimpama

Family Outer Young Families

Willow Vale

Acreage Family Outer River Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pimpama

Pimpama vs Upper Coomera Pimpama vs Coomera Pimpama vs Ormeau Pimpama vs Ormeau Hills Pimpama vs Jacobs Well Pimpama vs Kingsholme

Other comparisons with Willow Vale

Willow Vale vs Upper Coomera Willow Vale vs Wongawallan Willow Vale vs Kingsholme
Full data on Pimpama Full data on Willow Vale
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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