Redcliffe vs Scarborough

In both, most households own their home. In Redcliffe, most households are people living alone. In Scarborough, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Scarborough: a median of $1.22 million, against $1 million in Redcliffe. On these figures, Redcliffe tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

  • Redcliffe has more parks and reserves (11 vs 6)
  • Scarborough carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 86/100)

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

First-home buyers

Redcliffe

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($820,000 vs $1,150,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,000,000 vs $1,223,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Redcliffe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Redcliffe

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 69/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (39.3 km vs 41.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Redcliffe

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Scarborough carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 86/100)

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

Investors

Redcliffe

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (3.4% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Redcliffe Scarborough
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.

Redcliffe Scarborough
Walkability 84 / 69
Redcliffe — Walkability: 84/100 Scarborough — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 14 / 60
Redcliffe — Safety: 14/100 Scarborough — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Redcliffe — Low fire risk: 100/100 Scarborough — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Scarborough has higher household incomes ($69,472 vs $57,928).

Redcliffe Scarborough
Population 10,460
+12% vs other
 9,178
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.8% +5.4%
Median age 52 53
Median household income $57,928/yr $69,472/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $335/wk $350/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Redcliffe Scarborough
0-4 3.3% / 3.2%
Redcliffe — 0-4: 3.3% Scarborough — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 8.9% / 9.8%
Redcliffe — 5-14: 8.9% Scarborough — 5-14: 9.8%
15-19 4.9% / 5.3%
Redcliffe — 15-19: 4.9% Scarborough — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.0% / 3.7%
Redcliffe — 20-24: 4.0% Scarborough — 20-24: 3.7%
25-34 7.8% / 6.2%
Redcliffe — 25-34: 7.8% Scarborough — 25-34: 6.2%
35-44 10.4% / 10.0%
Redcliffe — 35-44: 10.4% Scarborough — 35-44: 10.0%
45-54 14.2% / 14.6%
Redcliffe — 45-54: 14.2% Scarborough — 45-54: 14.6%
55-64 15.7% / 16.7%
Redcliffe — 55-64: 15.7% Scarborough — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 17.1% / 16.4%
Redcliffe — 65-74: 17.1% Scarborough — 65-74: 16.4%
75-84 10.0% / 9.9%
Redcliffe — 75-84: 10.0% Scarborough — 75-84: 9.9%
85+ 3.6% / 4.3%
Redcliffe — 85+: 3.6% Scarborough — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Redcliffe 55.3% lone person
Redcliffe — Lone Person: 55.3% Redcliffe — Couple Families: 21.2% Redcliffe — One Parent Families: 17.7% Redcliffe — Group Household: 4.5% Redcliffe — Other Families: 1.4%
Scarborough 50.3% lone person
Scarborough — Lone Person: 50.3% Scarborough — Couple Families: 29.4% Scarborough — One Parent Families: 15.9% Scarborough — Group Household: 3.1% Scarborough — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Redcliffe 44.0% renting
Redcliffe — Owned Outright: 33.4% Redcliffe — Mortgage: 22.6% Redcliffe — Renting: 44.0%
Scarborough 31.3% renting
Scarborough — Owned Outright: 40.3% Scarborough — Mortgage: 28.4% Scarborough — Renting: 31.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Redcliffe Scarborough
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 15.6%
Redcliffe — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Scarborough — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree 9.2% / 12.1%
Redcliffe — Bachelor Degree: 9.2% Scarborough — Bachelor Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 10.6%
Redcliffe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Scarborough — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 2.5% / 3.9%
Redcliffe — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5% Scarborough — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.5%
Redcliffe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Scarborough — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

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.

Redcliffe Scarborough
England 6.5% / 8.0%
Redcliffe — England: 6.5% Scarborough — England: 8.0%
New Zealand 6.3% / 5.1%
Redcliffe — New Zealand: 6.3% Scarborough — New Zealand: 5.1%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.4%
Redcliffe — South Africa: 0.8% Scarborough — South Africa: 1.4%
Scotland 0.9% / 1.0%
Redcliffe — Scotland: 0.9% Scarborough — Scotland: 1.0%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.6%
Redcliffe — Philippines: 0.9% Scarborough — Philippines: 0.6%
Netherlands 0.6% / 0.8%
Redcliffe — Netherlands: 0.6% Scarborough — Netherlands: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Redcliffe 51.4% houses
Redcliffe — Houses: 51.4% Redcliffe — Flats / Apartments: 37.9% Redcliffe — Townhouses: 10.7%
Scarborough 60.5% houses
Scarborough — Houses: 60.5% Scarborough — Flats / Apartments: 30.8% Scarborough — Townhouses: 8.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Redcliffe Scarborough
Median house price $1,000,000 $1,223,000
Median unit price $820,000 $1,150,000
Median land price $850,000 $962,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 121 sales
 34 days
from 94 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.

Redcliffe Scarborough
2 bed $745K / $823K
Redcliffe — 2 bed: $745K (84 sales) Scarborough — 2 bed: $823K (31 sales)

84 vs 31 sales

3 bed $1.2M / $1.38M
Redcliffe — 3 bed: $1.2M (60 sales) Scarborough — 3 bed: $1.38M (63 sales)

60 vs 63 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.

Redcliffe Scarborough
2 bed $806K / $1M
Redcliffe — 2 bed: $806K (26 sales) Scarborough — 2 bed: $1M (21 sales)

26 vs 21 sales

3 bed $940K / $1.15M
Redcliffe — 3 bed: $940K (115 sales) Scarborough — 3 bed: $1.15M (61 sales)

115 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1.21M / $1.37M
Redcliffe — 4 bed: $1.21M (52 sales) Scarborough — 4 bed: $1.37M (66 sales)

52 vs 66 sales

5 bed $1.29M / $1.57M
Redcliffe — 5 bed: $1.29M (8 sales) Scarborough — 5 bed: $1.57M (17 sales)

8 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Redcliffe Scarborough
New dwellings approved 6,996
across Moreton Bay
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
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.

Redcliffe Scarborough
Houses 3.6%
$680/wk on $985K
 2.6%
$700/wk on $1.4M
Units 3.4%
$582/wk on $884K
 2.9%
$680/wk on $1.24M

Ranking within QLD

Redcliffe Scarborough
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 20% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
Schools Higher than 6% of QLD Higher than 27% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 94% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 29% of QLD Higher than 6% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 4% of QLD

Liveability

Scarborough scores higher overall (59 vs 41); Redcliffe is more walkable (84 vs 69).

Redcliffe Scarborough
Grade C B
Score 41/100 59/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Redcliffe carries more crime risk (86 vs 40).

Redcliffe Scarborough
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
86/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
54/100
 Low
38/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Redcliffe Scarborough
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Redcliffe

  • Redcliffe State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Edu Space Redcliffe Independent · Secondary
  • Redcliffe Special School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Scarborough

  • Scarborough State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Southern Cross Catholic College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Australian Trade College North Brisbane Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Redcliffe Scarborough
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 20 10
Parks & reserves 11 6
Childcare 4 3
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 5 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 10 1

Mobility

Scarborough sits further from the CBD (41.3 km vs 39.3 km).

Redcliffe Scarborough
Walkability score 84/100 69/100
Distance to Brisbane 39.3 km 41.3 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min 43 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 234.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 170.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 4020
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 4020
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.

Redcliffe Scarborough
Car (driver) 68.6% / 67.0%
Redcliffe — Car (driver): 68.6% Scarborough — Car (driver): 67.0%
Worked from Home 17.0% / 21.4%
Redcliffe — Worked from Home: 17.0% Scarborough — Worked from Home: 21.4%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.5%
Redcliffe — Car (passenger): 4.9% Scarborough — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 4.6% / 1.9%
Redcliffe — Walked Only: 4.6% Scarborough — Walked Only: 1.9%
Train 2.9% / 3.2%
Redcliffe — Train: 2.9% Scarborough — Train: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.6%).

Setting

Redcliffe Scarborough
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 813 m
1.1 km to a named beach
 617 m
728 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Redcliffe Scarborough
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
6,714 premises
 10%
4,938 premises

Climate

Redcliffe Scarborough
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm 1,052 mm
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C 27.8°C
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C 14.7°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Redcliffe Scarborough
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Redcliffe Scarborough
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Moreton Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Redcliffe Scarborough
Division Petrie
same for both
Member Emma Comer
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Redcliffe Scarborough
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Redcliffe

Apartments Beach Coastal Outer Parks Retirees River

Scarborough

Beach Coastal Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Redcliffe

Redcliffe vs Kippa-Ring Redcliffe vs Margate Redcliffe vs Newport

Other comparisons with Scarborough

Scarborough vs Newport
Full data on Redcliffe Full data on Scarborough
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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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