River Heads vs Susan River

Susan River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 54 in River Heads. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Susan River, most households are couple families. On these figures, River Heads tends to suit older residents, while Susan River suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • River Heads carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 88/100)
  • Susan River is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 59%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Susan River

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (10% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Susan River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (286.3 km vs 293 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

River Heads

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 88/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 13%)

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

Investors

River Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (32.8% vs -15.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

River Heads Susan River
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.

River Heads Susan River
Walkability 0 / 0
River Heads — Walkability: 0/100 Susan River — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 64 / 12
River Heads — Safety: 64/100 Susan River — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
River Heads — Low fire risk: 100/100 Susan River — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

River Heads has more residents (2,044 vs 115); River Heads rents higher ($350/wk vs $200/wk).

River Heads Susan River
Population 2,044
+94% vs other
 115
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +32.8% -15.4%
Median age 54 44
Median household income $64,636/yr $108,888/yr
+68% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+43% vs other
 $200/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

River Heads Susan River
0-4 3.4% / 3.5%
River Heads — 0-4: 3.4% Susan River — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 9.5% / 17.4%
River Heads — 5-14: 9.5% Susan River — 5-14: 17.4%
15-19 4.3% / 6.1%
River Heads — 15-19: 4.3% Susan River — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 4.2% / 3.5%
River Heads — 20-24: 4.2% Susan River — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 7.7% / 7.8%
River Heads — 25-34: 7.7% Susan River — 25-34: 7.8%
35-44 8.8% / 9.6%
River Heads — 35-44: 8.8% Susan River — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 13.4% / 14.8%
River Heads — 45-54: 13.4% Susan River — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 22.2% / 20.0%
River Heads — 55-64: 22.2% Susan River — 55-64: 20.0%
65-74 19.4% / 10.4%
River Heads — 65-74: 19.4% Susan River — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 6.3% / 2.6%
River Heads — 75-84: 6.3% Susan River — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 1.1% / —
River Heads — 85+: 1.1% Susan River — 85+: not among its largest

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

River Heads 39.0% couple families
River Heads — Couple Families: 39.0% River Heads — Lone Person: 35.4% River Heads — One Parent Families: 19.7% River Heads — Group Household: 5.9%
Susan River 66.7% couple families
Susan River — Couple Families: 66.7% Susan River — Lone Person: 33.3% Susan River — One Parent Families: 0.0% Susan River — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

River Heads 16.5% renting
River Heads — Owned Outright: 47.8% River Heads — Mortgage: 35.7% River Heads — Renting: 16.5%
Susan River 15.9% renting
Susan River — Owned Outright: 36.4% Susan River — Mortgage: 47.7% Susan River — Renting: 15.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

River Heads Susan River
Certificate III & IV 25.5% / 20.0%
River Heads — Certificate III & IV: 25.5% Susan River — Certificate III & IV: 20.0%
Bachelor Degree 6.1% / 12.2%
River Heads — Bachelor Degree: 6.1% Susan River — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.1%
River Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Susan River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 3.5%
River Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Susan River — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 3.5%
River Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Susan River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.5%).

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.

River Heads Susan River
England 5.6% / 7.0%
River Heads — England: 5.6% Susan River — England: 7.0%
New Zealand 4.5% / —
River Heads — New Zealand: 4.5% Susan River — New Zealand: not among its largest
Indonesia — / 3.5%
River Heads — Indonesia: not among its largest Susan River — Indonesia: 3.5%
Philippines 1.0% / —
River Heads — Philippines: 1.0% Susan River — Philippines: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / —
River Heads — South Africa: 0.7% Susan River — South Africa: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.6% / —
River Heads — Netherlands: 0.6% Susan River — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

River Heads 97.2% houses
River Heads — Houses: 97.2% River Heads — Flats / Apartments: 2.0% River Heads — Townhouses: 0.8%
Susan River 94.6% houses
Susan River — Houses: 94.6% Susan River — Flats / Apartments: 5.4% Susan River — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

River Heads Susan River
Median house price $830,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $399,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 49 days
from 39 sales
 —

Development activity

River Heads Susan River
New dwellings approved 1,578
across Fraser Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -8%
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.

River Heads Susan River
Houses 3.9%
$670/wk on $899K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

River Heads Susan River
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 30% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 47% of QLD Higher than 59% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 59% of QLD Higher than 60% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 40% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of QLD —

Liveability

River Heads Susan River
Grade C —
Score 41/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Susan River carries more crime risk (88 vs 36).

River Heads Susan River
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
36/100
 High
88/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
83/100
 High
77/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

River Heads Susan River
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

River Heads Susan River
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

River Heads sits further from the CBD (293 km vs 286.3 km).

River Heads Susan River
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 293 km
+2% vs other
 286.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 211 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4655
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 81
postcode 4655
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.

River Heads Susan River
Car (driver) 78.6% / 76.3%
River Heads — Car (driver): 78.6% Susan River — Car (driver): 76.3%
Worked from Home 13.4% / 6.8%
River Heads — Worked from Home: 13.4% Susan River — Worked from Home: 6.8%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 10.2%
River Heads — Car (passenger): 5.7% Susan River — Car (passenger): 10.2%
Walked Only 1.7% / 6.8%
River Heads — Walked Only: 1.7% Susan River — Walked Only: 6.8%
Bus 0.6% / —
River Heads — Bus: 0.6% Susan River — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.6%).

Setting

River Heads Susan River
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 713 m 5.5 km

NBN connectivity

River Heads Susan River
Connectivity score 80/100 28/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 58%
1,070 premises
 0%
37 premises

Climate

River Heads Susan River
Annual rainfall 1,074 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.7°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

River Heads Susan River
PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

River Heads Susan River
Average residential rate $1,576/yr
same for both
Council Fraser Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

River Heads Susan River
Division Hinkler
same for both
Member David Batt
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

River Heads Susan River
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

River Heads

Acreage Coastal Retirees

Susan River

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with River Heads

River Heads vs Booral River Heads vs Bunya Creek

Other comparisons with Susan River

Susan River vs Sunshine Acres Susan River vs Walligan Susan River vs Bunya Creek
Full data on River Heads Full data on Susan River
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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