Riverhills vs Sumner

Sumner is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 36 in Riverhills. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Riverhills, about half of households are couple families. In Sumner, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Riverhills: a median of $1.02 million, against $900,000 in Sumner, though rent is higher in Sumner. Sumner is closer to the city centre: 17.4 km, against 19.4 km. On these figures, Sumner 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

Riverhills

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 93/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Riverhills has cheaper units ($725,000 vs $825,000)
  • Sumner has cheaper houses ($900,000 vs $1,020,444)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Riverhills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $445/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sumner

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (17.4 km vs 19.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Riverhills

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 93/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Riverhills Sumner
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.

Riverhills Sumner
Walkability 48 / 49
Riverhills — Walkability: 48/100 Sumner — Walkability: 49/100
Safety 73 / 7
Riverhills — Safety: 73/100 Sumner — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Riverhills — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sumner — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Riverhills has more residents (4,121 vs 603); Riverhills skews older (36 vs 32).

Riverhills Sumner
Population 4,121
+85% vs other
 603
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +1.3%
Median age 36 32
Median household income $107,068/yr $117,832/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $445/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Riverhills Sumner
0-4 6.5% / 11.6%
Riverhills — 0-4: 6.5% Sumner — 0-4: 11.6%
5-14 15.0% / 14.1%
Riverhills — 5-14: 15.0% Sumner — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 6.1% / 2.8%
Riverhills — 15-19: 6.1% Sumner — 15-19: 2.8%
20-24 5.0% / 7.0%
Riverhills — 20-24: 5.0% Sumner — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 13.9% / 19.6%
Riverhills — 25-34: 13.9% Sumner — 25-34: 19.6%
35-44 17.1% / 20.1%
Riverhills — 35-44: 17.1% Sumner — 35-44: 20.1%
45-54 12.4% / 8.8%
Riverhills — 45-54: 12.4% Sumner — 45-54: 8.8%
55-64 10.7% / 8.5%
Riverhills — 55-64: 10.7% Sumner — 55-64: 8.5%
65-74 8.9% / 4.0%
Riverhills — 65-74: 8.9% Sumner — 65-74: 4.0%
75-84 3.7% / 2.3%
Riverhills — 75-84: 3.7% Sumner — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 0.8% / 0.5%
Riverhills — 85+: 0.8% Sumner — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Riverhills 50.7% couple families
Riverhills — Couple Families: 50.7% Riverhills — Lone Person: 26.5% Riverhills — One Parent Families: 17.0% Riverhills — Group Household: 4.3% Riverhills — Other Families: 1.5%
Sumner 62.3% couple families
Sumner — Couple Families: 62.3% Sumner — Lone Person: 17.2% Sumner — One Parent Families: 11.3% Sumner — Group Household: 6.6% Sumner — Other Families: 2.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Riverhills 25.2% renting
Riverhills — Owned Outright: 25.6% Riverhills — Mortgage: 49.2% Riverhills — Renting: 25.2%
Sumner 30.1% renting
Sumner — Owned Outright: 14.3% Sumner — Mortgage: 55.6% Sumner — Renting: 30.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Riverhills Sumner
Bachelor Degree 17.1% / 16.9%
Riverhills — Bachelor Degree: 17.1% Sumner — Bachelor Degree: 16.9%
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 11.1%
Riverhills — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Sumner — Certificate III & IV: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 10.1%
Riverhills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Sumner — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.9% / 4.1%
Riverhills — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9% Sumner — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.5%
Riverhills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Sumner — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

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

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.

Riverhills Sumner
New Zealand 4.1% / 4.1%
Riverhills — New Zealand: 4.1% Sumner — New Zealand: 4.1%
England 4.1% / 3.6%
Riverhills — England: 4.1% Sumner — England: 3.6%
India 1.4% / 4.6%
Riverhills — India: 1.4% Sumner — India: 4.6%
South Africa 2.1% / 3.3%
Riverhills — South Africa: 2.1% Sumner — South Africa: 3.3%
Vietnam 1.5% / 1.8%
Riverhills — Vietnam: 1.5% Sumner — Vietnam: 1.8%
Iran 1.4% / —
Riverhills — Iran: 1.4% Sumner — Iran: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Riverhills 87.0% houses
Riverhills — Houses: 87.0% Riverhills — Townhouses: 12.9% Riverhills — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Sumner 91.9% houses
Sumner — Houses: 91.9% Sumner — Townhouses: 7.6% Sumner — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Riverhills Sumner
Median house price $1,020,444 $900,000
Median unit price $725,000 $825,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 24 sales
 33 days
from 4 sales

Development activity

Riverhills Sumner
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Riverhills Sumner
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD

Liveability

Riverhills scores higher overall (81 vs 58).

Riverhills Sumner
Grade A+ B
Score 81/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Sumner carries more crime risk (93 vs 27).

Riverhills Sumner
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
27/100
 High
93/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Riverhills Sumner
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

Riverhills Sumner
Parks & reserves 4 1
Childcare 3 0
GPs 0 1
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Riverhills sits further from the CBD (19.4 km vs 17.4 km).

Riverhills Sumner
Walkability score 48/100 49/100
Distance to Brisbane 19.4 km
+10% vs other
 17.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 23 min
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 4074
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 77
postcode 4074
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.

Riverhills Sumner
Car (driver) 66.6% / 66.0%
Riverhills — Car (driver): 66.6% Sumner — Car (driver): 66.0%
Worked from Home 20.8% / 23.1%
Riverhills — Worked from Home: 20.8% Sumner — Worked from Home: 23.1%
Train 4.9% / 6.0%
Riverhills — Train: 4.9% Sumner — Train: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 4.9%
Riverhills — Car (passenger): 4.0% Sumner — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Bus 2.4% / —
Riverhills — Bus: 2.4% Sumner — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.6%).

Setting

Riverhills Sumner
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 25.6 km 23.8 km

NBN connectivity

Riverhills Sumner
Connectivity score 73/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
1,638 premises
 21%
842 premises

Climate

Riverhills Sumner
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)

Riverhills Sumner
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.99 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Riverhills Sumner
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Riverhills Sumner
Division Oxley
same for both
Member Milton Dick
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Riverhills Sumner
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Riverhills

Middle-Ring Parks

Sumner

Acreage Family Middle-Ring Quiet Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Riverhills

Riverhills vs Bellbowrie Riverhills vs Moggill Riverhills vs Westlake Riverhills vs Wacol Riverhills vs Middle Park

Other comparisons with Sumner

Sumner vs Sinnamon Park Sumner vs Wacol Sumner vs Darra Sumner vs Middle Park Sumner vs Jamboree Heights
Full data on Riverhills Full data on Sumner
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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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