Riverhills vs Westlake

Riverhills is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 43 in Westlake. 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 Westlake, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Westlake: a median of $1.41 million, against $1.02 million in Riverhills, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Riverhills tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Westlake 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

Westlake

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 4)
  • is already more of a family suburb (81% vs 68%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 87%)

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

First-home buyers

Riverhills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,020,444 vs $1,410,444)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Riverhills

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 Westlake 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 Westlake
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 Westlake
Walkability 48 / 53
Riverhills — Walkability: 48/100 Westlake — Walkability: 53/100
Safety 73 / 80
Riverhills — Safety: 73/100 Westlake — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Riverhills — Low fire risk: 100/100 Westlake — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Westlake rents higher ($550/wk vs $410/wk); Westlake has higher household incomes ($139,932 vs $107,068).

Riverhills Westlake
Population 4,121 4,547
+10% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +4.1%
Median age 36 43
Median household income $107,068/yr $139,932/yr
+31% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $550/wk
+34% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Riverhills Westlake
0-4 6.5% / 5.1%
Riverhills — 0-4: 6.5% Westlake — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 15.0% / 14.1%
Riverhills — 5-14: 15.0% Westlake — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 6.1% / 6.6%
Riverhills — 15-19: 6.1% Westlake — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.0% / 5.3%
Riverhills — 20-24: 5.0% Westlake — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 13.9% / 8.2%
Riverhills — 25-34: 13.9% Westlake — 25-34: 8.2%
35-44 17.1% / 12.8%
Riverhills — 35-44: 17.1% Westlake — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 12.4% / 13.9%
Riverhills — 45-54: 12.4% Westlake — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 10.7% / 15.7%
Riverhills — 55-64: 10.7% Westlake — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 8.9% / 12.6%
Riverhills — 65-74: 8.9% Westlake — 65-74: 12.6%
75-84 3.7% / 4.5%
Riverhills — 75-84: 3.7% Westlake — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 0.8% / 1.1%
Riverhills — 85+: 0.8% Westlake — 85+: 1.1%

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

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%
Westlake 68.5% couple families
Westlake — Couple Families: 68.5% Westlake — Lone Person: 15.2% Westlake — One Parent Families: 12.9% Westlake — Group Household: 2.2% Westlake — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Westlake 11.1% renting
Westlake — Owned Outright: 44.0% Westlake — Mortgage: 44.8% Westlake — Renting: 11.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Riverhills Westlake
Bachelor Degree 17.1% / 22.1%
Riverhills — Bachelor Degree: 17.1% Westlake — Bachelor Degree: 22.1%
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 8.6%
Riverhills — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Westlake — Certificate III & IV: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 8.6%
Riverhills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Westlake — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.9% / 9.5%
Riverhills — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9% Westlake — Postgraduate Degree: 9.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.1%
Riverhills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Westlake — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

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 Westlake
England 4.1% / 4.2%
Riverhills — England: 4.1% Westlake — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 4.1% / 3.1%
Riverhills — New Zealand: 4.1% Westlake — New Zealand: 3.1%
South Africa 2.1% / 2.4%
Riverhills — South Africa: 2.1% Westlake — South Africa: 2.4%
Vietnam 1.5% / 2.7%
Riverhills — Vietnam: 1.5% Westlake — Vietnam: 2.7%
China — / 3.0%
Riverhills — China: not among its largest Westlake — China: 3.0%
Iran 1.4% / 1.3%
Riverhills — Iran: 1.4% Westlake — Iran: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

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%
Westlake 97.1% houses
Westlake — Houses: 97.1% Westlake — Townhouses: 3.1% Westlake — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Riverhills Westlake
Median house price $1,020,444 $1,410,444
Median unit price $725,000 $706,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 24 sales
 30 days
from 40 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.

Riverhills Westlake
3 bed $972K / $1.01M
Riverhills — 3 bed: $972K (36 sales) Westlake — 3 bed: $1.01M (9 sales)

36 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.03M / $1.4M
Riverhills — 4 bed: $1.03M (25 sales) Westlake — 4 bed: $1.4M (41 sales)

25 vs 41 sales

5 bed $1.27M / $1.67M
Riverhills — 5 bed: $1.27M (5 sales) Westlake — 5 bed: $1.67M (21 sales)

5 vs 21 sales

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Riverhills Westlake
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD

Liveability

Westlake scores higher overall (88 vs 81).

Riverhills Westlake
Grade A+
same for both
Score 81/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Riverhills Westlake
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
27/100
 Low
20/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Riverhills Westlake
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 Westlake
Parks & reserves 4 7
Childcare 3 1
GPs 0 1
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Riverhills Westlake
Walkability score 48/100 53/100
Distance to Brisbane 19.4 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min
same for both
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 70/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Westlake
Car (driver) 66.6% / 63.3%
Riverhills — Car (driver): 66.6% Westlake — Car (driver): 63.3%
Worked from Home 20.8% / 26.8%
Riverhills — Worked from Home: 20.8% Westlake — Worked from Home: 26.8%
Train 4.9% / 3.0%
Riverhills — Train: 4.9% Westlake — Train: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 3.2%
Riverhills — Car (passenger): 4.0% Westlake — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Bus 2.4% / 2.6%
Riverhills — Bus: 2.4% Westlake — Bus: 2.6%

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

Setting

Riverhills Westlake
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 25.6 km 24.4 km

NBN connectivity

Riverhills Westlake
Connectivity score 73/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
1,638 premises
 0%
1,601 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Riverhills Westlake
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

Westlake

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Riverhills

Riverhills vs Bellbowrie Riverhills vs Moggill Riverhills vs Wacol Riverhills vs Middle Park Riverhills vs Sumner

Other comparisons with Westlake

Westlake vs Bellbowrie Westlake vs Middle Park Westlake vs Mount Ommaney Westlake vs Pinjarra Hills
Full data on Riverhills Full data on Westlake
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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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