Rothwell vs Deception Bay

Deception Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Rothwell. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Rothwell: a median of $918,000, against $840,000 in Deception Bay, and rent is higher there too. Rothwell is closer to the city centre: 32.3 km, against 36.4 km.

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

Deception Bay

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 6)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 70%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Rothwell has cheaper land ($780,000 vs $1,200,000)
  • Deception Bay has cheaper units ($620,000 vs $725,000)

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

Renters

Deception Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($325/wk vs $380/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Rothwell

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 50/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (32.3 km vs 36.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Rothwell

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 50/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 19%)
  • But Deception Bay has more GPs (9 vs 1)

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

Investors

Rothwell

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.2% vs -1.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rothwell Deception Bay
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.

Rothwell Deception Bay
Walkability 71 / 50
Rothwell — Walkability: 71/100 Deception Bay — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 22 / 25
Rothwell — Safety: 22/100 Deception Bay — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Rothwell — Low fire risk: 100/100 Deception Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Deception Bay has more residents (19,573 vs 7,538); Rothwell rents higher ($380/wk vs $325/wk).

Rothwell Deception Bay
Population 7,538 19,573
+160% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.2% -1.4%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $67,860/yr
+3% vs other
 $66,040/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+14% vs other
 $325/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rothwell Deception Bay
0-4 5.1% / 5.6%
Rothwell — 0-4: 5.1% Deception Bay — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 13.5% / 13.9%
Rothwell — 5-14: 13.5% Deception Bay — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 6.4% / 6.6%
Rothwell — 15-19: 6.4% Deception Bay — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.6% / 6.1%
Rothwell — 20-24: 5.6% Deception Bay — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 10.7% / 10.9%
Rothwell — 25-34: 10.7% Deception Bay — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 10.3% / 12.5%
Rothwell — 35-44: 10.3% Deception Bay — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 11.6% / 13.0%
Rothwell — 45-54: 11.6% Deception Bay — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 10.3% / 12.4%
Rothwell — 55-64: 10.3% Deception Bay — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 10.8% / 10.9%
Rothwell — 65-74: 10.8% Deception Bay — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 10.5% / 5.9%
Rothwell — 75-84: 10.5% Deception Bay — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 5.2% / 2.2%
Rothwell — 85+: 5.2% Deception Bay — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rothwell 38.4% lone person
Rothwell — Lone Person: 38.4% Rothwell — Couple Families: 35.2% Rothwell — One Parent Families: 21.5% Rothwell — Group Household: 3.9% Rothwell — Other Families: 1.0%
Deception Bay 34.7% lone person
Deception Bay — Lone Person: 34.7% Deception Bay — Couple Families: 34.4% Deception Bay — One Parent Families: 24.7% Deception Bay — Group Household: 4.3% Deception Bay — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rothwell 41.3% renting
Rothwell — Owned Outright: 31.3% Rothwell — Mortgage: 27.5% Rothwell — Renting: 41.3%
Deception Bay 39.9% renting
Deception Bay — Owned Outright: 25.7% Deception Bay — Mortgage: 34.4% Deception Bay — Renting: 39.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rothwell Deception Bay
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 19.1%
Rothwell — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Deception Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 6.5%
Rothwell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Deception Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Bachelor Degree 7.5% / 5.7%
Rothwell — Bachelor Degree: 7.5% Deception Bay — Bachelor Degree: 5.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 0.9%
Rothwell — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Deception Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 0.9%
Rothwell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Deception Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

Rothwell Deception Bay
New Zealand 6.0% / 6.3%
Rothwell — New Zealand: 6.0% Deception Bay — New Zealand: 6.3%
England 5.2% / 3.9%
Rothwell — England: 5.2% Deception Bay — England: 3.9%
Philippines 1.6% / 1.4%
Rothwell — Philippines: 1.6% Deception Bay — Philippines: 1.4%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.6%
Rothwell — South Africa: 0.8% Deception Bay — South Africa: 0.6%
India 0.9% / —
Rothwell — India: 0.9% Deception Bay — India: not among its largest
Fiji 0.5% / 0.4%
Rothwell — Fiji: 0.5% Deception Bay — Fiji: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rothwell 69.5% houses
Rothwell — Houses: 69.5% Rothwell — Townhouses: 27.7% Rothwell — Flats / Apartments: 2.8%
Deception Bay 84.1% houses
Deception Bay — Houses: 84.1% Deception Bay — Townhouses: 9.6% Deception Bay — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rothwell Deception Bay
Median house price $918,000 $840,000
Median unit price $725,000 $620,000
Median land price $780,000 $1,200,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 63 sales
 23 days
from 200 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.

Rothwell Deception Bay
3 bed $825K / $801K
Rothwell — 3 bed: $825K (40 sales) Deception Bay — 3 bed: $801K (183 sales)

40 vs 183 sales

4 bed $940K / $900K
Rothwell — 4 bed: $940K (79 sales) Deception Bay — 4 bed: $900K (102 sales)

79 vs 102 sales

5 bed $1.12M / $1.09M
Rothwell — 5 bed: $1.12M (13 sales) Deception Bay — 5 bed: $1.09M (20 sales)

13 vs 20 sales

Development activity

Rothwell Deception Bay
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.

Rothwell Deception Bay
Houses 3.8%
$650/wk on $899K
 3.7%
$610/wk on $850K
Units — 4.5%
$565/wk on $650K

Ranking within QLD

Rothwell Deception Bay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 34% of QLD Higher than 31% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 47% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 55% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 37% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of QLD

Liveability

Rothwell is more walkable (71 vs 50); Rothwell scores higher overall (49 vs 42).

Rothwell Deception Bay
Grade C
same for both
Score 49/100 42/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Rothwell Deception Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
75/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
65/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Rothwell Deception Bay
Inside the suburb 2 9
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0 4
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Moreton Bay, 9.8 km
 1
UniSC Moreton Bay, 9.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 0.8%

Schools in Rothwell

  • Grace Lutheran College Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Mueller College Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Deception Bay

  • Christ the King Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Deception Bay State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Deception Bay North State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Deception Bay State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Moreton Downs State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Arethusa College Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Rothwell Deception Bay
Supermarkets 1 5
Cafes & restaurants 3 12
Parks & reserves 18 16
Childcare 6 11
GPs 1 9
Pharmacies 2 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 3 4
Waterways 2 9

Mobility

Deception Bay sits further from the CBD (36.4 km vs 32.3 km).

Rothwell Deception Bay
Walkability score 71/100 50/100
Distance to Brisbane 32.3 km 36.4 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min 43 min
Public transport score 91/100
Rail · Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 77.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 130.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 4022
 0.4%
postcode 4508
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 4022
 59
postcode 4508

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.

Rothwell Deception Bay
Car (driver) 75.2% / 77.9%
Rothwell — Car (driver): 75.2% Deception Bay — Car (driver): 77.9%
Worked from Home 11.9% / 10.2%
Rothwell — Worked from Home: 11.9% Deception Bay — Worked from Home: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 6.4% / 6.4%
Rothwell — Car (passenger): 6.4% Deception Bay — Car (passenger): 6.4%
Train 3.0% / 2.5%
Rothwell — Train: 3.0% Deception Bay — Train: 2.5%
Walked Only 2.0% / 1.6%
Rothwell — Walked Only: 2.0% Deception Bay — Walked Only: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.9%).

Setting

Rothwell Deception Bay
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km 1.4 km

NBN connectivity

Rothwell Deception Bay
Connectivity score 72/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
3,219 premises
 50%
8,407 premises

Climate

Rothwell Deception Bay
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)

Rothwell Deception Bay
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

Rothwell Deception Bay
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Moreton Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Rothwell Deception Bay
Division Petrie
same for both
Member Emma Comer
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rothwell Deception Bay
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rothwell

Coastal Outer Parks Quiet Retirees Townhouses Transport Hub

Deception Bay

Coastal Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rothwell

Rothwell vs North Lakes Rothwell vs Mango Hill Rothwell vs Kippa-Ring Rothwell vs Clontarf Rothwell vs Newport

Other comparisons with Deception Bay

Deception Bay vs North Lakes Deception Bay vs Narangba Deception Bay vs Burpengary Deception Bay vs Burpengary East
Full data on Rothwell Full data on Deception Bay
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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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