Rowlands Creek vs Smiths Creek

Smiths Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 59 in Rowlands Creek. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Rowlands Creek, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Smiths Creek: a median of $1.95 million, against $1.57 million in Rowlands Creek, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Rowlands Creek tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and 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

Smiths Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Rowlands Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,575,000 vs $1,950,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rowlands Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($231/wk vs $345/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Smiths Creek

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (516 min vs 560 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (794.9 km vs 796.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Rowlands Creek has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 20%)
  • Smiths Creek is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)

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

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

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

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
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.

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Walkability 0 / 8
Rowlands Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Smiths Creek — Walkability: 8/100
Low fire risk 39 / 100
Rowlands Creek — Low fire risk: 39/100 Smiths Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Smiths Creek has more residents (345 vs 84); Smiths Creek rents higher ($345/wk vs $231/wk).

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Population 84 345
+311% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.5% +14.6%
Median age 59 47
Median household income $43,316/yr $61,724/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $231/wk $345/wk
+49% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
0-4 — / 2.9%
Rowlands Creek — 0-4: not among its largest Smiths Creek — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 3.6% / 10.7%
Rowlands Creek — 5-14: 3.6% Smiths Creek — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 — / 11.0%
Rowlands Creek — 15-19: not among its largest Smiths Creek — 15-19: 11.0%
20-24 — / 3.2%
Rowlands Creek — 20-24: not among its largest Smiths Creek — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 4.8% / 6.1%
Rowlands Creek — 25-34: 4.8% Smiths Creek — 25-34: 6.1%
35-44 14.3% / 9.9%
Rowlands Creek — 35-44: 14.3% Smiths Creek — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 9.5% / 20.0%
Rowlands Creek — 45-54: 9.5% Smiths Creek — 45-54: 20.0%
55-64 25.0% / 16.5%
Rowlands Creek — 55-64: 25.0% Smiths Creek — 55-64: 16.5%
65-74 27.4% / 11.9%
Rowlands Creek — 65-74: 27.4% Smiths Creek — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 — / 7.8%
Rowlands Creek — 75-84: not among its largest Smiths Creek — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 3.6% / —
Rowlands Creek — 85+: 3.6% Smiths Creek — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rowlands Creek 64.0% lone person
Rowlands Creek — Lone Person: 64.0% Rowlands Creek — Couple Families: 24.0% Rowlands Creek — One Parent Families: 12.0% Rowlands Creek — Group Household: 0.0% Rowlands Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Smiths Creek 32.2% lone person
Smiths Creek — Lone Person: 32.2% Smiths Creek — Couple Families: 40.0% Smiths Creek — One Parent Families: 15.6% Smiths Creek — Group Household: 8.9% Smiths Creek — Other Families: 3.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rowlands Creek 13.5% renting
Rowlands Creek — Owned Outright: 75.7% Rowlands Creek — Mortgage: 10.8% Rowlands Creek — Renting: 13.5%
Smiths Creek 13.5% renting
Smiths Creek — Owned Outright: 53.2% Smiths Creek — Mortgage: 33.3% Smiths Creek — Renting: 13.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
England 7.1% / 8.1%
Rowlands Creek — England: 7.1% Smiths Creek — England: 8.1%
Philippines — / 1.2%
Rowlands Creek — Philippines: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Philippines: 1.2%
Germany — / 1.2%
Rowlands Creek — Germany: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Germany: 1.2%
New Zealand — / 0.9%
Rowlands Creek — New Zealand: not among its largest Smiths Creek — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland — / 0.9%
Rowlands Creek — Scotland: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Scotland: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.1%).

Qualifications

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

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Certificate III & IV 19.0% / 15.1%
Rowlands Creek — Certificate III & IV: 19.0% Smiths Creek — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 11.9%
Rowlands Creek — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Smiths Creek — Bachelor Degree: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 9.0%
Rowlands Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Smiths Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 1.7%
Rowlands Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Smiths Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 3.2%
Rowlands Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rowlands Creek 94.3% houses
Rowlands Creek — Houses: 94.3% Rowlands Creek — Flats / Apartments: 5.7%
Smiths Creek 97.5% houses
Smiths Creek — Houses: 97.5% Smiths Creek — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Median house price $1,575,000 $1,950,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Rowlands Creek has more land zoned for conservation (65% vs 25%); Smiths Creek has more rural and farming land (62% vs 34%).

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Environmental 65% 25%
Rural and farming 34% 62%
Other and special use 0% 6%
Residential 0% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
New dwellings approved 331
across Tweed
same for both
Approvals change year on year -50%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
House price Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Income Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW

Liveability

Smiths Creek is more walkable (8 vs 0).

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Rowlands Creek carries more bushfire risk (61 vs 0).

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Bushfire Moderate
61/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
81/100
 —
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
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

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Parks & reserves 1 0
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

Rowlands Creek sits further from the CBD (796.9 km vs 794.9 km).

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Walkability score 0/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 796.9 km 794.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 560 min 516 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2484
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 76
postcode 2484
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.

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Car (driver) 100.0% / 66.1%
Rowlands Creek — Car (driver): 100.0% Smiths Creek — Car (driver): 66.1%
Worked from Home — / 25.4%
Rowlands Creek — Worked from Home: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Walked Only — / 5.1%
Rowlands Creek — Walked Only: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Walked Only: 5.1%
Car (passenger) — / 3.4%
Rowlands Creek — Car (passenger): not among its largest Smiths Creek — Car (passenger): 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (100.0%).

Setting

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Elevation 182 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 20.1 km 17.5 km

NBN connectivity

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Connectivity score 21/100 29/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
37 premises
 0%
131 premises

Climate

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Average residential rate $1,745/yr
same for both
Council Tweed
same for both

Federal electorate

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rowlands Creek

Retirees Rural

Smiths Creek

Premium River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rowlands Creek

Rowlands Creek vs Uki Rowlands Creek vs Upper Main Arm Rowlands Creek vs Huonbrook Rowlands Creek vs Doon Doon Rowlands Creek vs Upper Wilsons Creek Rowlands Creek vs Chowan Creek

Other comparisons with Smiths Creek

Smiths Creek vs Stokers Siding Smiths Creek vs Uki Smiths Creek vs Upper Burringbar Smiths Creek vs Dum Dum Smiths Creek vs Chowan Creek
Full data on Rowlands Creek Full data on Smiths Creek
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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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