Runcorn vs Calamvale

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Runcorn, about half of households are couple families. In Calamvale, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Calamvale: a median of $1.36 million, against $1.16 million in Runcorn. Runcorn is closer to the city centre: 17.4 km, against 19.9 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

Calamvale

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 5)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 67%)
  • But Runcorn has more parks and reserves (33 vs 28)

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

First-home buyers

Runcorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,163,000 vs $1,357,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Runcorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (17.4 km vs 19.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Calamvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Runcorn returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.6% vs 4.1%)
  • Calamvale is growing faster (5.1% vs -2.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Runcorn Calamvale
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.

Runcorn Calamvale
Walkability 75 / 75
Runcorn — Walkability: 75/100 Calamvale — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 47 / 43
Runcorn — Safety: 47/100 Calamvale — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Runcorn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Calamvale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Calamvale has more residents (17,994 vs 14,199).

Runcorn Calamvale
Population 14,199 17,994
+27% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.7% +5.1%
Median age 34
same for both
Median household income $90,584/yr $97,448/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $410/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Runcorn Calamvale
0-4 6.4% / 7.1%
Runcorn — 0-4: 6.4% Calamvale — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 12.2% / 14.6%
Runcorn — 5-14: 12.2% Calamvale — 5-14: 14.6%
15-19 4.9% / 5.8%
Runcorn — 15-19: 4.9% Calamvale — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 8.0% / 6.0%
Runcorn — 20-24: 8.0% Calamvale — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 19.1% / 16.8%
Runcorn — 25-34: 19.1% Calamvale — 25-34: 16.8%
35-44 16.4% / 18.1%
Runcorn — 35-44: 16.4% Calamvale — 35-44: 18.1%
45-54 11.2% / 11.4%
Runcorn — 45-54: 11.2% Calamvale — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 10.5% / 9.1%
Runcorn — 55-64: 10.5% Calamvale — 55-64: 9.1%
65-74 7.8% / 7.4%
Runcorn — 65-74: 7.8% Calamvale — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 3.0% / 2.8%
Runcorn — 75-84: 3.0% Calamvale — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 0.6% / 0.9%
Runcorn — 85+: 0.6% Calamvale — 85+: 0.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Runcorn 50.1% couple families
Runcorn — Couple Families: 50.1% Runcorn — Lone Person: 22.7% Runcorn — One Parent Families: 16.5% Runcorn — Group Household: 8.2% Runcorn — Other Families: 2.5%
Calamvale 57.5% couple families
Calamvale — Couple Families: 57.5% Calamvale — Lone Person: 18.1% Calamvale — One Parent Families: 18.3% Calamvale — Group Household: 4.6% Calamvale — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Runcorn 38.8% renting
Runcorn — Owned Outright: 27.9% Runcorn — Mortgage: 33.3% Runcorn — Renting: 38.8%
Calamvale 35.1% renting
Calamvale — Owned Outright: 25.2% Calamvale — Mortgage: 39.6% Calamvale — Renting: 35.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Runcorn Calamvale
Bachelor Degree 17.5% / 18.7%
Runcorn — Bachelor Degree: 17.5% Calamvale — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 9.9% / 8.3%
Runcorn — Certificate III & IV: 9.9% Calamvale — Certificate III & IV: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 8.1%
Runcorn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Calamvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 7.8% / 8.4%
Runcorn — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8% Calamvale — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.7%
Runcorn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Calamvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

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.

Runcorn Calamvale
China 9.9% / 13.6%
Runcorn — China: 9.9% Calamvale — China: 13.6%
India 9.1% / 5.9%
Runcorn — India: 9.1% Calamvale — India: 5.9%
Taiwan 3.8% / 4.1%
Runcorn — Taiwan: 3.8% Calamvale — Taiwan: 4.1%
New Zealand 3.2% / 3.8%
Runcorn — New Zealand: 3.2% Calamvale — New Zealand: 3.8%
Malaysia 1.9% / 2.1%
Runcorn — Malaysia: 1.9% Calamvale — Malaysia: 2.1%
Philippines 1.4% / 2.2%
Runcorn — Philippines: 1.4% Calamvale — Philippines: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Runcorn 69.4% houses
Runcorn — Houses: 69.4% Runcorn — Townhouses: 30.4% Runcorn — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Calamvale 63.8% houses
Calamvale — Houses: 63.8% Calamvale — Townhouses: 35.9% Calamvale — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Runcorn Calamvale
Median house price $1,163,000 $1,357,500
Median unit price $731,000 $708,000
Median land price — $1,391,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 107 sales
 24 days
from 142 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.

Runcorn Calamvale
3 bed $1.07M / $961K
Runcorn — 3 bed: $1.07M (63 sales) Calamvale — 3 bed: $961K (32 sales)

63 vs 32 sales

4 bed $1.16M / $1.35M
Runcorn — 4 bed: $1.16M (72 sales) Calamvale — 4 bed: $1.35M (98 sales)

72 vs 98 sales

5 bed $1.7M / $1.62M
Runcorn — 5 bed: $1.7M (16 sales) Calamvale — 5 bed: $1.62M (38 sales)

16 vs 38 sales

Development activity

Runcorn Calamvale
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

Runcorn Calamvale
Houses 4.6%
$740/wk on $832K
 4.1%
$750/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Runcorn Calamvale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 44% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD

Liveability

Runcorn scores higher overall (72 vs 61).

Runcorn Calamvale
Grade A B
Score 72/100 61/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Runcorn Calamvale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Runcorn Calamvale
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 5.9 km
 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 8.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 2.8%

Schools in Runcorn

  • Runcorn Heights State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Runcorn State High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Calamvale

  • Calamvale Community College Government · Combined below peers
  • Wisdom College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Calamvale Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Runcorn Calamvale
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 6 11
Parks & reserves 33 28
Childcare 5 11
GPs 2 6
Pharmacies 0 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 2
same for both
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Calamvale sits further from the CBD (19.9 km vs 17.4 km).

Runcorn Calamvale
Walkability score 75/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 17.4 km 19.9 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 26 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 214.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 203.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 4113
 2.9%
postcode 4116
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 4113
 74
postcode 4116

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.

Runcorn Calamvale
Car (driver) 66.2% / 69.2%
Runcorn — Car (driver): 66.2% Calamvale — Car (driver): 69.2%
Worked from Home 15.7% / 15.6%
Runcorn — Worked from Home: 15.7% Calamvale — Worked from Home: 15.6%
Bus 8.0% / 7.2%
Runcorn — Bus: 8.0% Calamvale — Bus: 7.2%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 6.1%
Runcorn — Car (passenger): 5.5% Calamvale — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Train 3.4% / 1.1%
Runcorn — Train: 3.4% Calamvale — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.2%).

Setting

Runcorn Calamvale
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.9 km 21.8 km

NBN connectivity

Runcorn Calamvale
Connectivity score 84/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
5,487 premises
 87%
6,828 premises

Climate

Runcorn Calamvale
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)

Runcorn Calamvale
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.48 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Runcorn Calamvale
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Runcorn Calamvale
Division Moreton Rankin
Member Julie-Ann Campbell Jim Chalmers
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Runcorn Calamvale
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Runcorn

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

Calamvale

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Runcorn

Runcorn vs Sunnybank Hills Runcorn vs Eight Mile Plains Runcorn vs Sunnybank Runcorn vs Kuraby Runcorn vs Stretton

Other comparisons with Calamvale

Calamvale vs Sunnybank Hills Calamvale vs Parkinson Calamvale vs Algester Calamvale vs Drewvale Calamvale vs Stretton
Full data on Runcorn Full data on Calamvale
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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