Sheldon vs Mount Cotton

Mount Cotton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 47 in Sheldon. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Sheldon: a median of $1.81 million, against $1.13 million in Mount Cotton. Sheldon is closer to the city centre: 27.7 km, against 34.4 km. On these figures, Sheldon tends to suit older residents, while Mount Cotton suits families with children 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

Mount Cotton

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Cotton

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,127,500 vs $1,811,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 24%)

Weighs house 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

Sheldon

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (27.7 km vs 34.4 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (33 min vs 38 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sheldon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 8%)

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

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

Sheldon Mount Cotton
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.

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Walkability 12 / 13
Sheldon — Walkability: 12/100 Mount Cotton — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 65 / 71
Sheldon — Safety: 65/100 Mount Cotton — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 100 / 61
Sheldon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Cotton — Low fire risk: 61/100

Demographics

Mount Cotton has more residents (7,302 vs 1,762); Sheldon skews older (47 vs 34).

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Population 1,762 7,302
+314% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +6.8%
Median age 47 34
Median household income $133,016/yr $137,280/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $473/wk $475/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sheldon Mount Cotton
0-4 4.0% / 8.3%
Sheldon — 0-4: 4.0% Mount Cotton — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 11.5% / 17.6%
Sheldon — 5-14: 11.5% Mount Cotton — 5-14: 17.6%
15-19 8.3% / 6.6%
Sheldon — 15-19: 8.3% Mount Cotton — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.9% / 4.5%
Sheldon — 20-24: 5.9% Mount Cotton — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 6.9% / 13.2%
Sheldon — 25-34: 6.9% Mount Cotton — 25-34: 13.2%
35-44 9.6% / 17.9%
Sheldon — 35-44: 9.6% Mount Cotton — 35-44: 17.9%
45-54 16.5% / 14.7%
Sheldon — 45-54: 16.5% Mount Cotton — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 15.4% / 9.7%
Sheldon — 55-64: 15.4% Mount Cotton — 55-64: 9.7%
65-74 13.3% / 5.2%
Sheldon — 65-74: 13.3% Mount Cotton — 65-74: 5.2%
75-84 7.8% / 1.8%
Sheldon — 75-84: 7.8% Mount Cotton — 75-84: 1.8%
85+ 1.6% / 0.5%
Sheldon — 85+: 1.6% Mount Cotton — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sheldon 68.9% couple families
Sheldon — Couple Families: 68.9% Sheldon — Lone Person: 14.3% Sheldon — One Parent Families: 12.7% Sheldon — Group Household: 3.0% Sheldon — Other Families: 1.1%
Mount Cotton 73.9% couple families
Mount Cotton — Couple Families: 73.9% Mount Cotton — Lone Person: 11.9% Mount Cotton — One Parent Families: 12.3% Mount Cotton — Group Household: 1.6% Mount Cotton — Other Families: 0.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sheldon 5.1% renting
Sheldon — Owned Outright: 49.3% Sheldon — Mortgage: 45.5% Sheldon — Renting: 5.1%
Mount Cotton 13.8% renting
Mount Cotton — Owned Outright: 19.3% Mount Cotton — Mortgage: 66.8% Mount Cotton — Renting: 13.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Certificate III & IV 17.4% / 18.2%
Sheldon — Certificate III & IV: 17.4% Mount Cotton — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 14.4% / 11.3%
Sheldon — Bachelor Degree: 14.4% Mount Cotton — Bachelor Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 10.2%
Sheldon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Mount Cotton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 2.9%
Sheldon — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Mount Cotton — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.8%
Sheldon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Mount Cotton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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.

Sheldon Mount Cotton
England 4.8% / 5.9%
Sheldon — England: 4.8% Mount Cotton — England: 5.9%
New Zealand 3.0% / 4.3%
Sheldon — New Zealand: 3.0% Mount Cotton — New Zealand: 4.3%
South Africa 2.3% / 2.5%
Sheldon — South Africa: 2.3% Mount Cotton — South Africa: 2.5%
Ireland 0.9% / 0.3%
Sheldon — Ireland: 0.9% Mount Cotton — Ireland: 0.3%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.5%
Sheldon — Scotland: 0.6% Mount Cotton — Scotland: 0.5%
China 1.0% / —
Sheldon — China: 1.0% Mount Cotton — China: not among its largest
India — / 0.6%
Sheldon — India: not among its largest Mount Cotton — India: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sheldon 99.1% houses
Sheldon — Houses: 99.1% Sheldon — Flats / Apartments: 0.9% Sheldon — Townhouses: 0.0%
Mount Cotton 99.6% houses
Mount Cotton — Houses: 99.6% Mount Cotton — Flats / Apartments: 0.3% Mount Cotton — Townhouses: 0.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Median house price $1,811,500 $1,127,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,310,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 64 days
from 6 sales
 26 days
from 103 sales

Development activity

Sheldon Mount Cotton
New dwellings approved 1,598
across Redland
same for both
Approvals change year on year -26%
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.

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Houses — 3.5%
$750/wk on $1.11M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Sheldon Mount Cotton
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 25% of QLD

Liveability

Sheldon scores higher overall (75 vs 65).

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Grade A B
Score 75/100 65/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mount Cotton carries more bushfire risk (39 vs 0).

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
39/100
Crime Low
35/100
 Low
29/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Sheldon

  • Sheldon College Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Mount Cotton

  • Mount Cotton State School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 5 10
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 32 23

Mobility

Mount Cotton sits further from the CBD (34.4 km vs 27.7 km).

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Walkability score 12/100 13/100
Distance to Brisbane 27.7 km 34.4 km
+24% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 38 min
Public transport score 43/100
Bus
 48/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 13.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4157
 1.1%
postcode 4165
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 74
postcode 4157
 88
postcode 4165

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.

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Car (driver) 68.9% / 74.0%
Sheldon — Car (driver): 68.9% Mount Cotton — Car (driver): 74.0%
Worked from Home 23.6% / 20.0%
Sheldon — Worked from Home: 23.6% Mount Cotton — Worked from Home: 20.0%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.2%
Sheldon — Car (passenger): 4.4% Mount Cotton — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Bus 1.4% / 1.5%
Sheldon — Bus: 1.4% Mount Cotton — Bus: 1.5%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.6%
Sheldon — Walked Only: 1.3% Mount Cotton — Walked Only: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.0%).

Setting

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.9 km 7.7 km

NBN connectivity

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Connectivity score 56/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
588 premises
 80%
1,746 premises

Climate

Sheldon Mount Cotton
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)

Sheldon Mount Cotton
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

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Average residential rate $1,879/yr
same for both
Council Redland
same for both

Federal electorate

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Division Bowman
same for both
Member Henry Pike
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sheldon Mount Cotton
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sheldon

Acreage Outer Premium

Mount Cotton

Acreage Family Outer River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sheldon

Sheldon vs Thornlands Sheldon vs Capalaba Sheldon vs Alexandra Hills Sheldon vs Burbank Sheldon vs Priestdale

Other comparisons with Mount Cotton

Mount Cotton vs Thornlands Mount Cotton vs Redland Bay Mount Cotton vs Victoria Point Mount Cotton vs Shailer Park Mount Cotton vs Cornubia Mount Cotton vs Daisy Hill
Full data on Sheldon Full data on Mount Cotton
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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