South Brisbane vs Woolloongabba

In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In South Brisbane, most households are people living alone. South Brisbane is closer to the city centre: 3.1 km, against 4.4 km. On these figures, South Brisbane tends to suit people living alone, while Woolloongabba suits share households.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • South Brisbane has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)
  • Woolloongabba has more separate houses rather than flats (30% vs 4%)

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

First-home buyers

South Brisbane

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($925,000 vs $1,525,000)

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

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

South Brisbane

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (96% vs 70%)

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

Investors

South Brisbane

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (98.6% vs 54.3%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
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.

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Walkability 97 / 94
South Brisbane — Walkability: 97/100 Woolloongabba — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 9 / 7
South Brisbane — Safety: 9/100 Woolloongabba — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
South Brisbane — Low fire risk: 100/100 Woolloongabba — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Brisbane has more residents (14,292 vs 8,687).

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Population 14,292
+39% vs other
 8,687
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +98.6% +54.3%
Median age 29
same for both
Median household income $94,536/yr $96,876/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $470/wk
+6% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
0-4 2.5% / 2.9%
South Brisbane — 0-4: 2.5% Woolloongabba — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 5.6% / 4.9%
South Brisbane — 5-14: 5.6% Woolloongabba — 5-14: 4.9%
15-19 7.9% / 5.2%
South Brisbane — 15-19: 7.9% Woolloongabba — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 17.8% / 20.1%
South Brisbane — 20-24: 17.8% Woolloongabba — 20-24: 20.1%
25-34 29.6% / 32.2%
South Brisbane — 25-34: 29.6% Woolloongabba — 25-34: 32.2%
35-44 14.6% / 12.7%
South Brisbane — 35-44: 14.6% Woolloongabba — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 9.8% / 8.1%
South Brisbane — 45-54: 9.8% Woolloongabba — 45-54: 8.1%
55-64 5.8% / 6.2%
South Brisbane — 55-64: 5.8% Woolloongabba — 55-64: 6.2%
65-74 3.9% / 3.6%
South Brisbane — 65-74: 3.9% Woolloongabba — 65-74: 3.6%
75-84 1.8% / 2.5%
South Brisbane — 75-84: 1.8% Woolloongabba — 75-84: 2.5%
85+ 0.6% / 1.6%
South Brisbane — 85+: 0.6% Woolloongabba — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Brisbane 55.0% lone person
South Brisbane — Lone Person: 55.0% South Brisbane — Group Household: 16.4% South Brisbane — Couple Families: 16.9% South Brisbane — One Parent Families: 9.4% South Brisbane — Other Families: 2.2%
Woolloongabba 44.0% lone person
Woolloongabba — Lone Person: 44.0% Woolloongabba — Group Household: 26.6% Woolloongabba — Couple Families: 18.2% Woolloongabba — One Parent Families: 7.9% Woolloongabba — Other Families: 3.4%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Brisbane 72.0% renting
South Brisbane — Owned Outright: 13.2% South Brisbane — Mortgage: 14.8% South Brisbane — Renting: 72.0%
Woolloongabba 72.5% renting
Woolloongabba — Owned Outright: 10.3% Woolloongabba — Mortgage: 17.2% Woolloongabba — Renting: 72.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Bachelor Degree 26.9% / 28.4%
South Brisbane — Bachelor Degree: 26.9% Woolloongabba — Bachelor Degree: 28.4%
Postgraduate Degree 12.1% / 10.6%
South Brisbane — Postgraduate Degree: 12.1% Woolloongabba — Postgraduate Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.7%
South Brisbane — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Woolloongabba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.2% / 9.2%
South Brisbane — Certificate III & IV: 6.2% Woolloongabba — Certificate III & IV: 9.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.9%
South Brisbane — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Woolloongabba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.4%).

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.

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
China 11.9% / 6.9%
South Brisbane — China: 11.9% Woolloongabba — China: 6.9%
England 3.5% / 2.4%
South Brisbane — England: 3.5% Woolloongabba — England: 2.4%
New Zealand 2.7% / 3.1%
South Brisbane — New Zealand: 2.7% Woolloongabba — New Zealand: 3.1%
India 2.8% / 2.7%
South Brisbane — India: 2.8% Woolloongabba — India: 2.7%
Taiwan 1.9% / 1.2%
South Brisbane — Taiwan: 1.9% Woolloongabba — Taiwan: 1.2%
Vietnam 1.3% / 1.5%
South Brisbane — Vietnam: 1.3% Woolloongabba — Vietnam: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Brisbane 94.4% flats / apartments
South Brisbane — Flats / Apartments: 94.4% South Brisbane — Houses: 4.2% South Brisbane — Townhouses: 1.4%
Woolloongabba 69.5% flats / apartments
Woolloongabba — Flats / Apartments: 69.5% Woolloongabba — Houses: 29.8% Woolloongabba — Townhouses: 0.7%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Median house price $925,000 $1,525,000
Median unit price $787,500 $759,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 13 sales
 21 days
from 44 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
1 bed $639K / $640K
South Brisbane — 1 bed: $639K (210 sales) Woolloongabba — 1 bed: $640K (57 sales)

210 vs 57 sales

2 bed $905K / $790K
South Brisbane — 2 bed: $905K (241 sales) Woolloongabba — 2 bed: $790K (127 sales)

241 vs 127 sales

3 bed $1.93M / $1.08M
South Brisbane — 3 bed: $1.93M (50 sales) Woolloongabba — 3 bed: $1.08M (19 sales)

50 vs 19 sales

Development activity

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
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.

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Houses — 3.8%
$885/wk on $1.22M
Units 4.8%
$810/wk on $872K
 4.5%
$700/wk on $802K

Ranking within QLD

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 68% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Schools Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 8% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 100% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 39% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 67% of QLD Higher than 54% of QLD

Liveability

South Brisbane scores higher overall (76 vs 57).

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Grade A B
Score 76/100 57/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 High
93/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Inside the suburb 5 3
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane City, 0.0 km
 3
Brisbane City, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.4% 11.5%

Schools in South Brisbane

  • Brisbane State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Somerville House Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Laurence's College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • St George College Independent · Primary
  • Queensland Children's Hospital School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Woolloongabba

  • Buranda State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Australian International Islamic College - Buranda Campus Independent · Combined
  • Narbethong State Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Supermarkets 7 3
Cafes & restaurants 140 48
Parks & reserves 13
same for both
Childcare 7 5
GPs 7 6
Pharmacies 5 4
Hospitals 4 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 2
same for both
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Walkability score 97/100 94/100
Distance to Brisbane 3.1 km 4.4 km
+42% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 10 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 854.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 668.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 4101
 2.9%
postcode 4102
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 4101
 19
postcode 4102

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.

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Car (driver) 32.3% / 43.6%
South Brisbane — Car (driver): 32.3% Woolloongabba — Car (driver): 43.6%
Worked from Home 24.3% / 21.2%
South Brisbane — Worked from Home: 24.3% Woolloongabba — Worked from Home: 21.2%
Walked Only 21.2% / 9.7%
South Brisbane — Walked Only: 21.2% Woolloongabba — Walked Only: 9.7%
Bus 12.6% / 13.9%
South Brisbane — Bus: 12.6% Woolloongabba — Bus: 13.9%
Train 4.0% / 4.2%
South Brisbane — Train: 4.0% Woolloongabba — Train: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (43.6%).

Setting

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.3 km 10.8 km

NBN connectivity

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Connectivity score 100/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
4,916 premises
 43%
5,237 premises

Climate

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
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)

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 6.0 µg/m³
PM10 14.7 µg/m³ 16.5 µg/m³
NO₂ — 1.25 pphm

Council rates

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Division Griffith
same for both
Member Renee Coffey
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

South Brisbane Woolloongabba
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

South Brisbane

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Students Transport Hub Urban

Woolloongabba

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Brisbane

South Brisbane vs West End South Brisbane vs Brisbane City South Brisbane vs Kangaroo Point South Brisbane vs Highgate Hill South Brisbane vs Milton South Brisbane vs Dutton Park

Other comparisons with Woolloongabba

Woolloongabba vs Coorparoo Woolloongabba vs Annerley Woolloongabba vs Kangaroo Point Woolloongabba vs Greenslopes Woolloongabba vs East Brisbane Woolloongabba vs Fairfield
Full data on South Brisbane Full data on Woolloongabba
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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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