South Gladstone vs Sun Valley

In both, most homes are detached houses. In South Gladstone, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Sun Valley, most households own their home. On these figures, South Gladstone tends to suit renters and people living alone.

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

Sun Valley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (35/100 vs 83/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 64%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 46%)
  • But South Gladstone has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Gladstone

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($240/wk vs $260/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Gladstone

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (36% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Sun Valley carries lower crime risk (35/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Sun Valley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

South Gladstone and Sun Valley 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 Gladstone Sun Valley
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 Gladstone Sun Valley
Walkability 63 / 61
South Gladstone — Walkability: 63/100 Sun Valley — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 17 / 65
South Gladstone — Safety: 17/100 Sun Valley — Safety: 65/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
South Gladstone — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sun Valley — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Gladstone has more residents (3,476 vs 1,296); Sun Valley has higher household incomes ($79,040 vs $66,716).

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Population 3,476
+63% vs other
 1,296
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.5% +2.0%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $66,716/yr $79,040/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $240/wk $260/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Gladstone Sun Valley
0-4 5.5% / 6.3%
South Gladstone — 0-4: 5.5% Sun Valley — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 12.5% / 15.0%
South Gladstone — 5-14: 12.5% Sun Valley — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 7.0% / 7.7%
South Gladstone — 15-19: 7.0% Sun Valley — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 6.2% / 4.9%
South Gladstone — 20-24: 6.2% Sun Valley — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 12.6% / 10.3%
South Gladstone — 25-34: 12.6% Sun Valley — 25-34: 10.3%
35-44 13.4% / 13.7%
South Gladstone — 35-44: 13.4% Sun Valley — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 14.7% / 14.9%
South Gladstone — 45-54: 14.7% Sun Valley — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 14.1% / 13.6%
South Gladstone — 55-64: 14.1% Sun Valley — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 8.5% / 8.2%
South Gladstone — 65-74: 8.5% Sun Valley — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 4.0% / 4.2%
South Gladstone — 75-84: 4.0% Sun Valley — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.6% / 0.9%
South Gladstone — 85+: 1.6% Sun Valley — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Gladstone 47.1% lone person
South Gladstone — Lone Person: 47.1% South Gladstone — Couple Families: 28.9% South Gladstone — One Parent Families: 17.5% South Gladstone — Group Household: 5.6% South Gladstone — Other Families: 0.9%
Sun Valley 29.5% lone person
Sun Valley — Lone Person: 29.5% Sun Valley — Couple Families: 40.3% Sun Valley — One Parent Families: 26.1% Sun Valley — Group Household: 2.8% Sun Valley — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Gladstone 49.4% renting
South Gladstone — Owned Outright: 22.4% South Gladstone — Mortgage: 28.2% South Gladstone — Renting: 49.4%
Sun Valley 30.3% renting
Sun Valley — Owned Outright: 29.0% Sun Valley — Mortgage: 40.8% Sun Valley — Renting: 30.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 21.9%
South Gladstone — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Sun Valley — Certificate III & IV: 21.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.3% / 5.6%
South Gladstone — Bachelor Degree: 8.3% Sun Valley — Bachelor Degree: 5.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.3% / 4.2%
South Gladstone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3% Sun Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 1.0%
South Gladstone — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Sun Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.4%
South Gladstone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Sun Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

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 Gladstone Sun Valley
New Zealand 3.0% / 2.8%
South Gladstone — New Zealand: 3.0% Sun Valley — New Zealand: 2.8%
England 2.3% / 2.3%
South Gladstone — England: 2.3% Sun Valley — England: 2.3%
Philippines 3.8% / —
South Gladstone — Philippines: 3.8% Sun Valley — Philippines: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / 0.8%
South Gladstone — South Africa: 0.7% Sun Valley — South Africa: 0.8%
India 1.0% / 0.3%
South Gladstone — India: 1.0% Sun Valley — India: 0.3%
Thailand 0.4% / 0.6%
South Gladstone — Thailand: 0.4% Sun Valley — Thailand: 0.6%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.5%
South Gladstone — Scotland: 0.4% Sun Valley — Scotland: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Gladstone 64.5% houses
South Gladstone — Houses: 64.5% South Gladstone — Townhouses: 23.1% South Gladstone — Flats / Apartments: 12.5%
Sun Valley 95.6% houses
Sun Valley — Houses: 95.6% Sun Valley — Townhouses: 0.6% Sun Valley — Flats / Apartments: 3.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Median house price $541,444 $525,500
Median unit price $288,000 —
Median land price $195,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 60 sales
 34 days
from 20 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.

South Gladstone Sun Valley
3 bed $510K / $509K
South Gladstone — 3 bed: $510K (60 sales) Sun Valley — 3 bed: $509K (60 sales)

60 vs 60 sales

4 bed $650K / $612K
South Gladstone — 4 bed: $650K (50 sales) Sun Valley — 4 bed: $612K (24 sales)

50 vs 24 sales

5 bed $710K / $646K
South Gladstone — 5 bed: $710K (8 sales) Sun Valley — 5 bed: $646K (5 sales)

8 vs 5 sales

Development activity

South Gladstone Sun Valley
New dwellings approved 274
across Gladstone
same for both
Approvals change year on year +132%
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 Gladstone Sun Valley
Houses 4.2%
$470/wk on $584K
 4.9%
$545/wk on $574K
Units 6.2%
$355/wk on $299K
 —

Ranking within QLD

South Gladstone Sun Valley
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 33% of QLD —
Schools Higher than 76% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 36% of QLD Higher than 35% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 92% of QLD —

Liveability

Sun Valley scores higher overall (51 vs 43).

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Grade C B
Score 43/100 51/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Gladstone carries more crime risk (83 vs 35).

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
83/100
 Low
35/100
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 13
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in South Gladstone

  • Toolooa State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Gladstone South State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Trinity College - South Gladstone Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in Sun Valley

  • Trinity College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Parks & reserves 8 4
Childcare 2 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 2 3

Mobility

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Walkability score 63/100 61/100
Distance to Brisbane 526.4 km 526 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 366 min 365 min
Public transport score 41/100
Bus
 27/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 13.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4680
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 59
postcode 4680
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.

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Car (driver) 83.4% / 85.0%
South Gladstone — Car (driver): 83.4% Sun Valley — Car (driver): 85.0%
Car (passenger) 7.4% / 6.9%
South Gladstone — Car (passenger): 7.4% Sun Valley — Car (passenger): 6.9%
Worked from Home 4.6% / 4.4%
South Gladstone — Worked from Home: 4.6% Sun Valley — Worked from Home: 4.4%
Walked Only 2.4% / 2.5%
South Gladstone — Walked Only: 2.4% Sun Valley — Walked Only: 2.5%
Bus 0.7% / 1.2%
South Gladstone — Bus: 0.7% Sun Valley — Bus: 1.2%
Bicycle 1.5% / —
South Gladstone — Bicycle: 1.5% Sun Valley — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.0%).

Setting

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km 3.0 km

NBN connectivity

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Connectivity score 68/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
2,158 premises
 44%
573 premises

Climate

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Annual rainfall 851 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 14.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

South Gladstone Sun Valley
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.49 pphm
same for both

Council rates

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Average residential rate $2,358/yr
same for both
Council Gladstone
same for both

Federal electorate

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Division Flynn
same for both
Member Colin Boyce
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

South Gladstone Sun Valley
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

South Gladstone

Affordable Coastal Townhouses

Sun Valley

Affordable Large Blocks Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Gladstone

South Gladstone vs West Gladstone South Gladstone vs Gladstone Central South Gladstone vs Barney Point South Gladstone vs Toolooa

Other comparisons with Sun Valley

Sun Valley vs West Gladstone Sun Valley vs Kin Kora Sun Valley vs Telina Sun Valley vs Toolooa
Full data on South Gladstone Full data on Sun Valley
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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