St Lucia vs West End

St Lucia is the younger of the two, with a median age of 25 against 34 in West End. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In St Lucia, about half of households rent. In West End, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in West End: a median of $910,000, against $831,000 in St Lucia, and rent is higher there too. West End is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 6.8 km. On these figures, St Lucia tends to suit share households, while West End suits 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

St Lucia

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 12)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (33% vs 20%)
  • But West End has more childcare (9 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

St Lucia

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West End

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.6 km vs 6.8 km)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 71/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

West End

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 71/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (80% vs 67%)
  • But St Lucia carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

West End

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (55.5% vs -2.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.6% vs 2.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

St Lucia West End
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.

St Lucia West End
Walkability 71 / 99
St Lucia — Walkability: 71/100 West End — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 61 / 36
St Lucia — Safety: 61/100 West End — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
St Lucia — Low fire risk: 100/100 West End — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West End skews older (34 vs 25); West End has higher household incomes ($109,928 vs $91,572).

St Lucia West End
Population 12,220 14,730
+21% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.8% +55.5%
Median age 25 34
Median household income $91,572/yr $109,928/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $450/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

St Lucia West End
0-4 3.1% / 3.5%
St Lucia — 0-4: 3.1% West End — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 7.7% / 8.9%
St Lucia — 5-14: 7.7% West End — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 16.5% / 5.0%
St Lucia — 15-19: 16.5% West End — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 21.7% / 9.4%
St Lucia — 20-24: 21.7% West End — 20-24: 9.4%
25-34 16.6% / 25.2%
St Lucia — 25-34: 16.6% West End — 25-34: 25.2%
35-44 10.6% / 16.5%
St Lucia — 35-44: 10.6% West End — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 7.2% / 13.1%
St Lucia — 45-54: 7.2% West End — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 6.0% / 9.3%
St Lucia — 55-64: 6.0% West End — 55-64: 9.3%
65-74 6.1% / 5.9%
St Lucia — 65-74: 6.1% West End — 65-74: 5.9%
75-84 3.8% / 2.4%
St Lucia — 75-84: 3.8% West End — 75-84: 2.4%
85+ 1.0% / 0.8%
St Lucia — 85+: 1.0% West End — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

St Lucia 32.8% lone person
St Lucia — Lone Person: 32.8% St Lucia — Couple Families: 28.8% St Lucia — Group Household: 26.1% St Lucia — One Parent Families: 8.3% St Lucia — Other Families: 3.9%
West End 46.9% lone person
West End — Lone Person: 46.9% West End — Couple Families: 27.1% West End — Group Household: 13.6% West End — One Parent Families: 10.2% West End — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

St Lucia 54.5% renting
St Lucia — Owned Outright: 27.3% St Lucia — Mortgage: 18.2% St Lucia — Renting: 54.5%
West End 59.5% renting
West End — Owned Outright: 18.4% West End — Mortgage: 22.1% West End — Renting: 59.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

St Lucia West End
Bachelor Degree 21.8% / 27.6%
St Lucia — Bachelor Degree: 21.8% West End — Bachelor Degree: 27.6%
Postgraduate Degree 17.7% / 14.4%
St Lucia — Postgraduate Degree: 17.7% West End — Postgraduate Degree: 14.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.0% / 7.6%
St Lucia — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0% West End — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 4.2% / 6.6%
St Lucia — Certificate III & IV: 4.2% West End — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.7%
St Lucia — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% West End — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.6%).

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.

St Lucia West End
China 7.4% / 3.6%
St Lucia — China: 7.4% West End — China: 3.6%
England 3.0% / 4.3%
St Lucia — England: 3.0% West End — England: 4.3%
India 2.8% / 2.5%
St Lucia — India: 2.8% West End — India: 2.5%
New Zealand 1.8% / 3.0%
St Lucia — New Zealand: 1.8% West End — New Zealand: 3.0%
Malaysia 2.6% / —
St Lucia — Malaysia: 2.6% West End — Malaysia: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.9%
St Lucia — Vietnam: not among its largest West End — Vietnam: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

St Lucia 60.2% flats / apartments
St Lucia — Flats / Apartments: 60.2% St Lucia — Houses: 33.0% St Lucia — Townhouses: 6.9%
West End 76.1% flats / apartments
West End — Flats / Apartments: 76.1% West End — Houses: 19.6% West End — Townhouses: 4.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

St Lucia West End
Median house price $2,120,000 $2,070,000
Median unit price $830,550 $909,500
Median land price $1,567,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 55 sales
 31 days
from 61 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.

St Lucia West End
1 bed $588K / $710K
St Lucia — 1 bed: $588K (20 sales) West End — 1 bed: $710K (121 sales)

20 vs 121 sales

2 bed $820K / $935K
St Lucia — 2 bed: $820K (120 sales) West End — 2 bed: $935K (223 sales)

120 vs 223 sales

3 bed $1.27M / $1.65M
St Lucia — 3 bed: $1.27M (50 sales) West End — 3 bed: $1.65M (84 sales)

50 vs 84 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.

St Lucia West End
2 bed $1.57M / $1.5M
St Lucia — 2 bed: $1.57M (9 sales) West End — 2 bed: $1.5M (13 sales)

9 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.82M / $1.91M
St Lucia — 3 bed: $1.82M (19 sales) West End — 3 bed: $1.91M (24 sales)

19 vs 24 sales

4 bed $2.17M / $2.28M
St Lucia — 4 bed: $2.17M (36 sales) West End — 4 bed: $2.28M (18 sales)

36 vs 18 sales

5 bed $2.65M / $2.41M
St Lucia — 5 bed: $2.65M (23 sales) West End — 5 bed: $2.41M (8 sales)

23 vs 8 sales

Development activity

St Lucia West End
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.

St Lucia West End
Houses 2.0%
$875/wk on $2.27M
 2.6%
$1,000/wk on $1.99M
Units 3.7%
$650/wk on $925K
 4.0%
$800/wk on $1.05M

Ranking within QLD

St Lucia West End
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 100% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of QLD Higher than 6% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 17% of QLD Higher than 29% of QLD

Liveability

West End is more walkable (99 vs 71).

St Lucia West End
Grade A+
same for both
Score 87/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

West End carries more crime risk (64 vs 39).

St Lucia West End
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
39/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood —
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
 9
within 5 km

Schools

St Lucia West End
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
St Lucia Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Brisbane City, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 28.2% 5.1%

Schools in St Lucia

  • Ironside State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in West End

  • West End State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Arethusa College - West End Campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

St Lucia West End
Supermarkets 1 13
Cafes & restaurants 38 87
Parks & reserves 21 12
Childcare 5 9
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 2 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

St Lucia sits further from the CBD (6.8 km vs 4.6 km).

St Lucia West End
Walkability score 71/100 99/100
Distance to Brisbane 6.8 km
+32% vs other
 4.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 12 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 433.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 425.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 4067
 3.2%
postcode 4101
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 4067
 10
postcode 4101

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.

St Lucia West End
Car (driver) 37.1% / 37.3%
St Lucia — Car (driver): 37.1% West End — Car (driver): 37.3%
Worked from Home 34.9% / 31.9%
St Lucia — Worked from Home: 34.9% West End — Worked from Home: 31.9%
Bus 10.7% / 12.2%
St Lucia — Bus: 10.7% West End — Bus: 12.2%
Walked Only 8.0% / 9.3%
St Lucia — Walked Only: 8.0% West End — Walked Only: 9.3%
Bicycle 3.5% / 5.1%
St Lucia — Bicycle: 3.5% West End — Bicycle: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (37.3%).

Setting

St Lucia West End
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.8 km 12.9 km

NBN connectivity

St Lucia West End
Connectivity score 79/100 100/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
5,218 premises
 100%
3,335 premises

Climate

St Lucia West End
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)

St Lucia West End
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³ 5.4 µg/m³
PM10 16.5 µg/m³ 14.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 1.25 pphm —

Council rates

St Lucia West End
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

St Lucia West End
Division Ryan Griffith
Member Elizabeth Watson-Brown Renee Coffey
Party The Greens Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

St Lucia West End
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

St Lucia

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

West End

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with St Lucia

St Lucia vs Indooroopilly St Lucia vs Toowong St Lucia vs Taringa St Lucia vs Yeronga St Lucia vs Highgate Hill St Lucia vs Fairfield

Other comparisons with West End

West End vs South Brisbane West End vs Toowong West End vs Highgate Hill West End vs Auchenflower West End vs Milton
Full data on St Lucia Full data on West End
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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