Sumner vs Wacol

Sumner is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 35 in Wacol. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Sumner, most households own their home and most households are couple families. In Wacol, about half of households rent. Sumner is closer to the city centre: 17.4 km, against 21 km. On these figures, Sumner tends to suit families with children and couples, while Wacol suits renters, young adults, 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

Wacol

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Sumner is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Wacol

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($650,000 vs $825,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wacol

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $445/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sumner

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (17.4 km vs 21 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Wacol

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs 1.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sumner Wacol
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.

Sumner Wacol
Walkability 49 / 52
Sumner — Walkability: 49/100 Wacol — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 7 / 8
Sumner — Safety: 7/100 Wacol — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sumner — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wacol — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wacol has more residents (4,253 vs 603); Sumner has higher household incomes ($117,832 vs $71,708).

Sumner Wacol
Population 603 4,253
+605% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +13.1%
Median age 32 35
Median household income $117,832/yr
+39% vs other
 $71,708/yr
Median weekly rent $445/wk
+28% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sumner Wacol
0-4 11.6% / 0.8%
Sumner — 0-4: 11.6% Wacol — 0-4: 0.8%
5-14 14.1% / 2.0%
Sumner — 5-14: 14.1% Wacol — 5-14: 2.0%
15-19 2.8% / 4.6%
Sumner — 15-19: 2.8% Wacol — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 7.0% / 9.5%
Sumner — 20-24: 7.0% Wacol — 20-24: 9.5%
25-34 19.6% / 31.2%
Sumner — 25-34: 19.6% Wacol — 25-34: 31.2%
35-44 20.1% / 27.1%
Sumner — 35-44: 20.1% Wacol — 35-44: 27.1%
45-54 8.8% / 13.7%
Sumner — 45-54: 8.8% Wacol — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 8.5% / 6.4%
Sumner — 55-64: 8.5% Wacol — 55-64: 6.4%
65-74 4.0% / 3.0%
Sumner — 65-74: 4.0% Wacol — 65-74: 3.0%
75-84 2.3% / 1.5%
Sumner — 75-84: 2.3% Wacol — 75-84: 1.5%
85+ 0.5% / 0.4%
Sumner — 85+: 0.5% Wacol — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sumner 62.3% couple families
Sumner — Couple Families: 62.3% Sumner — Lone Person: 17.2% Sumner — One Parent Families: 11.3% Sumner — Group Household: 6.6% Sumner — Other Families: 2.6%
Wacol 27.7% couple families
Wacol — Couple Families: 27.7% Wacol — Lone Person: 31.6% Wacol — One Parent Families: 26.8% Wacol — Group Household: 10.8% Wacol — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sumner 30.1% renting
Sumner — Owned Outright: 14.3% Sumner — Mortgage: 55.6% Sumner — Renting: 30.1%
Wacol 47.1% renting
Wacol — Owned Outright: 29.3% Wacol — Mortgage: 23.6% Wacol — Renting: 47.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sumner Wacol
Bachelor Degree 16.9% / 7.9%
Sumner — Bachelor Degree: 16.9% Wacol — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.1% / 8.2%
Sumner — Certificate III & IV: 11.1% Wacol — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 1.0%
Sumner — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Wacol — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 0.4%
Sumner — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Wacol — Postgraduate Degree: 0.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 0.2%
Sumner — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Wacol — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

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.

Sumner Wacol
New Zealand 4.1% / 5.1%
Sumner — New Zealand: 4.1% Wacol — New Zealand: 5.1%
England 3.6% / 1.9%
Sumner — England: 3.6% Wacol — England: 1.9%
India 4.6% / 0.4%
Sumner — India: 4.6% Wacol — India: 0.4%
South Africa 3.3% / 0.4%
Sumner — South Africa: 3.3% Wacol — South Africa: 0.4%
Vietnam 1.8% / 0.9%
Sumner — Vietnam: 1.8% Wacol — Vietnam: 0.9%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Sumner — Philippines: not among its largest Wacol — Philippines: 0.8%
Fiji — / 0.4%
Sumner — Fiji: not among its largest Wacol — Fiji: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sumner 91.9% houses
Sumner — Houses: 91.9% Sumner — Townhouses: 7.6% Sumner — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Wacol 82.4% houses
Wacol — Houses: 82.4% Wacol — Townhouses: 17.0% Wacol — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sumner Wacol
Median house price $900,000 $847,500
Median unit price $825,000 $650,000
Median land price — $1,615,625
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 4 sales
 32 days
from 3 sales

Development activity

Sumner Wacol
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Sumner Wacol
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 44% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD

Liveability

Sumner scores higher overall (58 vs 32).

Sumner Wacol
Grade B D
Score 58/100 32/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Sumner Wacol
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
92/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Sumner Wacol
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Sumner

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Wacol

  • Carole Park State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brisbane Youth Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school
  • Wacol Youth Remand Education Support Hub Government · Combined · Special school
  • West Moreton Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Sumner Wacol
Parks & reserves 1 7
Childcare 0 2
GPs 1 0
Hospitals 0 1
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 2 8

Mobility

Wacol sits further from the CBD (21 km vs 17.4 km).

Sumner Wacol
Walkability score 49/100 52/100
Distance to Brisbane 17.4 km 21 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 25 min
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 4074
 1.2%
postcode 4076
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 77
postcode 4074
 68
postcode 4076

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.

Sumner Wacol
Car (driver) 66.0% / 65.7%
Sumner — Car (driver): 66.0% Wacol — Car (driver): 65.7%
Worked from Home 23.1% / 12.6%
Sumner — Worked from Home: 23.1% Wacol — Worked from Home: 12.6%
Train 6.0% / 10.1%
Sumner — Train: 6.0% Wacol — Train: 10.1%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 7.2%
Sumner — Car (passenger): 4.9% Wacol — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Walked Only — / 3.2%
Sumner — Walked Only: not among its largest Wacol — Walked Only: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.0%).

Setting

Sumner Wacol
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.8 km 26.3 km

NBN connectivity

Sumner Wacol
Connectivity score 76/100 93/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
842 premises
 85%
993 premises

Climate

Sumner Wacol
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)

Sumner Wacol
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.99 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Sumner Wacol
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Sumner Wacol
Division Oxley
same for both
Member Milton Dick
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sumner Wacol
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sumner

Acreage Family Middle-Ring Quiet Young Families

Wacol

Middle-Ring Multicultural Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sumner

Sumner vs Sinnamon Park Sumner vs Riverhills Sumner vs Darra Sumner vs Middle Park Sumner vs Jamboree Heights

Other comparisons with Wacol

Wacol vs Forest Lake Wacol vs Goodna Wacol vs Richlands Wacol vs Moggill Wacol vs Riverhills Wacol vs Darra
Full data on Sumner Full data on Wacol
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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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