Sun Valley vs West Gladstone

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

They split

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

  • Sun Valley carries lower crime risk (35/100 vs 89/100)
  • West Gladstone has more childcare (5 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

West Gladstone

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($230/wk vs $260/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sun Valley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (365 min vs 372 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (526 km vs 530.1 km)
  • But West Gladstone is more walkable (84/100 vs 61/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

West Gladstone

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (25% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 61/100)
  • But Sun Valley carries lower crime risk (35/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sun Valley West Gladstone
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.

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Walkability 61 / 84
Sun Valley — Walkability: 61/100 West Gladstone — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 65 / 11
Sun Valley — Safety: 65/100 West Gladstone — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sun Valley — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Gladstone — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West Gladstone has more residents (4,844 vs 1,296); Sun Valley has higher household incomes ($79,040 vs $68,848).

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Population 1,296 4,844
+274% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +2.5%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $79,040/yr
+13% vs other
 $68,848/yr
Median weekly rent $260/wk
+12% vs other
 $230/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sun Valley West Gladstone
0-4 6.3% / 5.3%
Sun Valley — 0-4: 6.3% West Gladstone — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 15.0% / 12.2%
Sun Valley — 5-14: 15.0% West Gladstone — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 7.7% / 5.9%
Sun Valley — 15-19: 7.7% West Gladstone — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 4.9% / 6.6%
Sun Valley — 20-24: 4.9% West Gladstone — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 10.3% / 13.0%
Sun Valley — 25-34: 10.3% West Gladstone — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 13.7% / 12.9%
Sun Valley — 35-44: 13.7% West Gladstone — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 14.9% / 13.3%
Sun Valley — 45-54: 14.9% West Gladstone — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 13.6% / 14.0%
Sun Valley — 55-64: 13.6% West Gladstone — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 8.2% / 9.6%
Sun Valley — 65-74: 8.2% West Gladstone — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 4.2% / 5.7%
Sun Valley — 75-84: 4.2% West Gladstone — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 0.9% / 1.6%
Sun Valley — 85+: 0.9% West Gladstone — 85+: 1.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
West Gladstone 47.6% lone person
West Gladstone — Lone Person: 47.6% West Gladstone — Couple Families: 25.9% West Gladstone — One Parent Families: 18.7% West Gladstone — Group Household: 6.0% West Gladstone — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sun Valley 30.3% renting
Sun Valley — Owned Outright: 29.0% Sun Valley — Mortgage: 40.8% Sun Valley — Renting: 30.3%
West Gladstone 45.4% renting
West Gladstone — Owned Outright: 26.3% West Gladstone — Mortgage: 28.3% West Gladstone — Renting: 45.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Certificate III & IV 21.9% / 20.2%
Sun Valley — Certificate III & IV: 21.9% West Gladstone — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Bachelor Degree 5.6% / 8.6%
Sun Valley — Bachelor Degree: 5.6% West Gladstone — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.2% / 4.6%
Sun Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.2% West Gladstone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 1.7%
Sun Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% West Gladstone — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.2%
Sun Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% West Gladstone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

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.

Sun Valley West Gladstone
New Zealand 2.8% / 2.9%
Sun Valley — New Zealand: 2.8% West Gladstone — New Zealand: 2.9%
England 2.3% / 2.0%
Sun Valley — England: 2.3% West Gladstone — England: 2.0%
Philippines — / 2.0%
Sun Valley — Philippines: not among its largest West Gladstone — Philippines: 2.0%
India 0.3% / 1.1%
Sun Valley — India: 0.3% West Gladstone — India: 1.1%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.5%
Sun Valley — South Africa: 0.8% West Gladstone — South Africa: 0.5%
Thailand 0.6% / —
Sun Valley — Thailand: 0.6% West Gladstone — Thailand: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.6%
Sun Valley — Germany: not among its largest West Gladstone — Germany: 0.6%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Sun Valley — Scotland: 0.5% West Gladstone — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sun Valley 95.6% houses
Sun Valley — Houses: 95.6% Sun Valley — Flats / Apartments: 3.8% Sun Valley — Townhouses: 0.6%
West Gladstone 74.7% houses
West Gladstone — Houses: 74.7% West Gladstone — Flats / Apartments: 20.4% West Gladstone — Townhouses: 5.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Median house price $525,500 $521,500
Median unit price — $345,000
Median land price — $192,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 20 sales
 40 days
from 116 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.

Sun Valley West Gladstone
3 bed $509K / $510K
Sun Valley — 3 bed: $509K (60 sales) West Gladstone — 3 bed: $510K (141 sales)

60 vs 141 sales

4 bed $612K / $594K
Sun Valley — 4 bed: $612K (24 sales) West Gladstone — 4 bed: $594K (73 sales)

24 vs 73 sales

5 bed $646K / $666K
Sun Valley — 5 bed: $646K (5 sales) West Gladstone — 5 bed: $666K (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Sun Valley West Gladstone
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.

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Houses 4.9%
$545/wk on $574K
 4.9%
$520/wk on $550K
Units — 5.8%
$390/wk on $350K

Ranking within QLD

Sun Valley West Gladstone
House price —
same for both
Income —
same for both
Schools — Higher than 30% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 35% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 87% of QLD

Liveability

Sun Valley scores higher overall (51 vs 31); West Gladstone is more walkable (84 vs 61).

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Grade B D
Score 51/100 31/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

West Gladstone carries more crime risk (89 vs 35).

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
35/100
 High
89/100
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 12
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Sun Valley

  • Trinity College Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in West Gladstone

  • Chanel College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Gladstone State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Gladstone West State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rosella Park School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 4 14
Childcare 1 5
GPs 0 8
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3
same for both

Mobility

West Gladstone sits further from the CBD (530.1 km vs 526 km).

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Walkability score 61/100 84/100
Distance to Brisbane 526 km 530.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 365 min 372 min
Public transport score 27/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 31.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 3 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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.

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Car (driver) 85.0% / 80.5%
Sun Valley — Car (driver): 85.0% West Gladstone — Car (driver): 80.5%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 6.8%
Sun Valley — Car (passenger): 6.9% West Gladstone — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Worked from Home 4.4% / 4.7%
Sun Valley — Worked from Home: 4.4% West Gladstone — Worked from Home: 4.7%
Walked Only 2.5% / 6.2%
Sun Valley — Walked Only: 2.5% West Gladstone — Walked Only: 6.2%
Bus 1.2% / 1.3%
Sun Valley — Bus: 1.2% West Gladstone — Bus: 1.3%

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

Setting

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.0 km 2.7 km

NBN connectivity

Sun Valley West Gladstone
Connectivity score 69/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
573 premises
 34%
2,937 premises

Climate

Sun Valley West Gladstone
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)

Sun Valley West Gladstone
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³ —
PM10 16.0 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.49 pphm 0.38 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Sun Valley

Affordable Large Blocks Parks River

West Gladstone

Affordable Coastal Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sun Valley

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Other comparisons with West Gladstone

West Gladstone vs Clinton West Gladstone vs New Auckland West Gladstone vs South Gladstone West Gladstone vs Kin Kora West Gladstone vs Gladstone Central
Full data on Sun Valley Full data on West Gladstone
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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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