Sunnybank Hills vs Acacia Ridge

Acacia Ridge is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Sunnybank Hills. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Sunnybank Hills, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Acacia Ridge, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Sunnybank Hills: a median of $1.35 million, against $862,000 in Acacia Ridge, and rent is higher there too. Acacia Ridge is closer to the city centre: 15.1 km, against 16.9 km. On these figures, Sunnybank Hills tends to suit couples, while Acacia Ridge suits renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Sunnybank Hills

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (31 vs 10)
  • carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 90/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 58%)
  • But Acacia Ridge has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Acacia Ridge

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($862,500 vs $1,350,000)
  • has cheaper units ($605,500 vs $695,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Acacia Ridge

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (51% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($335/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Acacia Ridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Sunnybank Hills carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 90/100)
  • Acacia Ridge is more walkable (84/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
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.

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Walkability 72 / 84
Sunnybank Hills — Walkability: 72/100 Acacia Ridge — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 30 / 10
Sunnybank Hills — Safety: 30/100 Acacia Ridge — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sunnybank Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100 Acacia Ridge — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sunnybank Hills has more residents (18,085 vs 7,486); Sunnybank Hills has higher household incomes ($89,700 vs $68,276).

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Population 18,085
+59% vs other
 7,486
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% +0.8%
Median age 37 34
Median household income $89,700/yr
+24% vs other
 $68,276/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+18% vs other
 $335/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
0-4 5.8% / 7.4%
Sunnybank Hills — 0-4: 5.8% Acacia Ridge — 0-4: 7.4%
5-14 12.4% / 13.6%
Sunnybank Hills — 5-14: 12.4% Acacia Ridge — 5-14: 13.6%
15-19 5.1% / 5.4%
Sunnybank Hills — 15-19: 5.1% Acacia Ridge — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 6.8% / 6.9%
Sunnybank Hills — 20-24: 6.8% Acacia Ridge — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 15.5% / 17.3%
Sunnybank Hills — 25-34: 15.5% Acacia Ridge — 25-34: 17.3%
35-44 15.4% / 13.4%
Sunnybank Hills — 35-44: 15.4% Acacia Ridge — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 10.6% / 11.6%
Sunnybank Hills — 45-54: 10.6% Acacia Ridge — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 10.9% / 10.0%
Sunnybank Hills — 55-64: 10.9% Acacia Ridge — 55-64: 10.0%
65-74 9.9% / 7.6%
Sunnybank Hills — 65-74: 9.9% Acacia Ridge — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 5.4% / 4.8%
Sunnybank Hills — 75-84: 5.4% Acacia Ridge — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.2% / 1.8%
Sunnybank Hills — 85+: 2.2% Acacia Ridge — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sunnybank Hills 51.7% couple families
Sunnybank Hills — Couple Families: 51.7% Sunnybank Hills — Lone Person: 22.2% Sunnybank Hills — One Parent Families: 17.3% Sunnybank Hills — Group Household: 6.7% Sunnybank Hills — Other Families: 2.1%
Acacia Ridge 32.6% couple families
Acacia Ridge — Couple Families: 32.6% Acacia Ridge — Lone Person: 33.1% Acacia Ridge — One Parent Families: 24.9% Acacia Ridge — Group Household: 7.0% Acacia Ridge — Other Families: 2.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sunnybank Hills 31.3% renting
Sunnybank Hills — Owned Outright: 36.8% Sunnybank Hills — Mortgage: 31.9% Sunnybank Hills — Renting: 31.3%
Acacia Ridge 50.8% renting
Acacia Ridge — Owned Outright: 20.1% Acacia Ridge — Mortgage: 29.1% Acacia Ridge — Renting: 50.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Bachelor Degree 17.2% / 9.3%
Sunnybank Hills — Bachelor Degree: 17.2% Acacia Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 9.3%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 13.0%
Sunnybank Hills — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Acacia Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 13.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 6.5%
Sunnybank Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Acacia Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 7.8% / 2.8%
Sunnybank Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8% Acacia Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.2%
Sunnybank Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Acacia Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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.

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
China 15.1% / 1.0%
Sunnybank Hills — China: 15.1% Acacia Ridge — China: 1.0%
India 4.0% / 3.5%
Sunnybank Hills — India: 4.0% Acacia Ridge — India: 3.5%
New Zealand 3.3% / 3.7%
Sunnybank Hills — New Zealand: 3.3% Acacia Ridge — New Zealand: 3.7%
Taiwan 6.0% / —
Sunnybank Hills — Taiwan: 6.0% Acacia Ridge — Taiwan: not among its largest
Vietnam 2.0% / 1.9%
Sunnybank Hills — Vietnam: 2.0% Acacia Ridge — Vietnam: 1.9%
Philippines 1.6% / 2.0%
Sunnybank Hills — Philippines: 1.6% Acacia Ridge — Philippines: 2.0%
England 1.6% / 2.0%
Sunnybank Hills — England: 1.6% Acacia Ridge — England: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sunnybank Hills 84.7% houses
Sunnybank Hills — Houses: 84.7% Sunnybank Hills — Townhouses: 13.6% Sunnybank Hills — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Acacia Ridge 84.7% houses
Acacia Ridge — Houses: 84.7% Acacia Ridge — Townhouses: 12.3% Acacia Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Median house price $1,350,000 $862,500
Median unit price $695,000 $605,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 132 sales
 22 days
from 67 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.

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
3 bed $1.11M / $855K
Sunnybank Hills — 3 bed: $1.11M (71 sales) Acacia Ridge — 3 bed: $855K (87 sales)

71 vs 87 sales

4 bed $1.4M / $939K
Sunnybank Hills — 4 bed: $1.4M (76 sales) Acacia Ridge — 4 bed: $939K (16 sales)

76 vs 16 sales

Development activity

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
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.

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Houses 3.4%
$750/wk on $1.15M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 35% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 50% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of QLD —

Liveability

Sunnybank Hills scores higher overall (65 vs 44); Acacia Ridge is more walkable (84 vs 72).

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Grade B C
Score 65/100 44/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Acacia Ridge carries more crime risk (90 vs 70).

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
70/100
 High
90/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Inside the suburb 2 5
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 1
Brisbane South (Nathan), 5.3 km
 2
Brisbane South (Nathan), 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 1.4%

Schools in Sunnybank Hills

  • Sunnybank Hills State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in Acacia Ridge

  • Aboriginal & Islander Independent Community School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Our Lady of Fatima Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Acacia Ridge State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Watson Road State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Y Schools Queensland - Brisbane South Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Supermarkets 6 3
Cafes & restaurants 13 1
Parks & reserves 31 10
Childcare 6 8
GPs 7 6
Pharmacies 4 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 5 4
Fuel stations 2 6
Waterways 5 1

Mobility

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Walkability score 72/100 84/100
Distance to Brisbane 16.9 km
+11% vs other
 15.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 359.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 142.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 4109
 2.2%
postcode 4110
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 4109
 93
postcode 4110

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.

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Car (driver) 67.4% / 73.0%
Sunnybank Hills — Car (driver): 67.4% Acacia Ridge — Car (driver): 73.0%
Worked from Home 16.0% / 10.8%
Sunnybank Hills — Worked from Home: 16.0% Acacia Ridge — Worked from Home: 10.8%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 6.2%
Sunnybank Hills — Car (passenger): 5.6% Acacia Ridge — Car (passenger): 6.2%
Bus 6.6% / 4.5%
Sunnybank Hills — Bus: 6.6% Acacia Ridge — Bus: 4.5%
Train 2.7% / 2.8%
Sunnybank Hills — Train: 2.7% Acacia Ridge — Train: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.0%).

Setting

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Elevation 68 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.4 km 19.6 km

NBN connectivity

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Connectivity score 79/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
7,208 premises
 20%
4,279 premises

Climate

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
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)

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
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

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Division Moreton
same for both
Member Julie-Ann Campbell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sunnybank Hills Acacia Ridge
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sunnybank Hills

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River

Acacia Ridge

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sunnybank Hills

Sunnybank Hills vs Calamvale Sunnybank Hills vs Runcorn Sunnybank Hills vs Algester Sunnybank Hills vs Sunnybank Sunnybank Hills vs Stretton

Other comparisons with Acacia Ridge

Acacia Ridge vs Algester Acacia Ridge vs Sunnybank Acacia Ridge vs Coopers Plains Acacia Ridge vs Archerfield Acacia Ridge vs Willawong
Full data on Sunnybank Hills Full data on Acacia Ridge
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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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