Tannum Sands vs Wurdong Heights

Tannum Sands is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Wurdong Heights. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tannum Sands, about half of households are couple families. In Wurdong Heights, most households are couple families. On these figures, Tannum Sands tends to suit people living alone, while Wurdong Heights suits couples.

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

  • Tannum Sands has more parks and reserves (20 vs 1)
  • Wurdong Heights carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 56/100)

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

Tannum Sands

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 5%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Tannum Sands

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (350 min vs 357 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (508.4 km vs 515.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wurdong Heights

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 56/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 13%)
  • But Tannum Sands has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 6%)

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

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

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
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.

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Walkability 0 / 0
Tannum Sands — Walkability: 0/100 Wurdong Heights — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 44 / 75
Tannum Sands — Safety: 44/100 Wurdong Heights — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 88 / 47
Tannum Sands — Low fire risk: 88/100 Wurdong Heights — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Tannum Sands has more residents (5,227 vs 465); Wurdong Heights has higher household incomes ($134,316 vs $105,820).

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Population 5,227
+91% vs other
 465
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +0.6%
Median age 41 46
Median household income $105,820/yr $134,316/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $340/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
0-4 5.1% / 3.7%
Tannum Sands — 0-4: 5.1% Wurdong Heights — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 16.5% / 15.5%
Tannum Sands — 5-14: 16.5% Wurdong Heights — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 7.6% / 5.2%
Tannum Sands — 15-19: 7.6% Wurdong Heights — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 3.7% / 3.4%
Tannum Sands — 20-24: 3.7% Wurdong Heights — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 9.1% / 8.0%
Tannum Sands — 25-34: 9.1% Wurdong Heights — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 13.6% / 11.4%
Tannum Sands — 35-44: 13.6% Wurdong Heights — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 17.0% / 16.3%
Tannum Sands — 45-54: 17.0% Wurdong Heights — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 14.9% / 16.6%
Tannum Sands — 55-64: 14.9% Wurdong Heights — 55-64: 16.6%
65-74 8.6% / 14.4%
Tannum Sands — 65-74: 8.6% Wurdong Heights — 65-74: 14.4%
75-84 3.3% / 3.9%
Tannum Sands — 75-84: 3.3% Wurdong Heights — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 0.8% / —
Tannum Sands — 85+: 0.8% Wurdong Heights — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tannum Sands 51.7% couple families
Tannum Sands — Couple Families: 51.7% Tannum Sands — Lone Person: 31.5% Tannum Sands — One Parent Families: 13.9% Tannum Sands — Group Household: 2.6% Tannum Sands — Other Families: 0.4%
Wurdong Heights 66.3% couple families
Wurdong Heights — Couple Families: 66.3% Wurdong Heights — Lone Person: 14.0% Wurdong Heights — One Parent Families: 11.6% Wurdong Heights — Group Household: 8.1% Wurdong Heights — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Tannum Sands 30.8% renting
Tannum Sands — Owned Outright: 28.9% Tannum Sands — Mortgage: 40.3% Tannum Sands — Renting: 30.8%
Wurdong Heights 4.9% renting
Wurdong Heights — Owned Outright: 38.9% Wurdong Heights — Mortgage: 56.2% Wurdong Heights — Renting: 4.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Certificate III & IV 21.6% / 21.3%
Tannum Sands — Certificate III & IV: 21.6% Wurdong Heights — Certificate III & IV: 21.3%
Bachelor Degree 8.2% / 7.5%
Tannum Sands — Bachelor Degree: 8.2% Wurdong Heights — Bachelor Degree: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 7.7%
Tannum Sands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Wurdong Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 2.2%
Tannum Sands — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Wurdong Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.1%
Tannum Sands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Wurdong Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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.

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
England 3.2% / 4.1%
Tannum Sands — England: 3.2% Wurdong Heights — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 4.7% / 2.2%
Tannum Sands — New Zealand: 4.7% Wurdong Heights — New Zealand: 2.2%
South Africa 2.3% / 1.9%
Tannum Sands — South Africa: 2.3% Wurdong Heights — South Africa: 1.9%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.9%
Tannum Sands — Scotland: 0.7% Wurdong Heights — Scotland: 0.9%
Philippines 0.3% / 1.1%
Tannum Sands — Philippines: 0.3% Wurdong Heights — Philippines: 1.1%
Zimbabwe 0.2% / 1.1%
Tannum Sands — Zimbabwe: 0.2% Wurdong Heights — Zimbabwe: 1.1%
Ireland 0.3% / —
Tannum Sands — Ireland: 0.3% Wurdong Heights — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tannum Sands 83.3% houses
Tannum Sands — Houses: 83.3% Tannum Sands — Flats / Apartments: 9.2% Tannum Sands — Townhouses: 7.5%
Wurdong Heights 93.9% houses
Wurdong Heights — Houses: 93.9% Wurdong Heights — Flats / Apartments: 6.1% Wurdong Heights — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Median house price $757,500 $810,000
Median unit price $380,000 —
Median land price $240,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 85 sales
 —

Development activity

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
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.

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Houses 3.7%
$590/wk on $819K
 —
Units 4.8%
$445/wk on $478K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Schools Higher than 86% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 19% of QLD Higher than 57% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 35% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 68% of QLD —

Liveability

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Grade B —
Score 53/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Wurdong Heights carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 12); Tannum Sands carries more crime risk (56 vs 25).

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Bushfire Low
12/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Moderate
56/100
 Low
25/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
81/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Tannum Sands

  • Clearview Christian College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Tannum Sands State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Tannum Sands State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Francis Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Wurdong Heights

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

Amenities in the suburb

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 20 1
Childcare 4 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 5 3

Mobility

Wurdong Heights sits further from the CBD (515.9 km vs 508.4 km).

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 508.4 km 515.9 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 350 min 357 min
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.

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Car (driver) 83.0% / 83.2%
Tannum Sands — Car (driver): 83.0% Wurdong Heights — Car (driver): 83.2%
Worked from Home 6.7% / 8.7%
Tannum Sands — Worked from Home: 6.7% Wurdong Heights — Worked from Home: 8.7%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 6.4%
Tannum Sands — Car (passenger): 5.3% Wurdong Heights — Car (passenger): 6.4%
Walked Only 3.1% / 1.7%
Tannum Sands — Walked Only: 3.1% Wurdong Heights — Walked Only: 1.7%
Bicycle 0.9% / —
Tannum Sands — Bicycle: 0.9% Wurdong Heights — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.2%).

Setting

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.7 km 6.0 km

NBN connectivity

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Connectivity score 77/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
2,342 premises
 61%
175 premises

Climate

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
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)

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.16 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Average residential rate $2,358/yr
same for both
Council Gladstone
same for both

Federal electorate

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Division Flynn
same for both
Member Colin Boyce
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Tannum Sands Wurdong Heights
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Tannum Sands

—

Wurdong Heights

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tannum Sands

Tannum Sands vs Boyne Island Tannum Sands vs Benaraby Tannum Sands vs Foreshores Tannum Sands vs Iveragh Tannum Sands vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Wurdong Heights

Wurdong Heights vs Calliope Wurdong Heights vs Boyne Island Wurdong Heights vs Benaraby Wurdong Heights vs Burua Wurdong Heights vs O'Connell
Full data on Tannum Sands Full data on Wurdong Heights
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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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