Tolga vs Atherton

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tolga, about half of households are couple families. In Atherton, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Tolga: a median of $650,000, against $574,000 in Atherton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Tolga tends to suit couples, while Atherton 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

They split

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

  • Tolga carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 90/100)
  • Atherton has more parks and reserves (15 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Tolga has cheaper land ($510,000 vs $687,500)
  • Atherton has cheaper houses ($574,000 vs $650,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Tolga leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 26%)
  • Atherton has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 14%)

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

Commuting to the city

Atherton

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1180 min vs 1191 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1705.9 km vs 1715.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Atherton

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 3%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • But Tolga carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Tolga

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.9% vs 5.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Tolga Atherton
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.

Tolga Atherton
Walkability 0 / 88
Tolga — Walkability: 0/100 Atherton — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 56 / 10
Tolga — Safety: 56/100 Atherton — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 26 / 26
Tolga — Low fire risk: 26/100 Atherton — Low fire risk: 26/100

Demographics

Atherton has more residents (7,724 vs 3,177); Tolga has higher household incomes ($76,908 vs $57,148).

Tolga Atherton
Population 3,177 7,724
+143% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.9% +5.4%
Median age 44 46
Median household income $76,908/yr
+26% vs other
 $57,148/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+7% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tolga Atherton
0-4 4.1% / 4.5%
Tolga — 0-4: 4.1% Atherton — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 13.9% / 12.4%
Tolga — 5-14: 13.9% Atherton — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 6.2% / 6.1%
Tolga — 15-19: 6.2% Atherton — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 3.6% / 4.6%
Tolga — 20-24: 3.6% Atherton — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 11.6% / 11.6%
Tolga — 25-34: 11.6% Atherton — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 11.9% / 9.5%
Tolga — 35-44: 11.9% Atherton — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 12.2% / 11.9%
Tolga — 45-54: 12.2% Atherton — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 13.7% / 12.3%
Tolga — 55-64: 13.7% Atherton — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 14.0% / 13.8%
Tolga — 65-74: 14.0% Atherton — 65-74: 13.8%
75-84 7.2% / 9.0%
Tolga — 75-84: 7.2% Atherton — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 1.7% / 4.3%
Tolga — 85+: 1.7% Atherton — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tolga 36.0% lone person
Tolga — Lone Person: 36.0% Tolga — Couple Families: 45.0% Tolga — One Parent Families: 13.2% Tolga — Group Household: 4.4% Tolga — Other Families: 1.4%
Atherton 47.8% lone person
Atherton — Lone Person: 47.8% Atherton — Couple Families: 26.4% Atherton — One Parent Families: 18.9% Atherton — Group Household: 4.9% Atherton — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Tolga 14.4% renting
Tolga — Owned Outright: 49.6% Tolga — Mortgage: 36.0% Tolga — Renting: 14.4%
Atherton 38.5% renting
Atherton — Owned Outright: 38.5% Atherton — Mortgage: 23.0% Atherton — Renting: 38.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Tolga Atherton
England 2.6% / 2.8%
Tolga — England: 2.6% Atherton — England: 2.8%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.9%
Tolga — New Zealand: 1.3% Atherton — New Zealand: 1.9%
Italy 0.7% / 0.8%
Tolga — Italy: 0.7% Atherton — Italy: 0.8%
Philippines 0.6% / 0.8%
Tolga — Philippines: 0.6% Atherton — Philippines: 0.8%
Germany 0.5% / 0.7%
Tolga — Germany: 0.5% Atherton — Germany: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

Qualifications

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

Tolga Atherton
Certificate III & IV 19.2% / 16.8%
Tolga — Certificate III & IV: 19.2% Atherton — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 8.0%
Tolga — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Atherton — Bachelor Degree: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 6.7%
Tolga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Atherton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 1.6%
Tolga — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Atherton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.5%
Tolga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Atherton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tolga 97.0% houses
Tolga — Houses: 97.0% Tolga — Flats / Apartments: 3.0% Tolga — Townhouses: 0.0%
Atherton 81.7% houses
Atherton — Houses: 81.7% Atherton — Flats / Apartments: 8.7% Atherton — Townhouses: 9.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Tolga Atherton
Median house price $650,000 $574,000
Median unit price — $384,000
Median land price $510,000 $687,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 16 sales
 40 days
from 94 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.

Tolga Atherton
3 bed $640K / $515K
Tolga — 3 bed: $640K (15 sales) Atherton — 3 bed: $515K (83 sales)

15 vs 83 sales

4 bed $650K / $656K
Tolga — 4 bed: $650K (15 sales) Atherton — 4 bed: $656K (70 sales)

15 vs 70 sales

Development activity

Tolga Atherton
New dwellings approved 167
across Tablelands
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
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.

Tolga Atherton
Houses 4.4%
$635/wk on $745K
 3.7%
$510/wk on $722K
Units — 4.8%
$385/wk on $415K

Ranking within QLD

Tolga Atherton
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of QLD Higher than 19% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 65% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 17% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 37% of QLD Higher than 51% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 33% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 66% of QLD

Liveability

Atherton is more walkable (88 vs 0); Atherton scores higher overall (36 vs 20).

Tolga Atherton
Grade D C
Score 20/100 36/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Atherton carries more crime risk (90 vs 44).

Tolga Atherton
Bushfire High
74/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
44/100
 High
90/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Tolga Atherton
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 3

Schools in Tolga

  • Tolga State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Atherton

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Atherton State High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Atherton State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Jubilee Christian College Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tolga Atherton
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 12
Parks & reserves 0 15
Childcare 2 5
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 4
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 7
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 8 12

Mobility

Tolga sits further from the CBD (1715.5 km vs 1705.9 km).

Tolga Atherton
Walkability score 0/100 88/100
Distance to Brisbane 1715.5 km 1705.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1191 min 1180 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4882
 0.3%
postcode 4883
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 68
postcode 4882
 41
postcode 4883

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.

Tolga Atherton
Car (driver) 74.8% / 75.2%
Tolga — Car (driver): 74.8% Atherton — Car (driver): 75.2%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 8.6%
Tolga — Worked from Home: 9.2% Atherton — Worked from Home: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 8.2%
Tolga — Car (passenger): 5.9% Atherton — Car (passenger): 8.2%
Walked Only 3.0% / 6.0%
Tolga — Walked Only: 3.0% Atherton — Walked Only: 6.0%
Bus 6.4% / 1.3%
Tolga — Bus: 6.4% Atherton — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.2%).

Setting

Tolga Atherton
Elevation 711 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 785 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 43.2 km 47.4 km

NBN connectivity

Tolga Atherton
Connectivity score 65/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,483 premises
 47%
4,376 premises

Climate

Tolga Atherton
Annual rainfall 1,114 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.3°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 13.8°C
same for both

Council rates

Tolga Atherton
Average residential rate $1,609/yr
same for both
Council Tablelands
same for both

Federal electorate

Tolga Atherton
Division Kennedy
same for both
Member Bob Katter
same for both
Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Tolga Atherton
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Tolga

Acreage Affordable

Atherton

Affordable Parks Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tolga

Tolga vs Mareeba Tolga vs Arriga Tolga vs Mutchilba Tolga vs Walkamin Tolga vs Kairi Tolga vs Tinaroo

Other comparisons with Atherton

Atherton vs Kairi Atherton vs East Barron Atherton vs Wongabel Atherton vs Carrington Atherton vs Watsonville
Full data on Tolga Full data on Atherton
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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