Wavell Heights vs Chermside

In Wavell Heights, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Chermside, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Wavell Heights: a median of $1.59 million, against $1.21 million in Chermside, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wavell Heights tends to suit families with children and couples, while Chermside 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

Wavell Heights

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 21%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 32%)

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

  • Wavell Heights leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)
  • Chermside has cheaper houses ($1,210,000 vs $1,595,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Chermside

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (66% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $421/wk)
  • But Wavell Heights leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Chermside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 66/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Chermside

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (79% vs 9%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)
  • But Wavell Heights carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 95/100)

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

Investors

Chermside

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (22.7% vs 6.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wavell Heights Chermside
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.

Wavell Heights Chermside
Walkability 66 / 91
Wavell Heights — Walkability: 66/100 Chermside — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 49 / 5
Wavell Heights — Safety: 49/100 Chermside — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Wavell Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Chermside — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wavell Heights has higher household incomes ($135,980 vs $73,788); Wavell Heights rents higher ($421/wk vs $370/wk).

Wavell Heights Chermside
Population 10,336 11,426
+11% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.7% +22.7%
Median age 37 35
Median household income $135,980/yr
+46% vs other
 $73,788/yr
Median weekly rent $421/wk
+12% vs other
 $370/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wavell Heights Chermside
0-4 7.3% / 4.7%
Wavell Heights — 0-4: 7.3% Chermside — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 14.0% / 7.2%
Wavell Heights — 5-14: 14.0% Chermside — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 6.3% / 3.7%
Wavell Heights — 15-19: 6.3% Chermside — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 5.4% / 10.0%
Wavell Heights — 20-24: 5.4% Chermside — 20-24: 10.0%
25-34 13.4% / 23.5%
Wavell Heights — 25-34: 13.4% Chermside — 25-34: 23.5%
35-44 16.7% / 14.2%
Wavell Heights — 35-44: 16.7% Chermside — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 15.0% / 9.8%
Wavell Heights — 45-54: 15.0% Chermside — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 10.1% / 8.4%
Wavell Heights — 55-64: 10.1% Chermside — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 6.8% / 7.3%
Wavell Heights — 65-74: 6.8% Chermside — 65-74: 7.3%
75-84 3.1% / 6.8%
Wavell Heights — 75-84: 3.1% Chermside — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 1.9% / 4.6%
Wavell Heights — 85+: 1.9% Chermside — 85+: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wavell Heights 26.7% lone person
Wavell Heights — Lone Person: 26.7% Wavell Heights — Couple Families: 53.6% Wavell Heights — One Parent Families: 13.3% Wavell Heights — Group Household: 4.9% Wavell Heights — Other Families: 1.6%
Chermside 55.4% lone person
Chermside — Lone Person: 55.4% Chermside — Couple Families: 18.2% Chermside — One Parent Families: 13.3% Chermside — Group Household: 10.1% Chermside — Other Families: 2.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wavell Heights 27.6% renting
Wavell Heights — Owned Outright: 29.2% Wavell Heights — Mortgage: 43.1% Wavell Heights — Renting: 27.6%
Chermside 66.5% renting
Chermside — Owned Outright: 15.9% Chermside — Mortgage: 17.6% Chermside — Renting: 66.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wavell Heights Chermside
Bachelor Degree 20.2% / 18.2%
Wavell Heights — Bachelor Degree: 20.2% Chermside — Bachelor Degree: 18.2%
Certificate III & IV 10.8% / 12.8%
Wavell Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.8% Chermside — Certificate III & IV: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.4%
Wavell Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Chermside — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 5.6%
Wavell Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Chermside — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 1.9%
Wavell Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Chermside — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Wavell Heights Chermside
New Zealand 2.9% / 3.7%
Wavell Heights — New Zealand: 2.9% Chermside — New Zealand: 3.7%
India 1.4% / 4.3%
Wavell Heights — India: 1.4% Chermside — India: 4.3%
England 3.2% / 2.1%
Wavell Heights — England: 3.2% Chermside — England: 2.1%
Philippines 0.9% / 3.4%
Wavell Heights — Philippines: 0.9% Chermside — Philippines: 3.4%
China 0.5% / 2.1%
Wavell Heights — China: 0.5% Chermside — China: 2.1%
South Africa 0.8% / —
Wavell Heights — South Africa: 0.8% Chermside — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wavell Heights 91.0% houses
Wavell Heights — Houses: 91.0% Wavell Heights — Flats / Apartments: 6.1% Wavell Heights — Townhouses: 3.0%
Chermside 21.4% houses
Chermside — Houses: 21.4% Chermside — Flats / Apartments: 58.8% Chermside — Townhouses: 19.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Wavell Heights Chermside
Median house price $1,595,000 $1,210,000
Median unit price $793,500 $730,000
Median land price $1,385,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 151 sales
 26 days
from 34 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.

Wavell Heights Chermside
2 bed $1.56M / $990K
Wavell Heights — 2 bed: $1.56M (8 sales) Chermside — 2 bed: $990K (6 sales)

8 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.41M / $1.21M
Wavell Heights — 3 bed: $1.41M (104 sales) Chermside — 3 bed: $1.21M (43 sales)

104 vs 43 sales

4 bed $1.64M / $1.48M
Wavell Heights — 4 bed: $1.64M (44 sales) Chermside — 4 bed: $1.48M (7 sales)

44 vs 7 sales

5 bed $2.45M / $1.78M
Wavell Heights — 5 bed: $2.45M (62 sales) Chermside — 5 bed: $1.78M (7 sales)

62 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Wavell Heights Chermside
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.

Wavell Heights Chermside
Houses 2.6%
$800/wk on $1.6M
 3.7%
$750/wk on $1.05M
Units 4.2%
$640/wk on $787K
 4.4%
$650/wk on $769K

Ranking within QLD

Wavell Heights Chermside
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 44% of QLD
Schools Higher than 77% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 39% of QLD Higher than 47% of QLD

Liveability

Wavell Heights scores higher overall (80 vs 54); Chermside is more walkable (91 vs 66).

Wavell Heights Chermside
Grade A B
Score 80/100 54/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Chermside carries more crime risk (95 vs 51).

Wavell Heights Chermside
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
51/100
 High
95/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Wavell Heights Chermside
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Brisbane Campus, 3.9 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Brisbane Campus, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 2.6%

Schools in Wavell Heights

  • Our Lady of the Angels' School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Wavell Heights State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Wavell State High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Chermside

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

Amenities in the suburb

Wavell Heights Chermside
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 2 23
Parks & reserves 16 9
Childcare 6 4
GPs 1 9
Pharmacies 2 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 11
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 9

Mobility

Wavell Heights Chermside
Walkability score 66/100 91/100
Distance to Brisbane 10.2 km 10.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 182.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 296.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 4012
 1.6%
postcode 4032
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 4012
 24
postcode 4032

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.

Wavell Heights Chermside
Car (driver) 59.4% / 57.3%
Wavell Heights — Car (driver): 59.4% Chermside — Car (driver): 57.3%
Worked from Home 26.4% / 17.9%
Wavell Heights — Worked from Home: 26.4% Chermside — Worked from Home: 17.9%
Bus 2.6% / 9.1%
Wavell Heights — Bus: 2.6% Chermside — Bus: 9.1%
Walked Only 1.1% / 8.1%
Wavell Heights — Walked Only: 1.1% Chermside — Walked Only: 8.1%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.8%
Wavell Heights — Car (passenger): 4.1% Chermside — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Train 5.3% / 2.3%
Wavell Heights — Train: 5.3% Chermside — Train: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.4%).

Setting

Wavell Heights Chermside
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.3 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 7.7 km
4.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Wavell Heights Chermside
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
4,245 premises
 20%
8,010 premises

Climate

Wavell Heights Chermside
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)

Wavell Heights Chermside
PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.74 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Wavell Heights Chermside
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Wavell Heights Chermside
Division Lilley
same for both
Member Anika Wells
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wavell Heights Chermside
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wavell Heights

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals

Chermside

Apartments Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wavell Heights

Wavell Heights vs Nundah Wavell Heights vs Kedron Wavell Heights vs Geebung Wavell Heights vs Virginia Wavell Heights vs Kalinga

Other comparisons with Chermside

Chermside vs Aspley Chermside vs Kedron Chermside vs Chermside West Chermside vs Geebung
Full data on Wavell Heights Full data on Chermside
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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