Overall score
Bowen Hills
57.4/100
Bulimba
72.0/100
Bowen Hills for schools; Bulimba for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Bowen Hills
57.4/100
Bulimba
72.0/100
Crime rate
Bowen Hills
206.6 / 1k
Bulimba
25.8 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Bowen Hills
226
Bulimba
240
Population
Bowen Hills
4,898
Bulimba
7,623
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Bowen Hills | Bulimba |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 57.4/100 | 72.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 9.0/100 | 30.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 206.6 / 1k | 25.8 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 11 | 6 |
| Parks & reserves | 4 | 6 |
| Public transport stops | 21 | 38 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 226 | 240 |
| Population | 4,898 | 7,623 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 10/10 |
Bowen Hills reads as a hillside mid-sized suburb with greener streets and a quieter pace; Bulimba is a lively metro mid-sized suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by. Bowen Hills sits among greener hillside streets, while Bulimba keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Bowen Hills pulls ahead on an affluent, sought-after address and well-served by public transport, whereas Bulimba is the better pick for housing affordability and a quieter safety profile.
On balance, retirees and families are more likely to prefer Bulimba, while Bowen Hills remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.