Overall score
Garbutt
34.6/100
Rowes Bay
27.2/100
Garbutt vs Rowes Bay, QLD Suburb Comparison
Garbutt for families and investment; Rowes Bay for retirees and beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
GarbuttRowes Bay
Crime rate
Garbutt
183.8 / 1k
Rowes Bay
308.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Garbutt
85
Rowes Bay
23
Population
Garbutt
2,309
Rowes Bay
541
Metric leadGarbutt 5Rowes Bay 41 tiedacross 10 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Garbutt | Rowes Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 34.6/100 | 27.2/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 62.0/100 | 63.0/100 |
| Crime rate | 183.8 / 1k | 308.5 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 19.8/100 | 19.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 4 | — |
| Walkability | 24.5/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 85 | 23 |
| Green cover | 0.6% | 6.1% |
| Population | 2,309 | 541 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 1/10 | 8/10 |
Comparison summary
Garbutt reads as a regional smaller community that feels self-contained without feeling remote; Rowes Bay is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm. Where Rowes Bay is shaped by the coast, Garbutt offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Garbutt pulls ahead on a quieter safety profile, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities, whereas Rowes Bay is the better pick for housing affordability, schools and education options, and stronger socioeconomic advantage. On housing, Garbutt sits in a affordable band, compared with a gently premium feel in Rowes Bay.
On balance, retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Rowes Bay, while Garbutt remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.