Airlie Beach vs Cannonvale

Cannonvale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 41 in Airlie Beach. In both, about half of households rent. In Airlie Beach, most homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Cannonvale, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Airlie Beach: a median of $1.38 million, against $855,000 in Cannonvale, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Airlie Beach tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and share households, while Cannonvale suits families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Cannonvale

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Cannonvale

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($855,000 vs $1,375,000)
  • has cheaper land ($290,000 vs $454,500)
  • has cheaper units ($466,000 vs $649,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Cannonvale

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (49/100 vs 34/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (758 min vs 764 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1108.5 km vs 1112.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cannonvale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (49/100 vs 34/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (76/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Airlie Beach has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 43%)

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

Investors

Cannonvale

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (15.4% vs 8.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.3% vs 5.7%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
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.

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Walkability 34 / 49
Airlie Beach — Walkability: 34/100 Cannonvale — Walkability: 49/100
Safety 5 / 24
Airlie Beach — Safety: 5/100 Cannonvale — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Airlie Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cannonvale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cannonvale has more residents (6,596 vs 1,312); Airlie Beach skews older (41 vs 37).

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Population 1,312 6,596
+403% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.6% +15.4%
Median age 41 37
Median household income $81,224/yr $85,228/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+5% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
0-4 1.8% / 6.1%
Airlie Beach — 0-4: 1.8% Cannonvale — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 4.0% / 12.6%
Airlie Beach — 5-14: 4.0% Cannonvale — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 2.0% / 5.1%
Airlie Beach — 15-19: 2.0% Cannonvale — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 7.8% / 6.2%
Airlie Beach — 20-24: 7.8% Cannonvale — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 26.4% / 16.1%
Airlie Beach — 25-34: 26.4% Cannonvale — 25-34: 16.1%
35-44 13.8% / 16.1%
Airlie Beach — 35-44: 13.8% Cannonvale — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 13.9% / 13.8%
Airlie Beach — 45-54: 13.9% Cannonvale — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 16.5% / 12.0%
Airlie Beach — 55-64: 16.5% Cannonvale — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 9.7% / 8.4%
Airlie Beach — 65-74: 9.7% Cannonvale — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 3.4% / 3.1%
Airlie Beach — 75-84: 3.4% Cannonvale — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 0.2% / 0.3%
Airlie Beach — 85+: 0.2% Cannonvale — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Airlie Beach 60.3% lone person
Airlie Beach — Lone Person: 60.3% Airlie Beach — Couple Families: 15.4% Airlie Beach — Group Household: 15.4% Airlie Beach — One Parent Families: 7.2% Airlie Beach — Other Families: 1.7%
Cannonvale 37.3% lone person
Cannonvale — Lone Person: 37.3% Cannonvale — Couple Families: 34.9% Cannonvale — Group Household: 9.4% Cannonvale — One Parent Families: 17.5% Cannonvale — Other Families: 0.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Airlie Beach 50.7% renting
Airlie Beach — Owned Outright: 31.0% Airlie Beach — Mortgage: 18.2% Airlie Beach — Renting: 50.7%
Cannonvale 46.0% renting
Cannonvale — Owned Outright: 21.3% Cannonvale — Mortgage: 32.6% Cannonvale — Renting: 46.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Certificate III & IV 17.7% / 18.6%
Airlie Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.7% Cannonvale — Certificate III & IV: 18.6%
Bachelor Degree 15.8% / 9.2%
Airlie Beach — Bachelor Degree: 15.8% Cannonvale — Bachelor Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.0% / 8.4%
Airlie Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0% Cannonvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 1.9%
Airlie Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Cannonvale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.2%
Airlie Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Cannonvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
England 6.9% / 4.7%
Airlie Beach — England: 6.9% Cannonvale — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 5.3% / 4.4%
Airlie Beach — New Zealand: 5.3% Cannonvale — New Zealand: 4.4%
Philippines 0.7% / 1.2%
Airlie Beach — Philippines: 0.7% Cannonvale — Philippines: 1.2%
Germany 0.8% / 0.8%
Airlie Beach — Germany: 0.8% Cannonvale — Germany: 0.8%
South Africa — / 1.2%
Airlie Beach — South Africa: not among its largest Cannonvale — South Africa: 1.2%
Canada 0.9% / —
Airlie Beach — Canada: 0.9% Cannonvale — Canada: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.9% / —
Airlie Beach — Netherlands: 0.9% Cannonvale — Netherlands: not among its largest
India — / 0.9%
Airlie Beach — India: not among its largest Cannonvale — India: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Airlie Beach 57.4% flats / apartments
Airlie Beach — Flats / Apartments: 57.4% Airlie Beach — Houses: 30.0% Airlie Beach — Townhouses: 12.6%
Cannonvale 30.5% flats / apartments
Cannonvale — Flats / Apartments: 30.5% Cannonvale — Houses: 57.0% Cannonvale — Townhouses: 12.5%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Median house price $1,375,000 $855,000
Median unit price $649,500 $466,000
Median land price $454,500 $290,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 10 sales
 28 days
from 99 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.

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
3 bed $1.3M / $802K
Airlie Beach — 3 bed: $1.3M (8 sales) Cannonvale — 3 bed: $802K (60 sales)

8 vs 60 sales

4 bed $1.55M / $898K
Airlie Beach — 4 bed: $1.55M (8 sales) Cannonvale — 4 bed: $898K (86 sales)

8 vs 86 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
2 bed $630K / $442K
Airlie Beach — 2 bed: $630K (69 sales) Cannonvale — 2 bed: $442K (91 sales)

69 vs 91 sales

3 bed $720K / $530K
Airlie Beach — 3 bed: $720K (23 sales) Cannonvale — 3 bed: $530K (45 sales)

23 vs 45 sales

Development activity

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
New dwellings approved 190
across Whitsunday
same for both
Approvals change year on year +70%
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.

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Houses — 5.1%
$780/wk on $799K
Units 5.7%
$728/wk on $670K
 6.3%
$620/wk on $514K

Ranking within QLD

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 59% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 50% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 72% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 93% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD

Liveability

Cannonvale is more walkable (49 vs 34); Cannonvale scores higher overall (45 vs 38).

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Grade C
same for both
Score 38/100 45/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Airlie Beach carries more crime risk (95 vs 76).

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
65/100
 Low
28/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Airlie Beach

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

Schools in Cannonvale

  • Cannonvale State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Whitsunday Christian College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 33 6
Parks & reserves 1 6
Childcare 0 8
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 0 5
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 6 10

Mobility

Airlie Beach sits further from the CBD (1112.7 km vs 1108.5 km).

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Walkability score 34/100 49/100
Distance to Brisbane 1112.7 km 1108.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 764 min 758 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4802
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 4802
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.

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Car (driver) 53.7% / 74.4%
Airlie Beach — Car (driver): 53.7% Cannonvale — Car (driver): 74.4%
Walked Only 24.8% / 5.0%
Airlie Beach — Walked Only: 24.8% Cannonvale — Walked Only: 5.0%
Worked from Home 14.6% / 8.6%
Airlie Beach — Worked from Home: 14.6% Cannonvale — Worked from Home: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 7.6%
Airlie Beach — Car (passenger): 5.5% Cannonvale — Car (passenger): 7.6%
Bus 1.4% / 3.0%
Airlie Beach — Bus: 1.4% Cannonvale — Bus: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.4%).

Setting

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 517 m
981 m to a named beach
 716 m
4.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Connectivity score 53/100 60/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
1,495 premises
 29%
4,113 premises

Climate

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Annual rainfall 1,708 mm 1,502 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 31.7°C
Winter min (Jul) — 11.9°C

Council rates

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Average residential rate $1,412/yr
same for both
Council Whitsunday
same for both

Federal electorate

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Division Dawson
same for both
Member Andrew Willcox
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Airlie Beach Cannonvale
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Airlie Beach

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife River

Cannonvale

Coastal

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach vs Whitsundays Airlie Beach vs Jubilee Pocket Airlie Beach vs Mandalay

Other comparisons with Cannonvale

Cannonvale vs Whitsundays Cannonvale vs Cannon Valley Cannonvale vs Woodwark
Full data on Airlie Beach Full data on Cannonvale
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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