Alligator Creek vs Coral Sea

In both, most households own their home. In Alligator Creek, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Coral Sea, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and the large majority of households are people living alone. On these figures, Alligator Creek tends to suit families with children, while Coral Sea suits 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

Coral Sea

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 63/100)
  • But Alligator Creek has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 0%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, and childcare.

Renters

Coral Sea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($130/wk vs $200/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Alligator Creek

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (644 min vs 780 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (945 km vs 1135.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coral Sea

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 7%)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 63/100)
  • But Alligator Creek is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Alligator Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.4% vs -29.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
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.

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Walkability 13 / 0
Alligator Creek — Walkability: 13/100 Coral Sea — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 37 / 49
Alligator Creek — Safety: 37/100 Coral Sea — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 28 / 64
Alligator Creek — Low fire risk: 28/100 Coral Sea — Low fire risk: 64/100

Demographics

Alligator Creek has more residents (897 vs 78); Alligator Creek has higher household incomes ($120,692 vs $71,448).

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Population 897
+91% vs other
 78
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.4% -29.7%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $120,692/yr
+41% vs other
 $71,448/yr
Median weekly rent $200/wk
+35% vs other
 $130/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
0-4 6.8% / —
Alligator Creek — 0-4: 6.8% Coral Sea — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 15.2% / 6.4%
Alligator Creek — 5-14: 15.2% Coral Sea — 5-14: 6.4%
15-19 6.0% / —
Alligator Creek — 15-19: 6.0% Coral Sea — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 3.1% / —
Alligator Creek — 20-24: 3.1% Coral Sea — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 13.4% / 37.2%
Alligator Creek — 25-34: 13.4% Coral Sea — 25-34: 37.2%
35-44 12.7% / 21.8%
Alligator Creek — 35-44: 12.7% Coral Sea — 35-44: 21.8%
45-54 15.2% / 16.7%
Alligator Creek — 45-54: 15.2% Coral Sea — 45-54: 16.7%
55-64 14.9% / 17.9%
Alligator Creek — 55-64: 14.9% Coral Sea — 55-64: 17.9%
65-74 8.6% / —
Alligator Creek — 65-74: 8.6% Coral Sea — 65-74: not among its largest
75-84 2.9% / —
Alligator Creek — 75-84: 2.9% Coral Sea — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 0.3% / —
Alligator Creek — 85+: 0.3% Coral Sea — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (37.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alligator Creek 21.2% lone person
Alligator Creek — Lone Person: 21.2% Alligator Creek — Couple Families: 67.7% Alligator Creek — One Parent Families: 7.6% Alligator Creek — Group Household: 3.5%
Coral Sea 100.0% lone person
Coral Sea — Lone Person: 100.0% Coral Sea — Couple Families: 0.0% Coral Sea — One Parent Families: 0.0% Coral Sea — Group Household: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Alligator Creek 10.5% renting
Alligator Creek — Owned Outright: 35.9% Alligator Creek — Mortgage: 53.6% Alligator Creek — Renting: 10.5%
Coral Sea 42.9% renting
Coral Sea — Owned Outright: 57.1% Coral Sea — Mortgage: 0.0% Coral Sea — Renting: 42.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Certificate III & IV 24.6% / 25.6%
Alligator Creek — Certificate III & IV: 24.6% Coral Sea — Certificate III & IV: 25.6%
Bachelor Degree 6.8% / 23.1%
Alligator Creek — Bachelor Degree: 6.8% Coral Sea — Bachelor Degree: 23.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.2% / 10.3%
Alligator Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.2% Coral Sea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 0.3% / 9.0%
Alligator Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 0.3% Coral Sea — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / —
Alligator Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Coral Sea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.6%).

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.

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
New Zealand 1.0% / 10.3%
Alligator Creek — New Zealand: 1.0% Coral Sea — New Zealand: 10.3%
China — / 6.4%
Alligator Creek — China: not among its largest Coral Sea — China: 6.4%
England 1.1% / —
Alligator Creek — England: 1.1% Coral Sea — England: not among its largest
Germany 1.1% / —
Alligator Creek — Germany: 1.1% Coral Sea — Germany: not among its largest
Zimbabwe 0.6% / —
Alligator Creek — Zimbabwe: 0.6% Coral Sea — Zimbabwe: not among its largest
South Africa 0.3% / —
Alligator Creek — South Africa: 0.3% Coral Sea — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alligator Creek 6.7% flats / apartments
Alligator Creek — Flats / Apartments: 6.7% Alligator Creek — Houses: 93.3%
Coral Sea 100.0% flats / apartments
Coral Sea — Flats / Apartments: 100.0% Coral Sea — Houses: 0.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Median house price $930,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $830,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 5 sales
 —

Development activity

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
New dwellings approved 574
across Mackay
 190
across Whitsunday
Approvals change year on year -6% +70%

Ranking within QLD

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 45% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 41% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 56% of QLD Higher than 16% of QLD

Liveability

Alligator Creek is more walkable (13 vs 0).

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Grade D —
Score 29/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Alligator Creek carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 36); Alligator Creek carries more crime risk (63 vs 51).

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Bushfire High
72/100
 Low
36/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
97/100
 High
98/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Alligator Creek

  • Alligator Creek State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Coral Sea

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

Amenities in the suburb

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 10
Childcare 1 0
Beaches 0 3
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Coral Sea sits further from the CBD (1135.9 km vs 945 km).

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Walkability score 13/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 945 km 1135.9 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 644 min 780 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4740
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 4740
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.

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Car (driver) 83.4% / 7.0%
Alligator Creek — Car (driver): 83.4% Coral Sea — Car (driver): 7.0%
Walked Only 2.5% / 83.7%
Alligator Creek — Walked Only: 2.5% Coral Sea — Walked Only: 83.7%
Worked from Home 8.3% / 9.3%
Alligator Creek — Worked from Home: 8.3% Coral Sea — Worked from Home: 9.3%
Bus 3.0% / —
Alligator Creek — Bus: 3.0% Coral Sea — Bus: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 2.8% / —
Alligator Creek — Car (passenger): 2.8% Coral Sea — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.7%).

Setting

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 499 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km 1.7 km

NBN connectivity

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Connectivity score 30/100 15/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
360 premises
 0%
102 premises

Climate

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Annual rainfall 1,517 mm —
Summer max (Jan) 30.8°C —
Winter min (Jul) 12.4°C —

Council rates

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Average residential rate $1,873/yr $1,412/yr
Council Mackay Whitsunday

Federal electorate

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Division Capricornia Dawson
Member Michelle Landry Andrew Willcox
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Alligator Creek Coral Sea
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Alligator Creek

Rural

Coral Sea

Coastal Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Alligator Creek

Alligator Creek vs Sarina Alligator Creek vs Hay Point Alligator Creek vs Grasstree Beach Alligator Creek vs Balberra Alligator Creek vs Munbura

Other comparisons with Coral Sea

Coral Sea vs Bowen Coral Sea vs Bargara Coral Sea vs South Mackay Coral Sea vs Bushland Beach Coral Sea vs Trinity Beach Coral Sea vs Kewarra Beach
Full data on Alligator Creek Full data on Coral Sea
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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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