Alligator Creek vs Grasstree Beach

Alligator Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 49 in Grasstree Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Alligator Creek, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Alligator Creek: a median of $930,000, against $685,000 in Grasstree Beach, though rent is higher in Grasstree Beach. On these figures, Alligator Creek tends to suit families with children and couples, while Grasstree Beach suits people living alone 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Alligator Creek is already more of a family suburb (75% vs 54%)
  • Grasstree Beach carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 63/100)

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

First-home buyers

Grasstree Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($550,000 vs $830,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($685,000 vs $930,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Alligator Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (9% vs 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $290/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Alligator Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Grasstree Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 63/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 12%)
  • But Alligator Creek is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Alligator Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.4% vs -3.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Alligator Creek and Grasstree Beach 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 Grasstree Beach
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 Grasstree Beach
Walkability 13 / 0
Alligator Creek — Walkability: 13/100 Grasstree Beach — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 37 / 68
Alligator Creek — Safety: 37/100 Grasstree Beach — Safety: 68/100
Low fire risk 28 / 100
Alligator Creek — Low fire risk: 28/100 Grasstree Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Grasstree Beach rents higher ($290/wk vs $200/wk); Grasstree Beach skews older (49 vs 37).

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Population 897
+20% vs other
 717
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.4% -3.8%
Median age 37 49
Median household income $120,692/yr
+12% vs other
 $106,600/yr
Median weekly rent $200/wk $290/wk
+45% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
0-4 6.8% / 5.2%
Alligator Creek — 0-4: 6.8% Grasstree Beach — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 15.2% / 8.5%
Alligator Creek — 5-14: 15.2% Grasstree Beach — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 6.0% / 5.7%
Alligator Creek — 15-19: 6.0% Grasstree Beach — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 3.1% / 4.5%
Alligator Creek — 20-24: 3.1% Grasstree Beach — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 13.4% / 10.0%
Alligator Creek — 25-34: 13.4% Grasstree Beach — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 12.7% / 11.9%
Alligator Creek — 35-44: 12.7% Grasstree Beach — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 15.2% / 13.1%
Alligator Creek — 45-54: 15.2% Grasstree Beach — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 14.9% / 21.9%
Alligator Creek — 55-64: 14.9% Grasstree Beach — 55-64: 21.9%
65-74 8.6% / 13.5%
Alligator Creek — 65-74: 8.6% Grasstree Beach — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 2.9% / 5.6%
Alligator Creek — 75-84: 2.9% Grasstree Beach — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 0.3% / 0.8%
Alligator Creek — 85+: 0.3% Grasstree Beach — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alligator Creek 67.7% couple families
Alligator Creek — Couple Families: 67.7% Alligator Creek — Lone Person: 21.2% Alligator Creek — One Parent Families: 7.6% Alligator Creek — Group Household: 3.5% Alligator Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Grasstree Beach 44.5% couple families
Grasstree Beach — Couple Families: 44.5% Grasstree Beach — Lone Person: 41.3% Grasstree Beach — One Parent Families: 9.7% Grasstree Beach — Group Household: 2.6% Grasstree Beach — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

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%
Grasstree Beach 18.0% renting
Grasstree Beach — Owned Outright: 43.1% Grasstree Beach — Mortgage: 39.0% Grasstree Beach — Renting: 18.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Certificate III & IV 24.6% / 23.3%
Alligator Creek — Certificate III & IV: 24.6% Grasstree Beach — Certificate III & IV: 23.3%
Bachelor Degree 6.8% / 6.0%
Alligator Creek — Bachelor Degree: 6.8% Grasstree Beach — Bachelor Degree: 6.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.2% / 6.4%
Alligator Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.2% Grasstree Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 0.3% / 1.8%
Alligator Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 0.3% Grasstree Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / 1.0%
Alligator Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Grasstree Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.6%).

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 Grasstree Beach
New Zealand 1.0% / 3.1%
Alligator Creek — New Zealand: 1.0% Grasstree Beach — New Zealand: 3.1%
England 1.1% / 0.8%
Alligator Creek — England: 1.1% Grasstree Beach — England: 0.8%
Germany 1.1% / 0.6%
Alligator Creek — Germany: 1.1% Grasstree Beach — Germany: 0.6%
Philippines — / 1.7%
Alligator Creek — Philippines: not among its largest Grasstree Beach — Philippines: 1.7%
Zimbabwe 0.6% / —
Alligator Creek — Zimbabwe: 0.6% Grasstree Beach — Zimbabwe: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.4%
Alligator Creek — Netherlands: not among its largest Grasstree Beach — Netherlands: 0.4%
South Africa 0.3% / —
Alligator Creek — South Africa: 0.3% Grasstree Beach — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alligator Creek 93.3% houses
Alligator Creek — Houses: 93.3% Alligator Creek — Flats / Apartments: 6.7% Alligator Creek — Townhouses: 0.0%
Grasstree Beach 95.7% houses
Grasstree Beach — Houses: 95.7% Grasstree Beach — Flats / Apartments: 2.5% Grasstree Beach — Townhouses: 1.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Median house price $930,000 $685,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $830,000 $550,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 5 sales
 29 days
from 9 sales

Development activity

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
New dwellings approved 574
across Mackay
same for both
Approvals change year on year -6%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 65% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 41% of QLD Higher than 42% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 56% of QLD Higher than 66% of QLD

Liveability

Alligator Creek is more walkable (13 vs 0); Grasstree Beach scores higher overall (50 vs 29).

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Grade D B
Score 29/100 50/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Alligator Creek carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 0); Alligator Creek carries more crime risk (63 vs 32).

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Bushfire High
72/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Low
32/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
97/100
 High
85/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
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 Grasstree Beach

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

Amenities in the suburb

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Childcare 1 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 4 5

Mobility

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Walkability score 13/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 945 km 945.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 644 min 647 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 Grasstree Beach
Car (driver) 83.4% / 84.4%
Alligator Creek — Car (driver): 83.4% Grasstree Beach — Car (driver): 84.4%
Worked from Home 8.3% / 9.5%
Alligator Creek — Worked from Home: 8.3% Grasstree Beach — Worked from Home: 9.5%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 4.1%
Alligator Creek — Car (passenger): 2.8% Grasstree Beach — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 2.5% / 2.0%
Alligator Creek — Walked Only: 2.5% Grasstree Beach — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 3.0% / —
Alligator Creek — Bus: 3.0% Grasstree Beach — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.4%).

Setting

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 93 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km 1.7 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
360 premises
 0%
398 premises

Climate

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Annual rainfall 1,517 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Average residential rate $1,873/yr
same for both
Council Mackay
same for both

Federal electorate

Alligator Creek Grasstree Beach
Division Capricornia
same for both
Member Michelle Landry
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Alligator Creek

Rural

Grasstree Beach

Acreage Coastal

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Alligator Creek

Alligator Creek vs Sarina Alligator Creek vs Hay Point Alligator Creek vs Balberra Alligator Creek vs Munbura Alligator Creek vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Grasstree Beach

Grasstree Beach vs Sarina Grasstree Beach vs Hay Point Grasstree Beach vs Sarina Beach Grasstree Beach vs Campwin Beach Grasstree Beach vs Coral Sea
Full data on Alligator Creek Full data on Grasstree Beach
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or