Aroona vs Caloundra West

Caloundra West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 43 in Aroona. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Aroona, most households are couple families. In Caloundra West, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Aroona: a median of $1.29 million, against $976,000 in Caloundra West. On these figures, Aroona tends to suit couples, while Caloundra West 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

Aroona

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 42/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 83%)

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

First-home buyers

Caloundra West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($976,000 vs $1,290,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Aroona leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 30%)
  • Caloundra West has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 14%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Aroona is more walkable (50/100 vs 40/100)
  • Caloundra West sits closer to the CBD (84.5 km vs 89.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Aroona

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 42/100)
  • is more walkable (50/100 vs 40/100)
  • But Caloundra West has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 4%)

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

Investors

Caloundra West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.5% vs 5.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Aroona Caloundra West
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.

Aroona Caloundra West
Walkability 50 / 40
Aroona — Walkability: 50/100 Caloundra West — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 68 / 58
Aroona — Safety: 68/100 Caloundra West — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Aroona — Low fire risk: 100/100 Caloundra West — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Caloundra West has more residents (7,270 vs 3,466); Aroona has higher household incomes ($96,564 vs $81,692).

Aroona Caloundra West
Population 3,466 7,270
+110% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% +15.5%
Median age 43 37
Median household income $96,564/yr
+15% vs other
 $81,692/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk $465/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Aroona Caloundra West
0-4 4.8% / 6.8%
Aroona — 0-4: 4.8% Caloundra West — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 13.5% / 15.8%
Aroona — 5-14: 13.5% Caloundra West — 5-14: 15.8%
15-19 6.1% / 6.0%
Aroona — 15-19: 6.1% Caloundra West — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 4.7% / 5.0%
Aroona — 20-24: 4.7% Caloundra West — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 9.5% / 12.4%
Aroona — 25-34: 9.5% Caloundra West — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 13.4% / 15.0%
Aroona — 35-44: 13.4% Caloundra West — 35-44: 15.0%
45-54 12.8% / 11.6%
Aroona — 45-54: 12.8% Caloundra West — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 15.2% / 9.4%
Aroona — 55-64: 15.2% Caloundra West — 55-64: 9.4%
65-74 12.5% / 9.6%
Aroona — 65-74: 12.5% Caloundra West — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 5.9% / 6.5%
Aroona — 75-84: 5.9% Caloundra West — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 1.8% / 1.8%
Aroona — 85+: 1.8% Caloundra West — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Aroona 55.3% couple families
Aroona — Couple Families: 55.3% Aroona — Lone Person: 24.2% Aroona — One Parent Families: 14.8% Aroona — Group Household: 4.3% Aroona — Other Families: 1.5%
Caloundra West 45.0% couple families
Caloundra West — Couple Families: 45.0% Caloundra West — Lone Person: 30.5% Caloundra West — One Parent Families: 19.2% Caloundra West — Group Household: 4.1% Caloundra West — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Aroona 14.5% renting
Aroona — Owned Outright: 37.5% Aroona — Mortgage: 48.0% Aroona — Renting: 14.5%
Caloundra West 32.8% renting
Caloundra West — Owned Outright: 29.6% Caloundra West — Mortgage: 37.6% Caloundra West — Renting: 32.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Aroona Caloundra West
Certificate III & IV 20.5% / 18.8%
Aroona — Certificate III & IV: 20.5% Caloundra West — Certificate III & IV: 18.8%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 9.1%
Aroona — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Caloundra West — Bachelor Degree: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.5%
Aroona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Caloundra West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 1.9%
Aroona — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Caloundra West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.5%
Aroona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Caloundra West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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.

Aroona Caloundra West
England 5.1% / 6.0%
Aroona — England: 5.1% Caloundra West — England: 6.0%
New Zealand 4.2% / 5.8%
Aroona — New Zealand: 4.2% Caloundra West — New Zealand: 5.8%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.9%
Aroona — South Africa: 0.8% Caloundra West — South Africa: 0.9%
Germany 0.7% / 0.4%
Aroona — Germany: 0.7% Caloundra West — Germany: 0.4%
India — / 1.1%
Aroona — India: not among its largest Caloundra West — India: 1.1%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.6%
Aroona — Scotland: 0.5% Caloundra West — Scotland: 0.6%
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Aroona — Netherlands: 0.5% Caloundra West — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Aroona 96.2% houses
Aroona — Houses: 96.2% Aroona — Townhouses: 3.3% Aroona — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Caloundra West 83.2% houses
Caloundra West — Houses: 83.2% Caloundra West — Townhouses: 16.6% Caloundra West — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Aroona Caloundra West
Median house price $1,290,000 $976,000
Median unit price — $805,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 18 sales
 22 days
from 69 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.

Aroona Caloundra West
3 bed $1.03M / $880K
Aroona — 3 bed: $1.03M (28 sales) Caloundra West — 3 bed: $880K (52 sales)

28 vs 52 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.05M
Aroona — 4 bed: $1.3M (36 sales) Caloundra West — 4 bed: $1.05M (81 sales)

36 vs 81 sales

5 bed $1.49M / $1.18M
Aroona — 5 bed: $1.49M (12 sales) Caloundra West — 5 bed: $1.18M (17 sales)

12 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Aroona Caloundra West
New dwellings approved 2,962
across Sunshine Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -41%
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.

Aroona Caloundra West
Houses 4.5%
$1,050/wk on $1.2M
 4.5%
$825/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Aroona Caloundra West
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 53% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 81% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD

Liveability

Aroona is more walkable (50 vs 40); Aroona scores higher overall (71 vs 62).

Aroona Caloundra West
Grade A B
Score 71/100 62/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Caloundra West carries more crime risk (42 vs 32).

Aroona Caloundra West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
32/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Aroona Caloundra West
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 7.5 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 9.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 1.5%

Schools in Aroona

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

Schools in Caloundra West

  • Unity College Catholic · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Aroona Caloundra West
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 5 7
Childcare 2 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

Aroona sits further from the CBD (89.6 km vs 84.5 km).

Aroona Caloundra West
Walkability score 50/100 40/100
Distance to Brisbane 89.6 km
+6% vs other
 84.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 76 min 74 min
Public transport score 48/100
Bus
 70/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 11.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 23.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4551
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 4551
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.

Aroona Caloundra West
Car (driver) 76.6% / 79.9%
Aroona — Car (driver): 76.6% Caloundra West — Car (driver): 79.9%
Worked from Home 14.5% / 12.7%
Aroona — Worked from Home: 14.5% Caloundra West — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 4.9%
Aroona — Car (passenger): 5.4% Caloundra West — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.1%
Aroona — Walked Only: 1.1% Caloundra West — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bicycle 1.3% / 0.4%
Aroona — Bicycle: 1.3% Caloundra West — Bicycle: 0.4%
Bus 0.7% / 0.6%
Aroona — Bus: 0.7% Caloundra West — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.9%).

Setting

Aroona Caloundra West
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 2.2 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Aroona Caloundra West
Connectivity score 76/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
1,331 premises
 61%
3,360 premises

Climate

Aroona Caloundra West
Annual rainfall 1,052 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 14.7°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Aroona Caloundra West
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.31 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Aroona Caloundra West
Average residential rate $1,690/yr
same for both
Council Sunshine Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Aroona Caloundra West
Division Fisher
same for both
Member Andrew Wallace
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Aroona Caloundra West
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Aroona

Coastal Parks Quiet

Caloundra West

Coastal Family Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Aroona

Aroona vs Little Mountain Aroona vs Currimundi Aroona vs Meridan Plains Aroona vs Caloundra Aroona vs Battery Hill

Other comparisons with Caloundra West

Caloundra West vs Little Mountain Caloundra West vs Pelican Waters Caloundra West vs Golden Beach Caloundra West vs Baringa Caloundra West vs Caloundra Caloundra West vs Bells Creek
Full data on Aroona Full data on Caloundra West
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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