Aroona vs Meridan Plains

Meridan Plains is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 43 in Aroona. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Aroona, the large majority of households own their home and most households are couple families. In Meridan Plains, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Aroona: a median of $1.29 million, against $970,000 in Meridan Plains. On these figures, Aroona tends to suit couples, while Meridan Plains suits renters 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

  • Aroona carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 45/100)
  • Meridan Plains has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Meridan Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($970,000 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%)
  • Meridan Plains has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 14%)

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

Commuting to the city

Meridan Plains

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (71 min vs 76 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (86.5 km vs 89.6 km)
  • But Aroona is more walkable (50/100 vs 6/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Aroona

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (50/100 vs 6/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 45/100)
  • But Meridan Plains has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 4%)

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

Investors

Meridan Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (24.9% vs 5.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Aroona and Meridan Plains 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 Meridan Plains
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 Meridan Plains
Walkability 50 / 6
Aroona — Walkability: 50/100 Meridan Plains — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 68 / 55
Aroona — Safety: 68/100 Meridan Plains — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 100 / 42
Aroona — Low fire risk: 100/100 Meridan Plains — Low fire risk: 42/100

Demographics

Meridan Plains has more residents (4,589 vs 3,466); Aroona has higher household incomes ($96,564 vs $79,508).

Aroona Meridan Plains
Population 3,466 4,589
+32% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% +24.9%
Median age 43 36
Median household income $96,564/yr
+18% vs other
 $79,508/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk $460/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Aroona Meridan Plains
0-4 4.8% / 6.1%
Aroona — 0-4: 4.8% Meridan Plains — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 13.5% / 14.7%
Aroona — 5-14: 13.5% Meridan Plains — 5-14: 14.7%
15-19 6.1% / 7.5%
Aroona — 15-19: 6.1% Meridan Plains — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 4.7% / 5.8%
Aroona — 20-24: 4.7% Meridan Plains — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 9.5% / 14.1%
Aroona — 25-34: 9.5% Meridan Plains — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 13.4% / 13.1%
Aroona — 35-44: 13.4% Meridan Plains — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 12.8% / 12.7%
Aroona — 45-54: 12.8% Meridan Plains — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 15.2% / 7.1%
Aroona — 55-64: 15.2% Meridan Plains — 55-64: 7.1%
65-74 12.5% / 7.1%
Aroona — 65-74: 12.5% Meridan Plains — 65-74: 7.1%
75-84 5.9% / 9.0%
Aroona — 75-84: 5.9% Meridan Plains — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 1.8% / 2.9%
Aroona — 85+: 1.8% Meridan Plains — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

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%
Meridan Plains 40.7% couple families
Meridan Plains — Couple Families: 40.7% Meridan Plains — Lone Person: 31.6% Meridan Plains — One Parent Families: 22.2% Meridan Plains — Group Household: 4.8% Meridan Plains — Other Families: 0.7%
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%
Meridan Plains 45.1% renting
Meridan Plains — Owned Outright: 22.3% Meridan Plains — Mortgage: 32.6% Meridan Plains — Renting: 45.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Aroona Meridan Plains
Certificate III & IV 20.5% / 17.1%
Aroona — Certificate III & IV: 20.5% Meridan Plains — Certificate III & IV: 17.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 10.7%
Aroona — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Meridan Plains — Bachelor Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.5%
Aroona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Meridan Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 2.6%
Aroona — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Meridan Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.4%
Aroona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Meridan Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

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 Meridan Plains
England 5.1% / 6.1%
Aroona — England: 5.1% Meridan Plains — England: 6.1%
New Zealand 4.2% / 4.3%
Aroona — New Zealand: 4.2% Meridan Plains — New Zealand: 4.3%
India — / 2.0%
Aroona — India: not among its largest Meridan Plains — India: 2.0%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.1%
Aroona — South Africa: 0.8% Meridan Plains — South Africa: 1.1%
Germany 0.7% / 0.5%
Aroona — Germany: 0.7% Meridan Plains — Germany: 0.5%
Philippines — / 0.6%
Aroona — Philippines: not among its largest Meridan Plains — Philippines: 0.6%
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Aroona — Netherlands: 0.5% Meridan Plains — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

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%
Meridan Plains 71.5% houses
Meridan Plains — Houses: 71.5% Meridan Plains — Townhouses: 24.1% Meridan Plains — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Aroona Meridan Plains
Median house price $1,290,000 $970,000
Median unit price — $745,500
Median land price — $1,055,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 18 sales
 24 days
from 19 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 Meridan Plains
3 bed $1.03M / $909K
Aroona — 3 bed: $1.03M (28 sales) Meridan Plains — 3 bed: $909K (21 sales)

28 vs 21 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.11M
Aroona — 4 bed: $1.3M (36 sales) Meridan Plains — 4 bed: $1.11M (24 sales)

36 vs 24 sales

5 bed $1.49M / $1.45M
Aroona — 5 bed: $1.49M (12 sales) Meridan Plains — 5 bed: $1.45M (6 sales)

12 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Aroona Meridan Plains
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 Meridan Plains
Houses 4.5%
$1,050/wk on $1.2M
 4.2%
$750/wk on $934K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Aroona Meridan Plains
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 50% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 69% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 63% of QLD

Liveability

Aroona is more walkable (50 vs 6); Aroona scores higher overall (71 vs 35).

Aroona Meridan Plains
Grade A C
Score 71/100 35/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Meridan Plains carries more bushfire risk (58 vs 0); Meridan Plains carries more crime risk (45 vs 32).

Aroona Meridan Plains
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
58/100
Crime Low
32/100
 Moderate
45/100
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 Meridan Plains
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 7.5 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4%
same for both

Schools in Aroona

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

Schools in Meridan Plains

  • Pacific Lutheran College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Meridan State College Government · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Aroona Meridan Plains
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 5 10
Childcare 2 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 0 11

Mobility

Aroona sits further from the CBD (89.6 km vs 86.5 km).

Aroona Meridan Plains
Walkability score 50/100 6/100
Distance to Brisbane 89.6 km
+3% vs other
 86.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 76 min 71 min
Public transport score 48/100
Bus
 38/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 11.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 6.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 7 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Meridan Plains
Car (driver) 76.6% / 78.6%
Aroona — Car (driver): 76.6% Meridan Plains — Car (driver): 78.6%
Worked from Home 14.5% / 11.6%
Aroona — Worked from Home: 14.5% Meridan Plains — Worked from Home: 11.6%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 6.0%
Aroona — Car (passenger): 5.4% Meridan Plains — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Bicycle 1.3% / 1.9%
Aroona — Bicycle: 1.3% Meridan Plains — Bicycle: 1.9%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.2%
Aroona — Walked Only: 1.1% Meridan Plains — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.6%).

Setting

Aroona Meridan Plains
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 5.6 km

NBN connectivity

Aroona Meridan Plains
Connectivity score 76/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
1,331 premises
 66%
1,936 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Aroona Meridan Plains
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 Meridan Plains
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

Meridan Plains

Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Aroona

Aroona vs Little Mountain Aroona vs Caloundra West Aroona vs Currimundi Aroona vs Caloundra Aroona vs Battery Hill

Other comparisons with Meridan Plains

Meridan Plains vs Little Mountain Meridan Plains vs Currimundi Meridan Plains vs Palmview Meridan Plains vs Birtinya Meridan Plains vs Glenview
Full data on Aroona Full data on Meridan Plains
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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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