Bells Creek vs Caloundra West

Bells Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 37 in Caloundra West. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Caloundra West, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Bells Creek tends to suit young adults, while Caloundra West suits families with children.

Bells Creek is a very small, quiet community of 343 people with a younger median age of 31 years, while Caloundra West is a larger, more established suburb of 7270 people with a median age of 37 years. Bells Creek offers higher household incomes (median $100,984 versus $81,692) and slightly closer proximity to the CBD, but Caloundra West is significantly more walkable with a score of 40 compared to Bells Creek's 10, making it better suited to those who value local amenities and services within walking distance. Rental costs are higher in Bells Creek at $560 per week versus $465 in Caloundra West. Both suburbs have zero bushfire and flood risk, though Bells Creek shows a notably higher crime risk rating.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Caloundra West

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 96/100)
  • But Bells Creek has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 83%)

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

First-home buyers

Bells Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Caloundra West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($465/wk vs $560/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Bells Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (66 min vs 74 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (78.5 km vs 84.5 km)
  • But Caloundra West is more walkable (40/100 vs 13/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Caloundra West

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 13/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 6%)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 96/100)

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

Where they sit

Bells Creek 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.

Bells Creek 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.

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Walkability 13 / 40
Bells Creek — Walkability: 13/100 Caloundra West — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 4 / 58
Bells Creek — Safety: 4/100 Caloundra West — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 63 / 100
Bells Creek — Low fire risk: 63/100 Caloundra West — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Caloundra West has more residents (7,270 vs 343); Bells Creek has higher household incomes ($100,984 vs $81,692).

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Population 343 7,270
+2020% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +15.5%
Median age 31 37
Median household income $100,984/yr
+19% vs other
 $81,692/yr
Median weekly rent $560/wk
+17% vs other
 $465/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bells Creek Caloundra West
0-4 5.0% / 6.8%
Bells Creek — 0-4: 5.0% Caloundra West — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 12.0% / 15.8%
Bells Creek — 5-14: 12.0% Caloundra West — 5-14: 15.8%
15-19 2.6% / 6.0%
Bells Creek — 15-19: 2.6% Caloundra West — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 13.7% / 5.0%
Bells Creek — 20-24: 13.7% Caloundra West — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 26.5% / 12.4%
Bells Creek — 25-34: 26.5% Caloundra West — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 10.8% / 15.0%
Bells Creek — 35-44: 10.8% Caloundra West — 35-44: 15.0%
45-54 7.0% / 11.6%
Bells Creek — 45-54: 7.0% Caloundra West — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 11.7% / 9.4%
Bells Creek — 55-64: 11.7% Caloundra West — 55-64: 9.4%
65-74 6.1% / 9.6%
Bells Creek — 65-74: 6.1% Caloundra West — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 2.6% / 6.5%
Bells Creek — 75-84: 2.6% Caloundra West — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 1.2% / 1.8%
Bells Creek — 85+: 1.2% Caloundra West — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bells Creek 38.6% couple families
Bells Creek — Couple Families: 38.6% Bells Creek — Lone Person: 31.3% Bells Creek — One Parent Families: 24.1% Bells Creek — Group Household: 6.0% Bells Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
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.

Bells Creek 12.8% renting
Bells Creek — Owned Outright: 13.5% Bells Creek — Mortgage: 73.7% Bells Creek — Renting: 12.8%
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.

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Certificate III & IV 21.6% / 18.8%
Bells Creek — Certificate III & IV: 21.6% Caloundra West — Certificate III & IV: 18.8%
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 9.1%
Bells Creek — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Caloundra West — Bachelor Degree: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.1% / 8.5%
Bells Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.1% Caloundra West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 1.9%
Bells Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Caloundra West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.5%
Bells Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Caloundra West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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.

Bells Creek Caloundra West
England 4.7% / 6.0%
Bells Creek — England: 4.7% Caloundra West — England: 6.0%
New Zealand 4.4% / 5.8%
Bells Creek — New Zealand: 4.4% Caloundra West — New Zealand: 5.8%
Philippines 4.1% / 0.5%
Bells Creek — Philippines: 4.1% Caloundra West — Philippines: 0.5%
South Africa 1.2% / 0.9%
Bells Creek — South Africa: 1.2% Caloundra West — South Africa: 0.9%
India 0.9% / 1.1%
Bells Creek — India: 0.9% Caloundra West — India: 1.1%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.6%
Bells Creek — Scotland: 0.9% Caloundra West — Scotland: 0.6%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bells Creek 94.2% houses
Bells Creek — Houses: 94.2% Bells Creek — Townhouses: 0.0% Bells Creek — Flats / Apartments: 5.8%
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

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Median house price — $976,000
Median unit price — $805,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 22 days
from 69 sales

Development activity

Bells Creek 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.

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Houses — 4.5%
$825/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Bells Creek Caloundra West
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 75% of QLD Higher than 53% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 77% of QLD

Liveability

Caloundra West is more walkable (40 vs 13).

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Grade — B
Score — 62/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Bells Creek carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0); Bells Creek carries more crime risk (96 vs 42).

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Bushfire Low
37/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
96/100
 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

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 9.2 km

Schools in Bells Creek

  • Nirimba State Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Notre Dame College Catholic · Combined below peers

Schools in Caloundra West

  • Unity College Catholic · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 2 7
Childcare 4
same for both
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 16 5

Mobility

Caloundra West sits further from the CBD (84.5 km vs 78.5 km).

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Walkability score 13/100 40/100
Distance to Brisbane 78.5 km 84.5 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 74 min
Public transport score 38/100
Bus
 70/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.0
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.

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Car (driver) 76.3% / 79.9%
Bells Creek — Car (driver): 76.3% Caloundra West — Car (driver): 79.9%
Worked from Home 13.2% / 12.7%
Bells Creek — Worked from Home: 13.2% Caloundra West — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 4.9%
Bells Creek — Car (passenger): 6.3% Caloundra West — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Walked Only 4.2% / 1.1%
Bells Creek — Walked Only: 4.2% Caloundra West — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus — / 0.6%
Bells Creek — Bus: not among its largest Caloundra West — Bus: 0.6%

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

Setting

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.8 km
4.9 km to a named beach
 2.2 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bells Creek Caloundra West
Connectivity score 100/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
2,505 premises
 61%
3,360 premises

Climate

Bells Creek 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)

Bells Creek 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

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

Federal electorate

Bells Creek 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

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

Tags

Bells Creek

River Rural

Caloundra West

Coastal Family Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bells Creek

Bells Creek vs Pelican Waters Bells Creek vs Baringa Bells Creek vs Nirimba Bells Creek vs Coochin Creek

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 Aroona
Full data on Bells Creek 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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