Caloundra vs Caloundra West

Caloundra West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 58 in Caloundra. In both, most households own their home. In Caloundra, about half of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Caloundra West, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Caloundra tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Caloundra West suits families with children and couples.

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

  • Caloundra has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • Caloundra West has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 24%)

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

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Caloundra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 33%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $465/wk)
  • But Caloundra West leaves renters under less rental stress (30% vs 37%)

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

Commuting to the city

Caloundra West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (74 min vs 81 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (84.5 km vs 91.3 km)
  • But Caloundra is more walkable (89/100 vs 40/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Caloundra

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 17%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 40/100)
  • But Caloundra West carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 93/100)

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 0.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Caloundra 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.

Caloundra 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.

Caloundra Caloundra West
Walkability 89 / 40
Caloundra — Walkability: 89/100 Caloundra West — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 7 / 58
Caloundra — Safety: 7/100 Caloundra West — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Caloundra — Low fire risk: 100/100 Caloundra West — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Caloundra West has more residents (7,270 vs 3,932); Caloundra West has higher household incomes ($81,692 vs $50,960).

Caloundra Caloundra West
Population 3,932 7,270
+85% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.4% +15.5%
Median age 58 37
Median household income $50,960/yr $81,692/yr
+60% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $465/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Caloundra Caloundra West
0-4 2.6% / 6.8%
Caloundra — 0-4: 2.6% Caloundra West — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 6.0% / 15.8%
Caloundra — 5-14: 6.0% Caloundra West — 5-14: 15.8%
15-19 4.0% / 6.0%
Caloundra — 15-19: 4.0% Caloundra West — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 4.1% / 5.0%
Caloundra — 20-24: 4.1% Caloundra West — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 8.8% / 12.4%
Caloundra — 25-34: 8.8% Caloundra West — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 8.8% / 15.0%
Caloundra — 35-44: 8.8% Caloundra West — 35-44: 15.0%
45-54 11.4% / 11.6%
Caloundra — 45-54: 11.4% Caloundra West — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 16.1% / 9.4%
Caloundra — 55-64: 16.1% Caloundra West — 55-64: 9.4%
65-74 17.1% / 9.6%
Caloundra — 65-74: 17.1% Caloundra West — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 13.9% / 6.5%
Caloundra — 75-84: 13.9% Caloundra West — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 7.2% / 1.8%
Caloundra — 85+: 7.2% Caloundra West — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Caloundra 60.9% lone person
Caloundra — Lone Person: 60.9% Caloundra — Couple Families: 17.7% Caloundra — One Parent Families: 15.3% Caloundra — Group Household: 4.7% Caloundra — Other Families: 1.4%
Caloundra West 30.5% lone person
Caloundra West — Lone Person: 30.5% Caloundra West — Couple Families: 45.0% Caloundra West — One Parent Families: 19.2% Caloundra West — Group Household: 4.1% Caloundra West — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Caloundra 44.2% renting
Caloundra — Owned Outright: 40.5% Caloundra — Mortgage: 15.3% Caloundra — Renting: 44.2%
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.

Caloundra Caloundra West
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 18.8%
Caloundra — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Caloundra West — Certificate III & IV: 18.8%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 9.1%
Caloundra — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Caloundra West — Bachelor Degree: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.5%
Caloundra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Caloundra West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 1.9%
Caloundra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Caloundra West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.5%
Caloundra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Caloundra West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

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.

Caloundra Caloundra West
England 5.5% / 6.0%
Caloundra — England: 5.5% Caloundra West — England: 6.0%
New Zealand 5.3% / 5.8%
Caloundra — New Zealand: 5.3% Caloundra West — New Zealand: 5.8%
India 0.5% / 1.1%
Caloundra — India: 0.5% Caloundra West — India: 1.1%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.6%
Caloundra — Scotland: 0.9% Caloundra West — Scotland: 0.6%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.9%
Caloundra — South Africa: 0.5% Caloundra West — South Africa: 0.9%
Nepal 0.7% / —
Caloundra — Nepal: 0.7% Caloundra West — Nepal: 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.

Caloundra 23.6% houses
Caloundra — Houses: 23.6% Caloundra — Flats / Apartments: 49.6% Caloundra — Townhouses: 26.8%
Caloundra West 83.2% houses
Caloundra West — Houses: 83.2% Caloundra West — Flats / Apartments: 0.3% Caloundra West — Townhouses: 16.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Caloundra Caloundra West
Median house price $1,002,000 $976,000
Median unit price $880,000 $805,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 22 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.

Caloundra Caloundra West
2 bed $960K / $742K
Caloundra — 2 bed: $960K (11 sales) Caloundra West — 2 bed: $742K (6 sales)

11 vs 6 sales

3 bed $946K / $880K
Caloundra — 3 bed: $946K (21 sales) Caloundra West — 3 bed: $880K (52 sales)

21 vs 52 sales

4 bed $1.23M / $1.05M
Caloundra — 4 bed: $1.23M (6 sales) Caloundra West — 4 bed: $1.05M (81 sales)

6 vs 81 sales

5 bed $1.35M / $1.18M
Caloundra — 5 bed: $1.35M (5 sales) Caloundra West — 5 bed: $1.18M (17 sales)

5 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Caloundra 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.

Caloundra Caloundra West
Houses 4.1%
$780/wk on $995K
 4.5%
$825/wk on $950K
Units 4.0%
$695/wk on $900K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Caloundra Caloundra West
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 14% of QLD Higher than 53% of QLD
Schools Higher than 60% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 98% 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 85% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 59% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of QLD —

Liveability

Caloundra is more walkable (89 vs 40); Caloundra West scores higher overall (62 vs 46).

Caloundra Caloundra West
Grade C B
Score 46/100 62/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Caloundra carries more crime risk (93 vs 42).

Caloundra Caloundra West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
86/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Caloundra Caloundra West
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 9.6 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 9.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.9% 1.5%

Schools in Caloundra

  • Caloundra State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Caloundra Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Caloundra State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kairos Community College - Caloundra Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Caloundra West

  • Unity College Catholic · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Caloundra Caloundra West
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 26 2
Parks & reserves 10 7
Childcare 7 4
GPs 9 1
Pharmacies 7 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 2
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 6 5

Mobility

Caloundra sits further from the CBD (91.3 km vs 84.5 km).

Caloundra Caloundra West
Walkability score 89/100 40/100
Distance to Brisbane 91.3 km
+7% vs other
 84.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 74 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 70/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 84.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 23.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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.

Caloundra Caloundra West
Car (driver) 66.9% / 79.9%
Caloundra — Car (driver): 66.9% Caloundra West — Car (driver): 79.9%
Worked from Home 14.9% / 12.7%
Caloundra — Worked from Home: 14.9% Caloundra West — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Walked Only 9.9% / 1.1%
Caloundra — Walked Only: 9.9% Caloundra West — Walked Only: 1.1%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.9%
Caloundra — Car (passenger): 4.5% Caloundra West — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Bicycle 2.0% / 0.4%
Caloundra — Bicycle: 2.0% Caloundra West — Bicycle: 0.4%
Bus 1.8% / 0.6%
Caloundra — Bus: 1.8% Caloundra West — Bus: 0.6%

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

Setting

Caloundra Caloundra West
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 794 m
1.5 km to a named beach
 2.2 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Caloundra Caloundra West
Connectivity score 75/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
4,232 premises
 61%
3,360 premises

Climate

Caloundra 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)

Caloundra 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

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

Federal electorate

Caloundra 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

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

Tags

Caloundra

Apartments Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Retirees Townhouses

Caloundra West

Coastal Family Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Caloundra

Caloundra vs Golden Beach Caloundra vs Aroona Caloundra vs Kings Beach Caloundra vs Moffat Beach Caloundra vs Battery Hill Caloundra vs Dicky Beach

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 Aroona Caloundra West vs Bells Creek
Full data on Caloundra Full data on Caloundra West
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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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