Caloundra vs Dicky Beach

Dicky Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 53 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 Dicky Beach, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Dicky Beach: a median of $1.86 million, against $1 million in Caloundra, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Caloundra tends to suit people living alone, older residents, 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

  • Caloundra has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • Dicky Beach has more separate houses rather than flats (65% vs 24%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Caloundra has cheaper houses ($1,002,000 vs $1,860,000)
  • Dicky Beach leaves households under less mortgage stress (32% 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 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $400/wk)
  • But Dicky Beach leaves renters under less rental stress (30% vs 37%)

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

Commuting to the city

Caloundra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 80/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (91.3 km vs 93.4 km)

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 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 35%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (38% vs 30%)
  • But Dicky Beach carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Caloundra and Dicky 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.

Caloundra Dicky 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.

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Walkability 89 / 80
Caloundra — Walkability: 89/100 Dicky Beach — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 7 / 38
Caloundra — Safety: 7/100 Dicky Beach — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Caloundra — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dicky Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Caloundra has more residents (3,932 vs 1,921); Dicky Beach has higher household incomes ($68,744 vs $50,960).

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Population 3,932
+51% vs other
 1,921
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.4% +1.4%
Median age 58 53
Median household income $50,960/yr $68,744/yr
+35% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $400/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Caloundra Dicky Beach
0-4 2.6% / 3.3%
Caloundra — 0-4: 2.6% Dicky Beach — 0-4: 3.3%
5-14 6.0% / 9.7%
Caloundra — 5-14: 6.0% Dicky Beach — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 4.0% / 5.5%
Caloundra — 15-19: 4.0% Dicky Beach — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.1% / 3.9%
Caloundra — 20-24: 4.1% Dicky Beach — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 8.8% / 5.8%
Caloundra — 25-34: 8.8% Dicky Beach — 25-34: 5.8%
35-44 8.8% / 10.3%
Caloundra — 35-44: 8.8% Dicky Beach — 35-44: 10.3%
45-54 11.4% / 13.9%
Caloundra — 45-54: 11.4% Dicky Beach — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 16.1% / 17.4%
Caloundra — 55-64: 16.1% Dicky Beach — 55-64: 17.4%
65-74 17.1% / 14.5%
Caloundra — 65-74: 17.1% Dicky Beach — 65-74: 14.5%
75-84 13.9% / 10.0%
Caloundra — 75-84: 13.9% Dicky Beach — 75-84: 10.0%
85+ 7.2% / 5.2%
Caloundra — 85+: 7.2% Dicky Beach — 85+: 5.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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%
Dicky Beach 46.2% lone person
Dicky Beach — Lone Person: 46.2% Dicky Beach — Couple Families: 30.6% Dicky Beach — One Parent Families: 16.3% Dicky Beach — Group Household: 4.2% Dicky Beach — Other Families: 2.7%
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%
Dicky Beach 31.1% renting
Dicky Beach — Owned Outright: 45.2% Dicky Beach — Mortgage: 23.7% Dicky Beach — Renting: 31.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 14.3%
Caloundra — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Dicky Beach — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 14.9%
Caloundra — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Dicky Beach — Bachelor Degree: 14.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 9.1%
Caloundra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Dicky Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 4.3%
Caloundra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Dicky Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.9%
Caloundra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Dicky Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

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 Dicky Beach
England 5.5% / 5.6%
Caloundra — England: 5.5% Dicky Beach — England: 5.6%
New Zealand 5.3% / 4.0%
Caloundra — New Zealand: 5.3% Dicky Beach — New Zealand: 4.0%
South Africa 0.5% / 1.4%
Caloundra — South Africa: 0.5% Dicky Beach — South Africa: 1.4%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.7%
Caloundra — Scotland: 0.9% Dicky Beach — Scotland: 0.7%
Canada — / 0.8%
Caloundra — Canada: not among its largest Dicky Beach — Canada: 0.8%
Nepal 0.7% / —
Caloundra — Nepal: 0.7% Dicky Beach — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

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%
Dicky Beach 65.3% houses
Dicky Beach — Houses: 65.3% Dicky Beach — Flats / Apartments: 11.7% Dicky Beach — Townhouses: 23.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Median house price $1,002,000 $1,860,000
Median unit price $880,000 $815,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 22 sales
 —

Development activity

Caloundra Dicky Beach
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 Dicky Beach
Houses 4.1%
$780/wk on $995K
 —
Units 4.0%
$695/wk on $900K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Caloundra Dicky Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 14% of QLD Higher than 35% of QLD
Schools Higher than 60% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 59% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of QLD —

Liveability

Dicky Beach scores higher overall (64 vs 46); Caloundra is more walkable (89 vs 80).

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Grade C B
Score 46/100 64/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Caloundra carries more crime risk (93 vs 62).

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
86/100
 Low
11/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 9.6 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 8.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.9% 1.6%

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 Dicky Beach

  • Currimundi Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Dicky Beach sits further from the CBD (93.4 km vs 91.3 km).

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Walkability score 89/100 80/100
Distance to Brisbane 91.3 km 93.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min
same for both
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 84.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 32.0
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 Dicky Beach
Car (driver) 66.9% / 71.1%
Caloundra — Car (driver): 66.9% Dicky Beach — Car (driver): 71.1%
Worked from Home 14.9% / 17.8%
Caloundra — Worked from Home: 14.9% Dicky Beach — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Walked Only 9.9% / 1.7%
Caloundra — Walked Only: 9.9% Dicky Beach — Walked Only: 1.7%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 5.0%
Caloundra — Car (passenger): 4.5% Dicky Beach — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Bus 1.8% / 1.7%
Caloundra — Bus: 1.8% Dicky Beach — Bus: 1.7%
Bicycle 2.0% / 1.4%
Caloundra — Bicycle: 2.0% Dicky Beach — Bicycle: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.1%).

Setting

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 794 m
1.5 km to a named beach
 470 m
1.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Caloundra Dicky Beach
Connectivity score 75/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
4,232 premises
 39%
1,184 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Caloundra Dicky Beach
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 Dicky Beach
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

Dicky Beach

Beach Coastal Parks Premium Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Caloundra

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

Other comparisons with Dicky Beach

Dicky Beach vs Currimundi Dicky Beach vs Moffat Beach Dicky Beach vs Battery Hill
Full data on Caloundra Full data on Dicky 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.

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