Coolum Beach vs Mount Coolum

Comparing Coolum Beach and Mount Coolum, QLD: Mount Coolum is more walkable (40 vs 14); Coolum Beach carries more crime risk (54 vs 24); and Coolum Beach has more residents (9,152 vs 4,545).

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

Coolum Beach

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 8)
  • But Mount Coolum carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 54/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Coolum

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($880,000 vs $1,117,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Coolum

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Coolum

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 14/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 54/100)
  • But Coolum Beach has more GPs (5 vs 1)

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

Investors

Mount Coolum

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 3.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
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.

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Walkability 14 / 40
Coolum Beach — Walkability: 14/100 Mount Coolum — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 46 / 76
Coolum Beach — Safety: 46/100 Mount Coolum — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 41 / 45
Coolum Beach — Low fire risk: 41/100 Mount Coolum — Low fire risk: 45/100

Demographics

Coolum Beach has more residents (9,152 vs 4,545).

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Population 9,152
+50% vs other
 4,545
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.7% +6.6%
Median age 45 44
Median household income $83,200/yr $87,880/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
0-4 4.8% / 5.2%
Coolum Beach — 0-4: 4.8% Mount Coolum — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 11.6% / 11.6%
Coolum Beach — 5-14: 11.6% Mount Coolum — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.4% / 5.6%
Coolum Beach — 15-19: 5.4% Mount Coolum — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 4.0% / 4.1%
Coolum Beach — 20-24: 4.0% Mount Coolum — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 9.8% / 10.4%
Coolum Beach — 25-34: 9.8% Mount Coolum — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 13.6% / 14.3%
Coolum Beach — 35-44: 13.6% Mount Coolum — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 14.8% / 16.5%
Coolum Beach — 45-54: 14.8% Mount Coolum — 45-54: 16.5%
55-64 14.6% / 14.2%
Coolum Beach — 55-64: 14.6% Mount Coolum — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 12.3% / 10.7%
Coolum Beach — 65-74: 12.3% Mount Coolum — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 6.2% / 5.5%
Coolum Beach — 75-84: 6.2% Mount Coolum — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 2.9% / 1.9%
Coolum Beach — 85+: 2.9% Mount Coolum — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coolum Beach 39.0% couple families
Coolum Beach — Couple Families: 39.0% Coolum Beach — Lone Person: 36.9% Coolum Beach — One Parent Families: 16.9% Coolum Beach — Group Household: 6.2% Coolum Beach — Other Families: 0.9%
Mount Coolum 40.1% couple families
Mount Coolum — Couple Families: 40.1% Mount Coolum — Lone Person: 36.7% Mount Coolum — One Parent Families: 15.8% Mount Coolum — Group Household: 6.7% Mount Coolum — 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.

Coolum Beach 30.0% renting
Coolum Beach — Owned Outright: 35.0% Coolum Beach — Mortgage: 34.9% Coolum Beach — Renting: 30.0%
Mount Coolum 30.1% renting
Mount Coolum — Owned Outright: 29.9% Mount Coolum — Mortgage: 40.0% Mount Coolum — Renting: 30.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 17.4%
Coolum Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Mount Coolum — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Bachelor Degree 13.6% / 15.0%
Coolum Beach — Bachelor Degree: 13.6% Mount Coolum — Bachelor Degree: 15.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 10.0%
Coolum Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Mount Coolum — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 4.6%
Coolum Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Mount Coolum — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.6%
Coolum Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Mount Coolum — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
England 5.1% / 5.8%
Coolum Beach — England: 5.1% Mount Coolum — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 3.8% / 3.3%
Coolum Beach — New Zealand: 3.8% Mount Coolum — New Zealand: 3.3%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.3%
Coolum Beach — South Africa: 0.9% Mount Coolum — South Africa: 1.3%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.7%
Coolum Beach — Scotland: 0.7% Mount Coolum — Scotland: 0.7%
Germany 0.7% / 0.7%
Coolum Beach — Germany: 0.7% Mount Coolum — Germany: 0.7%
Canada 0.4% / 0.9%
Coolum Beach — Canada: 0.4% Mount Coolum — Canada: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coolum Beach 69.5% houses
Coolum Beach — Houses: 69.5% Coolum Beach — Townhouses: 13.4% Coolum Beach — Flats / Apartments: 17.1%
Mount Coolum 62.3% houses
Mount Coolum — Houses: 62.3% Mount Coolum — Townhouses: 28.2% Mount Coolum — Flats / Apartments: 9.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Median house price $1,520,000 $1,410,000
Median unit price $1,117,500 $880,000
Median land price $1,385,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 84 sales
 22 days
from 41 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.

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
3 bed $1.39M / $1.25M
Coolum Beach — 3 bed: $1.39M (73 sales) Mount Coolum — 3 bed: $1.25M (48 sales)

73 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.59M / $1.57M
Coolum Beach — 4 bed: $1.59M (71 sales) Mount Coolum — 4 bed: $1.57M (45 sales)

71 vs 45 sales

5 bed $1.73M / $1.73M
Coolum Beach — 5 bed: $1.73M (21 sales) Mount Coolum — 5 bed: $1.73M (10 sales)

21 vs 10 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
1 bed $710K / $688K
Coolum Beach — 1 bed: $710K (7 sales) Mount Coolum — 1 bed: $688K (6 sales)

7 vs 6 sales

2 bed $1.08M / $850K
Coolum Beach — 2 bed: $1.08M (51 sales) Mount Coolum — 2 bed: $850K (19 sales)

51 vs 19 sales

3 bed $1.25M / $983K
Coolum Beach — 3 bed: $1.25M (30 sales) Mount Coolum — 3 bed: $983K (17 sales)

30 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
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.

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Houses 3.2%
$975/wk on $1.6M
 3.7%
$920/wk on $1.3M
Units 3.7%
$780/wk on $1.1M
 5.3%
$835/wk on $825K

Ranking within QLD

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 54% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 92% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of QLD Higher than 34% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 19% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD

Liveability

Mount Coolum is more walkable (40 vs 14); Mount Coolum scores higher overall (52 vs 38).

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Grade C B
Score 38/100 52/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Coolum Beach carries more crime risk (54 vs 24).

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Bushfire Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
55/100
Crime Moderate
54/100
 Low
24/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
16/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Coolum Beach

  • Coolum State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Coolum State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mount Coolum

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

Amenities in the suburb

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 9 1
Parks & reserves 22 8
Childcare 5 1
GPs 5 1
Pharmacies 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 9 1

Mobility

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Walkability score 14/100 40/100
Distance to Brisbane 117.4 km
+1% vs other
 115.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 92 min 95 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 56/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 48.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 4573
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 59
postcode 4573
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.

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Car (driver) 70.0% / 72.4%
Coolum Beach — Car (driver): 70.0% Mount Coolum — Car (driver): 72.4%
Worked from Home 20.5% / 21.3%
Coolum Beach — Worked from Home: 20.5% Mount Coolum — Worked from Home: 21.3%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 3.3%
Coolum Beach — Car (passenger): 3.8% Mount Coolum — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 3.1% / 1.0%
Coolum Beach — Walked Only: 3.1% Mount Coolum — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.3% / 1.1%
Coolum Beach — Bus: 1.3% Mount Coolum — Bus: 1.1%
Bicycle 1.4% / 0.5%
Coolum Beach — Bicycle: 1.4% Mount Coolum — Bicycle: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.4%).

Setting

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Connectivity score 69/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
5,854 premises
 37%
2,139 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³ 5.0 µg/m³
PM10 12.3 µg/m³ 14.0 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.31 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Division Fairfax
same for both
Member Ted O'Brien
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coolum Beach Mount Coolum
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coolum Beach

Coastal Premium Regional Centre

Mount Coolum

Coastal Parks Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

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Coolum Beach vs Peregian Springs Coolum Beach vs Peregian Beach Coolum Beach vs Yaroomba Coolum Beach vs Maroochy River Coolum Beach vs Yandina Creek Coolum Beach vs Verrierdale

Other comparisons with Mount Coolum

Mount Coolum vs Marcoola Mount Coolum vs Yaroomba Mount Coolum vs Maroochy River
Full data on Coolum Beach Full data on Mount Coolum
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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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