Coolum Beach vs Yaroomba

Yaroomba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Coolum Beach. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Yaroomba, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Yaroomba: a median of $1.73 million, against $1.52 million in Coolum Beach, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Coolum Beach tends to suit people living alone, while Yaroomba suits 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

  • Coolum Beach has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • Yaroomba carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 54/100)

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

First-home buyers

Coolum Beach

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($1,117,500 vs $1,570,500)
  • has cheaper land ($1,385,000 vs $1,775,750)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,520,000 vs $1,730,000)
  • But Yaroomba leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Coolum Beach has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $500/wk)
  • Yaroomba leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Coolum Beach has a shorter drive in (92 min vs 99 min)
  • Yaroomba is more walkable (28/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coolum Beach

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 7%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 14%)
  • But Yaroomba carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 54/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Coolum Beach returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.5%)
  • Yaroomba is growing faster (25.9% vs 7.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Coolum Beach and Yaroomba 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 Yaroomba
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 Yaroomba
Walkability 14 / 28
Coolum Beach — Walkability: 14/100 Yaroomba — Walkability: 28/100
Safety 46 / 76
Coolum Beach — Safety: 46/100 Yaroomba — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 41 / 100
Coolum Beach — Low fire risk: 41/100 Yaroomba — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Coolum Beach has more residents (9,152 vs 2,043); Yaroomba has higher household incomes ($117,624 vs $83,200).

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Population 9,152
+78% vs other
 2,043
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.7% +25.9%
Median age 45 42
Median household income $83,200/yr $117,624/yr
+41% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $500/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
0-4 4.8% / 5.0%
Coolum Beach — 0-4: 4.8% Yaroomba — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 11.6% / 15.0%
Coolum Beach — 5-14: 11.6% Yaroomba — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 5.4% / 6.7%
Coolum Beach — 15-19: 5.4% Yaroomba — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 4.0% / 4.0%
Coolum Beach — 20-24: 4.0% Yaroomba — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 9.8% / 9.6%
Coolum Beach — 25-34: 9.8% Yaroomba — 25-34: 9.6%
35-44 13.6% / 14.3%
Coolum Beach — 35-44: 13.6% Yaroomba — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 14.8% / 16.6%
Coolum Beach — 45-54: 14.8% Yaroomba — 45-54: 16.6%
55-64 14.6% / 14.5%
Coolum Beach — 55-64: 14.6% Yaroomba — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 12.3% / 10.2%
Coolum Beach — 65-74: 12.3% Yaroomba — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 6.2% / 3.5%
Coolum Beach — 75-84: 6.2% Yaroomba — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 2.9% / 0.5%
Coolum Beach — 85+: 2.9% Yaroomba — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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%
Yaroomba 60.7% couple families
Yaroomba — Couple Families: 60.7% Yaroomba — Lone Person: 22.8% Yaroomba — One Parent Families: 9.8% Yaroomba — Group Household: 6.1% Yaroomba — 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%
Yaroomba 23.1% renting
Yaroomba — Owned Outright: 31.8% Yaroomba — Mortgage: 45.1% Yaroomba — Renting: 23.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Bachelor Degree 13.6% / 18.8%
Coolum Beach — Bachelor Degree: 13.6% Yaroomba — Bachelor Degree: 18.8%
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 14.0%
Coolum Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Yaroomba — Certificate III & IV: 14.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 9.9%
Coolum Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Yaroomba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 5.7%
Coolum Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Yaroomba — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.8%
Coolum Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Yaroomba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

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.

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
England 5.1% / 5.9%
Coolum Beach — England: 5.1% Yaroomba — England: 5.9%
New Zealand 3.8% / 3.5%
Coolum Beach — New Zealand: 3.8% Yaroomba — New Zealand: 3.5%
South Africa 0.9% / 2.3%
Coolum Beach — South Africa: 0.9% Yaroomba — South Africa: 2.3%
Germany 0.7% / 0.8%
Coolum Beach — Germany: 0.7% Yaroomba — Germany: 0.8%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.4%
Coolum Beach — Scotland: 0.7% Yaroomba — Scotland: 0.4%
France — / 0.6%
Coolum Beach — France: not among its largest Yaroomba — France: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

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%
Yaroomba 92.9% houses
Yaroomba — Houses: 92.9% Yaroomba — Townhouses: 5.9% Yaroomba — Flats / Apartments: 1.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Median house price $1,520,000 $1,730,000
Median unit price $1,117,500 $1,570,500
Median land price $1,385,000 $1,775,750
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 84 sales
 54 days
from 8 sales

Development activity

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
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 Yaroomba
Houses 3.2%
$975/wk on $1.6M
 2.5%
$925/wk on $1.9M
Units 3.7%
$780/wk on $1.1M
 —

Ranking within QLD

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 54% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 92% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of QLD Higher than 5% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 19% of QLD —

Liveability

Yaroomba scores higher overall (77 vs 38); Yaroomba is more walkable (28 vs 14).

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Grade C A
Score 38/100 77/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Coolum Beach carries more bushfire risk (59 vs 0); Coolum Beach carries more crime risk (54 vs 24).

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Bushfire Moderate
59/100
 None
0/100
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
same for both

Schools

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
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 Yaroomba

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

Amenities in the suburb

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 9 2
Parks & reserves 22 4
Childcare 5 0
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 9 1

Mobility

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Walkability score 14/100 28/100
Distance to Brisbane 117.4 km 117.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 92 min 99 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 51/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 48.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 10.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Yaroomba
Car (driver) 70.0% / 68.8%
Coolum Beach — Car (driver): 70.0% Yaroomba — Car (driver): 68.8%
Worked from Home 20.5% / 23.3%
Coolum Beach — Worked from Home: 20.5% Yaroomba — Worked from Home: 23.3%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 5.2%
Coolum Beach — Car (passenger): 3.8% Yaroomba — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 3.1% / 0.7%
Coolum Beach — Walked Only: 3.1% Yaroomba — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 1.3% / 0.9%
Coolum Beach — Bus: 1.3% Yaroomba — Bus: 0.9%
Bicycle 1.4% / 0.7%
Coolum Beach — Bicycle: 1.4% Yaroomba — Bicycle: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.0%).

Setting

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 806 m
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
Connectivity score 69/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
5,854 premises
 30%
1,340 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

Coolum Beach Yaroomba
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 Yaroomba
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

Yaroomba

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Premium Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coolum Beach

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

Other comparisons with Yaroomba

Yaroomba vs Mount Coolum Yaroomba vs Point Arkwright
Full data on Coolum Beach Full data on Yaroomba
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or