Coombabah vs Hollywell

In both, most households own their home. In Coombabah, about half of households are people living alone. In Hollywell, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Hollywell: a median of $1.65 million, against $1 million in Coombabah, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Coombabah tends to suit people living alone 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

Coombabah

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 7)
  • But Hollywell has more separate houses rather than flats (68% vs 49%)

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

First-home buyers

Coombabah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($700,000 vs $2,040,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,000,000 vs $1,650,000)
  • But Hollywell leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 35%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Coombabah has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $530/wk)
  • Hollywell leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 38%)

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

Commuting to the city

Hollywell

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (41/100 vs 10/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coombabah

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 32%)
  • But Hollywell is more walkable (41/100 vs 10/100)

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

Investors

Coombabah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.2% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Coombabah Hollywell
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.

Coombabah Hollywell
Walkability 10 / 41
Coombabah — Walkability: 10/100 Hollywell — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 60 / 60
Coombabah — Safety: 60/100 Hollywell — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 44
Coombabah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hollywell — Low fire risk: 44/100

Demographics

Coombabah has more residents (10,298 vs 2,930); Hollywell has higher household incomes ($97,344 vs $56,784).

Coombabah Hollywell
Population 10,298
+72% vs other
 2,930
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.9% +2.3%
Median age 51
same for both
Median household income $56,784/yr $97,344/yr
+71% vs other
Median weekly rent $415/wk $530/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coombabah Hollywell
0-4 3.8% / 3.7%
Coombabah — 0-4: 3.8% Hollywell — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 10.0% / 10.1%
Coombabah — 5-14: 10.0% Hollywell — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 4.1% / 5.9%
Coombabah — 15-19: 4.1% Hollywell — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 4.0% / 4.3%
Coombabah — 20-24: 4.0% Hollywell — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 9.7% / 6.7%
Coombabah — 25-34: 9.7% Hollywell — 25-34: 6.7%
35-44 11.0% / 10.6%
Coombabah — 35-44: 11.0% Hollywell — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 11.4% / 14.0%
Coombabah — 45-54: 11.4% Hollywell — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 12.7% / 15.7%
Coombabah — 55-64: 12.7% Hollywell — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 16.5% / 17.0%
Coombabah — 65-74: 16.5% Hollywell — 65-74: 17.0%
75-84 12.6% / 9.7%
Coombabah — 75-84: 12.6% Hollywell — 75-84: 9.7%
85+ 4.3% / 2.2%
Coombabah — 85+: 4.3% Hollywell — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coombabah 49.3% lone person
Coombabah — Lone Person: 49.3% Coombabah — Couple Families: 26.1% Coombabah — One Parent Families: 17.8% Coombabah — Group Household: 5.4% Coombabah — Other Families: 1.4%
Hollywell 36.4% lone person
Hollywell — Lone Person: 36.4% Hollywell — Couple Families: 43.9% Hollywell — One Parent Families: 13.4% Hollywell — Group Household: 4.3% Hollywell — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coombabah 28.9% renting
Coombabah — Owned Outright: 43.0% Coombabah — Mortgage: 28.1% Coombabah — Renting: 28.9%
Hollywell 21.9% renting
Hollywell — Owned Outright: 44.3% Hollywell — Mortgage: 33.8% Hollywell — Renting: 21.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coombabah Hollywell
Certificate III & IV 17.4% / 17.6%
Coombabah — Certificate III & IV: 17.4% Hollywell — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 11.7%
Coombabah — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Hollywell — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 10.1%
Coombabah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Hollywell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 3.1%
Coombabah — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Hollywell — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.8%
Coombabah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Hollywell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

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.

Coombabah Hollywell
New Zealand 9.1% / 6.2%
Coombabah — New Zealand: 9.1% Hollywell — New Zealand: 6.2%
England 7.3% / 6.0%
Coombabah — England: 7.3% Hollywell — England: 6.0%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.2%
Coombabah — South Africa: 1.2% Hollywell — South Africa: 1.2%
Scotland 1.1% / 0.5%
Coombabah — Scotland: 1.1% Hollywell — Scotland: 0.5%
Philippines 1.2% / 0.3%
Coombabah — Philippines: 1.2% Hollywell — Philippines: 0.3%
Germany 0.7% / 0.6%
Coombabah — Germany: 0.7% Hollywell — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coombabah 49.3% houses
Coombabah — Houses: 49.3% Coombabah — Townhouses: 41.6% Coombabah — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Hollywell 68.4% houses
Hollywell — Houses: 68.4% Hollywell — Townhouses: 14.7% Hollywell — Flats / Apartments: 16.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Coombabah Hollywell
Median house price $1,000,000 $1,650,000
Median unit price $700,000 $2,040,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 91 sales
 33 days
from 18 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.

Coombabah Hollywell
3 bed $1M / $1.47M
Coombabah — 3 bed: $1M (111 sales) Hollywell — 3 bed: $1.47M (26 sales)

111 vs 26 sales

4 bed $1.24M / $1.86M
Coombabah — 4 bed: $1.24M (50 sales) Hollywell — 4 bed: $1.86M (19 sales)

50 vs 19 sales

5 bed $1.08M / $1.81M
Coombabah — 5 bed: $1.08M (5 sales) Hollywell — 5 bed: $1.81M (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Coombabah Hollywell
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
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.

Coombabah Hollywell
Houses 5.2%
$850/wk on $854K
 3.0%
$960/wk on $1.67M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Coombabah Hollywell
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 19% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 10% of QLD

Liveability

Hollywell is more walkable (41 vs 10).

Coombabah Hollywell
Grade B
same for both
Score 53/100 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Hollywell carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0).

Coombabah Hollywell
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
same for both
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
66/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Coombabah Hollywell
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 7.7 km
 1
Gold Coast, 8.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.0% 1.2%

Schools in Coombabah

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

Schools in Hollywell

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

Amenities in the suburb

Coombabah Hollywell
Parks & reserves 15 7
Childcare 4 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Coombabah Hollywell
Walkability score 10/100 41/100
Distance to Brisbane 68.5 km
+1% vs other
 67.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min 57 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 126.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4216
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 4216
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.

Coombabah Hollywell
Car (driver) 78.7% / 73.1%
Coombabah — Car (driver): 78.7% Hollywell — Car (driver): 73.1%
Worked from Home 12.1% / 20.0%
Coombabah — Worked from Home: 12.1% Hollywell — Worked from Home: 20.0%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.4%
Coombabah — Car (passenger): 5.1% Hollywell — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 1.4% / 1.2%
Coombabah — Walked Only: 1.4% Hollywell — Walked Only: 1.2%
Bus 1.3% / 0.8%
Coombabah — Bus: 1.3% Hollywell — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.7%).

Setting

Coombabah Hollywell
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km 258 m

NBN connectivity

Coombabah Hollywell
Connectivity score 81/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
5,177 premises
 2%
1,399 premises

Climate

Coombabah Hollywell
Annual rainfall 1,351 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Coombabah Hollywell
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 4.9 µg/m³
PM10 19.3 µg/m³ 14.3 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.91 pphm 0.43 pphm

Council rates

Coombabah Hollywell
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Coombabah Hollywell
Division Fadden
same for both
Member Cameron Caldwell
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coombabah Hollywell
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coombabah

Regional Centre Retirees Townhouses

Hollywell

Coastal Parks Premium Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coombabah

Coombabah vs Helensvale Coombabah vs Arundel Coombabah vs Biggera Waters Coombabah vs Runaway Bay Coombabah vs Paradise Point

Other comparisons with Hollywell

Hollywell vs Runaway Bay Hollywell vs Paradise Point Hollywell vs South Stradbroke
Full data on Coombabah Full data on Hollywell
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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