Coral Sea vs Bluewater

Coral Sea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Bluewater. In both, most households own their home. In Coral Sea, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and the large majority of households are people living alone. In Bluewater, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Coral Sea tends to suit young adults and people living alone, while Bluewater suits families with children.

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

Coral Sea

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 74/100)
  • But Bluewater has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 0%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, and childcare.

Renters

Coral Sea

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($130/wk vs $320/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (10% vs 17%)

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

Commuting to the city

Coral Sea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (1135.9 km vs 1385 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (780 min vs 942 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coral Sea

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 1%)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 74/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bluewater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.3% vs -29.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Coral Sea Bluewater
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.

Coral Sea Bluewater
Walkability 0 / 0
Coral Sea — Walkability: 0/100 Bluewater — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 49 / 26
Coral Sea — Safety: 49/100 Bluewater — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 64 / 35
Coral Sea — Low fire risk: 64/100 Bluewater — Low fire risk: 35/100

Demographics

Bluewater has more residents (1,085 vs 78); Bluewater rents higher ($320/wk vs $130/wk).

Coral Sea Bluewater
Population 78 1,085
+1291% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -29.7% +4.3%
Median age 36 41
Median household income $71,448/yr $98,332/yr
+38% vs other
Median weekly rent $130/wk $320/wk
+146% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coral Sea Bluewater
0-4 — / 7.1%
Coral Sea — 0-4: not among its largest Bluewater — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 6.4% / 16.0%
Coral Sea — 5-14: 6.4% Bluewater — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 — / 5.1%
Coral Sea — 15-19: not among its largest Bluewater — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 — / 2.5%
Coral Sea — 20-24: not among its largest Bluewater — 20-24: 2.5%
25-34 37.2% / 12.9%
Coral Sea — 25-34: 37.2% Bluewater — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 21.8% / 13.4%
Coral Sea — 35-44: 21.8% Bluewater — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 16.7% / 13.5%
Coral Sea — 45-54: 16.7% Bluewater — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 17.9% / 12.6%
Coral Sea — 55-64: 17.9% Bluewater — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 — / 11.4%
Coral Sea — 65-74: not among its largest Bluewater — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 — / 4.4%
Coral Sea — 75-84: not among its largest Bluewater — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ — / 1.2%
Coral Sea — 85+: not among its largest Bluewater — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (37.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coral Sea 100.0% lone person
Coral Sea — Lone Person: 100.0% Coral Sea — Couple Families: 0.0% Coral Sea — One Parent Families: 0.0% Coral Sea — Group Household: 0.0% Coral Sea — Other Families: 0.0%
Bluewater 24.6% lone person
Bluewater — Lone Person: 24.6% Bluewater — Couple Families: 51.9% Bluewater — One Parent Families: 15.4% Bluewater — Group Household: 4.6% Bluewater — Other Families: 3.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coral Sea 42.9% renting
Coral Sea — Owned Outright: 57.1% Coral Sea — Mortgage: 0.0% Coral Sea — Renting: 42.9%
Bluewater 12.6% renting
Bluewater — Owned Outright: 32.5% Bluewater — Mortgage: 54.9% Bluewater — Renting: 12.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coral Sea Bluewater
Certificate III & IV 25.6% / 22.2%
Coral Sea — Certificate III & IV: 25.6% Bluewater — Certificate III & IV: 22.2%
Bachelor Degree 23.1% / 5.3%
Coral Sea — Bachelor Degree: 23.1% Bluewater — Bachelor Degree: 5.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 6.4%
Coral Sea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Bluewater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 0.8%
Coral Sea — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Bluewater — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.9%
Coral Sea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Bluewater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.6%).

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.

Coral Sea Bluewater
New Zealand 10.3% / 1.8%
Coral Sea — New Zealand: 10.3% Bluewater — New Zealand: 1.8%
China 6.4% / —
Coral Sea — China: 6.4% Bluewater — China: not among its largest
England — / 3.8%
Coral Sea — England: not among its largest Bluewater — England: 3.8%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Coral Sea — Scotland: not among its largest Bluewater — Scotland: 1.0%
Singapore — / 0.5%
Coral Sea — Singapore: not among its largest Bluewater — Singapore: 0.5%
Fiji — / 0.5%
Coral Sea — Fiji: not among its largest Bluewater — Fiji: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coral Sea 100.0% flats / apartments
Coral Sea — Flats / Apartments: 100.0% Coral Sea — Houses: 0.0% Coral Sea — Townhouses: 0.0%
Bluewater 0.0% flats / apartments
Bluewater — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Bluewater — Houses: 98.6% Bluewater — Townhouses: 1.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Coral Sea Bluewater
Median house price — $702,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $590,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 48 days
from 8 sales

Development activity

Coral Sea Bluewater
New dwellings approved 190
across Whitsunday
 1,096
across Townsville
Approvals change year on year +70% -22%

Ranking within QLD

Coral Sea Bluewater
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 73% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of QLD Higher than 50% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 41% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 16% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD

Liveability

Coral Sea Bluewater
Grade — D
Score — 18/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Bluewater carries more bushfire risk (65 vs 36); Bluewater carries more crime risk (74 vs 51).

Coral Sea Bluewater
Bushfire Low
36/100
 Moderate
65/100
Crime Moderate
51/100
 High
74/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
98/100
 High
91/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Coral Sea Bluewater
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Coral Sea

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

Schools in Bluewater

  • Bluewater State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Coral Sea Bluewater
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 10 1
Childcare 0 2
Beaches 3 1
Waterways 0 8

Mobility

Bluewater sits further from the CBD (1385 km vs 1135.9 km).

Coral Sea Bluewater
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 1135.9 km 1385 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 780 min 942 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4740
 0.6%
postcode 4818
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 4740
 87
postcode 4818

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.

Coral Sea Bluewater
Car (driver) 7.0% / 84.5%
Coral Sea — Car (driver): 7.0% Bluewater — Car (driver): 84.5%
Walked Only 83.7% / 2.1%
Coral Sea — Walked Only: 83.7% Bluewater — Walked Only: 2.1%
Worked from Home 9.3% / 7.6%
Coral Sea — Worked from Home: 9.3% Bluewater — Worked from Home: 7.6%
Car (passenger) — / 4.7%
Coral Sea — Car (passenger): not among its largest Bluewater — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bus — / 1.1%
Coral Sea — Bus: not among its largest Bluewater — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.5%).

Setting

Coral Sea Bluewater
Elevation 499 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km 3.5 km

NBN connectivity

Coral Sea Bluewater
Connectivity score 15/100 30/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
102 premises
 0%
451 premises

Climate

Coral Sea Bluewater
Annual rainfall — 1,304 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 31.8°C
Winter min (Jul) — 15.0°C

Council rates

Coral Sea Bluewater
Average residential rate $1,412/yr $1,810/yr
Council Whitsunday Townsville

Federal electorate

Coral Sea Bluewater
Division Dawson Herbert
Member Andrew Willcox Phillip Thompson
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coral Sea Bluewater
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coral Sea

Coastal Rural

Bluewater

Family River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coral Sea

Coral Sea vs Bowen Coral Sea vs Bargara Coral Sea vs South Mackay Coral Sea vs Bushland Beach Coral Sea vs Trinity Beach Coral Sea vs Kewarra Beach

Other comparisons with Bluewater

Bluewater vs Black River Bluewater vs Bluewater Park Bluewater vs Yabulu Bluewater vs Saunders Beach Bluewater vs Toolakea
Full data on Coral Sea Full data on Bluewater
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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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