Coral Sea vs Dolphin Heads

Coral Sea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 48 in Dolphin Heads. 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 Dolphin Heads, most 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.

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 5 things we measure here

  • Coral Sea has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)
  • Dolphin Heads has more separate houses rather than flats (62% vs 0%)

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

Renters

Coral Sea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($130/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Dolphin Heads

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (980 km vs 1135.9 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (678 min vs 780 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Coral Sea has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 39%)
  • Dolphin Heads is more walkable (16/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Dolphin Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.4% vs -29.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Coral Sea and Dolphin Heads 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 Dolphin Heads
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 Dolphin Heads
Walkability 0 / 16
Coral Sea — Walkability: 0/100 Dolphin Heads — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 49 / 41
Coral Sea — Safety: 49/100 Dolphin Heads — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 64 / 100
Coral Sea — Low fire risk: 64/100 Dolphin Heads — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Dolphin Heads has more residents (413 vs 78); Dolphin Heads rents higher ($360/wk vs $130/wk).

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Population 78 413
+429% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -29.7% +6.4%
Median age 36 48
Median household income $71,448/yr $147,316/yr
+106% vs other
Median weekly rent $130/wk $360/wk
+177% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
0-4 — / 3.9%
Coral Sea — 0-4: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 6.4% / 11.4%
Coral Sea — 5-14: 6.4% Dolphin Heads — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 — / 6.1%
Coral Sea — 15-19: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 — / 2.7%
Coral Sea — 20-24: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — 20-24: 2.7%
25-34 37.2% / 7.0%
Coral Sea — 25-34: 37.2% Dolphin Heads — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 21.8% / 12.8%
Coral Sea — 35-44: 21.8% Dolphin Heads — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 16.7% / 19.6%
Coral Sea — 45-54: 16.7% Dolphin Heads — 45-54: 19.6%
55-64 17.9% / 21.3%
Coral Sea — 55-64: 17.9% Dolphin Heads — 55-64: 21.3%
65-74 — / 11.6%
Coral Sea — 65-74: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 — / 2.2%
Coral Sea — 75-84: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ — / 1.5%
Coral Sea — 85+: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — 85+: 1.5%

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%
Dolphin Heads 41.0% lone person
Dolphin Heads — Lone Person: 41.0% Dolphin Heads — Couple Families: 46.0% Dolphin Heads — One Parent Families: 9.0% Dolphin Heads — Group Household: 4.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

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%
Dolphin Heads 39.6% renting
Dolphin Heads — Owned Outright: 27.5% Dolphin Heads — Mortgage: 32.9% Dolphin Heads — Renting: 39.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Certificate III & IV 25.6% / 17.4%
Coral Sea — Certificate III & IV: 25.6% Dolphin Heads — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Bachelor Degree 23.1% / 17.2%
Coral Sea — Bachelor Degree: 23.1% Dolphin Heads — Bachelor Degree: 17.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 8.7%
Coral Sea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Dolphin Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 5.6%
Coral Sea — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Dolphin Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 2.7%
Coral Sea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

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 Dolphin Heads
New Zealand 10.3% / 4.6%
Coral Sea — New Zealand: 10.3% Dolphin Heads — New Zealand: 4.6%
China 6.4% / —
Coral Sea — China: 6.4% Dolphin Heads — China: not among its largest
England — / 4.8%
Coral Sea — England: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — England: 4.8%
South Africa — / 4.1%
Coral Sea — South Africa: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — South Africa: 4.1%
Germany — / 1.7%
Coral Sea — Germany: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — Germany: 1.7%
Netherlands — / 1.2%
Coral Sea — Netherlands: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — Netherlands: 1.2%

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%
Dolphin Heads 0.0% flats / apartments
Dolphin Heads — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Dolphin Heads — Houses: 62.5% Dolphin Heads — Townhouses: 38.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Median house price — $960,000
Median unit price — $207,000
Median land price — $892,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 78 days
from 8 sales

Development activity

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
New dwellings approved 190
across Whitsunday
 574
across Mackay
Approvals change year on year +70% -6%

Ranking within QLD

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 41% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 16% of QLD Higher than 74% of QLD

Liveability

Dolphin Heads is more walkable (16 vs 0).

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Coral Sea carries more bushfire risk (36 vs 0).

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Bushfire Low
36/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
51/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
98/100
 Low
23/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 10 0
Beaches 3 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Coral Sea sits further from the CBD (1135.9 km vs 980 km).

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Walkability score 0/100 16/100
Distance to Brisbane 1135.9 km
+14% vs other
 980 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 780 min 678 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4740
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 4740
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.

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Walked Only 83.7% / —
Coral Sea — Walked Only: 83.7% Dolphin Heads — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (driver) 7.0% / 72.1%
Coral Sea — Car (driver): 7.0% Dolphin Heads — Car (driver): 72.1%
Worked from Home 9.3% / 18.4%
Coral Sea — Worked from Home: 9.3% Dolphin Heads — Worked from Home: 18.4%
Car (passenger) — / 8.0%
Coral Sea — Car (passenger): not among its largest Dolphin Heads — Car (passenger): 8.0%
Bus — / 1.5%
Coral Sea — Bus: not among its largest Dolphin Heads — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.7%).

Setting

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Elevation 499 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km 365 m
855 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Connectivity score 15/100 63/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
102 premises
 33%
215 premises

Climate

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Annual rainfall — 1,633 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 30.6°C
Winter min (Jul) — 14.5°C

Council rates

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Average residential rate $1,412/yr $1,873/yr
Council Whitsunday Mackay

Federal electorate

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
Division Dawson
same for both
Member Andrew Willcox
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coral Sea Dolphin Heads
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

Dolphin Heads

Affordable Beach Coastal Parks River Townhouses

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 Dolphin Heads

Dolphin Heads vs Blacks Beach Dolphin Heads vs Eimeo
Full data on Coral Sea Full data on Dolphin Heads
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