Freshwater Point vs Coral Sea

Coral Sea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 48 in Freshwater Point. In both, most households own their home. In Freshwater Point, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Coral Sea, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and the large majority of households are people living alone. 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

Freshwater Point

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 0%)
  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 51/100)
  • But Coral Sea has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)

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

Renters

Coral Sea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($130/wk vs $270/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Freshwater Point

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (638 min vs 780 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (937.6 km vs 1135.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Freshwater Point

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 51/100)

Weighs GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Freshwater Point

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (28.9% vs -29.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
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.

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Walkability 0 / 0
Freshwater Point — Walkability: 0/100 Coral Sea — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 68 / 49
Freshwater Point — Safety: 68/100 Coral Sea — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 64
Freshwater Point — Low fire risk: 100/100 Coral Sea — Low fire risk: 64/100

Demographics

Freshwater Point has more residents (174 vs 78); Freshwater Point rents higher ($270/wk vs $130/wk).

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Population 174
+55% vs other
 78
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +28.9% -29.7%
Median age 48 36
Median household income $117,000/yr
+39% vs other
 $71,448/yr
Median weekly rent $270/wk
+52% vs other
 $130/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
0-4 4.6% / —
Freshwater Point — 0-4: 4.6% Coral Sea — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 11.5% / 6.4%
Freshwater Point — 5-14: 11.5% Coral Sea — 5-14: 6.4%
15-19 2.9% / —
Freshwater Point — 15-19: 2.9% Coral Sea — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 6.9% / —
Freshwater Point — 20-24: 6.9% Coral Sea — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 7.5% / 37.2%
Freshwater Point — 25-34: 7.5% Coral Sea — 25-34: 37.2%
35-44 14.4% / 21.8%
Freshwater Point — 35-44: 14.4% Coral Sea — 35-44: 21.8%
45-54 19.5% / 16.7%
Freshwater Point — 45-54: 19.5% Coral Sea — 45-54: 16.7%
55-64 23.6% / 17.9%
Freshwater Point — 55-64: 23.6% Coral Sea — 55-64: 17.9%
65-74 10.3% / —
Freshwater Point — 65-74: 10.3% Coral Sea — 65-74: not among its largest
75-84 4.6% / —
Freshwater Point — 75-84: 4.6% Coral Sea — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ — / —
Freshwater Point — 85+: not among its largest Coral Sea — 85+: not among its largest

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Point 31.2% lone person
Freshwater Point — Lone Person: 31.2% Freshwater Point — Couple Families: 56.2% Freshwater Point — One Parent Families: 12.5%
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%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Point 10.2% renting
Freshwater Point — Owned Outright: 44.1% Freshwater Point — Mortgage: 45.8% Freshwater Point — Renting: 10.2%
Coral Sea 42.9% renting
Coral Sea — Owned Outright: 57.1% Coral Sea — Mortgage: 0.0% Coral Sea — Renting: 42.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
New Zealand 3.4% / 10.3%
Freshwater Point — New Zealand: 3.4% Coral Sea — New Zealand: 10.3%
China — / 6.4%
Freshwater Point — China: not among its largest Coral Sea — China: 6.4%
South Africa 3.4% / —
Freshwater Point — South Africa: 3.4% Coral Sea — South Africa: not among its largest
England 2.3% / —
Freshwater Point — England: 2.3% Coral Sea — England: not among its largest

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

Qualifications

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

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Certificate III & IV 23.0% / 25.6%
Freshwater Point — Certificate III & IV: 23.0% Coral Sea — Certificate III & IV: 25.6%
Bachelor Degree 4.6% / 23.1%
Freshwater Point — Bachelor Degree: 4.6% Coral Sea — Bachelor Degree: 23.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 10.3%
Freshwater Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Coral Sea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree — / 9.0%
Freshwater Point — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Coral Sea — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / —
Freshwater Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Coral Sea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Point 0.0% flats / apartments
Freshwater Point — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Freshwater Point — Houses: 100.0%
Coral Sea 100.0% flats / apartments
Coral Sea — Flats / Apartments: 100.0% Coral Sea — Houses: 0.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 15% of QLD Higher than 45% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 5% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 52% of QLD Higher than 16% of QLD

Liveability

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Coral Sea carries more bushfire risk (36 vs 0); Coral Sea carries more crime risk (51 vs 32).

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
36/100
Crime Low
32/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
81/100
 High
98/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
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

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 10
Beaches 0 3

Mobility

Coral Sea sits further from the CBD (1135.9 km vs 937.6 km).

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 937.6 km 1135.9 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 638 min 780 min
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 4737
 0.3%
postcode 4740
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 4737
 56
postcode 4740

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.

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Car (driver) 87.5% / 7.0%
Freshwater Point — Car (driver): 87.5% Coral Sea — Car (driver): 7.0%
Walked Only — / 83.7%
Freshwater Point — Walked Only: not among its largest Coral Sea — Walked Only: 83.7%
Worked from Home 8.3% / 9.3%
Freshwater Point — Worked from Home: 8.3% Coral Sea — Worked from Home: 9.3%
Bus 4.2% / —
Freshwater Point — Bus: 4.2% Coral Sea — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (87.5%).

Setting

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Elevation 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 499 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32 m
2.6 km to a named beach
 1.7 km

NBN connectivity

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

Climate

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Annual rainfall 1,517 mm —
Summer max (Jan) 30.8°C —
Winter min (Jul) 12.4°C —

Council rates

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Average residential rate $1,873/yr $1,412/yr
Council Mackay Whitsunday

Federal electorate

Freshwater Point Coral Sea
Division Capricornia Dawson
Member Michelle Landry Andrew Willcox
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Freshwater Point

Coastal Rural

Coral Sea

Coastal Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater Point

Freshwater Point vs Sarina Freshwater Point vs Armstrong Beach Freshwater Point vs Sarina Beach

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
Full data on Freshwater Point Full data on Coral Sea
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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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