Marcoola vs Mount Coolum

In both, most households own their home. In Mount Coolum, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Mount Coolum: a median of $1.41 million, against $1.29 million in Marcoola, and rent is higher there too.

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

Mount Coolum

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 64/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (62% vs 43%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marcoola

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($406/wk vs $450/wk)

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

  • Marcoola sits closer to the CBD (110.9 km vs 115.9 km)
  • Mount Coolum is more walkable (40/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Coolum

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Marcoola has more units and townhouses to downsize into (57% vs 38%)

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

Investors

Mount Coolum

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 2.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Marcoola Mount Coolum
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.

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Walkability 0 / 40
Marcoola — Walkability: 0/100 Mount Coolum — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 36 / 76
Marcoola — Safety: 36/100 Mount Coolum — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 54 / 45
Marcoola — Low fire risk: 54/100 Mount Coolum — Low fire risk: 45/100

Demographics

Mount Coolum has more residents (4,545 vs 3,355); Mount Coolum has higher household incomes ($87,880 vs $72,852).

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Population 3,355 4,545
+35% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +6.6%
Median age 45 44
Median household income $72,852/yr $87,880/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $406/wk $450/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Marcoola Mount Coolum
0-4 3.7% / 5.2%
Marcoola — 0-4: 3.7% Mount Coolum — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.9% / 11.6%
Marcoola — 5-14: 10.9% Mount Coolum — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.0% / 5.6%
Marcoola — 15-19: 5.0% Mount Coolum — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 5.2% / 4.1%
Marcoola — 20-24: 5.2% Mount Coolum — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 11.8% / 10.4%
Marcoola — 25-34: 11.8% Mount Coolum — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 12.8% / 14.3%
Marcoola — 35-44: 12.8% Mount Coolum — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 15.2% / 16.5%
Marcoola — 45-54: 15.2% Mount Coolum — 45-54: 16.5%
55-64 17.5% / 14.2%
Marcoola — 55-64: 17.5% Mount Coolum — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 12.1% / 10.7%
Marcoola — 65-74: 12.1% Mount Coolum — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 4.7% / 5.5%
Marcoola — 75-84: 4.7% Mount Coolum — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 1.2% / 1.9%
Marcoola — 85+: 1.2% Mount Coolum — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Marcoola 43.9% lone person
Marcoola — Lone Person: 43.9% Marcoola — Couple Families: 29.5% Marcoola — One Parent Families: 17.7% Marcoola — Group Household: 7.2% Marcoola — Other Families: 1.8%
Mount Coolum 36.7% lone person
Mount Coolum — Lone Person: 36.7% Mount Coolum — Couple Families: 40.1% Mount Coolum — One Parent Families: 15.8% Mount Coolum — Group Household: 6.7% Mount Coolum — Other Families: 0.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Marcoola 41.1% renting
Marcoola — Owned Outright: 29.2% Marcoola — Mortgage: 29.7% Marcoola — Renting: 41.1%
Mount Coolum 30.1% renting
Mount Coolum — Owned Outright: 29.9% Mount Coolum — Mortgage: 40.0% Mount Coolum — Renting: 30.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 17.4%
Marcoola — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Mount Coolum — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 15.0%
Marcoola — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Mount Coolum — Bachelor Degree: 15.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 10.0%
Marcoola — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Mount Coolum — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 4.6%
Marcoola — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Mount Coolum — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.6%
Marcoola — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Mount Coolum — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

Marcoola Mount Coolum
England 4.2% / 5.8%
Marcoola — England: 4.2% Mount Coolum — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 3.3% / 3.3%
Marcoola — New Zealand: 3.3% Mount Coolum — New Zealand: 3.3%
South Africa 0.7% / 1.3%
Marcoola — South Africa: 0.7% Mount Coolum — South Africa: 1.3%
Canada 0.4% / 0.9%
Marcoola — Canada: 0.4% Mount Coolum — Canada: 0.9%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.7%
Marcoola — Scotland: 0.4% Mount Coolum — Scotland: 0.7%
India 0.7% / 0.3%
Marcoola — India: 0.7% Mount Coolum — India: 0.3%
Philippines 0.7% / —
Marcoola — Philippines: 0.7% Mount Coolum — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Marcoola 43.4% houses
Marcoola — Houses: 43.4% Marcoola — Townhouses: 24.3% Marcoola — Flats / Apartments: 32.3%
Mount Coolum 62.3% houses
Mount Coolum — Houses: 62.3% Mount Coolum — Townhouses: 28.2% Mount Coolum — Flats / Apartments: 9.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Median house price $1,291,000 $1,410,000
Median unit price $890,000 $880,000
Median land price $2,662,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 17 sales
 22 days
from 41 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.

Marcoola Mount Coolum
3 bed $1.09M / $1.25M
Marcoola — 3 bed: $1.09M (12 sales) Mount Coolum — 3 bed: $1.25M (48 sales)

12 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.57M
Marcoola — 4 bed: $1.5M (23 sales) Mount Coolum — 4 bed: $1.57M (45 sales)

23 vs 45 sales

5 bed $1.73M / $1.73M
Marcoola — 5 bed: $1.73M (6 sales) Mount Coolum — 5 bed: $1.73M (10 sales)

6 vs 10 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Marcoola Mount Coolum
1 bed $278K / $688K
Marcoola — 1 bed: $278K (18 sales) Mount Coolum — 1 bed: $688K (6 sales)

18 vs 6 sales

2 bed $815K / $850K
Marcoola — 2 bed: $815K (61 sales) Mount Coolum — 2 bed: $850K (19 sales)

61 vs 19 sales

3 bed $1.08M / $983K
Marcoola — 3 bed: $1.08M (38 sales) Mount Coolum — 3 bed: $983K (17 sales)

38 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Marcoola Mount Coolum
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.

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Houses 2.3%
$805/wk on $1.8M
 3.7%
$920/wk on $1.3M
Units 3.7%
$690/wk on $972K
 5.3%
$835/wk on $825K

Ranking within QLD

Marcoola Mount Coolum
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of QLD Higher than 34% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 20% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD

Liveability

Mount Coolum is more walkable (40 vs 0); Mount Coolum scores higher overall (52 vs 29).

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Grade D B
Score 29/100 52/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Marcoola carries more crime risk (64 vs 24).

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Bushfire Moderate
46/100
 Moderate
55/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Low
24/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Marcoola Mount Coolum
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

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 7 8
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Mount Coolum sits further from the CBD (115.9 km vs 110.9 km).

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Walkability score 0/100 40/100
Distance to Brisbane 110.9 km 115.9 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 95 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 56/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4564
 1.7%
postcode 4573
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 65
postcode 4564
 59
postcode 4573

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.

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Car (driver) 75.6% / 72.4%
Marcoola — Car (driver): 75.6% Mount Coolum — Car (driver): 72.4%
Worked from Home 14.8% / 21.3%
Marcoola — Worked from Home: 14.8% Mount Coolum — Worked from Home: 21.3%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.3%
Marcoola — Car (passenger): 4.1% Mount Coolum — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 3.0% / 1.0%
Marcoola — Walked Only: 3.0% Mount Coolum — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.8% / 1.1%
Marcoola — Bus: 1.8% Mount Coolum — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.6%).

Setting

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
2.1 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Connectivity score 60/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
2,374 premises
 37%
2,139 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Marcoola Mount Coolum
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.31 pphm
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Marcoola Mount Coolum
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

Marcoola Mount Coolum
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Marcoola

Apartments Coastal Townhouses

Mount Coolum

Coastal Parks Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Marcoola

Marcoola vs Bli Bli Marcoola vs Pacific Paradise Marcoola vs Mudjimba Marcoola vs Maroochy River

Other comparisons with Mount Coolum

Mount Coolum vs Coolum Beach Mount Coolum vs Yaroomba Mount Coolum vs Maroochy River
Full data on Marcoola Full data on Mount Coolum
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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