Marcoola vs Pacific Paradise

In both, most households own their home. In Pacific Paradise, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Marcoola: a median of $1.29 million, against $1 million in Pacific Paradise. On these figures, Pacific Paradise tends to suit older residents 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

Pacific Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 43%)
  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Marcoola has more parks and reserves (7 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Pacific Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,000,000 vs $1,291,000)
  • has cheaper units ($790,000 vs $890,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marcoola

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Pacific Paradise

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (39/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (84 min vs 95 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (106.9 km vs 110.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Pacific Paradise

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (39/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 18%)
  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Marcoola has more units and townhouses to downsize into (57% vs 26%)

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

Investors

Pacific Paradise

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (22.1% vs 5.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Marcoola and Pacific Paradise 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 Pacific Paradise
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 Pacific Paradise
Walkability 0 / 39
Marcoola — Walkability: 0/100 Pacific Paradise — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 36 / 55
Marcoola — Safety: 36/100 Pacific Paradise — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 54 / 100
Marcoola — Low fire risk: 54/100 Pacific Paradise — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Marcoola has more residents (3,355 vs 2,675).

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Population 3,355
+20% vs other
 2,675
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +22.1%
Median age 45 46
Median household income $72,852/yr
+4% vs other
 $69,680/yr
Median weekly rent $406/wk
+1% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
0-4 3.7% / 4.9%
Marcoola — 0-4: 3.7% Pacific Paradise — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 10.9% / 9.6%
Marcoola — 5-14: 10.9% Pacific Paradise — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.0% / 5.4%
Marcoola — 15-19: 5.0% Pacific Paradise — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.2% / 4.9%
Marcoola — 20-24: 5.2% Pacific Paradise — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 11.8% / 11.7%
Marcoola — 25-34: 11.8% Pacific Paradise — 25-34: 11.7%
35-44 12.8% / 11.9%
Marcoola — 35-44: 12.8% Pacific Paradise — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 15.2% / 12.0%
Marcoola — 45-54: 15.2% Pacific Paradise — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 17.5% / 11.9%
Marcoola — 55-64: 17.5% Pacific Paradise — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 12.1% / 15.2%
Marcoola — 65-74: 12.1% Pacific Paradise — 65-74: 15.2%
75-84 4.7% / 9.0%
Marcoola — 75-84: 4.7% Pacific Paradise — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 1.2% / 3.3%
Marcoola — 85+: 1.2% Pacific Paradise — 85+: 3.3%

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%
Pacific Paradise 36.4% lone person
Pacific Paradise — Lone Person: 36.4% Pacific Paradise — Couple Families: 33.0% Pacific Paradise — One Parent Families: 21.0% Pacific Paradise — Group Household: 7.9% Pacific Paradise — Other Families: 1.7%
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%
Pacific Paradise 27.1% renting
Pacific Paradise — Owned Outright: 35.6% Pacific Paradise — Mortgage: 37.3% Pacific Paradise — Renting: 27.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 21.0%
Marcoola — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Pacific Paradise — Certificate III & IV: 21.0%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 8.9%
Marcoola — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Pacific Paradise — Bachelor Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.1%
Marcoola — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Pacific Paradise — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 1.2%
Marcoola — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Pacific Paradise — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.1%
Marcoola — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Pacific Paradise — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

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 Pacific Paradise
England 4.2% / 4.7%
Marcoola — England: 4.2% Pacific Paradise — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 3.3% / 4.5%
Marcoola — New Zealand: 3.3% Pacific Paradise — New Zealand: 4.5%
Philippines 0.7% / 1.1%
Marcoola — Philippines: 0.7% Pacific Paradise — Philippines: 1.1%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.7%
Marcoola — South Africa: 0.7% Pacific Paradise — South Africa: 0.7%
India 0.7% / —
Marcoola — India: 0.7% Pacific Paradise — India: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.7%
Marcoola — Netherlands: not among its largest Pacific Paradise — Netherlands: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

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%
Pacific Paradise 73.9% houses
Pacific Paradise — Houses: 73.9% Pacific Paradise — Townhouses: 17.2% Pacific Paradise — Flats / Apartments: 8.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Median house price $1,291,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price $890,000 $790,000
Median land price $2,662,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 17 sales
 29 days
from 18 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 Pacific Paradise
2 bed $815K / $751K
Marcoola — 2 bed: $815K (61 sales) Pacific Paradise — 2 bed: $751K (9 sales)

61 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1.08M / $915K
Marcoola — 3 bed: $1.08M (38 sales) Pacific Paradise — 3 bed: $915K (5 sales)

38 vs 5 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 Pacific Paradise
2 bed $845K / $840K
Marcoola — 2 bed: $845K (9 sales) Pacific Paradise — 2 bed: $840K (8 sales)

9 vs 8 sales

3 bed $1.09M / $1.01M
Marcoola — 3 bed: $1.09M (12 sales) Pacific Paradise — 3 bed: $1.01M (33 sales)

12 vs 33 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.02M
Marcoola — 4 bed: $1.5M (23 sales) Pacific Paradise — 4 bed: $1.02M (11 sales)

23 vs 11 sales

Development activity

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
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 Pacific Paradise
Houses 2.3%
$805/wk on $1.8M
 —
Units 3.7%
$690/wk on $972K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 37% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 83% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 20% of QLD —

Liveability

Pacific Paradise is more walkable (39 vs 0); Pacific Paradise scores higher overall (55 vs 29).

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Grade D B
Score 29/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Marcoola carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 0); Marcoola carries more crime risk (64 vs 45).

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Bushfire Moderate
46/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
45/100
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
same for both

Schools

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Marcoola

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

Schools in Pacific Paradise

  • Pacific Paradise State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 7 2
Childcare 0 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Marcoola sits further from the CBD (110.9 km vs 106.9 km).

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Walkability score 0/100 39/100
Distance to Brisbane 110.9 km
+4% vs other
 106.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 95 min 84 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4564
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 65
postcode 4564
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.

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Car (driver) 75.6% / 79.1%
Marcoola — Car (driver): 75.6% Pacific Paradise — Car (driver): 79.1%
Worked from Home 14.8% / 10.2%
Marcoola — Worked from Home: 14.8% Pacific Paradise — Worked from Home: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 5.0%
Marcoola — Car (passenger): 4.1% Pacific Paradise — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Walked Only 3.0% / 2.0%
Marcoola — Walked Only: 3.0% Pacific Paradise — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 1.8% / 2.0%
Marcoola — Bus: 1.8% Pacific Paradise — Bus: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.1%).

Setting

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
2.1 km to a named beach
 2.0 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
Connectivity score 60/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
2,374 premises
 49%
1,129 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

Marcoola Pacific Paradise
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 Pacific Paradise
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

Pacific Paradise

Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Marcoola

Marcoola vs Bli Bli Marcoola vs Mount Coolum Marcoola vs Mudjimba Marcoola vs Maroochy River

Other comparisons with Pacific Paradise

Pacific Paradise vs Maroochydore Pacific Paradise vs Bli Bli Pacific Paradise vs Twin Waters Pacific Paradise vs Mudjimba
Full data on Marcoola Full data on Pacific Paradise
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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