Maroochy River vs Coolum Beach

Maroochy River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Coolum Beach. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Maroochy River, most households are couple families. On these figures, Maroochy River tends to suit couples, while Coolum Beach suits 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 6 things we measure here

  • Maroochy River carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 54/100)
  • Coolum Beach has more childcare (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Maroochy River leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 29%)
  • Coolum Beach has cheaper land ($1,385,000 vs $1,722,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Maroochy River leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)
  • Coolum Beach has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 15%)

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

  • Maroochy River sits closer to the CBD (114.8 km vs 117.4 km)
  • Coolum Beach is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coolum Beach

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • But Maroochy River carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 54/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
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.

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Walkability 0 / 14
Maroochy River — Walkability: 0/100 Coolum Beach — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 77 / 46
Maroochy River — Safety: 77/100 Coolum Beach — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 41
Maroochy River — Low fire risk: 100/100 Coolum Beach — Low fire risk: 41/100

Demographics

Coolum Beach has more residents (9,152 vs 1,667); Maroochy River has higher household incomes ($111,904 vs $83,200).

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Population 1,667 9,152
+449% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +7.7%
Median age 42 45
Median household income $111,904/yr
+26% vs other
 $83,200/yr
Median weekly rent $460/wk
+2% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
0-4 5.5% / 4.8%
Maroochy River — 0-4: 5.5% Coolum Beach — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 14.3% / 11.6%
Maroochy River — 5-14: 14.3% Coolum Beach — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.2% / 5.4%
Maroochy River — 15-19: 6.2% Coolum Beach — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 4.9% / 4.0%
Maroochy River — 20-24: 4.9% Coolum Beach — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 8.3% / 9.8%
Maroochy River — 25-34: 8.3% Coolum Beach — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 13.5% / 13.6%
Maroochy River — 35-44: 13.5% Coolum Beach — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 15.5% / 14.8%
Maroochy River — 45-54: 15.5% Coolum Beach — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 17.0% / 14.6%
Maroochy River — 55-64: 17.0% Coolum Beach — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 9.8% / 12.3%
Maroochy River — 65-74: 9.8% Coolum Beach — 65-74: 12.3%
75-84 4.3% / 6.2%
Maroochy River — 75-84: 4.3% Coolum Beach — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 1.4% / 2.9%
Maroochy River — 85+: 1.4% Coolum Beach — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Maroochy River 62.3% couple families
Maroochy River — Couple Families: 62.3% Maroochy River — Lone Person: 20.0% Maroochy River — One Parent Families: 13.6% Maroochy River — Group Household: 4.1% Maroochy River — Other Families: 0.0%
Coolum Beach 39.0% couple families
Coolum Beach — Couple Families: 39.0% Coolum Beach — Lone Person: 36.9% Coolum Beach — One Parent Families: 16.9% Coolum Beach — Group Household: 6.2% Coolum Beach — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Maroochy River 15.4% renting
Maroochy River — Owned Outright: 39.7% Maroochy River — Mortgage: 45.0% Maroochy River — Renting: 15.4%
Coolum Beach 30.0% renting
Coolum Beach — Owned Outright: 35.0% Coolum Beach — Mortgage: 34.9% Coolum Beach — Renting: 30.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Certificate III & IV 19.6% / 17.6%
Maroochy River — Certificate III & IV: 19.6% Coolum Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 11.8% / 13.6%
Maroochy River — Bachelor Degree: 11.8% Coolum Beach — Bachelor Degree: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 9.5%
Maroochy River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Coolum Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 3.6%
Maroochy River — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Coolum Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.6%
Maroochy River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Coolum Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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.

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
England 5.3% / 5.1%
Maroochy River — England: 5.3% Coolum Beach — England: 5.1%
New Zealand 3.2% / 3.8%
Maroochy River — New Zealand: 3.2% Coolum Beach — New Zealand: 3.8%
South Africa 1.5% / 0.9%
Maroochy River — South Africa: 1.5% Coolum Beach — South Africa: 0.9%
Canada 0.8% / 0.4%
Maroochy River — Canada: 0.8% Coolum Beach — Canada: 0.4%
Germany 0.5% / 0.7%
Maroochy River — Germany: 0.5% Coolum Beach — Germany: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.7%
Maroochy River — Scotland: not among its largest Coolum Beach — Scotland: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Maroochy River 96.5% houses
Maroochy River — Houses: 96.5% Maroochy River — Flats / Apartments: 2.0% Maroochy River — Townhouses: 1.5%
Coolum Beach 69.5% houses
Coolum Beach — Houses: 69.5% Coolum Beach — Flats / Apartments: 17.1% Coolum Beach — Townhouses: 13.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Median house price $1,600,000 $1,520,000
Median unit price — $1,117,500
Median land price $1,722,500 $1,385,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 17 sales
 30 days
from 84 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.

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
4 bed $1.64M / $1.59M
Maroochy River — 4 bed: $1.64M (25 sales) Coolum Beach — 4 bed: $1.59M (71 sales)

25 vs 71 sales

5 bed $1.68M / $1.73M
Maroochy River — 5 bed: $1.68M (5 sales) Coolum Beach — 5 bed: $1.73M (21 sales)

5 vs 21 sales

Development activity

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
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.

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Houses 3.0%
$1,100/wk on $1.9M
 3.2%
$975/wk on $1.6M
Units — 3.7%
$780/wk on $1.1M

Ranking within QLD

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 54% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 58% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 14% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 19% of QLD

Liveability

Coolum Beach is more walkable (14 vs 0); Maroochy River scores higher overall (67 vs 38).

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Grade B C
Score 67/100 38/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Coolum Beach carries more bushfire risk (59 vs 0); Coolum Beach carries more crime risk (54 vs 23).

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
59/100
Crime Low
23/100
 Moderate
54/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
16/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Maroochy River

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

Schools in Coolum Beach

  • Coolum State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Coolum State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 9
Parks & reserves 5 22
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 16 9

Mobility

Coolum Beach sits further from the CBD (117.4 km vs 114.8 km).

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Walkability score 0/100 14/100
Distance to Brisbane 114.8 km 117.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 92 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 4561
 1.7%
postcode 4573
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 99
postcode 4561
 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.

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Car (driver) 74.1% / 70.0%
Maroochy River — Car (driver): 74.1% Coolum Beach — Car (driver): 70.0%
Worked from Home 19.8% / 20.5%
Maroochy River — Worked from Home: 19.8% Coolum Beach — Worked from Home: 20.5%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.8%
Maroochy River — Car (passenger): 3.9% Coolum Beach — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 1.7% / 3.1%
Maroochy River — Walked Only: 1.7% Coolum Beach — Walked Only: 3.1%
Bicycle 0.4% / 1.4%
Maroochy River — Bicycle: 0.4% Coolum Beach — Bicycle: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.1%).

Setting

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.9 km 2.4 km
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Connectivity score 74/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
746 premises
 43%
5,854 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Average residential rate $1,690/yr
same for both
Council Sunshine Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
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

Maroochy River Coolum Beach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Maroochy River

Acreage Premium River

Coolum Beach

Coastal Premium Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Maroochy River

Maroochy River vs Bli Bli Maroochy River vs Mount Coolum Maroochy River vs Marcoola Maroochy River vs Yandina Maroochy River vs Ninderry Maroochy River vs Yandina Creek

Other comparisons with Coolum Beach

Coolum Beach vs Peregian Springs Coolum Beach vs Peregian Beach Coolum Beach vs Mount Coolum Coolum Beach vs Yaroomba Coolum Beach vs Yandina Creek Coolum Beach vs Verrierdale
Full data on Maroochy River Full data on Coolum Beach
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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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