Maroochy River vs Marcoola

Maroochy River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Marcoola. In both, most households own their home. In Maroochy River, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Maroochy River: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.29 million in Marcoola, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Maroochy River tends to suit families with children and couples, while Marcoola suits people living alone 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

Maroochy River

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 64/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 43%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

Maroochy River

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,722,500 vs $2,662,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 28%)
  • But Marcoola has cheaper houses ($1,291,000 vs $1,600,000)

Weighs house prices, land 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 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($406/wk vs $460/wk)
  • But Maroochy River leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Marcoola

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (110.9 km vs 114.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Maroochy River carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 64/100)
  • Marcoola has more units and townhouses to downsize into (57% vs 4%)

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

Investors

Maroochy River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.0% vs 2.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Maroochy River and Marcoola 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 Marcoola
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 Marcoola
Walkability 0 / 0
Maroochy River — Walkability: 0/100 Marcoola — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 77 / 36
Maroochy River — Safety: 77/100 Marcoola — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 54
Maroochy River — Low fire risk: 100/100 Marcoola — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

Marcoola has more residents (3,355 vs 1,667); Maroochy River has higher household incomes ($111,904 vs $72,852).

Maroochy River Marcoola
Population 1,667 3,355
+101% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +5.7%
Median age 42 45
Median household income $111,904/yr
+35% vs other
 $72,852/yr
Median weekly rent $460/wk
+12% vs other
 $406/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maroochy River Marcoola
0-4 5.5% / 3.7%
Maroochy River — 0-4: 5.5% Marcoola — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 14.3% / 10.9%
Maroochy River — 5-14: 14.3% Marcoola — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 6.2% / 5.0%
Maroochy River — 15-19: 6.2% Marcoola — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 4.9% / 5.2%
Maroochy River — 20-24: 4.9% Marcoola — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 8.3% / 11.8%
Maroochy River — 25-34: 8.3% Marcoola — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 13.5% / 12.8%
Maroochy River — 35-44: 13.5% Marcoola — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 15.5% / 15.2%
Maroochy River — 45-54: 15.5% Marcoola — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 17.0% / 17.5%
Maroochy River — 55-64: 17.0% Marcoola — 55-64: 17.5%
65-74 9.8% / 12.1%
Maroochy River — 65-74: 9.8% Marcoola — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 4.3% / 4.7%
Maroochy River — 75-84: 4.3% Marcoola — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.4% / 1.2%
Maroochy River — 85+: 1.4% Marcoola — 85+: 1.2%

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

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%
Marcoola 29.5% couple families
Marcoola — Couple Families: 29.5% Marcoola — Lone Person: 43.9% Marcoola — One Parent Families: 17.7% Marcoola — Group Household: 7.2% Marcoola — Other Families: 1.8%
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%
Marcoola 41.1% renting
Marcoola — Owned Outright: 29.2% Marcoola — Mortgage: 29.7% Marcoola — Renting: 41.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maroochy River Marcoola
Certificate III & IV 19.6% / 19.1%
Maroochy River — Certificate III & IV: 19.6% Marcoola — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Bachelor Degree 11.8% / 12.0%
Maroochy River — Bachelor Degree: 11.8% Marcoola — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 9.4%
Maroochy River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Marcoola — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 3.2%
Maroochy River — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Marcoola — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.1%
Maroochy River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Marcoola — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

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 Marcoola
England 5.3% / 4.2%
Maroochy River — England: 5.3% Marcoola — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 3.2% / 3.3%
Maroochy River — New Zealand: 3.2% Marcoola — New Zealand: 3.3%
South Africa 1.5% / 0.7%
Maroochy River — South Africa: 1.5% Marcoola — South Africa: 0.7%
Canada 0.8% / 0.4%
Maroochy River — Canada: 0.8% Marcoola — Canada: 0.4%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.7%
Maroochy River — Philippines: 0.4% Marcoola — Philippines: 0.7%
Germany 0.5% / 0.4%
Maroochy River — Germany: 0.5% Marcoola — Germany: 0.4%
India — / 0.7%
Maroochy River — India: not among its largest Marcoola — India: 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%
Marcoola 43.4% houses
Marcoola — Houses: 43.4% Marcoola — Flats / Apartments: 32.3% Marcoola — Townhouses: 24.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Maroochy River Marcoola
Median house price $1,600,000 $1,291,000
Median unit price — $890,000
Median land price $1,722,500 $2,662,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 17 sales
 40 days
from 17 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 Marcoola
4 bed $1.64M / $1.5M
Maroochy River — 4 bed: $1.64M (25 sales) Marcoola — 4 bed: $1.5M (23 sales)

25 vs 23 sales

5 bed $1.68M / $1.73M
Maroochy River — 5 bed: $1.68M (5 sales) Marcoola — 5 bed: $1.73M (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Maroochy River Marcoola
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 Marcoola
Houses 3.0%
$1,100/wk on $1.9M
 2.3%
$805/wk on $1.8M
Units — 3.7%
$690/wk on $972K

Ranking within QLD

Maroochy River Marcoola
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 42% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 58% of QLD Higher than 45% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 72% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 3% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 20% of QLD

Liveability

Maroochy River scores higher overall (67 vs 29).

Maroochy River Marcoola
Grade B D
Score 67/100 29/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Marcoola carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 0); Marcoola carries more crime risk (64 vs 23).

Maroochy River Marcoola
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime Low
23/100
 Moderate
64/100
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 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Maroochy River Marcoola
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

Maroochy River Marcoola
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 5 7
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 16 3

Mobility

Maroochy River sits further from the CBD (114.8 km vs 110.9 km).

Maroochy River Marcoola
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 114.8 km
+3% vs other
 110.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 92 min 95 min
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 4561
 1.1%
postcode 4564
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 99
postcode 4561
 65
postcode 4564

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 Marcoola
Car (driver) 74.1% / 75.6%
Maroochy River — Car (driver): 74.1% Marcoola — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 19.8% / 14.8%
Maroochy River — Worked from Home: 19.8% Marcoola — Worked from Home: 14.8%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.1%
Maroochy River — Car (passenger): 3.9% Marcoola — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 1.7% / 3.0%
Maroochy River — Walked Only: 1.7% Marcoola — Walked Only: 3.0%
Bus — / 1.8%
Maroochy River — Bus: not among its largest Marcoola — Bus: 1.8%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.8%
Maroochy River — Bicycle: 0.4% Marcoola — Bicycle: 0.8%

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

Setting

Maroochy River Marcoola
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.9 km 1.8 km
2.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Maroochy River Marcoola
Connectivity score 74/100 60/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
746 premises
 27%
2,374 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Maroochy River Marcoola
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³ 5.0 µg/m³
PM10 12.3 µg/m³ 14.0 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.31 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Maroochy River Marcoola
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 Marcoola
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

Marcoola

Apartments Coastal Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Maroochy River

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

Other comparisons with Marcoola

Marcoola vs Bli Bli Marcoola vs Mount Coolum Marcoola vs Pacific Paradise Marcoola vs Mudjimba
Full data on Maroochy River Full data on Marcoola
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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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