Maroochydore vs Alexandra Headland

In both, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In Alexandra Headland, most homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Alexandra Headland: a median of $2.2 million, against $1.26 million in Maroochydore. On these figures, Maroochydore tends to suit 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

Maroochydore

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (65 vs 9)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • But Alexandra Headland carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 88/100)

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

First-home buyers

Maroochydore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,265,000 vs $2,200,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Alexandra Headland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 30%)

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

Commuting to the city

Maroochydore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 49/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Maroochydore

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (12 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 49/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 22%)
  • But Alexandra Headland carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 88/100)

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

Investors

Maroochydore

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (22.8% vs 7.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 1.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
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.

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Walkability 84 / 49
Maroochydore — Walkability: 84/100 Alexandra Headland — Walkability: 49/100
Safety 12 / 38
Maroochydore — Safety: 12/100 Alexandra Headland — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Maroochydore — Low fire risk: 100/100 Alexandra Headland — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Maroochydore has more residents (20,629 vs 4,235); Alexandra Headland has higher household incomes ($87,464 vs $70,720).

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Population 20,629
+79% vs other
 4,235
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +22.8% +7.0%
Median age 47
same for both
Median household income $70,720/yr $87,464/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
0-4 3.9% / 3.0%
Maroochydore — 0-4: 3.9% Alexandra Headland — 0-4: 3.0%
5-14 6.9% / 8.1%
Maroochydore — 5-14: 6.9% Alexandra Headland — 5-14: 8.1%
15-19 3.8% / 4.8%
Maroochydore — 15-19: 3.8% Alexandra Headland — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 6.5% / 6.2%
Maroochydore — 20-24: 6.5% Alexandra Headland — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 15.4% / 15.4%
Maroochydore — 25-34: 15.4% Alexandra Headland — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 11.3% / 10.2%
Maroochydore — 35-44: 11.3% Alexandra Headland — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 11.0% / 14.1%
Maroochydore — 45-54: 11.0% Alexandra Headland — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 14.0% / 16.7%
Maroochydore — 55-64: 14.0% Alexandra Headland — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 14.2% / 12.7%
Maroochydore — 65-74: 14.2% Alexandra Headland — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 9.0% / 6.3%
Maroochydore — 75-84: 9.0% Alexandra Headland — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 4.0% / 2.6%
Maroochydore — 85+: 4.0% Alexandra Headland — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Maroochydore 51.0% lone person
Maroochydore — Lone Person: 51.0% Maroochydore — Couple Families: 21.9% Maroochydore — One Parent Families: 14.9% Maroochydore — Group Household: 10.4% Maroochydore — Other Families: 1.7%
Alexandra Headland 49.9% lone person
Alexandra Headland — Lone Person: 49.9% Alexandra Headland — Couple Families: 26.9% Alexandra Headland — One Parent Families: 11.9% Alexandra Headland — Group Household: 10.5% Alexandra Headland — Other Families: 0.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Maroochydore 44.2% renting
Maroochydore — Owned Outright: 33.1% Maroochydore — Mortgage: 22.7% Maroochydore — Renting: 44.2%
Alexandra Headland 38.6% renting
Alexandra Headland — Owned Outright: 34.3% Alexandra Headland — Mortgage: 27.2% Alexandra Headland — Renting: 38.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 15.6%
Maroochydore — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Alexandra Headland — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree 13.5% / 17.4%
Maroochydore — Bachelor Degree: 13.5% Alexandra Headland — Bachelor Degree: 17.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.9%
Maroochydore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Alexandra Headland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 5.2%
Maroochydore — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Alexandra Headland — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.3%
Maroochydore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Alexandra Headland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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.

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
England 5.0% / 5.0%
Maroochydore — England: 5.0% Alexandra Headland — England: 5.0%
New Zealand 4.6% / 4.5%
Maroochydore — New Zealand: 4.6% Alexandra Headland — New Zealand: 4.5%
India 1.5% / 0.8%
Maroochydore — India: 1.5% Alexandra Headland — India: 0.8%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.1%
Maroochydore — South Africa: 0.9% Alexandra Headland — South Africa: 1.1%
Brazil 0.9% / 1.0%
Maroochydore — Brazil: 0.9% Alexandra Headland — Brazil: 1.0%
Nepal 1.1% / —
Maroochydore — Nepal: 1.1% Alexandra Headland — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Maroochydore 38.3% flats / apartments
Maroochydore — Flats / Apartments: 38.3% Maroochydore — Houses: 37.5% Maroochydore — Townhouses: 24.1%
Alexandra Headland 56.6% flats / apartments
Alexandra Headland — Flats / Apartments: 56.6% Alexandra Headland — Houses: 35.6% Alexandra Headland — Townhouses: 7.9%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Median house price $1,265,000 $2,200,000
Median unit price $875,000 $837,000
Median land price $1,142,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 182 sales
 32 days
from 33 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.

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
3 bed $1.15M / $1.4M
Maroochydore — 3 bed: $1.15M (134 sales) Alexandra Headland — 3 bed: $1.4M (12 sales)

134 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $2.36M
Maroochydore — 4 bed: $1.36M (94 sales) Alexandra Headland — 4 bed: $2.36M (24 sales)

94 vs 24 sales

5 bed $1.78M / $2.27M
Maroochydore — 5 bed: $1.78M (19 sales) Alexandra Headland — 5 bed: $2.27M (7 sales)

19 vs 7 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.

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
1 bed $630K / $540K
Maroochydore — 1 bed: $630K (31 sales) Alexandra Headland — 1 bed: $540K (34 sales)

31 vs 34 sales

2 bed $812K / $895K
Maroochydore — 2 bed: $812K (261 sales) Alexandra Headland — 2 bed: $895K (75 sales)

261 vs 75 sales

3 bed $1.13M / $1.35M
Maroochydore — 3 bed: $1.13M (173 sales) Alexandra Headland — 3 bed: $1.35M (18 sales)

173 vs 18 sales

Development activity

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
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.

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Houses 3.6%
$800/wk on $1.16M
 1.9%
$1,040/wk on $2.81M
Units 4.5%
$770/wk on $900K
 4.6%
$750/wk on $849K

Ranking within QLD

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools Higher than 8% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 28% of QLD Higher than 1% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of QLD Higher than 55% of QLD

Liveability

Maroochydore is more walkable (84 vs 49); Alexandra Headland scores higher overall (65 vs 44).

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Grade C B
Score 44/100 65/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Maroochydore carries more crime risk (88 vs 62).

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
87/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 7.7 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.5% 1.9%

Schools in Maroochydore

  • Maroochydore State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Stella Maris School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Maroochydore State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Arethusa College - Maroochydore Campus Independent · Secondary
  • The Industry School - Sunshine Coast Independent · Secondary

Schools in Alexandra Headland

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

Amenities in the suburb

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Supermarkets 9 0
Cafes & restaurants 42 4
Parks & reserves 65 9
Childcare 11 1
GPs 12 0
Pharmacies 9 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 15 0
Fuel stations 6 0
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 17 0

Mobility

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Walkability score 84/100 49/100
Distance to Brisbane 102 km
+1% vs other
 100.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 83 min 84 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 163.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 88.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4558
 1.3%
postcode 4572
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 4558
 26
postcode 4572

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.

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Car (driver) 70.7% / 69.3%
Maroochydore — Car (driver): 70.7% Alexandra Headland — Car (driver): 69.3%
Worked from Home 16.0% / 20.2%
Maroochydore — Worked from Home: 16.0% Alexandra Headland — Worked from Home: 20.2%
Walked Only 5.1% / 3.6%
Maroochydore — Walked Only: 5.1% Alexandra Headland — Walked Only: 3.6%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 4.1%
Maroochydore — Car (passenger): 4.6% Alexandra Headland — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Bus 1.7% / 1.7%
Maroochydore — Bus: 1.7% Alexandra Headland — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.7%).

Setting

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 859 m
1.8 km to a named beach
 493 m
512 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Connectivity score 64/100 55/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
14,987 premises
 17%
3,223 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
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

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Average residential rate $1,690/yr
same for both
Council Sunshine Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Division Fairfax Fisher
Member Ted O'Brien Andrew Wallace
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Maroochydore Alexandra Headland
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Maroochydore

Apartments Coastal Parks Regional Centre Retirees River Townhouses

Alexandra Headland

Apartments Beach Coastal Parks

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Full data on Maroochydore Full data on Alexandra Headland
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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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