Maroochydore vs Pacific Paradise

In both, most households own their home. In Maroochydore, about half of households are people living alone. In Pacific Paradise, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Maroochydore: a median of $1.26 million, against $1 million in Pacific Paradise. On these figures, Maroochydore tends to suit people living alone, while Pacific Paradise suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Maroochydore has more parks and reserves (65 vs 2)
  • Pacific Paradise has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 38%)

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 $1,265,000)
  • has cheaper units ($790,000 vs $875,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Maroochydore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Maroochydore

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 39/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (102 km vs 106.9 km)

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)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 26%)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 39/100)
  • But Pacific Paradise carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 88/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Maroochydore 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.

Maroochydore 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.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Walkability 84 / 39
Maroochydore — Walkability: 84/100 Pacific Paradise — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 12 / 55
Maroochydore — Safety: 12/100 Pacific Paradise — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Maroochydore — Low fire risk: 100/100 Pacific Paradise — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Maroochydore has more residents (20,629 vs 2,675).

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Population 20,629
+87% vs other
 2,675
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +22.8% +22.1%
Median age 47 46
Median household income $70,720/yr
+1% vs other
 $69,680/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+2% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
0-4 3.9% / 4.9%
Maroochydore — 0-4: 3.9% Pacific Paradise — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 6.9% / 9.6%
Maroochydore — 5-14: 6.9% Pacific Paradise — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 3.8% / 5.4%
Maroochydore — 15-19: 3.8% Pacific Paradise — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 6.5% / 4.9%
Maroochydore — 20-24: 6.5% Pacific Paradise — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 15.4% / 11.7%
Maroochydore — 25-34: 15.4% Pacific Paradise — 25-34: 11.7%
35-44 11.3% / 11.9%
Maroochydore — 35-44: 11.3% Pacific Paradise — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 11.0% / 12.0%
Maroochydore — 45-54: 11.0% Pacific Paradise — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 14.0% / 11.9%
Maroochydore — 55-64: 14.0% Pacific Paradise — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 14.2% / 15.2%
Maroochydore — 65-74: 14.2% Pacific Paradise — 65-74: 15.2%
75-84 9.0% / 9.0%
Maroochydore — 75-84: 9.0% Pacific Paradise — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 4.0% / 3.3%
Maroochydore — 85+: 4.0% Pacific Paradise — 85+: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

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%
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.

Maroochydore 44.2% renting
Maroochydore — Owned Outright: 33.1% Maroochydore — Mortgage: 22.7% Maroochydore — Renting: 44.2%
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.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 21.0%
Maroochydore — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Pacific Paradise — Certificate III & IV: 21.0%
Bachelor Degree 13.5% / 8.9%
Maroochydore — Bachelor Degree: 13.5% Pacific Paradise — Bachelor Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.1%
Maroochydore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Pacific Paradise — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 1.2%
Maroochydore — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Pacific Paradise — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.1%
Maroochydore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% 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.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
England 5.0% / 4.7%
Maroochydore — England: 5.0% Pacific Paradise — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 4.6% / 4.5%
Maroochydore — New Zealand: 4.6% Pacific Paradise — New Zealand: 4.5%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.1%
Maroochydore — Philippines: 0.8% Pacific Paradise — Philippines: 1.1%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.7%
Maroochydore — South Africa: 0.9% Pacific Paradise — South Africa: 0.7%
India 1.5% / —
Maroochydore — India: 1.5% Pacific Paradise — India: not among its largest
Nepal 1.1% / —
Maroochydore — Nepal: 1.1% Pacific Paradise — Nepal: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.7%
Maroochydore — Netherlands: not among its largest Pacific Paradise — Netherlands: 0.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Maroochydore 37.5% houses
Maroochydore — Houses: 37.5% Maroochydore — Flats / Apartments: 38.3% Maroochydore — Townhouses: 24.1%
Pacific Paradise 73.9% houses
Pacific Paradise — Houses: 73.9% Pacific Paradise — Flats / Apartments: 8.9% Pacific Paradise — Townhouses: 17.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Median house price $1,265,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price $875,000 $790,000
Median land price $1,142,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 182 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.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
2 bed $812K / $751K
Maroochydore — 2 bed: $812K (261 sales) Pacific Paradise — 2 bed: $751K (9 sales)

261 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1.13M / $915K
Maroochydore — 3 bed: $1.13M (173 sales) Pacific Paradise — 3 bed: $915K (5 sales)

173 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.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
2 bed $1.11M / $840K
Maroochydore — 2 bed: $1.11M (11 sales) Pacific Paradise — 2 bed: $840K (8 sales)

11 vs 8 sales

3 bed $1.15M / $1.01M
Maroochydore — 3 bed: $1.15M (134 sales) Pacific Paradise — 3 bed: $1.01M (33 sales)

134 vs 33 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $1.02M
Maroochydore — 4 bed: $1.36M (94 sales) Pacific Paradise — 4 bed: $1.02M (11 sales)

94 vs 11 sales

Development activity

Maroochydore 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.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Houses 3.6%
$800/wk on $1.16M
 —
Units 4.5%
$770/wk on $900K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 37% of QLD
Schools Higher than 8% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 28% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of QLD —

Liveability

Maroochydore is more walkable (84 vs 39); Pacific Paradise scores higher overall (55 vs 44).

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Grade C B
Score 44/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Maroochydore carries more crime risk (88 vs 45).

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 Moderate
45/100
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
same for both

Schools

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 7.7 km
 None

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 Pacific Paradise

  • Pacific Paradise State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Pacific Paradise sits further from the CBD (106.9 km vs 102 km).

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Walkability score 84/100 39/100
Distance to Brisbane 102 km 106.9 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 83 min 84 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 163.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4558
 1.1%
postcode 4564
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 4558
 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.

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Car (driver) 70.7% / 79.1%
Maroochydore — Car (driver): 70.7% Pacific Paradise — Car (driver): 79.1%
Worked from Home 16.0% / 10.2%
Maroochydore — Worked from Home: 16.0% Pacific Paradise — Worked from Home: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 5.0%
Maroochydore — Car (passenger): 4.6% Pacific Paradise — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Walked Only 5.1% / 2.0%
Maroochydore — Walked Only: 5.1% Pacific Paradise — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 1.7% / 2.0%
Maroochydore — Bus: 1.7% Pacific Paradise — Bus: 2.0%

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

Setting

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 859 m
1.8 km to a named beach
 2.0 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
Connectivity score 64/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
14,987 premises
 49%
1,129 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Maroochydore 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

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

Federal electorate

Maroochydore 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

Maroochydore Pacific Paradise
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

Pacific Paradise

Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Maroochydore

Maroochydore vs Buderim Maroochydore vs Bli Bli Maroochydore vs Alexandra Headland Maroochydore vs Twin Waters Maroochydore vs Kuluin Maroochydore vs Diddillibah

Other comparisons with Pacific Paradise

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