Maroochydore vs Twin Waters

Maroochydore is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 60 in Twin Waters. In both, most households own their home. In Maroochydore, about half of households are people living alone. In Twin Waters, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Twin Waters: a median of $1.77 million, against $1.26 million in Maroochydore, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Maroochydore tends to suit people living alone, share households, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Twin Waters suits older residents.

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 4)
  • Twin Waters carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 88/100)

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

First-home buyers

Maroochydore

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($875,000 vs $1,367,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,265,000 vs $1,770,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Maroochydore

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $650/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (30% vs 38%)

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

Commuting to the city

Maroochydore

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 31/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (83 min vs 89 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (102 km vs 109.1 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)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 31/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 26%)
  • But Twin Waters carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 88/100)

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

Investors

Maroochydore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (22.8% vs 10.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Maroochydore and Twin Waters 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 Twin Waters
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 Twin Waters
Walkability 84 / 31
Maroochydore — Walkability: 84/100 Twin Waters — Walkability: 31/100
Safety 12 / 73
Maroochydore — Safety: 12/100 Twin Waters — Safety: 73/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Maroochydore — Low fire risk: 100/100 Twin Waters — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Maroochydore has more residents (20,629 vs 2,966); Twin Waters rents higher ($650/wk vs $410/wk).

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Population 20,629
+86% vs other
 2,966
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +22.8% +10.4%
Median age 47 60
Median household income $70,720/yr $87,828/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $650/wk
+59% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maroochydore Twin Waters
0-4 3.9% / 2.3%
Maroochydore — 0-4: 3.9% Twin Waters — 0-4: 2.3%
5-14 6.9% / 7.6%
Maroochydore — 5-14: 6.9% Twin Waters — 5-14: 7.6%
15-19 3.8% / 4.1%
Maroochydore — 15-19: 3.8% Twin Waters — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 6.5% / 3.5%
Maroochydore — 20-24: 6.5% Twin Waters — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 15.4% / 4.0%
Maroochydore — 25-34: 15.4% Twin Waters — 25-34: 4.0%
35-44 11.3% / 6.8%
Maroochydore — 35-44: 11.3% Twin Waters — 35-44: 6.8%
45-54 11.0% / 11.3%
Maroochydore — 45-54: 11.0% Twin Waters — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 14.0% / 18.8%
Maroochydore — 55-64: 14.0% Twin Waters — 55-64: 18.8%
65-74 14.2% / 22.4%
Maroochydore — 65-74: 14.2% Twin Waters — 65-74: 22.4%
75-84 9.0% / 14.1%
Maroochydore — 75-84: 9.0% Twin Waters — 75-84: 14.1%
85+ 4.0% / 5.0%
Maroochydore — 85+: 4.0% Twin Waters — 85+: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

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%
Twin Waters 40.0% lone person
Twin Waters — Lone Person: 40.0% Twin Waters — Couple Families: 42.5% Twin Waters — One Parent Families: 12.9% Twin Waters — Group Household: 3.3% Twin Waters — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
Twin Waters 12.3% renting
Twin Waters — Owned Outright: 57.9% Twin Waters — Mortgage: 29.8% Twin Waters — Renting: 12.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Bachelor Degree 13.5% / 15.8%
Maroochydore — Bachelor Degree: 13.5% Twin Waters — Bachelor Degree: 15.8%
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 13.2%
Maroochydore — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Twin Waters — Certificate III & IV: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 10.5%
Maroochydore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Twin Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 4.6%
Maroochydore — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Twin Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.6%
Maroochydore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Twin Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

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 Twin Waters
England 5.0% / 8.4%
Maroochydore — England: 5.0% Twin Waters — England: 8.4%
New Zealand 4.6% / 4.8%
Maroochydore — New Zealand: 4.6% Twin Waters — New Zealand: 4.8%
South Africa 0.9% / 2.5%
Maroochydore — South Africa: 0.9% Twin Waters — South Africa: 2.5%
Germany 0.7% / 1.0%
Maroochydore — Germany: 0.7% Twin Waters — Germany: 1.0%
Scotland — / 1.6%
Maroochydore — Scotland: not among its largest Twin Waters — Scotland: 1.6%
India 1.5% / —
Maroochydore — India: 1.5% Twin Waters — India: not among its largest
Nepal 1.1% / —
Maroochydore — Nepal: 1.1% Twin Waters — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.4%).

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%
Twin Waters 74.0% houses
Twin Waters — Houses: 74.0% Twin Waters — Flats / Apartments: 10.4% Twin Waters — Townhouses: 15.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Median house price $1,265,000 $1,770,000
Median unit price $875,000 $1,367,500
Median land price $1,142,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 182 sales
 66 days
from 46 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 Twin Waters
2 bed $812K / $1.17M
Maroochydore — 2 bed: $812K (261 sales) Twin Waters — 2 bed: $1.17M (10 sales)

261 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.13M / $1.51M
Maroochydore — 3 bed: $1.13M (173 sales) Twin Waters — 3 bed: $1.51M (21 sales)

173 vs 21 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 Twin Waters
3 bed $1.15M / $1.54M
Maroochydore — 3 bed: $1.15M (134 sales) Twin Waters — 3 bed: $1.54M (21 sales)

134 vs 21 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $1.8M
Maroochydore — 4 bed: $1.36M (94 sales) Twin Waters — 4 bed: $1.8M (67 sales)

94 vs 67 sales

5 bed $1.78M / $1.85M
Maroochydore — 5 bed: $1.78M (19 sales) Twin Waters — 5 bed: $1.85M (5 sales)

19 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Maroochydore Twin Waters
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 Twin Waters
Houses 3.6%
$800/wk on $1.16M
 3.4%
$1,225/wk on $1.88M
Units 4.5%
$770/wk on $900K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Maroochydore Twin Waters
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD
Schools Higher than 8% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 82% 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 77% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 28% of QLD Higher than 20% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of QLD —

Liveability

Maroochydore is more walkable (84 vs 31); Twin Waters scores higher overall (75 vs 44).

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Grade C A
Score 44/100 75/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Maroochydore carries more crime risk (88 vs 27).

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 Low
27/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
87/100
 High
74/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Maroochydore Twin Waters
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
 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 Twin Waters

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Twin Waters sits further from the CBD (109.1 km vs 102 km).

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Walkability score 84/100 31/100
Distance to Brisbane 102 km 109.1 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 83 min 89 min
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 Twin Waters
Car (driver) 70.7% / 65.9%
Maroochydore — Car (driver): 70.7% Twin Waters — Car (driver): 65.9%
Worked from Home 16.0% / 27.4%
Maroochydore — Worked from Home: 16.0% Twin Waters — Worked from Home: 27.4%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 3.5%
Maroochydore — Car (passenger): 4.6% Twin Waters — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 5.1% / 1.3%
Maroochydore — Walked Only: 5.1% Twin Waters — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.1%
Maroochydore — Bicycle: 1.6% Twin Waters — Bicycle: 1.1%
Bus 1.7% / 0.3%
Maroochydore — Bus: 1.7% Twin Waters — Bus: 0.3%

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

Setting

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 859 m
1.8 km to a named beach
 723 m
2.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Maroochydore Twin Waters
Connectivity score 64/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
14,987 premises
 36%
1,573 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

Maroochydore Twin Waters
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 Twin Waters
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

Twin Waters

Coastal Premium Retirees River

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Other comparisons with Twin Waters

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Full data on Maroochydore Full data on Twin Waters
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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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