Meerschaum Vale vs Coolgardie

Coolgardie is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 47 in Meerschaum Vale. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. On these figures, Coolgardie tends to suit share households and families with children.

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

Coolgardie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 71%)

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

First-home buyers

Meerschaum Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 24%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Meerschaum Vale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 5/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (715.4 km vs 718.5 km)
  • But Coolgardie has a shorter drive in (461 min vs 466 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Meerschaum Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 5/100)

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

Investors

Coolgardie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.5% vs -6.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
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.

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Walkability 14 / 5
Meerschaum Vale — Walkability: 14/100 Coolgardie — Walkability: 5/100
Safety 68 / 61
Meerschaum Vale — Safety: 68/100 Coolgardie — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 51 / 62
Meerschaum Vale — Low fire risk: 51/100 Coolgardie — Low fire risk: 62/100

Demographics

Meerschaum Vale has more residents (372 vs 132); Coolgardie has higher household incomes ($117,000 vs $102,336).

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Population 372
+65% vs other
 132
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.3% +6.5%
Median age 47 44
Median household income $102,336/yr $117,000/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $435/wk
+3% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
0-4 4.3% / 7.6%
Meerschaum Vale — 0-4: 4.3% Coolgardie — 0-4: 7.6%
5-14 9.7% / 11.4%
Meerschaum Vale — 5-14: 9.7% Coolgardie — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 7.5% / 6.8%
Meerschaum Vale — 15-19: 7.5% Coolgardie — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 5.4% / 4.5%
Meerschaum Vale — 20-24: 5.4% Coolgardie — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 8.1% / 7.6%
Meerschaum Vale — 25-34: 8.1% Coolgardie — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 12.4% / 12.9%
Meerschaum Vale — 35-44: 12.4% Coolgardie — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 17.7% / 15.2%
Meerschaum Vale — 45-54: 17.7% Coolgardie — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 18.3% / 18.2%
Meerschaum Vale — 55-64: 18.3% Coolgardie — 55-64: 18.2%
65-74 11.3% / 12.9%
Meerschaum Vale — 65-74: 11.3% Coolgardie — 65-74: 12.9%
75-84 4.0% / 5.3%
Meerschaum Vale — 75-84: 4.0% Coolgardie — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ — / —
Meerschaum Vale — 85+: not among its largest Coolgardie — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale 57.5% couple families
Meerschaum Vale — Couple Families: 57.5% Meerschaum Vale — One Parent Families: 13.8% Meerschaum Vale — Group Household: 5.0% Meerschaum Vale — Lone Person: 23.8%
Coolgardie 65.0% couple families
Coolgardie — Couple Families: 65.0% Coolgardie — One Parent Families: 15.0% Coolgardie — Group Household: 20.0% Coolgardie — Lone Person: 0.0%
Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Lone Person

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale 15.4% renting
Meerschaum Vale — Owned Outright: 45.5% Meerschaum Vale — Mortgage: 39.0% Meerschaum Vale — Renting: 15.4%
Coolgardie 8.6% renting
Coolgardie — Owned Outright: 31.4% Coolgardie — Mortgage: 60.0% Coolgardie — Renting: 8.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
England 3.2% / 3.0%
Meerschaum Vale — England: 3.2% Coolgardie — England: 3.0%
Netherlands 1.1% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Netherlands: 1.1% Coolgardie — Netherlands: not among its largest
South Africa 0.8% / —
Meerschaum Vale — South Africa: 0.8% Coolgardie — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.8% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Scotland: 0.8% Coolgardie — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

Qualifications

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

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Certificate III & IV 24.5% / 13.6%
Meerschaum Vale — Certificate III & IV: 24.5% Coolgardie — Certificate III & IV: 13.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 18.9%
Meerschaum Vale — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Coolgardie — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.1%
Meerschaum Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Coolgardie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 3.0%
Meerschaum Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Coolgardie — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.0%
Meerschaum Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Coolgardie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale 97.0% houses
Meerschaum Vale — Houses: 97.0% Meerschaum Vale — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Coolgardie 100.0% houses
Coolgardie — Houses: 100.0% Coolgardie — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Median house price $1,125,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Meerschaum Vale has more rural and farming land (65% vs 49%).

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Rural and farming 65% 49%
Other and special use 21% 31%
Environmental 14% 19%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
same for both
Approvals change year on year +210%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
House price Higher than 62% of NSW —
Income Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW

Liveability

Meerschaum Vale is more walkable (14 vs 5).

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Meerschaum Vale carries more bushfire risk (49 vs 38).

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 Low
38/100
Crime Low
32/100
 Low
39/100
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
same for both

Schools

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
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

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Coolgardie sits further from the CBD (718.5 km vs 715.4 km).

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Walkability score 14/100 5/100
Distance to Sydney 715.4 km 718.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 466 min 461 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2477
 1.1%
postcode 2478
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 75
postcode 2477
 66
postcode 2478

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.

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Car (driver) 76.6% / 73.8%
Meerschaum Vale — Car (driver): 76.6% Coolgardie — Car (driver): 73.8%
Worked from Home 16.2% / 26.2%
Meerschaum Vale — Worked from Home: 16.2% Coolgardie — Worked from Home: 26.2%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Car (passenger): 3.9% Coolgardie — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 3.2% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Walked Only: 3.2% Coolgardie — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 122 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.6 km 6.5 km

NBN connectivity

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Connectivity score 29/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
137 premises
 0%
53 premises

Council rates

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Average residential rate $1,264/yr
same for both
Council Ballina
same for both

Federal electorate

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Meerschaum Vale Coolgardie
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Meerschaum Vale

Rural

Coolgardie

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Meerschaum Vale

Meerschaum Vale vs Wardell Meerschaum Vale vs Uralba Meerschaum Vale vs Dalwood Meerschaum Vale vs Lynwood Meerschaum Vale vs Marom Creek Meerschaum Vale vs Bagotville

Other comparisons with Coolgardie

Coolgardie vs Wardell Coolgardie vs Pimlico Coolgardie vs Uralba
Full data on Meerschaum Vale Full data on Coolgardie
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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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