Mission Beach vs Wongaling Beach

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Wongaling Beach: a median of $798,000, against $690,000 in Mission Beach, though rent is higher in Mission Beach.

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

Wongaling Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Mission Beach has cheaper houses ($690,000 vs $797,500)
  • Wongaling Beach has cheaper units ($311,000 vs $380,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wongaling Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($273/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Wongaling Beach

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (54/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (1081 min vs 1092 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1581.6 km vs 1592.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wongaling Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (54/100 vs 10/100)

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

Investors

Mission Beach

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (24.4% vs 6.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
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.

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Walkability 10 / 54
Mission Beach — Walkability: 10/100 Wongaling Beach — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 52 / 58
Mission Beach — Safety: 52/100 Wongaling Beach — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 69
Mission Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wongaling Beach — Low fire risk: 69/100

Demographics

Wongaling Beach has more residents (1,323 vs 1,014); Mission Beach rents higher ($350/wk vs $273/wk).

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Population 1,014 1,323
+30% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.4% +6.3%
Median age 49 48
Median household income $68,952/yr
+5% vs other
 $65,312/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+22% vs other
 $273/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
0-4 5.2% / 4.3%
Mission Beach — 0-4: 5.2% Wongaling Beach — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 8.3% / 12.0%
Mission Beach — 5-14: 8.3% Wongaling Beach — 5-14: 12.0%
15-19 4.3% / 4.0%
Mission Beach — 15-19: 4.3% Wongaling Beach — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 3.2% / 2.8%
Mission Beach — 20-24: 3.2% Wongaling Beach — 20-24: 2.8%
25-34 13.9% / 10.4%
Mission Beach — 25-34: 13.9% Wongaling Beach — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 9.9% / 11.4%
Mission Beach — 35-44: 9.9% Wongaling Beach — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 14.8% / 13.6%
Mission Beach — 45-54: 14.8% Wongaling Beach — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 19.2% / 17.5%
Mission Beach — 55-64: 19.2% Wongaling Beach — 55-64: 17.5%
65-74 13.1% / 16.6%
Mission Beach — 65-74: 13.1% Wongaling Beach — 65-74: 16.6%
75-84 6.5% / 6.3%
Mission Beach — 75-84: 6.5% Wongaling Beach — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 1.1% / 1.0%
Mission Beach — 85+: 1.1% Wongaling Beach — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mission Beach 49.4% lone person
Mission Beach — Lone Person: 49.4% Mission Beach — Couple Families: 30.4% Mission Beach — One Parent Families: 12.3% Mission Beach — Group Household: 6.7% Mission Beach — Other Families: 1.2%
Wongaling Beach 45.2% lone person
Wongaling Beach — Lone Person: 45.2% Wongaling Beach — Couple Families: 29.4% Wongaling Beach — One Parent Families: 15.8% Wongaling Beach — Group Household: 7.0% Wongaling Beach — Other Families: 2.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mission Beach 37.0% renting
Mission Beach — Owned Outright: 39.2% Mission Beach — Mortgage: 23.8% Mission Beach — Renting: 37.0%
Wongaling Beach 31.9% renting
Wongaling Beach — Owned Outright: 43.3% Wongaling Beach — Mortgage: 24.8% Wongaling Beach — Renting: 31.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 16.6%
Mission Beach — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Wongaling Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 9.3% / 10.2%
Mission Beach — Bachelor Degree: 9.3% Wongaling Beach — Bachelor Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 6.6%
Mission Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Wongaling Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 2.5%
Mission Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Wongaling Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.7%
Mission Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Wongaling Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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.

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
England 6.6% / 6.1%
Mission Beach — England: 6.6% Wongaling Beach — England: 6.1%
New Zealand 2.7% / 3.3%
Mission Beach — New Zealand: 2.7% Wongaling Beach — New Zealand: 3.3%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.4%
Mission Beach — Philippines: 0.9% Wongaling Beach — Philippines: 0.4%
Ireland 0.7% / 0.5%
Mission Beach — Ireland: 0.7% Wongaling Beach — Ireland: 0.5%
India 0.5% / 0.6%
Mission Beach — India: 0.5% Wongaling Beach — India: 0.6%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.5%
Mission Beach — South Africa: 0.4% Wongaling Beach — South Africa: 0.5%
Germany — / 0.8%
Mission Beach — Germany: not among its largest Wongaling Beach — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mission Beach 81.8% houses
Mission Beach — Houses: 81.8% Mission Beach — Flats / Apartments: 12.1% Mission Beach — Townhouses: 6.1%
Wongaling Beach 73.1% houses
Wongaling Beach — Houses: 73.1% Wongaling Beach — Flats / Apartments: 18.6% Wongaling Beach — Townhouses: 8.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Median house price $690,000 $797,500
Median unit price $380,000 $311,000
Median land price $242,500 $250,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 66 days
from 17 sales
 118 days
from 20 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.

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
2 bed $520K / $575K
Mission Beach — 2 bed: $520K (11 sales) Wongaling Beach — 2 bed: $575K (5 sales)

11 vs 5 sales

3 bed $685K / $725K
Mission Beach — 3 bed: $685K (25 sales) Wongaling Beach — 3 bed: $725K (25 sales)

25 vs 25 sales

4 bed $840K / $924K
Mission Beach — 4 bed: $840K (15 sales) Wongaling Beach — 4 bed: $924K (14 sales)

15 vs 14 sales

Development activity

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
New dwellings approved 186
across Cassowary Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +68%
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.

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Houses 4.7%
$750/wk on $827K
 2.6%
$480/wk on $949K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 36% of QLD Higher than 31% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 69% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 6% of QLD

Liveability

Wongaling Beach is more walkable (54 vs 10).

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Grade C
same for both
Score 47/100 43/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Wongaling Beach carries more bushfire risk (31 vs 0).

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
31/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
31/100
 Low
27/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Mission Beach

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

Schools in Wongaling Beach

  • Mission Beach State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 9 4
Parks & reserves 4 8
Childcare 1
same for both
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 3 13

Mobility

Mission Beach sits further from the CBD (1592.3 km vs 1581.6 km).

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Walkability score 10/100 54/100
Distance to Brisbane 1592.3 km 1581.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1092 min 1081 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 4852
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 4852
same for both

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.

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Car (driver) 75.6% / 69.2%
Mission Beach — Car (driver): 75.6% Wongaling Beach — Car (driver): 69.2%
Worked from Home 11.2% / 14.6%
Mission Beach — Worked from Home: 11.2% Wongaling Beach — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 5.7%
Mission Beach — Car (passenger): 6.0% Wongaling Beach — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Walked Only 5.7% / 2.3%
Mission Beach — Walked Only: 5.7% Wongaling Beach — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus — / 6.4%
Mission Beach — Bus: not among its largest Wongaling Beach — Bus: 6.4%
Bicycle 1.5% / 1.7%
Mission Beach — Bicycle: 1.5% Wongaling Beach — Bicycle: 1.7%

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

Setting

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 892 m
950 m to a named beach
 245 m
431 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Connectivity score 64/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
704 premises
 56%
884 premises

Climate

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Annual rainfall 3,534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 16.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Average residential rate $1,829/yr
same for both
Council Cassowary Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Division Kennedy
same for both
Member Bob Katter
same for both
Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mission Beach Wongaling Beach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mission Beach

Beach Coastal

Wongaling Beach

Beach Beachfront Coastal Parks Quiet River

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Full data on Mission Beach Full data on Wongaling Beach
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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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