Mooloolaba vs Alexandra Headland

Mooloolaba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 47 in Alexandra Headland. In both, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In Mooloolaba, about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Alexandra Headland, most homes are flats or apartments.

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

Mooloolaba

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (23 vs 9)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Alexandra Headland carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 81/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mooloolaba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,667,500 vs $2,200,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and 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

Mooloolaba

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 49/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (97.3 km vs 100.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mooloolaba

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 49/100)
  • But Alexandra Headland carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 81/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Mooloolaba returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.4% vs 1.9%)
  • Alexandra Headland returns a higher gross yield on units (4.6% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Mooloolaba 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.

Mooloolaba 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.

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Walkability 83 / 49
Mooloolaba — Walkability: 83/100 Alexandra Headland — Walkability: 49/100
Safety 19 / 38
Mooloolaba — Safety: 19/100 Alexandra Headland — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Mooloolaba — Low fire risk: 100/100 Alexandra Headland — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mooloolaba has more residents (8,202 vs 4,235); Alexandra Headland has higher household incomes ($87,464 vs $78,312).

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Population 8,202
+48% vs other
 4,235
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +7.0%
Median age 44 47
Median household income $78,312/yr $87,464/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $410/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
0-4 3.7% / 3.0%
Mooloolaba — 0-4: 3.7% Alexandra Headland — 0-4: 3.0%
5-14 9.5% / 8.1%
Mooloolaba — 5-14: 9.5% Alexandra Headland — 5-14: 8.1%
15-19 4.3% / 4.8%
Mooloolaba — 15-19: 4.3% Alexandra Headland — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 5.6% / 6.2%
Mooloolaba — 20-24: 5.6% Alexandra Headland — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 14.3% / 15.4%
Mooloolaba — 25-34: 14.3% Alexandra Headland — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 12.9% / 10.2%
Mooloolaba — 35-44: 12.9% Alexandra Headland — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 13.0% / 14.1%
Mooloolaba — 45-54: 13.0% Alexandra Headland — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 14.9% / 16.7%
Mooloolaba — 55-64: 14.9% Alexandra Headland — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 13.7% / 12.7%
Mooloolaba — 65-74: 13.7% Alexandra Headland — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 6.1% / 6.3%
Mooloolaba — 75-84: 6.1% Alexandra Headland — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 1.9% / 2.6%
Mooloolaba — 85+: 1.9% Alexandra Headland — 85+: 2.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mooloolaba 47.7% lone person
Mooloolaba — Lone Person: 47.7% Mooloolaba — Couple Families: 27.0% Mooloolaba — One Parent Families: 14.3% Mooloolaba — Group Household: 9.8% Mooloolaba — Other Families: 1.2%
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.

Mooloolaba 42.5% renting
Mooloolaba — Owned Outright: 33.7% Mooloolaba — Mortgage: 23.8% Mooloolaba — Renting: 42.5%
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

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.

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
New Zealand 6.1% / 4.5%
Mooloolaba — New Zealand: 6.1% Alexandra Headland — New Zealand: 4.5%
England 5.1% / 5.0%
Mooloolaba — England: 5.1% Alexandra Headland — England: 5.0%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.1%
Mooloolaba — South Africa: 1.2% Alexandra Headland — South Africa: 1.1%
India 1.2% / 0.8%
Mooloolaba — India: 1.2% Alexandra Headland — India: 0.8%
Brazil 0.9% / 1.0%
Mooloolaba — Brazil: 0.9% Alexandra Headland — Brazil: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

Qualifications

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

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Bachelor Degree 15.4% / 17.4%
Mooloolaba — Bachelor Degree: 15.4% Alexandra Headland — Bachelor Degree: 17.4%
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 15.6%
Mooloolaba — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Alexandra Headland — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.9%
Mooloolaba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Alexandra Headland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 5.2%
Mooloolaba — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Alexandra Headland — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.3%
Mooloolaba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Alexandra Headland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mooloolaba 49.9% flats / apartments
Mooloolaba — Flats / Apartments: 49.9% Mooloolaba — Houses: 38.5% Mooloolaba — Townhouses: 11.6%
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

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Median house price $1,667,500 $2,200,000
Median unit price $810,000 $837,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 37 days
from 86 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.

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
3 bed $1.41M / $1.4M
Mooloolaba — 3 bed: $1.41M (49 sales) Alexandra Headland — 3 bed: $1.4M (12 sales)

49 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.8M / $2.36M
Mooloolaba — 4 bed: $1.8M (40 sales) Alexandra Headland — 4 bed: $2.36M (24 sales)

40 vs 24 sales

5 bed $2.15M / $2.27M
Mooloolaba — 5 bed: $2.15M (23 sales) Alexandra Headland — 5 bed: $2.27M (7 sales)

23 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.

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
1 bed $660K / $540K
Mooloolaba — 1 bed: $660K (50 sales) Alexandra Headland — 1 bed: $540K (34 sales)

50 vs 34 sales

2 bed $810K / $895K
Mooloolaba — 2 bed: $810K (140 sales) Alexandra Headland — 2 bed: $895K (75 sales)

140 vs 75 sales

3 bed $1.2M / $1.35M
Mooloolaba — 3 bed: $1.2M (59 sales) Alexandra Headland — 3 bed: $1.35M (18 sales)

59 vs 18 sales

Development activity

Mooloolaba 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.

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Houses 2.4%
$850/wk on $1.85M
 1.9%
$1,040/wk on $2.81M
Units 4.1%
$710/wk on $895K
 4.6%
$750/wk on $849K

Ranking within QLD

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 49% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 88% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of QLD Higher than 1% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 35% of QLD Higher than 55% of QLD

Liveability

Mooloolaba is more walkable (83 vs 49); Alexandra Headland scores higher overall (65 vs 58).

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 65/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Mooloolaba carries more crime risk (81 vs 62).

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
65/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 5.4 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 1.9%

Schools in Mooloolaba

  • Mooloolaba State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Alexandra Headland

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

Amenities in the suburb

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 14 4
Parks & reserves 23 9
Childcare 4 1
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 18 0

Mobility

Alexandra Headland sits further from the CBD (100.5 km vs 97.3 km).

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Walkability score 83/100 49/100
Distance to Brisbane 97.3 km 100.5 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 80 min 84 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 110.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 88.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 4557
 1.3%
postcode 4572
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 4557
 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.

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Car (driver) 70.4% / 69.3%
Mooloolaba — Car (driver): 70.4% Alexandra Headland — Car (driver): 69.3%
Worked from Home 17.2% / 20.2%
Mooloolaba — Worked from Home: 17.2% Alexandra Headland — Worked from Home: 20.2%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.1%
Mooloolaba — Car (passenger): 4.5% Alexandra Headland — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 3.9% / 3.6%
Mooloolaba — Walked Only: 3.9% Alexandra Headland — Walked Only: 3.6%
Bus 2.2% / 1.7%
Mooloolaba — Bus: 2.2% Alexandra Headland — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.4%).

Setting

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 810 m
1.2 km to a named beach
 493 m
512 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Connectivity score 56/100 55/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
6,174 premises
 17%
3,223 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Mooloolaba 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

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

Federal electorate

Mooloolaba Alexandra Headland
Division Fisher
same for both
Member Andrew Wallace
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mooloolaba

Apartments Beach Coastal Parks Regional Centre River

Alexandra Headland

Apartments Beach Coastal Parks

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Alexandra Headland

Alexandra Headland vs Buderim Alexandra Headland vs Maroochydore
Full data on Mooloolaba 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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