Mooloolaba vs Parrearra

Mooloolaba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 52 in Parrearra. In both, most households own their home. In Mooloolaba, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. In Parrearra, most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Parrearra tends to suit 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

  • Mooloolaba has more parks and reserves (23 vs 1)
  • Parrearra carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 81/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mooloolaba

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 27%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (27% vs 33%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $490/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mooloolaba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 51/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mooloolaba

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 51/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 44%)
  • But Parrearra carries lower crime risk (32/100 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 units (4.1% vs 2.0%)
  • Parrearra returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.0% vs 2.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Mooloolaba and Parrearra 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 Parrearra
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 Parrearra
Walkability 83 / 51
Mooloolaba — Walkability: 83/100 Parrearra — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 19 / 68
Mooloolaba — Safety: 19/100 Parrearra — Safety: 68/100
Low fire risk 100 / 27
Mooloolaba — Low fire risk: 100/100 Parrearra — Low fire risk: 27/100

Demographics

Mooloolaba has more residents (8,202 vs 4,661); Parrearra rents higher ($490/wk vs $400/wk).

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Population 8,202
+43% vs other
 4,661
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +4.3%
Median age 44 52
Median household income $78,312/yr
+3% vs other
 $76,284/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk $490/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mooloolaba Parrearra
0-4 3.7% / 3.6%
Mooloolaba — 0-4: 3.7% Parrearra — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 9.5% / 9.8%
Mooloolaba — 5-14: 9.5% Parrearra — 5-14: 9.8%
15-19 4.3% / 5.3%
Mooloolaba — 15-19: 4.3% Parrearra — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 5.6% / 3.9%
Mooloolaba — 20-24: 5.6% Parrearra — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 14.3% / 7.6%
Mooloolaba — 25-34: 14.3% Parrearra — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 12.9% / 10.1%
Mooloolaba — 35-44: 12.9% Parrearra — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 13.0% / 13.2%
Mooloolaba — 45-54: 13.0% Parrearra — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 14.9% / 15.7%
Mooloolaba — 55-64: 14.9% Parrearra — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 13.7% / 15.9%
Mooloolaba — 65-74: 13.7% Parrearra — 65-74: 15.9%
75-84 6.1% / 11.7%
Mooloolaba — 75-84: 6.1% Parrearra — 75-84: 11.7%
85+ 1.9% / 3.3%
Mooloolaba — 85+: 1.9% Parrearra — 85+: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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%
Parrearra 44.4% lone person
Parrearra — Lone Person: 44.4% Parrearra — Couple Families: 35.8% Parrearra — One Parent Families: 14.6% Parrearra — Group Household: 4.3% Parrearra — 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%
Parrearra 26.6% renting
Parrearra — Owned Outright: 45.6% Parrearra — Mortgage: 27.8% Parrearra — Renting: 26.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 15.7%
Mooloolaba — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Parrearra — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 15.4% / 13.6%
Mooloolaba — Bachelor Degree: 15.4% Parrearra — Bachelor Degree: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 10.3%
Mooloolaba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Parrearra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 3.6%
Mooloolaba — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Parrearra — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.2%
Mooloolaba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Parrearra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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.

Mooloolaba Parrearra
England 5.1% / 7.1%
Mooloolaba — England: 5.1% Parrearra — England: 7.1%
New Zealand 6.1% / 5.3%
Mooloolaba — New Zealand: 6.1% Parrearra — New Zealand: 5.3%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.3%
Mooloolaba — South Africa: 1.2% Parrearra — South Africa: 1.3%
India 1.2% / 0.5%
Mooloolaba — India: 1.2% Parrearra — India: 0.5%
Brazil 0.9% / —
Mooloolaba — Brazil: 0.9% Parrearra — Brazil: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.9%
Mooloolaba — Scotland: not among its largest Parrearra — Scotland: 0.9%
Germany — / 0.8%
Mooloolaba — Germany: not among its largest Parrearra — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mooloolaba 38.5% houses
Mooloolaba — Houses: 38.5% Mooloolaba — Flats / Apartments: 49.9% Mooloolaba — Townhouses: 11.6%
Parrearra 55.6% houses
Parrearra — Houses: 55.6% Parrearra — Flats / Apartments: 26.2% Parrearra — Townhouses: 18.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Median house price $1,667,500 $1,589,750
Median unit price $810,000
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 37 days
from 86 sales
 28 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.

Mooloolaba Parrearra
3 bed $1.41M / $1.23M
Mooloolaba — 3 bed: $1.41M (49 sales) Parrearra — 3 bed: $1.23M (8 sales)

49 vs 8 sales

4 bed $1.8M / $1.62M
Mooloolaba — 4 bed: $1.8M (40 sales) Parrearra — 4 bed: $1.62M (22 sales)

40 vs 22 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 Parrearra
2 bed $810K / $771K
Mooloolaba — 2 bed: $810K (140 sales) Parrearra — 2 bed: $771K (12 sales)

140 vs 12 sales

3 bed $1.2M / $1.12M
Mooloolaba — 3 bed: $1.2M (59 sales) Parrearra — 3 bed: $1.12M (8 sales)

59 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Mooloolaba Parrearra
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 Parrearra
Houses 2.4%
$850/wk on $1.85M
 3.0%
$870/wk on $1.5M
Units 4.1%
$710/wk on $895K
 2.0%
$660/wk on $1.68M

Ranking within QLD

Mooloolaba Parrearra
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 49% of QLD Higher than 47% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of QLD Higher than 12% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 35% of QLD Higher than 1% of QLD

Liveability

Mooloolaba is more walkable (83 vs 51); Mooloolaba scores higher overall (58 vs 47).

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Grade B C
Score 58/100 47/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Parrearra carries more bushfire risk (73 vs 0); Mooloolaba carries more crime risk (81 vs 32).

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
73/100
Crime High
81/100
 Low
32/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Mooloolaba Parrearra
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, 4.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 1.5%

Schools in Mooloolaba

  • Mooloolaba State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Parrearra

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

Amenities in the suburb

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 14 2
Parks & reserves 23 1
Childcare 4 1
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 18 1

Mobility

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Walkability score 83/100 51/100
Distance to Brisbane 97.3 km
+1% vs other
 95.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 80 min 78 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 110.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 44.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 4557
 1.4%
postcode 4575
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 4557
 64
postcode 4575

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 Parrearra
Car (driver) 70.4% / 71.6%
Mooloolaba — Car (driver): 70.4% Parrearra — Car (driver): 71.6%
Worked from Home 17.2% / 20.2%
Mooloolaba — Worked from Home: 17.2% Parrearra — Worked from Home: 20.2%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.0%
Mooloolaba — Car (passenger): 4.5% Parrearra — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 3.9% / 1.2%
Mooloolaba — Walked Only: 3.9% Parrearra — Walked Only: 1.2%
Bus 2.2% / 1.1%
Mooloolaba — Bus: 2.2% Parrearra — Bus: 1.1%
Bicycle 1.7% / 1.6%
Mooloolaba — Bicycle: 1.7% Parrearra — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.6%).

Setting

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 810 m
1.2 km to a named beach
 1.4 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mooloolaba Parrearra
Connectivity score 56/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
6,174 premises
 36%
2,243 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

Mooloolaba Parrearra
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 Parrearra
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

Parrearra

Coastal Premium Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mooloolaba

Mooloolaba vs Buderim Mooloolaba vs Mountain Creek Mooloolaba vs Buddina Mooloolaba vs Alexandra Headland Mooloolaba vs Minyama

Other comparisons with Parrearra

Parrearra vs Mountain Creek Parrearra vs Sippy Downs Parrearra vs Buddina Parrearra vs Warana Parrearra vs Minyama
Full data on Mooloolaba Full data on Parrearra
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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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