Mountain Creek vs Parrearra

Mountain Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 52 in Parrearra. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Mountain Creek, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Parrearra: a median of $1.59 million, against $1.22 million in Mountain Creek. On these figures, Mountain Creek tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Parrearra suits people living alone and 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

Mountain Creek

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Mountain Creek

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,220,000 vs $1,589,750)
  • has cheaper units ($716,500 vs $810,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mountain Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (37% vs 27%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Mountain Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (93.9 km vs 95.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Parrearra

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 11%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 22%)

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

Investors

Mountain Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.3% vs 2.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Mountain Creek 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.

Mountain Creek 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.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Walkability 49 / 51
Mountain Creek — Walkability: 49/100 Parrearra — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 69 / 68
Mountain Creek — Safety: 69/100 Parrearra — Safety: 68/100
Low fire risk 58 / 27
Mountain Creek — Low fire risk: 58/100 Parrearra — Low fire risk: 27/100

Demographics

Mountain Creek has more residents (11,950 vs 4,661); Parrearra skews older (52 vs 37).

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Population 11,950
+61% vs other
 4,661
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.2% +4.3%
Median age 37 52
Median household income $99,372/yr
+23% vs other
 $76,284/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+2% vs other
 $490/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
0-4 5.7% / 3.6%
Mountain Creek — 0-4: 5.7% Parrearra — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 16.7% / 9.8%
Mountain Creek — 5-14: 16.7% Parrearra — 5-14: 9.8%
15-19 7.5% / 5.3%
Mountain Creek — 15-19: 7.5% Parrearra — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 5.5% / 3.9%
Mountain Creek — 20-24: 5.5% Parrearra — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 11.9% / 7.6%
Mountain Creek — 25-34: 11.9% Parrearra — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 15.4% / 10.1%
Mountain Creek — 35-44: 15.4% Parrearra — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 15.4% / 13.2%
Mountain Creek — 45-54: 15.4% Parrearra — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 10.9% / 15.7%
Mountain Creek — 55-64: 10.9% Parrearra — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 7.3% / 15.9%
Mountain Creek — 65-74: 7.3% Parrearra — 65-74: 15.9%
75-84 3.0% / 11.7%
Mountain Creek — 75-84: 3.0% Parrearra — 75-84: 11.7%
85+ 0.7% / 3.3%
Mountain Creek — 85+: 0.7% Parrearra — 85+: 3.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mountain Creek 51.2% couple families
Mountain Creek — Couple Families: 51.2% Mountain Creek — Lone Person: 20.2% Mountain Creek — One Parent Families: 22.1% Mountain Creek — Group Household: 5.7% Mountain Creek — Other Families: 0.8%
Parrearra 35.8% couple families
Parrearra — Couple Families: 35.8% Parrearra — Lone Person: 44.4% Parrearra — One Parent Families: 14.6% Parrearra — Group Household: 4.3% Parrearra — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mountain Creek 37.1% renting
Mountain Creek — Owned Outright: 23.0% Mountain Creek — Mortgage: 39.9% Mountain Creek — Renting: 37.1%
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.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 15.7%
Mountain Creek — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Parrearra — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 13.6%
Mountain Creek — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Parrearra — Bachelor Degree: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 10.3%
Mountain Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Parrearra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 3.6%
Mountain Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Parrearra — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.2%
Mountain Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Parrearra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

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.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
England 6.2% / 7.1%
Mountain Creek — England: 6.2% Parrearra — England: 7.1%
New Zealand 5.6% / 5.3%
Mountain Creek — New Zealand: 5.6% Parrearra — New Zealand: 5.3%
South Africa 2.2% / 1.3%
Mountain Creek — South Africa: 2.2% Parrearra — South Africa: 1.3%
India 1.2% / 0.5%
Mountain Creek — India: 1.2% Parrearra — India: 0.5%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.9%
Mountain Creek — Scotland: 0.6% Parrearra — Scotland: 0.9%
Germany — / 0.8%
Mountain Creek — 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.

Mountain Creek 77.7% houses
Mountain Creek — Houses: 77.7% Mountain Creek — Flats / Apartments: 15.5% Mountain Creek — Townhouses: 6.8%
Parrearra 55.6% houses
Parrearra — Houses: 55.6% Parrearra — Flats / Apartments: 26.2% Parrearra — Townhouses: 18.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Median house price $1,220,000 $1,589,750
Median unit price $716,500 $810,000
Median land price $1,195,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 144 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.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
3 bed $996K / $1.23M
Mountain Creek — 3 bed: $996K (71 sales) Parrearra — 3 bed: $1.23M (8 sales)

71 vs 8 sales

4 bed $1.28M / $1.62M
Mountain Creek — 4 bed: $1.28M (158 sales) Parrearra — 4 bed: $1.62M (22 sales)

158 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.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
2 bed $710K / $771K
Mountain Creek — 2 bed: $710K (20 sales) Parrearra — 2 bed: $771K (12 sales)

20 vs 12 sales

3 bed $802K / $1.12M
Mountain Creek — 3 bed: $802K (15 sales) Parrearra — 3 bed: $1.12M (8 sales)

15 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Mountain Creek 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.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Houses 3.8%
$875/wk on $1.2M
 3.0%
$870/wk on $1.5M
Units 4.3%
$675/wk on $820K
 2.0%
$660/wk on $1.68M

Ranking within QLD

Mountain Creek Parrearra
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 47% of QLD
Schools Higher than 14% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 86% 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 87% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 41% of QLD Higher than 12% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 43% of QLD Higher than 1% of QLD

Liveability

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Grade C
same for both
Score 49/100 47/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Parrearra carries more bushfire risk (73 vs 42).

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Bushfire Moderate
42/100
 High
73/100
Crime Low
31/100
 Low
32/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 3.0 km
 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast, 4.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 1.5%

Schools in Mountain Creek

  • Brightwater State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mountain Creek State High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Mountain Creek State School Government · Primary below peers
  • The Industry School - Sunshine Coast - Mountain Creek Campus Independent · Secondary
  • Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre - Mountain Creek Campus Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in Parrearra

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

Amenities in the suburb

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 17 1
Childcare 7 1
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Waterways 8 1

Mobility

Parrearra sits further from the CBD (95.9 km vs 93.9 km).

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Walkability score 49/100 51/100
Distance to Brisbane 93.9 km 95.9 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 75 min 78 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 46.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 44.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Car (driver) 75.7% / 71.6%
Mountain Creek — Car (driver): 75.7% Parrearra — Car (driver): 71.6%
Worked from Home 16.1% / 20.2%
Mountain Creek — Worked from Home: 16.1% Parrearra — Worked from Home: 20.2%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 4.0%
Mountain Creek — Car (passenger): 5.2% Parrearra — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Bicycle 1.0% / 1.6%
Mountain Creek — Bicycle: 1.0% Parrearra — Bicycle: 1.6%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.2%
Mountain Creek — Walked Only: 1.0% Parrearra — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.7%).

Setting

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 1.4 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Connectivity score 76/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
4,417 premises
 36%
2,243 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Mountain Creek 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

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

Federal electorate

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Division Fairfax Fisher
Member Ted O'Brien Andrew Wallace
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mountain Creek Parrearra
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mountain Creek

Family Parks Regional Centre River

Parrearra

Coastal Premium Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mountain Creek

Mountain Creek vs Buderim Mountain Creek vs Sippy Downs Mountain Creek vs Mooloolaba Mountain Creek vs Minyama

Other comparisons with Parrearra

Parrearra vs Sippy Downs Parrearra vs Mooloolaba Parrearra vs Buddina Parrearra vs Warana Parrearra vs Minyama
Full data on Mountain Creek Full data on Parrearra
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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