Overall score
Airlie Beach
46.4/100
Whitsundays
41.9/100
Airlie Beach vs Whitsundays, QLD Suburb Comparison
Airlie Beach for retirees and families; Whitsundays for value and schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Airlie BeachWhitsundays
Crime rate
Airlie Beach
127.4 / 1k
Whitsundays
—
Nearby amenities
Airlie Beach
248
Whitsundays
90
Population
Airlie Beach
1,312
Whitsundays
2,281
Metric leadAirlie Beach 5Whitsundays 23 tiedacross 10 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesAirlie Beach
- Best for familiesAirlie Beach
- Best for beach lifestyleAirlie Beach
- Best for investmentAirlie Beach
- Best for best valueWhitsundays
- Best for best schoolsWhitsundays
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Airlie Beach | Whitsundays |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 46.4/100 | 41.9/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 49.9/100 | 25.1/100 |
| Crime rate | 127.4 / 1k | — |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 26.4/100 | 26.4/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | — |
| Walkability | 88.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 248 | 90 |
| Planning activity | 1 | 1 |
| Green cover | 11.8% | 0.3% |
| Population | 1,312 | 2,281 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 6/10 | 10/10 |
Comparison summary
Airlie Beach reads as a beachside smaller community where the coast sets the tone; Whitsundays is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm. Airlie Beach sits further into the wider countryside, whereas Whitsundays is on a more distant stretch of coast.
Airlie Beach tends to lead on walkability, nearby cafés and amenities, and overall desirability, while Whitsundays stands out for housing affordability, a larger local community, and stronger socioeconomic advantage.
People chasing a beach lifestyle may find Airlie Beach the better fit, while retirees, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Whitsundays.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.