Overall score
Airlie Beach
49.9/100
Whitsundays
46.1/100
Airlie Beach vs Whitsundays, QLD suburb comparison
Airlie Beach for beach lifestyle; Whitsundays for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Airlie BeachWhitsundays
Crime rate
Airlie Beach
79.2 / 1k
Whitsundays
—
Nearby amenities
Airlie Beach
223
Whitsundays
0
Population
Airlie Beach
1,312
Whitsundays
2,281
Metric leadAirlie Beach 3Whitsundays 32 tiedacross 8 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesWhitsundays
- Best for familiesWhitsundays
- Best for beach lifestyleAirlie Beach
- Best for investmentWhitsundays
- 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 | 49.9/100 | 46.1/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 25.8/100 | 49.8/100 |
| Crime rate | 79.2 / 1k | — |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 1 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | — |
| Walkability | 88.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 223 | 0 |
| Planning activity | 1 | 1 |
| 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 and nearby cafés and amenities, while Whitsundays stands out for housing affordability and a larger local community.
People chasing a beach lifestyle may find Airlie Beach the better fit, while retirees and families are more likely to prefer Whitsundays.