Overall score
Bar Beach
40.3/100
Cooks Hill
48.5/100
Bar Beach for beach lifestyle and investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Bar Beach
40.3/100
Cooks Hill
48.5/100
Crime rate
Bar Beach
217.7 / 1k
Cooks Hill
217.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Bar Beach
77
Cooks Hill
281
Population
Bar Beach
1,292
Cooks Hill
3,774
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Bar Beach | Cooks Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 40.3/100 | 48.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 27.1/100 | 12.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 217.7 / 1k | 217.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 9 | 8 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 20 | 28 |
| Walkability | 34.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 77 | 281 |
| Planning activity | 3 | 17 |
| Population | 1,292 | 3,774 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 10/10 |
Bar Beach is a coastal smaller community shaped by beach life and outdoor living, while Cooks Hill is a lively metro mid-sized suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by. Where Bar Beach is shaped by the coast, Cooks Hill offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Bar Beach pulls ahead on housing affordability and a quieter safety profile, whereas Cooks Hill is the better pick for public transport access and walkability.
Families and people chasing a beach lifestyle may find Bar Beach the better fit, while households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Cooks Hill.