Overall score
Barlows Hill
36.4/100
Cooee Bay
37.4/100
Barlows Hill vs Cooee Bay, QLD Suburb Comparison
Barlows Hill for retirees and beach lifestyle; Cooee Bay for families and investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Barlows HillCooee Bay
Crime rate
Barlows Hill
63.3 / 1k
Cooee Bay
63.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Barlows Hill
0
Cooee Bay
26
Population
Barlows Hill
834
Cooee Bay
942
Metric leadBarlows Hill 3Cooee Bay 61 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 retireesBarlows Hill
- Best for familiesCooee Bay
- Best for beach lifestyleBarlows Hill
- Best for investmentCooee Bay
- Best for best valueBarlows Hill
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 | Barlows Hill | Cooee Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 36.4/100 | 37.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 37.4/100 | 53.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 63.3 / 1k | 63.2 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 18.0/100 | 18.0/100 |
| Parks & reserves | — | 4 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 3.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 0 | 26 |
| Green cover | 38.2% | 4.5% |
| Population | 834 | 942 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 6/10 | 3/10 |
Comparison summary
Barlows Hill reads as a coastal smaller community shaped by beach life and outdoor living; Cooee Bay is a regional smaller community that feels self-contained without feeling remote. Where Barlows Hill is shaped by the coast, Cooee Bay offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Barlows Hill pulls ahead on housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and schools and education options, whereas Cooee Bay is the better pick for walkability, nearby cafés and amenities, and overall desirability. On housing, Barlows Hill sits in a well priced band, compared with a affordable feel in Cooee Bay.
On balance, retirees, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Barlows Hill, while Cooee Bay remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
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.