Overall score
Coolum Beach
57.0/100
Noosa Heads
63.7/100
Coolum Beach vs Noosa Heads, QLD Suburb Comparison
Coolum Beach for retirees and value; Noosa Heads for families and beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Coolum BeachNoosa Heads
Crime rate
Coolum Beach
19.3 / 1k
Noosa Heads
54.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Coolum Beach
53
Noosa Heads
388
Population
Coolum Beach
9,152
Noosa Heads
5,120
Metric leadCoolum Beach 6Noosa Heads 51 tiedacross 12 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesCoolum Beach
- Best for familiesNoosa Heads
- Best for beach lifestyleNoosa Heads
- Best for investmentNoosa Heads
- Best for best valueCoolum Beach
- Best for best schoolsNoosa Heads
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 | Coolum Beach | Noosa Heads |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 57.0/100 | 63.7/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 60.9/100 | 42.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 19.3 / 1k | 54.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 5 |
| Weather (desirability) | 37.3/100 | 37.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 16 | 10 |
| Public transport stops | 27 | 23 |
| Walkability | 74.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 53 | 388 |
| Green cover | 3.0% | 1.0% |
| Population | 9,152 | 5,120 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 7/10 | 9/10 |
Comparison summary
Coolum Beach reads as a coastal established suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm; Noosa Heads is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
Coolum Beach tends to lead on housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves, while Noosa Heads stands out for schools and education options, walkability, and nearby cafés and amenities.
Retirees, investors, and value-focused buyers may find Coolum Beach the better fit, while families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Noosa Heads.
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.