Overall score
Dundowran Beach
38.0/100
Toogoom
32.8/100
Dundowran Beach for retirees and beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Dundowran Beach
38.0/100
Toogoom
32.8/100
Crime rate
Dundowran Beach
42.1 / 1k
Toogoom
42.1 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Dundowran Beach
4
Toogoom
2
Population
Dundowran Beach
2,299
Toogoom
2,596
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 | Dundowran Beach | Toogoom |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 38.0/100 | 32.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 89.6/100 | 38.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 42.1 / 1k | 42.1 / 1k |
| Parks & reserves | 2 | 3 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 4 | 2 |
| Population | 2,299 | 2,596 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 7/10 | 2/10 |
Dundowran Beach is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Toogoom is a quieter mid-sized suburb with space and a country-town pace. Where Dundowran Beach is shaped by the coast, Toogoom offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Dundowran Beach tends to lead on housing affordability and nearby cafés and amenities, while Toogoom stands out for parks and reserves and a larger local community. On housing, Dundowran Beach sits in a well priced band, compared with a affordable feel in Toogoom.
On balance, retirees and people chasing a beach lifestyle are more likely to prefer Dundowran Beach, while Toogoom remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.