Overall score
Malabar
54.4/100
Maroubra
58.8/100
Malabar for families and beach lifestyle; Maroubra for retirees and investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Malabar
54.4/100
Maroubra
58.8/100
Crime rate
Malabar
—
Maroubra
72.3 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Malabar
165
Maroubra
428
Population
Malabar
4,714
Maroubra
30,722
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 | Malabar | Maroubra |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 54.4/100 | 58.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 41.8/100 | 54.3/100 |
| Crime rate | — | 72.3 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 8 | 13 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 6 | 18 |
| Public transport stops | 69 | 260 |
| Walkability | 82.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 165 | 428 |
| Planning activity | 27 | 126 |
| Green cover | 0.7% | 15.2% |
| Population | 4,714 | 30,722 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 10/10 |
Malabar reads as a coastal mid-sized suburb shaped by beach life and outdoor living; Maroubra is a coastal larger suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
Malabar tends to lead on housing affordability, overall desirability, and a calmer planning outlook, while Maroubra stands out for schools and education options, parks and reserves, and public transport access.
Families, investors, and value-focused buyers may find Malabar the better fit, while people chasing a beach lifestyle and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Maroubra.
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.