Overall score
Marcoola
50.9/100
Mount Coolum
55.6/100
Marcoola vs Mount Coolum, QLD Suburb Comparison
Marcoola for investment and schools; Mount Coolum for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
MarcoolaMount Coolum
Crime rate
Marcoola
50.4 / 1k
Mount Coolum
19.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Marcoola
13
Mount Coolum
48
Population
Marcoola
3,355
Mount Coolum
4,545
Metric leadMarcoola 3Mount Coolum 71 tiedacross 11 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesMount Coolum
- Best for familiesMount Coolum
- Best for beach lifestyleMount Coolum
- Best for investmentMarcoola
- Best for best valueMount Coolum
- Best for best schoolsMarcoola
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 | Marcoola | Mount Coolum |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 50.9/100 | 55.6/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 57.8/100 | 52.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 50.4 / 1k | 19.2 / 1k |
| Weather (desirability) | 37.3/100 | 37.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 9 | 8 |
| Public transport stops | 21 | 8 |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 41.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 13 | 48 |
| Planning activity | 1 | — |
| Green cover | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Population | 3,355 | 4,545 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 5/10 | 7/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Marcoola is a coastal mid-sized suburb shaped by beach life and outdoor living, and Mount Coolum is a coastal mid-sized suburb shaped by beach life and outdoor living. Mount Coolum sits among greener hillside streets, while Marcoola keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Marcoola tends to lead on parks and reserves, plus public transport access, while Mount Coolum stands out for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and walkability.
On balance, retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, and value-focused buyers are more likely to prefer Mount Coolum, while Marcoola 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.