Overall score
Maroochydore
51.0/100
Surfers Paradise
42.8/100
Maroochydore vs Surfers Paradise, QLD Suburb Comparison
Maroochydore for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
MaroochydoreSurfers Paradise
Crime rate
Maroochydore
122.2 / 1k
Surfers Paradise
161.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Maroochydore
566
Surfers Paradise
1,422
Population
Maroochydore
20,629
Surfers Paradise
26,412
Metric leadMaroochydore 5Surfers Paradise 52 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 retireesMaroochydore
- Best for familiesMaroochydore
- Best for investmentMaroochydore
- Best for best valueMaroochydore
- Best for best schoolsMaroochydore
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 | Maroochydore | Surfers Paradise |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 51.0/100 | 42.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 63.9/100 | 48.7/100 |
| Crime rate | 122.2 / 1k | 161.2 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 4 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 31.2/100 | 33.9/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 63 | 71 |
| Public transport stops | 59 | 60 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 566 | 1,422 |
| Green cover | 7.7% | 7.4% |
| Population | 20,629 | 26,412 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 6/10 | 6/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Maroochydore is a coastal established suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm, and Surfers Paradise is a beachside larger suburb where the coast sets the tone. Maroochydore sits on a more distant stretch of coast, whereas Surfers Paradise is firmly coastal.
Maroochydore pulls ahead on housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and schools and education options, whereas Surfers Paradise is the better pick for parks and reserves, public transport access, and nearby cafés and amenities.
On balance, retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Maroochydore, while Surfers Paradise 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.