Overall score
Sandy Beach
35.1/100
Woolgoolga
36.8/100
Sandy Beach for value; Woolgoolga for retirees.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Sandy Beach
35.1/100
Woolgoolga
36.8/100
Crime rate
Sandy Beach
64.6 / 1k
Woolgoolga
64.6 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Sandy Beach
22
Woolgoolga
30
Population
Sandy Beach
2,913
Woolgoolga
6,151
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 | Sandy Beach | Woolgoolga |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 35.1/100 | 36.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 57.9/100 | 57.7/100 |
| Crime rate | 64.6 / 1k | 64.6 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 3 |
| Weather (desirability) | 64.0/100 | 64.0/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 7 |
| Public transport stops | 67 | 168 |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 22 | 30 |
| Planning activity | 17 | 71 |
| Green cover | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Population | 2,913 | 6,151 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 4/10 | 3/10 |
Sandy Beach is a regional mid-sized suburb that feels self-contained without feeling remote, while Woolgoolga is a regional mid-sized suburb that feels self-contained without feeling remote.
Sandy Beach pulls ahead on housing affordability, a calmer planning outlook, and stronger socioeconomic advantage, whereas Woolgoolga is the better pick for schools and education options, parks and reserves, and public transport access.
Retirees and investors may find Sandy Beach the better fit, while families and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Woolgoolga.
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.