Caloundra vs Merrimac
Property investment comparison - Caloundra, QLD 4551 vs Merrimac, QLD 4226
Head-to-head across core investment metrics: Caloundra wins 1, Merrimac wins 3. The better choice depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow, growth, affordability, or liquidity, the table below highlights the winner on each metric.
| Metric | Caloundra | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.2M | $1.2M |
| Median unit price | $880K | - |
| Gross rental yield (houses) | - | 4.03% |
| Gross rental yield (units) | 4.05% | 5.40% |
| 1-year house growth | +23.2% | +14.9% |
| 3-year house growth | +32.5% | +43.2% |
| Vacancy rate | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Population | 3,932 | 7,212 |
Caloundra vs Merrimac: what the numbers say
Houses cost about the same in both suburbs: the median house price is $1.2M in Caloundra and $1.2M in Merrimac.
Over the past year house prices moved +23.2% in Caloundra and +14.9% in Merrimac, so recent momentum favours Caloundra, although both suburbs recorded growth.
Looking back three years, Caloundra houses are +32.5% and Merrimac houses +43.2%, so Merrimac has compounded faster than Caloundra over the longer window.
Rental vacancy is 1.0% in Merrimac and 1.3% in Caloundra, so landlords in Merrimac face less competition for tenants. Anything under 2% is generally read as a tight market where tenants compete for homes.
Merrimac is the bigger suburb, with a population of 7,212 against 3,932, larger than Caloundra; a larger suburb usually means a deeper pool of buyers and tenants.
In short: Caloundra for recent price momentum, Merrimac for the tighter rental market. Which matters more depends on whether the investor is buying for cash flow, capital growth or affordability.
Keep exploring
- National investment guide - top suburbs across every metric
- Take the suburb finder quiz - 5 questions to match your goals
- How our investment score works
- Property investment glossary - every term defined
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