Hillarys or Coogee? Which would be the better suburb to live in?

Interestingly, Coogee had a price drop of around 10% this past year, while Hillary's managed 4.5% growth. If Coogee had continued growth they would have about the same median price. Might have been a few low sales or slow period but looks like it really depends on how you feel about the area and distances to work etc... If you have children perhaps you could speak to people at the local schools to get an idea on the friendliness.

Hard to know - all depends on the street and who lives there. Some people are friendly, but like to keep to themselves and others are always knocking on your door! I don't know Coogee that well, but Hillarys has an air of an established, quality beachside suburb and Coogee is a bit newer so perhaps is less known for its attributes. I only visit the area, but when I think of peacefulness I also consider that as a feeling, not just a lack of noise. The trees, the green lawns and winding streets, knowing the beach is just around the corner. Driving around Coogee didn't really convey that feeling for me, although it is actually closer to the water and you can smell the ocean. All a matter of opinion of course!