There is an increasing volume of research suggesting that coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. However, there is limited knowledge regarding perceptions of risk and hazard-related concerns in coastal communities and few studies integrate coastal climate risk perceptions with other household concerns. Here we present some of the first empirical data regarding perceptions of risk in Australian coastal communities at the household scale. A survey of 400 coastal households in two communities and semi-structured interviews provide insight into households ordering of climatic and non-climatic risks. The results suggest that linking climate driven hazards to the every-day concerns of households, such as finance and health, may raise the profile of climate issues in the coastal zone.