Caloundra Hinterland

Caloundra Hinterland has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Caloundra Hinterland's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 9,403, indicating a rise of 293 individuals since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census recorded a population of 9,110. This increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 9,352 in June 2025 and validated new addresses totaling 250 since the Census date. The population density stands at 20 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration accounted for roughly 61% of recent population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovered areas and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. Age category splits for state projections are not provided; thus, proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied. Future demographic trends suggest lower quartile growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 83 persons, reflecting a total increase of 0.3% over 16 years, based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Caloundra Hinterland when compared nationally

Caloundra Hinterland has recorded approximately 53 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 265 homes. As of FY-26, 44 approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built over these years is 0.8. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value of new properties is $570,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, commercial approvals have totalled $8.7 million, suggesting limited focus on commercial development compared to residential. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Caloundra Hinterland shows significantly reduced construction activity, which is 60.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties.

However, building activity has accelerated in recent years, with 81.0% detached houses and 19.0% townhouses or apartments being constructed, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes. The location currently has approximately 142 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Caloundra Hinterland is projected to add 32 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Caloundra Hinterland has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 34 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include Landsborough-Maleny Road and Maleny-Montville Road Intersection Upgrade, Maleny Grove Expansion, Coral Residences Maleny, and Maleny Meadows Estate. The following details those most likely to be relevant.

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Caloundra Hinterland shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Caloundra Hinterland has an educated workforce with prominent essential services sectors and an unemployment rate of 4.5% as of December 2025. There are 3,903 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 0.5% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation lags at 49.7%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%.

According to Census responses, 27.0% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, mining shows lower representation at 1.5% versus the regional average of 3.6%.

Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.3% while employment declined by 3.1%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caloundra Hinterland's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Caloundra Hinterland SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $40,405. The average income stood at $61,188. This is below the national average. Comparing to Regional Qld, the median and average incomes were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Caloundra Hinterland would be approximately $44,995 (median) and $68,139 (average) as of March 2026. From the Census conducted on August 10, 2021, household incomes in Caloundra Hinterland fell between the 15th and 17th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 27.7% of locals (2,604 people) with incomes between $800 and $1,499. This differs from patterns across the region where incomes between $1,500 and $2,999 dominate at 31.7%. After housing expenses, 86.6% of income remains in Caloundra Hinterland, ranking at only the 21st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Caloundra Hinterland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Caloundra Hinterland, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caloundra Hinterland was higher at 56.0%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (28.0%) or rented (16.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,700, exceeding Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $370, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Caloundra Hinterland's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Caloundra Hinterland has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 71.5% of all households, including 19.8% couples with children, 40.9% couples without children, and 10.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Caloundra Hinterland exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Caloundra Hinterland's residents aged 15 and above exhibit higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 32.0% hold university qualifications compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 23.1% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.4%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 37.2% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 14.4% and certificates at 22.8%.

Furthermore, 23.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.6% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.6% in tertiary education.

Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis shows 13 active stops operating within Caloundra Hinterland. These stops are served by 2 routes, offering a total of 145 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents located an average of 2757 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant transport mode at 90%, while 6% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 27.0% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 20 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Caloundra Hinterland's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Caloundra Hinterland shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues are seen across both young and old age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at 49% (~4,626 people), compared to Regional Qld's 52.5% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.9%) and mental health issues (8.3%), while 61.3% report no medical ailments, compared to Regional Qld's 67.6%. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 36.3% of residents aged 65 and over (3,413 people), higher than Regional Qld's 20.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

Caloundra Hinterland ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Caloundra Hinterland's population showed low cultural diversity, with 78.3% born in Australia and 88.2% being citizens. English was spoken at home by 95.3%. Christianity dominated religiously, comprising 41.3%.

The 'Other' category was slightly overrepresented at 0.9%, compared to Regional Qld's 0.8%. Top ancestry groups were English (33.4%), Australian (24.3%), and Irish (11.1%). Scottish (10.2%) and Welsh (0.8%) were notably overrepresented, while German (5.4%) was slightly more prevalent than regionally (4.7%).

Caloundra Hinterland ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Caloundra Hinterland is 56 years, significantly higher than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and older than the national norm of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented at 19.3% locally compared to Regional Queensland's average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 6.1%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 11.0% to 12.9% of the population, while the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 12.8% to 11.1%. By 2041, Caloundra Hinterland is projected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age cohort is expected to expand considerably by 248 people (65%), growing from 383 to 632. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 73% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 5-14 and 65-74 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.