Caloundra - Kings Beach

Population growth drivers in Caloundra - Kings Beach are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Caloundra - Kings Beach's population was around 7,129 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 156 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,973. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,065 in June 2024 and an additional 335 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 1,786 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections were used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. A significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas by 2041, with Caloundra - Kings Beach expected to increase by 2,540 persons, reflecting a 34.7% total increase over the 17 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Caloundra - Kings Beach recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Caloundra - Kings Beach has granted around 48 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 244 homes. As of FY-26, 41 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.2 new residents per year have arrived with each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. This pace matches or exceeds demand, offering buyers more options while supporting population growth.

The average construction cost for new dwellings is $388,000. In the current financial year, there has been $25.1 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady investment activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Caloundra - Kings Beach records lower building activity, with 54.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. The development consists of 7.0% standalone homes and 93.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend towards denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

As of now, there are approximately 483 people per dwelling approval in the area, indicating an established population. Future projections estimate Caloundra - Kings Beach will add 2,476 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Caloundra - Kings Beach has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 23 such projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable among these are the Caloundra Centre Activation Project, Holiday Inn & Suites Caloundra Sunshine Coast, Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade (CTCU), and Sunset Caloundra. The following list details those projects most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Caloundra - Kings Beach faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Caloundra - Kings Beach has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.0%. The employment rate in Caloundra - Kings Beach stands at 3136 residents, which is 1.9% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation is lower at 51.5%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 16.4% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 4.5%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 1.0, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.9% alongside a 1.7% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7%, labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caloundra - Kings Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that median income in Caloundra - Kings Beach SA2 is $46,410. The average income stands at $58,599. This contrasts with the Rest of Qld figures where median income is $53,146 and average income is $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income for Caloundra - Kings Beach would be approximately $51,009 and average income $64,406 by the latter date. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Caloundra - Kings Beach fall between the 8th and 22nd percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 28.3% of locals (2,017 people) with incomes between $800 and $1,499, unlike broader trends where 31.7% fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.

Caloundra - Kings Beach features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Caloundra - Kings Beach dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 15.4% houses and 84.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caloundra - Kings Beach was 38.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (15.7%) or rented (45.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655 and Australia's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $370, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345 and the national figure of $375.

Caloundra - Kings Beach features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 54.5% of all households, including 10.7% couples with children, 33.4% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.5%, with lone person households at 41.1% and group households at 4.3%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Caloundra - Kings Beach aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Caloundra's Kings Beach trail shows that 24.0% of residents aged 15 and above have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.6% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 25.7%. A total of 20.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 5.9% in primary education, 5.0% in secondary education, and 4.4% in tertiary education.

A substantial 20.2% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 5.9% in primary education, 5.0% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Caloundra - Kings Beach has 30 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These routes provide a total of 2,358 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 207 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, primarily by car (86%), while 8% walk. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 16.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 336 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 78 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Caloundra - Kings Beach is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Caloundra's Kings Beach faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 3,450 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (12.4%) and mental health issues (9.3%). Approximately 59.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (32.7%, or around 2,328 people), compared to the rest of Queensland's 20.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Caloundra - Kings Beach records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Caloundra - Kings Beach's cultural diversity is roughly aligned with the broader region, with 83.4% of its population being citizens, 76.5% born in Australia, and 92.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Caloundra - Kings Beach, accounting for 53.6% of the population, compared to 52.2% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups are English (33.4%), Australian (23.1%), and Irish (10.7%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 9.6%, Welsh at 0.8%, and German at 5.1%, compared to regional averages of 7.8%, 0.5%, and 4.7% respectively.

Caloundra - Kings Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Caloundra - Kings Beach has a median age of 55, which is higher than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Caloundra - Kings Beach has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (16.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.4%). This concentration of 65-74 residents is well above the national figure of 9.5%. Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the median age decreased by 1.2 years from 56 to 55, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 10.3% to 13.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 12.6% to 10.8%, and those aged 65-74 dropped from 18.0% to 16.4%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Caloundra - Kings Beach's age profile will evolve significantly. The number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to increase considerably, expanding by 513 people (53%) from 974 to 1,488.