Coolangatta
Statistical Area - sa2

Coolangatta lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Coolangatta's population is around 7,566 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,075 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,491. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,074 in June 2024 and an additional 638 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,982 persons per square kilometer, placing Coolangatta in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 16.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro average (8.8%) and the national average. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 68.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Moving forward, a significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Coolangatta expected to grow by 2,493 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 26.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Coolangatta among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Coolangatta has averaged approximately 194 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 972 homes were approved, with an additional 106 approved in FY-26 to date. Over these past five financial years, the average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built has been around 0.7.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes in Coolangatta is $724,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, there have been $6.5 million worth of commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Coolangatta has recorded 201.0% more development activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating strong developer interest in the area.

New development primarily consists of townhouses or apartments (97.0%), with a small proportion of detached dwellings (3.0%). This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The location has approximately 169 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Looking ahead, Coolangatta is projected to grow by 2,001 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Coolangatta has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects likely to impact the region. Notable initiatives include Reflections Tower Two, Kirra Point Holiday Apartments, Pipis Bilinga, and Coolangatta Beachfront Redevelopment. The following list details projects of particular relevance.

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

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Coolangatta maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Coolangatta has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.6% and it experienced an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 3,831 residents employed while the unemployment rate stands at 0.3% below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is somewhat lower than the regional average at 55.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (26%), accommodation & food services (22%), and construction (14%). The area has a particularly strong specialization in accommodation & food services, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing, however, has limited presence at 0.8% compared to the regional average of 4.5%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.1% and labour force increased by 2.1%, leaving unemployment broadly flat at 3.6%. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8%, labour force growth of 2.0%, with unemployment rising slightly to 4.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Coolangatta's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. Coolangatta had a median income among taxpayers of $46,449 and an average level of $67,326. Both figures were above the national averages of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively in Rest of Qld. As of September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $52,947 and average income is around $76,745, based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022. Census data shows personal income ranks at the 46th percentile with a weekly income of $785, while household income sits at the 22nd percentile. Income distribution reveals that 28.9% of residents (2,186 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring regional levels where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 20th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Coolangatta, as per the latest Census, consisted of 13.1% houses and 86.9% other dwellings such as semi-detached units, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro Qld's 49.8% houses and 50.2% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Coolangatta was at 37.7%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (19.9%) or rented (42.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,805, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $405, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $450. Nationally, Coolangatta's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 54.7% of all households, including 12.1% couples with children, 34.0% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 45.3%, with lone person households at 37.6% and group households comprising 7.6%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Coolangatta aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 28.7% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and the SA4 region's rate of 25.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 36.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 24.6%.

A significant 23.0% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 7.4% in tertiary education, 4.7% in primary education, and 3.8% pursuing secondary education. Coolangatta's five schools have a combined enrollment of 351 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1017) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary, two secondary, and one K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 4.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.1, leading many families to seek schooling in nearby areas. Note: for schools marked 'n/a' regarding enrolments, please refer to their parent campus.

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

Coolangatta has 24 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 11 different routes that together facilitate 1,375 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in the area is rated as good, with residents on average being located 265 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Across all routes, there is an average of 196 trips per day, which equates to approximately 57 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Coolangatta faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 53% (~4040 people) have private health cover, higher than the state average. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.5%) and mental health issues (8.4%). About 66.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.3% in the rest of Queensland. Residents aged 65 and over make up 24.8% (1877 people) of the population, higher than the state average of 19.2%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Coolangatta's cultural diversity aligns with the broader regional average, as indicated by its population statistics: 82.5% are citizens, 77.4% were born in Australia, and 90.7% speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coolangatta, accounting for 49.5% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Coolangatta compared to the rest of Queensland, with 0.2% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents are English (31.7%), Australian (23.8%), and Irish (10.6%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Spanish is overrepresented at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 0.4%, French at 0.9% versus 0.6%, and Scottish at 9.2% compared to 8.9%.

Coolangatta ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Coolangatta has a median age of 48, which is higher than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and significantly above the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 20.6% of Coolangatta's population, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 4.7%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national figure of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows a rejuvenation in Coolangatta's population, with the median age falling from 50 to 48 years between 2016 and 2021. During this period, the 25 to 34 age group grew from 17.1% to 20.6%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 10.8% to 13.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 16.0% to 14.0% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 11.3% to 9.5%. By 2041, Coolangatta's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 601 people (39%) from 1,560 to 2,162.