Coolangatta

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Coolangatta's population is around 7,602 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,111 people (17.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,491 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,074 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 657 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 4,001 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly sought resource. Coolangatta's 17.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 68.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence, where utilised, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. As we examine future population trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas is forecast, with the area expected to expand by 2,493 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 25.9% in total over the 17 years.

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

Coolangatta has experienced around 194 dwellings receiving development approval annually, totalling 972 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26107 approvals have been recorded. With an average of only 0.7 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $724,000, demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Additionally, $6.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to the rest of Qld, Coolangatta records 201.0% more construction activity (per person), which should provide buyers with ample choice, though building activity has slowed in recent years. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. New building activity shows 3.0% detached dwellings and 97.0% townhouses or apartments. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 169 people per dwelling approval, Coolangatta shows characteristics of a growth area.

Population forecasts indicate Coolangatta will gain 1,965 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 31 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Kirra Point Holiday Apartments, Coolangatta Beachfront Redevelopment, Coolangatta Beachside Resort, and Greenmount Beach Surf Life Saving Club Redevelopment, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

The employment environment in Coolangatta shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Coolangatta possesses a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of only 3.2%, and 3.3% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 3,901 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.8% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (62.2% compared to Regional Qld's 65.4%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 16.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and construction. The area shows particularly strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. On the other hand, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.8% of Coolangatta's workforce compared to 4.5% in Regional Qld. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.3% while labour force increased by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Coolangatta. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Coolangatta's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Coolangatta SA2's median income among taxpayers is $49,514, with an average of $66,807. This is slightly lower than average on a national basis, and compares to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $54,421 (median) and $73,428 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 46th percentile ($785 weekly), while household income sits at the 22nd percentile. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 28.9% of the community (2,196 individuals), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 19th percentile and 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

Dwelling structure within Coolangatta, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 13.1% houses and 86.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, and other dwellings), in comparison to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Coolangatta was higher than that of Regional Qld, at 37.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (19.9%) or rented (42.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Regional Qld average at $1,805, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $405, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Coolangatta's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed 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 dominate at 54.7% of all households, comprising 12.1% couples with children, 34.0% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 45.3%, with lone person households at 37.6% and group households comprising 7.6% of the total. The median household size of 1.9 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (28.7% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and that of the SA4 region (25.4%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 21.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 36.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (24.6%).

A substantial 23.0% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 7.4% in tertiary education, 4.7% in primary education, and 3.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 25 active transport stops operating within Coolangatta comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 11 individual routes, collectively providing 1,379 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 264 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward - the car remains the dominant mode at 82%, with 8% walking and 4% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. Some 16.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 197 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 55 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, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover slightly lags that of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~3,960 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.5% and 8.4% of residents, respectively, while 66.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 24.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,860 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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 was found to be roughly in line with the wider region's average in terms of cultural diversity, with 82.5% of its population being citizens, 77.4% born in Australia, and 90.7% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Coolangatta is Christianity, which makes up 49.5% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.2% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Coolangatta are English, comprising 31.7% of the population, Australian, comprising 23.8% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.6% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Spanish is notably overrepresented at 0.9% of Coolangatta (vs 0.3% regionally), French at 0.9% (vs 0.5%) and Scottish at 9.2% (vs 7.8%).

Coolangatta ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 48, Coolangatta is materially older than the Regional Qld figure of 41 as well as significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 21.0% compared to Regional Qld, whereas the 5 - 14 cohort is less prevalent at 4.6%. This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows a rejuvenation is evident as the median age fell from 50 to 48 years. In particular, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 17.1% to 21.0% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 10.8% to 13.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.3% to 9.1% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 16.0% to 13.8%. By 2041, Coolangatta is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 563 people (35%) from 1,598 to 2,162. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort grows by a modest 6% (42 people).