Coolum Beach

Population growth drivers in Coolum Beach are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Coolum Beach's population is around 17,145 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,197 people (7.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,948 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,992 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 255 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 946 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Coolum Beach has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.7% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the Rest of Qld. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 66.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Moving forward with demographic trends, an above-median population growth for national regional areas is projected, with the area expected to increase by 2,635 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 14.5% in total over the 17 years.

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

Coolum Beach has seen around 63 new homes approved each year, totalling 316 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 41 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of 3.4 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is substantially lagging demand, which generally means heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures, while new dwellings are developed at an average construction cost of $481,000—somewhat higher than regional norms—reflecting quality-focused development. Additionally, $11.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Relative to the Rest of Qld, Coolum Beach records markedly lower building activity (52.0% below regional average per person). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. New building activity consists of 78.0% standalone homes and 22.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. At around 252 people per approval, Coolum Beach reflects a transitioning market.

Future projections show Coolum Beach adding 2,482 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping a reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Coolum Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 48 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Beachside Yaroomba (Residential Community), Enclave Coolum Beach, Sunshine Motorway West Coolum Road Upgrade Interchange, and Mount Coolum National Park Infrastructure Improvements, 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.

Employment performance in Coolum Beach exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Coolum Beach possesses a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of just 2.8%. As of December 2025, 9,021 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.2% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is on par with Regional Qld's 65.4%. Based on Census responses, a moderate 20.5% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.6% of Coolum Beach's workforce compared to 4.5% in Regional Qld. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 3.2% while employment declined by 2.9%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 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 Coolum Beach. 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 Coolum Beach'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 levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Coolum Beach SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $51,161 and an average of $71,425 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is above the national average, contrasting with Regional Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $56,231 (median) and $78,503 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Coolum Beach, between the 47th and 48th percentiles. Distribution data shows 33.4% of the population (5,726 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 46th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Coolum Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure within Coolum Beach, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 69.9% houses and 30.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Coolum Beach was in line with that of Regional Qld, at 33.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (37.4%) or rented (29.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional Qld average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Coolum Beach's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Coolum Beach features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 70.9% of all households, comprising 28.6% couples with children, 31.1% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households comprising 4.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (29.2% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and that of the SA4 region (24.9%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (13.0%) and certificates (26.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 40 active transport stops operating within Coolum Beach, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 3 individual routes, collectively providing 332 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 358 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. Some 20.5% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 47 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Coolum Beach's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Coolum Beach's health metrics sit close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a standard level of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is fairly high at approximately 55% of the total population (~9,412 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.6% and 7.7% of residents, respectively, while 70.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 20.3% of residents aged 65 and over (3,478 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Coolum Beach was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 80.5% of its population born in Australia, 88.5% being citizens, and 94.6% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Coolum Beach is Christianity, which makes up 42.9% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% 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 Coolum Beach are English, comprising 32.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 25.0% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.6% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.6% of Coolum Beach (vs 7.8% regionally), Dutch at 1.7% (vs 1.1%) and French at 0.7% (vs 0.5%).

Coolum Beach hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

At 44 years, Coolum Beach's median age is marginally above the Regional Qld average of 41 and similarly considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows 35 - 44 year-olds are particularly prominent (14.8%), while the 25 - 34 group is comparatively smaller (10.5%) than in Regional Qld. In the period since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.6% to 11.1% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.5% to 13.8% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 12.0% to 10.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Coolum Beach. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 29%, adding 521 residents to reach 2,317. In contrast, numbers in the 15 to 24 age range are expected to fall by 100.