Coombabah

Coombabah is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Coombabah is estimated at 10,815 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 517 residents (5.0%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 10,298 people. This shift is calculated from the ABS estimated resident population of 10,815 in June 2025 alongside 3 validated new addresses registered since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 931 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with typical figures across areas analyzed by AreaSearch. The local 5.0% expansion since the census is within 2.0 percentage points of the broader SA3 region (7.0%), indicating competitive growth dynamics. The expansion was primarily fueled by overseas migration, which was responsible for 76.3% of the overall population rise in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized for each SA2 region. For any SA2 regions lacking this dataset, or for periods past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 and based on 2021 numbers are implemented instead. Because these state-level forecasts do not segment by age brackets, AreaSearch allocates cohort growth using proportional weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 baseline numbers). Looking at future demographic trends, population gains are expected to rank just below the median for non-metropolitan locations, with the community projected to increase by 703 individuals by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, representing a total rise of 6.5% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Coombabah according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Approximately 4 new residential building approvals occur in Coombabah annually, with 21 dwellings approved during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 5 recorded during FY-26 so far. Because an average of 18.3 new occupants arrived per built dwelling during the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand outpaces new building activity by a wide margin, typically putting upward pressure on prices and intensifying buyer competition, while new homes average a construction value of $371,000. Furthermore, $666,000 in commercial building approvals were registered during the current financial year, highlighting a focus that is overwhelmingly residential.

In comparison to the Rest of Qld, Coombabah exhibits very quiet development volumes, sitting 90.0% below the regional average per capita. Although construction activity has risen lately, this restricted addition of new housing stock generally underpins demand and supports values for existing properties. The volume is similarly below national benchmarks, pointing to market maturity and potential geographic constraints on new building. Furthermore, all recent additions consisted of detached houses, maintaining the low-density character of the neighborhood and attracting buyers seeking space. New housing starts lean more toward detached dwellings than the existing mix recorded at the Census (49.0%), showing persistent demand for single-family residences despite broader densification trends. The presence of 1851 people in the locality for every single dwelling approval underscores the low-key, low-volume building environment.

Projecting forward, Coombabah is anticipated to add 703 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If current building rates do not increase, housing additions could fall behind population growth, which is likely to escalate competition among buyers and support upward price movements.

Coombabah has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local planning, major construction works, and infrastructure upgrades are major drivers of local real estate performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 active projects that are anticipated to influence the area. Key infrastructure works include upgrades to the Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, the Harbour Cove Mixed-Use Development, the Serenity 4212 project, and Stage 6 of the Coombabah Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, with the major relevant projects detailed below.

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

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The employment landscape in Coombabah shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Coombabah has a balanced labor force split between white and blue-collar occupations, showing wide industry representation, an unemployment rate of 4.1%, and an estimated job growth rate of 3.8% over the preceding year. As of March 2026, there are 4,861 employed residents, while the local unemployment rate sits 0.2% higher than the Regional Qld level of 3.9%. Furthermore, the participation rate of 53.4% is significantly lower than the Regional Qld average of 64.3%. Census data indicates that a modest 11.7% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Local resident employment is heavily weighted toward health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The community demonstrates a high concentration in administrative & support services, where the employment proportion is 1.5 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.4% of the workforce, compared to 4.5% in Regional Qld. A comparison between the Census working population and the resident population suggests that local employment opportunities within the boundary are relatively scarce.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that for the year ending March 2026, the count of employed residents rose by 3.8% and the labor force expanded by 3.3%, which pulled the unemployment rate down by 0.5 percentage points. This performance differed from Regional Qld, which recorded a 0.1% rise in employment, a 0.3% increase in the labor force, and a 0.1 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional context regarding prospective demand in Coombabah. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Projecting these national industry trends onto the occupational mix of Coombabah suggests local employment would rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (note that this calculation is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Based on aggregate financial year 2023 ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch, the income levels within the Coombabah SA2 are below national averages. Taxpayers in the Coombabah SA2 recorded a median income of $43,607 and an average income of $60,574, compared to $53,146 and $66,593 respectively across Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates suggest figures of approximately $48,561 for the median and $67,455 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows that household, family, and individual incomes in Coombabah all rank between the 6th and 12th percentiles across the nation. The dominant income bracket consists of 3,385 residents earning $400 - 799 weekly, representing 31.3% of the area, which differs from the metropolitan pattern where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is largest at 31.7%. Financial strain from housing costs is high, with only 79.2% of income remaining after housing expenses, placing the area in the 6th percentile.

Coombabah displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in Coombabah was split between 49.3% houses and 50.7% other housing types (comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings), which contrasts with Regional Qld where houses make up 76.4% and other options comprise 23.6%. Outright home ownership in Coombabah stood at 43.0%, substantially higher than Regional Qld, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (28.1%) or tenants (28.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,647, slightly below the Regional Qld average of $1,655, whereas the median weekly rent of $415 was notably higher than the regional median of $345. On a national scale, mortgage commitments in Coombabah are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, but rental costs are considerably higher than the national median of $375.

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

Families comprise the majority of households at 61.6%, consisting of couples with children (18.2%), couples without children (30.2%), and single parents (12.3%). The remaining 38.4% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 34.6% and group living situations accounting for 3.8%. The median size of households in the area is 2.1 persons, which is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Coombabah fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational attainment levels present a clear area for improvement, as the proportion of residents with university degrees (16.1%) is significantly below the national benchmark of 30.4%. This highlights a challenge as well as a potential target for educational investment. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational training is highly prevalent, with 40.7% of the population aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (28.1%).

A significant 23.5% of residents are enrolled in formal studies. Within this student cohort, 8.2% attend primary school, 6.4% are in secondary school, and 3.6% are undergoing tertiary education.

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

An analysis of public transport reveals that Coombabah is served by 30 active transit stops utilizing bus networks. These stops accommodate 5 different routes, generating 1,790 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated favorably, with residents living an average of 221 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential profile, the majority of commuters travel outside the area, and private cars remain the dominant transport choice at 92%. Dwellings average 1.0 vehicle, which is lower than the regional average. A relatively low proportion of residents work from home, sitting at 11.7% according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 patterns.

Across all transit lines, service frequency averages 255 journeys daily, which translates to roughly 59 weekly trips at each individual stop.

Health performance in Coombabah is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Assessments of mortality figures and chronic illness rates by AreaSearch indicate that Coombabah faces notable health issues, with common ailments being relatively widespread and showing higher prevalence among older demographics. Additionally, the rate of private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 49% of the population (~5,320 people) holding coverage. This sits below the Regional Qld rate of 52.5% and the national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health concerns are the most prevalent medical issues reported locally, affecting 13.1% and 8.1% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 58.8% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Resident workers of typical working age exhibit higher-than-average rates of chronic illness. The area has a high proportion of seniors, with 33.1% of the population aged 65 and over (3,583 people), compared to 20.4% in Regional Qld. Although health outcomes for seniors present challenges, they rank more favorably on a national scale than the rest of the local demographic.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Coombabah was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Coombabah shows a higher level of cultural diversity than most comparable markets, with 34.2% of the population born outside Australia and 11.7% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the dominant religious affiliation, representing 53.3% of the community. However, the most pronounced local overrepresentation occurs within Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of residents compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parents' birthplace, the three largest groups in Coombabah are English (33.1%), Australian (22.2%), and Irish (8.4%). There are also notable differences in specific ethnic backgrounds: New Zealand ancestry is overrepresented at 1.7% of the population (compared to 0.9% regionally), Maori ancestry is at 1.6% (compared to 0.8%), and Hungarian ancestry is at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%).

Coombabah ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 50 years in Coombabah is substantially older than the Regional Qld median of 41 and the national average of 38. The age distribution reveals a high concentration of residents in the 75 - 84 bracket (13.4%), which is much higher than the national average of 6.1%, while the 5 - 14 group (7.9%) is smaller than typically seen in Regional Qld. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 8.1% to 9.6%, and the 25 to 34 group has risen from 9.6% to 10.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 9.9% to 7.9% and the 65 to 74 bracket fell from 16.5% to 14.8%. Demographic projections suggest the age structure will change markedly by 2041, with the 85+ cohort expected to rise by 88% (an increase of 468 people), growing from 533 to 1,002. Older residents aged 65+ will account for 61% of population growth, highlighting the aging trend, while both the 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 brackets are projected to contract.