Marcoola - Mudjimba
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Marcoola-Mudjimba's population is 12,608 as of Aug 2025. This reflects a 647-person increase (5.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported 11,961 people. The change was inferred from ABS' June 2024 estimate of 12,553 and 77 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 383 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration (92.6% of gains).

AreaSearch uses 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 are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections lack age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 796 persons, a gain of 5.9% over 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Marcoola - Mudjimba among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Marcoola-Mudjimba averaged approximately 68 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 340 dwellings approved between FY21 and FY25. As of FY26, there have been 7 new dwelling approvals. On average, each newly constructed dwelling accommodates approximately 1.6 new residents annually over the past five financial years (FY21 to FY25).

This indicates a balanced supply and demand scenario, contributing to stable market conditions in the area. The average construction cost of new homes is $503,000, aligning with regional trends. In the current financial year, Marcoola-Mudjimba has seen commercial approvals valued at $4.6 million, reflecting its predominantly residential nature.

Compared to the rest of Queensland, Marcoola-Mudjimba demonstrates approximately 75% of the construction activity per capita. Nationally, it ranks among the 78th percentile of assessed areas for building activity, which has accelerated in recent years. New development in Marcoola-Mudjimba consists of 80.0% standalone homes and 20.0% medium to high-density housing, maintaining the area's low-density character while catering to space-seeking buyers who prefer detached housing. Interestingly, developers are constructing more traditional houses (62.0%) than the current mix suggests at census time, suggesting continued strong demand for family homes. With around 180 people per dwelling approval, Marcoola-Mudjimba exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts project an increase of 741 residents by 2041 in the area. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Marcoola - Mudjimba has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 61 projects expected to impact the region. Notable initiatives include Actventure Resort and Water Park in Glenview, Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project, another Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project, and Stockland Twin Waters West. The following details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment performance in Marcoola - Mudjimba exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Marcoola - Mudjimba has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.7%.

As of June 2025, there are 6,463 employed residents, below the Rest of Qld's participation rate of 59.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (28.3%), construction (22.5%), and retail trade (17.2%). Construction shows strong specialization at 1.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.9%. Over June 2024 to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.3%, employment declined by 1.3%, and unemployment fell by 0.9 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.8% and labour force growth by 2.0%. As of Sep-25, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Marcoola - Mudjimba's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8%% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch released postcode-level ATO data for financial year 2022. Marcoola - Mudjimba's median income among taxpayers was $47,211, with an average of $62,811. This is below the national average. Rest of Qld had a median of $50,780 and an average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $52,739 (median) and $70,166 (average). The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly in Marcoola - Mudjimba, between the 36th and 39th percentiles. Predominant income cohort spans 32.6% of locals in the $1,500 - 2,999 category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 35th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Marcoola-Mudjimba, as per the most recent Census, 62.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 37.5% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. This differed from Non-Metro Qld's breakdown of 51.7% houses and 48.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Marcoola-Mudjimba stood at 38.2%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 33.4% and rented dwellings making up 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,811, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,820. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $435, higher than Non-Metro Qld's $420. Nationally, Marcoola-Mudjimba's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Marcoola - Mudjimba features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.2% of all households, including 23.0% couples with children, 37.9% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.8%, consisting of 23.6% lone person households and 4.1% group households. The median household size is 2.3 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.2.

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

Educational qualifications in the Marcoola-Mudjimba area show that 23.7% of residents aged 15 and above have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 41.2% of residents holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 28.9%. A significant 24.7% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 8.3% in primary, 7.0% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.

Pacific Paradise State School serves the local area with an enrollment of 471 students as of the latest data. The school demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1021) and offers balanced educational opportunities, focusing exclusively on primary education while secondary options are available nearby. Local school capacity is limited at 3.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 9.7, which may necessitate travel for schooling in nearby areas.

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

Marcoola-Mudjimba has 40 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by two routes offering 481 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 399 meters.

Bus services run approximately 68 times daily, equating to about 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Marcoola-Mudjimba faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 51% of the total population (~6,442 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions, impacting 10.0% and 7.9% of residents respectively. 66.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.2% across Rest of Qld. The area has 27.5% of residents aged 65 and over (3,462 people), which is higher than the 24.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Marcoola-Mudjimba's cultural diversity was below average, with 87.4% of its residents being citizens, 79.7% born in Australia, and 94.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated the religion landscape there, accounting for 49.1%. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to the rest of Queensland's 0.1%.

For ancestry, the top groups were English (33.8%), Australian (24.5%), and Irish (9.5%). Some other ethnicities showed notable differences: Scottish at 9.3% vs regional 9.1%, German at 5.1% vs regional 4.8%, and New Zealand at 1.0% matching the regional figure of 1.0%.

Marcoola - Mudjimba hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Marcoola - Mudjimba's median age is 49 years, significantly higher than Queensland's average of 41 and exceeding the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 15.3%, while those aged 5-14 comprise only 9.3% of the population, both figures notably different from the Queensland averages. In recent years, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 7.9% in 2021 to 9.4% currently, while the 25 to 34 cohort has grown from 9.7% to 11.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group has decreased from 13.5% to 11.9%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 16.5% to 15.2%. By 2041, Marcoola - Mudjimba's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 1,504 people from the current 1,183. This aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 59% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are expected for the 45 to 54 and 5 to 14 age groups.