Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland

Population growth drivers in Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Mooloolaba-Alexandra Headland's population, as of Feb 2026, is approximately 13,159. This figure represents an increase of 716 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,443. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 13,075 as of June 2024 and an additional 103 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 2,392 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 5.8% since the Census is within 2.3 percentage points of its SA3 area's growth rate of 8.1%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. These state projections lack age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, the area is expected to grow by approximately 1,132 persons to reach a total population of around 14,291 by 2041, reflecting an overall growth rate of about 8.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland has seen approximately 33 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 168 homes. In FY2026 so far, 21 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY2021 and FY2025 gained around 2.7 new residents per year, indicating solid demand that supports property values. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $758,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

This financial year has seen $12.1 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland records markedly lower building activity, at 67.0% below the regional average per person, which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction comprises 59.0% detached dwellings and 41.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of housing options across price brackets. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (38.0% at Census), reflecting strong demand for family homes amid densification trends. The location has approximately 512 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area.

Future projections estimate Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland will add 1,048 residents by 2041, with building activity keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects likely to affect this region. Notable initiatives include Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project, Mooloolaba Transport Corridor Upgrade, SOL by Walker - Maroochydore City Centre, and Alex Bluff Foreshore Coastal Pathway. The following list details those most relevant.

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 labour market in Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland has an unemployment rate of 2.3% as of September 2025. It has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. There are 7,357 residents in work, which is 1.8% below the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

The workforce participation rate is on par with Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 17.7% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. The area shows strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.3% of Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland's workforce compared to 4.5% in Rest of Qld. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.8%, employment decreased by 2.1%, resulting in a fall in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $53,126 with an average level standing at $72,581. This is higher than national averages and compares to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Rest of Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for median income would be approximately $58,391 and average income at around $79,774 as of September 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from 2021, personal income ranks at the 61st percentile with weekly earnings of $861, while household income sits at the 38th percentile. Distribution data shows that 31.5% of the population (4,145 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring regional levels where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 38th percentile. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland, as per the latest Census, 37.9% of dwellings were houses while 62.2% were other types such as semi-detached units and apartments. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Qld's figures which stood at 76.4% for houses and 23.6% for other dwellings. Home ownership in Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland was 33.9%, with mortgaged properties at 25.1% and rented ones at 41.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,800, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Meanwhile, median weekly rent was recorded at $400 compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 59.8% of all households, including 18.5% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.2%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households comprising 6.8%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 30.0% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and the SA4 region rate of 24.9%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 21.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.7% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.6% and certificates at 25.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.3% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 6.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland has 47 active public transport stops. These are served by five bus routes, offering 1,020 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 182 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 88%, while 4% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 17.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 145 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 21 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Mooloolaba-Alexandra Headland shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and elderly populations have low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% (~7,290 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.9%) and mental health issues (7.7%). 69.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.9% (~2,876 people), compared to 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Seniors' health outcomes rank nationally even higher than the general population.

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

Mooloolaba-Alexandra Headland, as of the 2016 Census, had a higher than average cultural diversity with 8.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 25.5% born overseas. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 47.8%. Hinduism showed an overrepresentation at 1.4%, compared to 0.8% in Rest of Qld.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.7%), Australian (23.2%), and Irish (10.3%). Notable divergences included New Zealand (1.3% vs regional 0.9%), Scottish (9.1% vs 7.8%), and French (0.7% vs 0.5%).

Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland has a median age of 44 years, which is marginally higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 years and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 17.2% of the population, while the 5-14 age group is comparatively smaller at 8.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 14.7% to 17.2%, while the 75-84 cohort has increased from 6.1% to 7.4%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 13.4% to 11.9%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 15.5% to 14.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland, with the 25-34 cohort projected to show strong growth of 19%, adding 435 residents to reach 2,701. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 65-74 and 5-14 age cohorts.