Caloundra West

Caloundra West lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of Caloundra West is estimated at around 9,607 people. This reflects an increase of 2,337 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,270 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 8,468 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 105 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,194 persons per square kilometer. Caloundra West's growth of 32.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data for years post-2032. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the suburb expected to grow by 12,713 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 134.5% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Caloundra West was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Caloundra West averaged approximately 76 new dwelling approvals annually between FY-21 and FY-25. Around 380 homes were approved in the past five financial years, with an additional 60 approved so far in FY-26. This results in about 10.5 new residents per year arriving for each dwelling constructed during this period.

The demand significantly exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. New dwellings are developed at an average construction cost of $396,000. In FY-26, $197,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Caloundra West shows approximately 67% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 82nd percentile nationally when assessed areas are considered.

New development consists of 52.0% standalone homes and 48.0% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments offering options across different price points. This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, differing from the current housing mix which is predominantly houses (currently 83.0%). The location has approximately 123 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Population forecasts indicate Caloundra West will gain around 12,922 residents by 2041, according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Caloundra West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified 52 projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable among these are Aura Business Park, Aura District Sports Parks, Aura Hotel, and Aura (Caloundra South) Infrastructure. The following list details those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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

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Employment performance in Caloundra West exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Caloundra West has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.9% as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation in September 2025. There are 5,046 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation stands at 77.8%, significantly higher than Rest of Qld's 65.7%.

According to Census responses, only 12.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Caloundra West specializes in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level but has a lower representation in agriculture, forestry & fishing at 0.5% compared to Rest of Qld's 4.5%. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.2%, alongside a 0.7% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 0.4 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caloundra West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch data from FY2023 shows Caloundra West median taxpayer income at $49,559 and average at $63,274. Nationally, these figures are lower: $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). By September 2025, adjusted for WPI growth of 9.91%, median income is estimated at $54,470 and average at $69,544. Census 2021 data ranks Caloundra West incomes modestly: household at the 38th percentile, family at the 39th, personal income also at the 39th. Most residents (36.9%, or 3,544) earn $1,500-$2,999 weekly, similar to broader trends (31.7%). Income remaining after housing costs ranks at the 36th percentile, indicating severe affordability pressures. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Caloundra West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Caloundra West's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 83.3% houses and 16.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caloundra West stood at 29.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.8% and rented ones at 32.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Caloundra West was $465, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Caloundra West's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,842 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $465 compared to the national figure of $375.

Caloundra West has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 74.2% of all households, including 33.1% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.8%, consisting of 22.6% lone person households and 3.1% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 18.0%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (13.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (31.0%). Educational participation is high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.7% in primary, 8.6% in secondary, and 4.1% in tertiary education.

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

Caloundra West has 19 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by four distinct routes, offering a combined total of 370 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average situated 309 meters from their nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Caloundra West inhabitants commute outwards, primarily using cars at a rate of 96%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 52 trips daily, translating to roughly 19 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Caloundra West faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high among both younger and older age cohorts, with common health conditions somewhat prevalent. Private health cover is more prevalent than average at approximately 52% of the total population (~5,022 people). Mental health issues impact 9.7% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.3%. A total of 66.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,537 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. National rankings for this age group are even higher than the general population.

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

Caloundra West's population, as per the 2016 Census, showed cultural diversity similar to its wider region: 77.3% were born in Australia, 86.9% were citizens, and 92.3% spoke English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion (48.0%). Judaism's representation was slightly higher than the regional average, with 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.0%), Australian (26.8%), and Scottish (8.2%). Notably, New Zealanders (1.2%) and Maori people (1.2%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.9% and 0.8%, respectively. Germans also showed a slight divergence with 4.3%.

Caloundra West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Caloundra West has a median age of 36, which is lower than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and marginally lower than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, Caloundra West has an over-representation of the 35-44 cohort (16.9% locally) and an under-representation of the 55-64 year-olds (8.5%). Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group grew from 15.0% to 16.9%, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 12.4% to 13.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 15.8% to 14.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Caloundra West's age profile, with the 35 to 44 age cohort expected to surge dramatically, expanding by 2,399 people (148%) from 1,623 to 4,023.