Cooloola Cove

Population growth drivers in Cooloola Cove are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of Cooloola Cove as of Feb 2026 is around 3,205. This reflects an increase of 284 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,921. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,083 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and one additional validated new address since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 236 persons per square kilometer. Cooloola Cove's growth rate of 9.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld's 9.1%, marking it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 92.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied when utilised. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth of national non-metropolitan areas is anticipated, with the suburb expected to increase by 129 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 1.9% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Cooloola Cove when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Cooloola Cove averaged approximately 11 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 58 homes. As of FY-26, four approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 4.5 people moved to the area per dwelling built annually. This demand outpaces supply, potentially exerting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers.

New homes are being constructed at an average value of $393,000. In FY-26, $5.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting the area's residential character. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Cooloola Cove shows reduced construction activity, with 57.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

However, building activity has accelerated in recent years, consisting entirely of standalone homes that maintain the area's traditional low-density character, appealing to those seeking space, particularly families. Cooloola Cove reflects a developing area with around 200 people per approval. Future projections estimate an addition of 61 residents by 2041 based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified zero projects likely to impact this area. Notable initiatives include Forest Wind Farm, Borumba Pumped Hydro Transmission Connections, Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025, and Queensland Supergrid South.

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The labour market performance in Cooloola Cove lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Cooloola Cove has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs. Tourism and hospitality sectors are prominent. The unemployment rate was 9.2% in September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 9.4% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

As of that date, 886 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 5.2%, which is 1.1 percentage points higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation was significantly lower at 35.0% compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses showed that only 11.8% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Employment in Cooloola Cove is concentrated in retail trade, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance sectors.

The area has a particular specialization in retail trade, with an employment share of 170% compared to the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance employs only 11.7% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 16.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between the Census working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 9.4%, while labour force grew by 9.9%, resulting in a rise of unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7%, labour force expand by 2.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Cooloola Cove's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

The median taxpayer income in Cooloola Cove is $32,697 and the average is $44,091 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average of $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth from 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $35,937 and average income would be around $48,460. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Cooloola Cove fall within the lowest percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. In this suburb, 41.6% of individuals have an income between $400 and $799, contrasting with the surrounding region where 31.7% earn between $1,500 and $2,999. Economic conditions indicate financial pressure, with 50.3% of households having weekly budgets below $800 after accounting for housing costs. After these expenses, 86.1% of income remains, which ranks at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Cooloola Cove is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Cooloola Cove's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 96.5% houses and 3.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooloola Cove stood at 60.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 14.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,172, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Cooloola Cove was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Cooloola Cove's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.0% of all households, including 13.2% couples with children, 47.3% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households at 26.4% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Cooloola Cove aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 7.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 5.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (0.9%) and postgraduate qualifications (0.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 8.3%, while certificates make up 34.6%.

School and university attendance encompasses 18.2% of the community, including 6.8% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 0.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows ten active public transport stops in Cooloola Cove, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by one route collectively offering ten weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 463 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 11.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages one trip per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Cooloola Cove is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Cooloola Cove faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of the total population (~1,431 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 16.1% of residents) and mental health issues (10.5%). Conversely, 48.4% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Working-age population health challenges are notable with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 43.3% (1,387 people), compared to 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Cooloola Cove is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Cooloola Cove showed lower cultural diversity, with 82.7% born in Australia, 89.4% being citizens, and 97.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion at 54.3%, compared to 52.2% regionally. Top ancestry groups were English (33.8%), Australian (28.2%), and Irish (9.1%).

Notably, German (6.0%) was overrepresented compared to regional average of 4.7%. Maori (0.7%) and Welsh (0.6%) also showed slight differences from regional averages of 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively.

Cooloola Cove ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cooloola Cove's median age is 62 years, which is notably higher than Rest of Qld's median age of 41 and also well above the Australian median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 27.2% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up only 5.5%, which is smaller than in Rest of Qld. This concentration of people aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and the present day, the proportion of people aged 75-84 has grown from 12.6% to 13.8%, while those aged 65-74 have declined from 29.1% to 27.2% and those aged 45-54 have dropped from 10.9% to 9.8%. Looking ahead to the year 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Cooloola Cove's age structure. The number of people aged 85 and above is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 60 people (an 82% increase) from 73 to 134. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 77% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for those aged 45-54 and 5-14.