Coolum Beach

Population growth drivers in Coolum Beach are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Coolum Beach's population is estimated at around 10,323 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,171 people (12.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,152 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,228, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 367 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 377 persons per square kilometer. Coolum Beach's 12.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%), along with the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Moving forward with demographic trends, an above median population growth of regional areas nationally is projected, with the suburb expected to expand by 1,586 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 9.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Coolum Beach among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Coolum Beach averaged 83 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 419 homes were approved, with a further 41 in FY-26. The average population increase per dwelling built over these years was 1.6 people.

This suggests balanced supply and demand conditions, supporting stable market conditions. The average construction value of new homes was $636,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled $60.3 million, reflecting robust local business investment. Recent construction comprised 82.0% detached dwellings and 18.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Coolum Beach's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With around 144 people per approval, the area reflects developing conditions. Population forecasts indicate Coolum Beach will gain 1,027 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand readily, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 51 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Beachside Yaroomba (Residential Community), Enclave Coolum Beach, Quanda Business Park Industrial Development, and 115-119 Quanda Road Industrial Sheds. 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.

AreaSearch analysis places Coolum Beach well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Coolum Beach has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data in September 2025. There are 5,297 residents employed, which is 1.5% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation stands at 63.1%, slightly below the regional average of 65.7%. According to Census responses, 19.9% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training sectors. Construction shows particularly strong specialization with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.8%, compared to the regional average of 4.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.5% and employment decreased by 1.8%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coolum Beach's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Coolum Beach had an average national income level according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $46,909 and the average income stood at $68,183. These figures compared to Rest of Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Coolum Beach would be approximately $51,558 (median) and $74,940 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Coolum Beach ranked modestly, between the 41st and 42nd percentiles. Income brackets indicated that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 31.9% of residents (3,293 people), similar to regional levels where 31.7% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Coolum Beach, with only 81.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

In Coolum Beach, as per the latest Census evaluation, 69.7% of dwellings were houses while 30.3% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coolum Beach stood at 35.3%, with mortgaged properties at 34.9% and rented ones at 29.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Coolum Beach was $450, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Coolum Beach's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.2% of all households, including 26.8% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 25.5% and group households making up 4.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates of 26.7%, exceeding the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 18.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (27.4%).

Educational participation is high at 25.9%, including 9.0% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 27 active transport stops operating within Coolum Beach. These stops are served by a mix of buses on three individual routes, providing a total of 332 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 352 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 91%, with an average vehicle ownership of 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 19.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 47 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Coolum Beach shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both young and elderly cohorts exhibit low prevalence of common health issues. Approximately 54% (~5,597 people) have private health cover, which is relatively high. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.1%) and mental health issues (7.5%). About 69.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Under-65s have better-than-average health outcomes. Around 21.8% (~2,250 people) are aged 65 and over, higher than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Seniors' health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Coolum Beach has a lower cultural diversity, with 81.0% born in Australia, 88.4% being citizens, and 94.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 43.7%. Judaism, at 0.1%, is slightly overrepresented compared to Rest of Qld's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups are English (32.8%), Australian (25.1%), and Irish (10.6%). Scottish (9.7%) and French (0.7%) are notably overrepresented, while Welsh (0.7%) is also somewhat more prevalent than regionally.

Coolum Beach hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Coolum Beach's median age is 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 individuals aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 12.6% of the population, while those aged 25-34 constitute a smaller proportion at 10.3%. Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 9.4% to 10.8%, while the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 14.8% to 13.1%. The 5 to 14 age group has also decreased, from 11.6% to 10.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Coolum Beach, with the strongest projected growth in the 25 to 34 cohort, which is expected to grow by 23%, adding 247 residents to reach a total of 1,311. Conversely, population declines are projected for both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age cohorts.