Coombabah

Coombabah is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to evaluations of ABS population updates for the wider region alongside new addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Coombabah has an estimated residency of approximately 10,815 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 517 people (5.0%) since the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 10,298 people. This shift is derived from the resident population of 10,815, computed by AreaSearch following analysis of the latest ABS ERP data release (June 2025) and a further 3 validated new addresses since the Census date. Such population levels translate to a density ratio of 931 persons per square kilometer, which aligns relatively well with average figures observed across locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The suburb of Coombabah's 5.0% expansion since the census sits within 2.0 percentage points of the SA3 region (7.0%), indicating competitive growth characteristics. Demographic expansion in the locality was chiefly fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 70.0% of all population increases during recent intervals.

AreaSearch implements ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 with 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 regions lacking this data, and for any years after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government for SA2 areas, published in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are used instead. These state-level projections omit age group breakdowns; consequently, where they are applied, AreaSearch adjusts growth weights proportionally based on the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, using 2022 data) for each age cohort. Looking ahead at demographic trends, population growth slightly underneath the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is anticipated, with the suburb of Coombabah projected to add 707 persons by 2041 according to consolidated SA2-level forecasts, representing an overall increase of 6.5% across the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Coombabah according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS building approvals distributed from statistical area statistics, the suburb of Coombabah has maintained an average of approximately 4 new residential approvals annually, culminating in an estimated 21 homes over the previous 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 5 approvals have been registered. Considering an average of 18.3 new residents per year arriving per finished home over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), construction is lagging behind demand, which typically translates to heightened competition among purchasers and subsequent upward price pressure, with new dwellings built at an average value of $423,000. Furthermore, $120,000 in commercial building approvals have been logged in the current financial year, pointing to a heavily residential concentration.

Relative to the Rest of Qld, the suburb of Coombabah displays substantially lower construction volumes (90.0% below the regional per capita average). This restricted supply generally bolsters demand and prices for existing homes, even though building tasks have intensified of late. This rate is similarly below the national benchmark, indicating a mature market and highlighting potential planning bottlenecks. Furthermore, recent construction projects consist entirely of detached houses, maintaining the low-density profile of the neighborhood with a focus on standalone homes that draw buyers looking for space. Interestingly, builders are executing a higher share of detached housing than historical patterns would suggest (49.0% at the Census), mirroring sustained demand for family residences despite broader trends toward densification. The estimated ratio of 1799 people in the locality for each dwelling approval highlights a quiet, low-activity building sector.

Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Coombabah will add 707 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimation). With current construction paces, residential supply could struggle to align with demographic expansion, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting upward price movements.

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

Few elements impact local market performance as significantly as updates to regional infrastructure, key projects, and planning changes. A total of 11 projects have been tracked by AreaSearch that are expected to influence the suburb of Coombabah. Important initiatives include Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area park upgrades, Harbour Cove Mixed-Use Development, Serenity 4212, and the Coombabah Sewage Treatment Plant Stage 6 Upgrade, with the following list detailing those of greatest relevance.

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The employment landscape in Coombabah shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

The suburb of Coombabah features a balanced workforce distributed across office and manual labor jobs, representing varied industrial sectors, with an unemployment rate of 4.1% and an estimated employment expansion of 3.8% over the prior year, according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 4,861 residents are employed, while the jobless rate sits 0.2% higher than the Regional Qld average of 3.9%, and labor force participation is notably lower (53.3% relative to Regional Qld's 64.3%). Census data indicates a low 11.7% of working residents performed their duties from home, though the influence of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions must be kept in mind.

The primary sectors of employment for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The suburb of Coombabah exhibits a particularly marked concentration in administrative & support services, with its workforce share measuring 1.5 times the regional proportion. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented, employing only 0.4% of the local workforce compared to 4.5% across Regional Qld. The suburb of Coombabah appears to present few local employment options, as shown by comparing the count of the Census working population against the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical areas, during the year to March 2026, employment levels increased by 3.8% and labour force increased by 3.3%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.1 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Coombabah. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Coombabah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

According to AreaSearch's compilation of the most recent postcode-level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, the suburb of Coombabah recorded a median taxpayer income of $41,455, with the average level recorded at $63,333. This sits below the national benchmark and compares to figures of $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld, respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index rise of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates suggest figures of approximately $46,164 (median) and $70,528 (average) as of March 2026. Census figures from 2021 reveal that household, family, and personal earnings in the suburb of Coombabah all rank between the 7th and 12th percentiles nationwide. Distribution analysis shows that 31.3% of residents (3,385 individuals) fall into the $400 - 799 income bracket, whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the largest across the region at 31.7%. Financial strain from housing costs is acute, leaving only 79.2% of income after housing expenses, placing the area in the 6th percentile.

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

The distribution of housing types in the suburb of Coombabah, measured at the most recent Census, consisted of 49.3% standalone houses and 50.7% alternative dwellings (townhouses, apartments, and other housing structures), compared to Regional Qld's mix of 76.4% standalone houses and 23.6% alternative dwellings. Meanwhile, home ownership rates in the suburb of Coombabah were much higher than in Regional Qld, standing at 43.0%, while the remaining properties were either mortgaged (28.1%) or rented (28.9%). The median monthly home loan payment in the neighborhood was below the Regional Qld average at $1,647, whereas the median weekly rent was recorded at $415, in comparison to Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345. Locally, mortgage obligations in the suburb of Coombabah are notably below the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs are significantly above the national benchmark of $375.

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

Family units constitute the majority of households at 61.6%, consisting of 18.2% couples with children, 30.2% couples without children, and 12.3% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.4%, with lone person households representing 34.6% and group housing comprising 3.8% of the total. The median household occupancy of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Coombabah fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The suburb of Coombabah faces educational hurdles, with university graduation rates (16.1%) falling considerably below the Australian national average of 30.4%. This highlights both a challenge and a focus area for targeted educational strategies. Bachelor degrees represent the largest cohort at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate study (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational and practical skills are highly prevalent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (28.1%).

A significant 23.5% of the population is actively engaged in formal studies. This includes 8.2% enrolled in primary schooling, 6.4% in high school education, and 3.6% undertaking tertiary coursework.

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

Analysis of public transit reveals 30 active transport stops running within the suburb of Coombabah, consisting of a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 5 distinct routes, which combine to support 1,790 weekly passenger journeys. Transit access is classified as good, with residents generally positioned 221 meters from the nearest stop. As an area that is mostly residential, the majority of residents travel elsewhere for work, and driving remains the primary mode of travel at 92%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per household, sitting lower than the regional benchmark. A comparatively low 11.7% of residents work from home (based on the 2021 Census, which may show the effects of COVID-19 rules).

Service frequency averages 255 journeys daily across all routes, which equals roughly 59 weekly journeys per individual stop.

Health performance in Coombabah is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

The suburb of Coombabah faces notable health issues, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of death rates and chronic condition prevalence, with common medical concerns visible across both younger and older cohorts, while the private health insurance rate sits slightly ahead of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the population (~5,656 people).

The most prevalent medical issues reported in the suburb of Coombabah were arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 13.1 and 8.1% of residents, respectively, whereas 58.8% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents exhibit higher than average rates of chronic illness. The suburb of Coombabah has 33.3% of its population aged 65 and over (3,601 people), which exceeds the 20.4% recorded in Regional Qld. Health indicators for senior residents present several challenges, though national standings are generally consistent with the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Coombabah was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The suburb of Coombabah exhibits greater cultural diversity than most local property markets, with 11.7% of its residents communicating in a language other than English at home and 34.2% born abroad. The dominant religious affiliation in the suburb of Coombabah was Christianity, representing 53.3% of the community. However, the most pronounced disproportion was seen in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the population compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

Regarding heritage (parents' country of origin), the three most common groups in the suburb of Coombabah are English, representing 33.1% of the populace, Australian, representing 22.2% of the populace, and Irish, representing 8.4% of the populace. Additionally, there are clear differences in the concentration of other ethnic backgrounds: New Zealand backgrounds are highly overrepresented at 1.7% in the suburb of Coombabah (compared to 0.9% across the region), Maori ancestry at 1.6% (compared to 0.8% regionally), and Hungarian at 0.4% (compared to 0.2% regionally).

Coombabah ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 51, the suburb of Coombabah is substantially older than the Regional Qld figure of 41 and sits far above the Australian average of 38 years. Relative to the Regional Qld average, the 75 - 84 cohort is highly overrepresented (13.5% locally), while children aged 5 - 14 are underrepresented (7.9%). This 75 - 84 concentration is much higher than the national average of 6.1%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age bracket has expanded from 8.1% to 9.6% of the population, while the 25 to 34 cohort rose from 9.6% to 10.8%. On the other hand, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 9.9% to 7.9% and the 65 to 74 group fell from 16.5% to 14.8%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections point to major alterations in the age profile of the suburb of Coombabah. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow substantially, expanding by 474 people (88%) from 540 to 1,015. Seniors aged 65+ will account for 62% of demographic growth, highlighting aging trends. Conversely, population drops are anticipated for the 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 cohorts.