Cooran

Population growth drivers in Cooran are strong compared to national averages 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 estimated population of Cooran as of Nov 2025 is around 1,864. This reflects an increase of 108 people (6.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,756 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,856 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 4 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 49 persons per square kilometer. Cooran's 6.2% growth since census positions it within 1.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (7.7%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 72.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of non-metropolitan areas nationally is expected, with the suburb expected to grow by 221 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 10.7% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Cooran when compared nationally

Cooran had an average of 3 new dwellings approved annually over the past five years, totalling 15. This reflects its rural nature where development is driven by local housing needs rather than broad market demand. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics.

Cooran's development levels are substantially lower than those in the Rest of Qld and below national patterns. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, maintaining the area's low density with approximately 306 people per dwelling approval. By 2041, Cooran is projected to grow by 199 residents according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Looking ahead, Cooran is expected to grow by 199 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Cooran has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 3 projects expected to influence the region: Traveston Industrial Land, Pomona Place Plan, Noosa Trail Network Upgrade (Wahpunga and Woondum Trails), and Noosa Biosphere Trails Upgrade Program. The following 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.

Employment performance in Cooran has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Cooran has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.5%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025910 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.6% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Cooran is lower at 55.4%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training sectors. Notably, employment in construction is at 1.5 times the regional average.

However, accommodation & food services have limited presence with only 5.3% employment compared to the regional average of 8.3%. The area appears to offer fewer local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Cooran's labour force decreased by 2.4%, with employment decreasing by 0.7% leading to a fall in unemployment of 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.8% and the labour force expand by 2.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment is projected to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Cooran's employment mix indicates a potential local employment increase of 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Cooran had a median taxpayer income of $40,861 and an average income of $55,554. Nationally, the averages were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively for Rest of Qld. With a 13.99% Wage Price Index growth since FY2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $46,577 (median) and $63,326 (average). Cooran's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment in Cooran is 31.0% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly, with 577 residents, differing from the region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Cooran, with only 84.0% of income remaining after expenses, ranking at the 20th percentile nationally.

Cooran is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Cooran's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted entirely of houses with no other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, or 'other' dwellings. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Qld where 96.1% were houses and 4.0% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooran was at 42.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 46.7% and rented ones at 11.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,800. Median weekly rent in Cooran was recorded as $385, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $415. Nationally, Cooran's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,517 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $385 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 71.9% of all households, including 27.5% couples with children, 29.9% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 28.1%, with lone person households at 24.4% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

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

Educational qualifications in Cooran trail show 23.5% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (3.9%) and postgraduate qualifications (3.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 15.0% and certificates at 30.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary, 9.3% in secondary, and 3.7% in tertiary education. Cooran State School serves the local area, enrolling 134 students, and offers typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1019). It focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. School places per 100 residents (7.2) are below the regional average (11.4), suggesting some students attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Cooran has two active public transport stops. These offer a mix of train and bus services, with nine routes in total providing 113 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility is limited, with residents located an average of 748 meters from the nearest stop.

Services run at an average frequency of 16 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 56 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Cooran faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (around 917 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.6 and 8.7% of residents respectively. However, 67.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across the rest of Queensland. As of 2021, 19.4% of Cooran's population is aged 65 and over (around 361 people), which is lower than the 24.5% in the rest of Queensland. Despite this, Cooran performs better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Cooran's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.3% of its population being citizens, 81.0% born in Australia, and 97.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Cooran, comprising 35.1% of people. However, Buddhism is overrepresented, making up 2.1% compared to 1.3% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups are English (34.0%), Australian (27.7%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, Scottish ethnicity is slightly overrepresented at 9.5%, while French and Dutch are similarly represented at 0.8% and 1.6% respectively.

Cooran hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Cooran's median age is 46 years, which is significantly higher than Rest of Qld's 41 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Cooran has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (17.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (9.3%). This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is notably above the national average of 11.2%. From the 2021 Census to present, the proportion of Cooran's population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 4.9% to 6.2%, while the proportion of residents aged 5-14 has decreased from 14.0% to 13.2%. By 2041, Cooran is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 31%, reaching 227 residents from the current 173. Conversely, the populations of the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are anticipated to decline.