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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Cooran has an estimated 1,803 residents, up from 1,756 at the 2021 Census — a change of 47 people, or 2.7%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years, slower than 76% of areas nationally. Density is about 48 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the population in the suburb of Cooran is estimated to reach approximately 1,803, drawing upon AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS updates and validated new addresses identified since the Census. When measured against the 2021 Census tally of 1,756 people, this represents an addition of 47 people (2.7%). This projection builds upon an ERP estimate of 1,794 residents determined by AreaSearch from the June 2025 ABS release, alongside 6 validated new addresses logged post-Census. With a resulting population density of 48 persons per square kilometer, residents enjoy a spacious living environment.
Interstate migration served as the principal engine of demographic expansion, accounting for roughly 72.0% of recent population gains, while natural growth and overseas migration also registered positive contributions. For demographic projections, AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia figures published in 2024 (using 2022 as the base year) across individual SA2 areas. For localities without this coverage, or extending beyond 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 (utilising 2021 data) are referenced. Because these state forecasts lack age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional growth distributions aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections published in 2023 (based on 2022 figures). Looking toward long-term demographic trajectories in the suburb of Cooran, overall expansion is expected to track slightly beneath the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with aggregated SA2-level figures projecting a gain of 185 persons by 2041, representing cumulative growth of 9.8% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Cooran remains very subdued, averaging 1 dwelling approvals each year for an aggregate of 5 across the past five years. Modest building volumes of this nature are typical in rural settings where construction demand is tempered by modest accommodation requirements and local infrastructure limits. Because approval numbers are so low, any individual development undertaking can exert a pronounced effect on annual statistics and relative growth metrics. Compared against the Rest of Qld, building activity throughout Cooran is substantially lower. Furthermore, local construction levels remain below nationwide averages.
Based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly figures, Cooran is projected to add 176 residents through to 2041. Should current construction volumes persist, residential building may struggle to keep up with demographic expansion, which could heighten buyer demand and contribute to upward pressure on prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cooran
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 54 current infrastructure and development projects close to Cooran, worth an estimated $2.54 billion. 13 are already under construction and 17 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Regional performance and development are heavily shaped by strategic planning initiatives, key projects, and public infrastructure delivery. AreaSearch has pinpointed 3 projects positioned to influence the area. Leading initiatives include the Traveston Industrial Land, Pomona Place Plan, Noosa Trail Network Upgrade (Wahpunga and Woondum Trails), and the Noosa Biosphere Trails Upgrade Program, with the subsequent overview outlining the most significant developments.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Noosa Trail Network Upgrade (Wahpunga and Woondum Trails)
As part of the Noosa Trail Network Master Plan, this project involves the upgrade and drainage improvements along more than 15 kilometres of the Wahpunga and Woondum Trails. The work includes trail realignment to enhance the experience for walkers, horse riders, and mountain bikers in the Noosa hinterland.
Cooroy Sports Complex Master Plan 2020-2030 and Expansion
A 10-year master plan (2020-2030) guiding future development of the Cooroy Sports Complex, home to rugby league, gymnastics, soccer, cricket, pony club, and car club facilities. In September 2024, funding was secured through the SEQ Liveability Fund to deliver a 600 square meter extension providing an indoor all-weather multi-purpose training area and expanded gymnastics facility. The expansion will accommodate soccer, cricket, and rugby league, enabling the Cooroy Gymnastics Club to grow and supporting increased community participation in sport.
Cooroy Belli Creek Road Bridge Replacement
Replacement of 1929 timber bridge serving 1,700 vehicles daily. Critical rural road network link providing access to significant rural residential community west of Cooroy township.
62 Lake Macdonald Drive Social Housing Development
Development of 25 architect-designed social housing units on a remediated former landfill site at 62 Lake Macdonald Drive, Cooroy. In partnership with Coast2Bay Housing Group, this project aims to address the housing crisis in the Noosa Shire. The site will include a 10-metre vegetated buffer and additional open space. Remediation works are scheduled for August-September 2025, followed by subdivision.
Cooroy Woolworths Neighbourhood Shopping Centre
A $100 million mixed-use precinct on a 6.6-hectare site featuring a 5,434sqm full-line Woolworths supermarket, 12 specialty retail tenancies, and a 120-bed residential aged care facility (expandable to 160 beds). The design uses timber and tin materials to match the hinterland heritage of Cooroy. As of May 2026, the project remains in the Council decision phase following the conclusion of the public notification period in August 2025, which saw significant community debate regarding its location 1.2km outside the main business district.
Sidoni Street Mixed-Use Development
Mixed-use development featuring 14 small dwelling units, five ground-floor units with associated offices, and a food and drink outlet. Built on 2002sqm site with dual street frontage (Sidoni Street and Blakesley Street). Designed by Tim Ditchfield and Associates, approved via delegated authority by Noosa Council.
Tewantin State Facilitated Development - 42 Unit Complex
Controversial 42-unit multiple dwelling development at Sidoni Street/Poinciana Avenue intersection. Originally proposed 3-4 storey height with affordable housing components. Project was revoked by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie in April 2025 following significant community opposition and concerns about height, density and compliance with Noosa Plan 2020.
Tewantin Bypass - Beckmans Road Planning
Planning is underway for the long-term staged Tewantin Bypass along the Beckmans Road corridor. Stage 1, the Cooroy-Noosa Road and Beckmans Road roundabout, was completed in December 2022. The current $8.5 million planning program is developing the business case and future upgrade options to improve safety, capacity, travel time and traffic flow between Cooroy-Noosa Road and Eumundi-Noosa Road.
823 residents of Cooran are employed, from a labour force of 870. Unemployment sits at 5.4%, with participation at 58.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,558, about 86% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The labour market in Cooran features a qualified resident workforce with strong representation across essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 5.4% according to AreaSearch statistical aggregations. By March 2026823 residents were actively employed; however, unemployment sat 1.5% above the 3.9% recorded for Regional Qld, and labour force participation trailed substantially at 58.3% compared to 64.2% across the wider region. Census figures also indicated that 15.0% of local workers performed their duties from home, though this was influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training constitute the primary fields of employment for local workers.
The community demonstrates a notable concentration in construction, where its share of employment reaches 1.5 times the regional proportion. On the other hand, accommodation & food accounts for a smaller footprint of 5.3%, trailing the 8.3% regional benchmark. Comparing the Census working population against the resident count indicates that local job opportunities within the area itself remain limited. According to AreaSearch's synthesis of SALM and ABS statistics across broader statistical geographies, the twelve months to March 2026 saw the local labour force contract by 4.0% while employment dropped by 5.0%, driving a 1.0 percentage points increase in the jobless rate. In contrast, Regional Qld recorded a 0.1% rise in employment, a 0.3% expansion in the labour pool, and a 0.1 percentage points lift in unemployment. Future labour demand patterns can also be evaluated against national projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26. When these nationwide outlooks—which forecast overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years across varying industries—are mapped to the local industry distribution, projected local employment expansion stands at 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years (calculated via simple weighting for illustrative purposes, without incorporating localised population models).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cooran is $1,294 a week (about $67,000 a year), with median personal income at $628 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $40,861 a year against an average of $55,554. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation data released by the ATO for financial year 2023 at postcode level and compiled by AreaSearch indicates that Cooran recorded a median taxpayer income of $40,861 and an average of $55,554. These amounts fall below nationwide averages and compare with $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average) across Regional Qld. Accounting for an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated earnings as of March 2026 stand near $45,503 for the median and $61,865 for the average. In the 2021 Census, local household, family, and individual incomes all placed between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally.
Regarding distribution, the largest segment comprises 31.0% of residents (558 people) in the $800 - 1,499 bracket, contrasting with the regional trend where the $1,500 - 2,999 band leads at 31.7%. Affordability constraints are acute, leaving only 84.0% of earnings after housing costs and ranking at the 20th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cooran had 643 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 100% detached houses and 0% apartments. 47% are owned with a mortgage, 11% rented and 42% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $385 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,517 a month. Rent absorbs 29.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock at the most recent Census consisted entirely of separate houses, recording 100.0% houses and no other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), differing from Regional Qld which registered 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright home ownership in Cooran was significantly higher than the regional benchmark, reaching 42.0%, while the balance was divided between mortgaged properties (46.7%) and rental accommodation (11.3%). Monthly mortgage repayments sat below the regional standard at a median of $1,517 (compared to $1,655 in Regional Qld), whereas weekly rental payments averaged $385 (compared to $345 regionally).
In the national context, mortgage costs in Cooran sit well under the Australian median of $1,863, whereas typical rents exceed the nationwide figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cooran counted 643 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 30% couples without children. 24% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The community is predominantly composed of family households, which represent 71.9% of all occupied homes; these comprise couples with children (27.5%), couples without children (29.9%), and single parent families (13.8%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 28.1%, consisting of single-person residences (24.4%) and group households (4.4%). With an average of 2.5 people, typical household size aligns precisely with the figure for Regional Qld.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.5% of adults in Cooran hold a university qualification, including 16.3% with a bachelor degree and 3.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 134 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,019 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Cooran sits below broader Australian standards, with 23.5% of people aged 15+ holding university credentials compared to 30.4% nationwide, indicating opportunities for further skills development. Among degree holders, bachelor qualifications represent 16.3%, while graduate diplomas and postgraduate awards account for 3.9% and 3.3%, respectively. Vocational and trade expertise is widespread, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including 15.0% with advanced diplomas and 30.5% holding certificates. Engagement in learning is strong throughout the community, as 29.6% of residents are actively participating in formal study. By level of education, this encompasses 10.9% attending primary school, 9.3% in secondary school, and 3.7% undertaking tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Cooran means driving: households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.7% of residents in Cooran report no long-term health condition. 4.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of chronic illness patterns and mortality metrics, Cooran records notable health hurdles, with common conditions observed across both younger and older residents. Furthermore, private healthcare coverage is relatively constrained, held by roughly 49% of the overall population (~887 people), compared against 52.5% in Regional Qld and 55.7% nationally. Arthritis and asthma represent the most widespread medical conditions locally, diagnosed in 9.6 and 8.7% of the populace respectively, while 67.7% of residents reported having no medical conditions, matching closely with 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic health issues are elevated among working-age individuals.
Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 21.2% of the local population (382 people), with national health rankings tracking broadly in line with nationwide norms.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cooran is largely Australian-born, at 81.0% of residents, with 2.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.0%) and Australian (27.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Cooran place it below broader benchmarks, with Australian citizens comprising 86.3% of residents, 81.0% born domestically, and 97.2% speaking only English at home. Christianity forms the largest religious affiliation at 35.1% of the population. The most prominent statistical divergence is seen in Buddhism, which represents 2.1% of local residents compared to 1.1% across Regional Qld. Looking at ancestral backgrounds based on parents' birth countries, the primary heritages identified in Cooran are English (34.0%), Australian (27.7%), and Irish (9.8%). Other notable variations include Scottish heritage at 9.5% (versus 7.8% across the wider region), French heritage at 0.8% (versus 0.5%), and Dutch ancestry representing 1.6% (compared to 1.1% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cooran is 46, older than 82% of areas nationally. 17.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile of Cooran skews toward mature adults and older families. Residents aged 45 - 64 make up 31.0% of the population as at August 2026, surpassing the 24.6% observed across Regional Qld, whereas young to middle-aged adults aged 25 - 44 account for 21.6%, trailing the regional level of 25.5%. The estimated median age sits at 46, matching the 2021 Census figure while remaining 5 years older than the Regional Qld median of 41 and above the national median of 38 recorded at that Census. The most noticeable demographic shift since the Census has occurred among residents aged 65+, rising from 18.6% to an estimated 21.2%.
Projections to 2041 anticipate the largest numeric expansion within the 65+ cohort, adding 76 residents (20%) to reach 458.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cooran
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 6 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,756 at the 2021 Census → 1,803 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL30700). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.