Cooroy

Cooroy lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, as of Nov 2025, Cooroy's estimated population is around 5,224. This reflects an increase of 423 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,801. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,205 residents following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release (June 2024) and 80 additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 192 persons per square kilometer. Cooroy's 8.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 7.6%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 72.0% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings are applied in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Future population trends project an above median growth of regional areas nationally. The Cooroy SA2 is expected to increase by 807 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.0% over the 17 years.

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

Cooroy has averaged approximately 53 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 266 homes. In FY-26, up to the present time, there have been 8 approvals recorded. Historically, between FY-21 and FY-25, for each dwelling built, around 2 people moved into the area annually.

This indicates a balance between supply and demand, contributing to stable market dynamics. The average construction value of new properties is $859,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In this financial year, there have been $14.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Relative to the Rest of Qld, Cooroy shows 137.0% higher building activity per person. This level is significantly above the national average, reflecting robust developer interest in the area.

Recent construction comprises approximately 85.0% detached dwellings and 15.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. Currently, Cooroy reflects a developing area with around 79 people per approval. Looking ahead, AreaSearch quarterly estimates project Cooroy to grow by approximately 680 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Cooroy 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 eight projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects include the Cooroy Woolworths Neighbourhood Shopping Centre, the Cooroy Sports Complex Master Plan 2020-2030 and Expansion, the 62 Lake Macdonald Drive Social Housing Development, and the Cooroy Belli Creek Road Bridge Replacement. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Cooroy maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Cooroy has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 2.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 2,371 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Cooroy stands at 49.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries employing residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Cooroy has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.7% of local workers, lower than Rest of Qld's 4.5%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Cooroy's labour force decreased by 2.7% alongside a 2.0% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. Rest of Qld, however, experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate during the same period. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. Applying these projections to Cooroy's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Cooroy had a median taxpayer income of $40,992 and an average income of $55,731 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are below the national averages for median income ($53,146) and average income ($66,593). By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $45,054 and average income $61,254, based on a 9.91% growth in wages since the financial year 2023. In Cooroy, household, family, and personal incomes all fell between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally in 2021 Census figures. The predominant income bracket in Cooroy was $800 - $1499, with 29% of locals (1514 people) falling into this category, differing from metropolitan regions where the dominant bracket is $1500 - $2999 with 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Cooroy, with only 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally.

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

In Cooroy, as per the most recent Census evaluation, 87.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.1% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differs from Non-Metro Qld's figures of 96.1% houses and 4.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooroy stood at 47.2%, similar to Non-Metro Qld, with mortgaged properties making up 32.4% and rented ones 20.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,800. Weekly rent in Cooroy was recorded at $430, slightly higher than Non-Metro Qld's figure of $415. Nationally, Cooroy's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Cooroy has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.3% of all households, including 23.7% couples with children, 35.5% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.9%, 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 common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 12.5% and certificates at 30.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Cooroy has 16 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 12 individual routes servicing these stops, providing a total of 179 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in Cooroy is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 494 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 25 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Cooroy faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 2,574 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.8%) and mental health issues (8.9%). A total of 62.7% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 68.1% in the rest of Queensland. Cooroy has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 29.8% or 1,556 people, than the rest of Queensland's 24.5%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average and better than those of the general population in terms of health metrics.

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

Cooroy, as of the 2016 Census, had a population where 81.2% were born in Australia, with 89.7% being citizens and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 46.3%, compared to 42.1% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.3%), Australian (28.3%), and Scottish (8.9%).

Notably, Welsh (0.7%) and German (4.6%) were equally represented in Cooroy as they were regionally, while South African representation was slightly higher at 0.6%.

Cooroy ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cooroy's median age is 49 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 15.0%, while the 25-34 group is comparatively smaller at 7.9% compared to Rest of Qld. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.3% to 10.9% of the population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 16.7% to 15.0%. By 2041, Cooroy is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this shift, the 85+ group will grow by 101%, reaching 484 people from a starting point of 240. This growth reflects an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 61% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups.