Maleny

Maleny has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Maleny is around 4,133. This figure reflects an increase of 174 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,959. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 4,102, based on examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2025 and validation of additional 142 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 170 persons per square kilometer. Interstate migration contributed about 64% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections for years post-2032, based on 2021 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, the suburb is expected to increase by 105 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of approximately 1.8% over the 16-year period.

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

Maleny recorded around 31 residential properties granted approval each year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 155 homes were approved, with a further 27 approved in FY-26. On average, 0.7 people moved to the area for each dwelling built over these years.

New construction is meeting or exceeding demand, offering buyers more options and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current expectations. The average value of new homes being constructed is $720,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. This financial year has seen $6.7 million in commercial approvals, reflecting Maleny's primarily residential nature.

Compared to Rest of Qld, Maleny records roughly half the building activity per person but ranks among the 87th percentile nationally. Recently, construction activity has intensified. New building activity comprises 82.0% detached dwellings and 18.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining Maleny's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 100 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Future projections estimate Maleny adding 74 residents by 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Maleny 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 identified ten projects that could affect the area. Notable ones are Landsborough-Maleny Road and Maleny-Montville Road Intersection Upgrade, Coral Residences Maleny, Maleny Grove Expansion, and Maleny Meadows Estate. 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.

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

Maleny has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 1,563 residents employed, with an unemployment rate aligned with Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Maleny is lower at 44.6% compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses indicate that 25.9% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, education & training has a high concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, mining shows lower representation at 1.5% compared to Regional Qld's average of 3.6%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the ratio of working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 3.2% alongside a 3.0% employment decline, resulting in an unemployment rate fall of 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and an unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion in national employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Maleny's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2023, the suburb of Maleny's median income among taxpayers is $37,526. The average income in Maleny is $56,620. This is below the national average. In comparison, Regional Qld has a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Maleny would be approximately $41,789 (median) and $63,052 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, household incomes in Maleny fall between the 9th and 14th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 28.1% of Maleny's population falls within the $400 - 799 income range. This differs from broader areas where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 31.7%. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains in Maleny, ranking at only the 12th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Maleny, as per the latest Census, 92.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remainder being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Maleny stood at 57.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.2% and rented ones at 19.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Maleny was $390, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Maleny's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.8% of all households, including 16.3% couples with children, 38.6% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.2%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households making up 2.7%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

Maleny's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 32.1% possess university qualifications, surpassing Rest of Qld's 20.6% and the SA3 area's 23.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (14.7%) and certificates (20.9%).

A significant portion of the population is actively pursuing education, with 21.3% engaged in formal learning. This includes 7.0% in secondary education, 6.8% in primary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Maleny has six active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two routes that together facilitate 145 weekly passenger trips. Residents have limited access to public transportation, with an average distance of 787 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, and most commuters travel outwards. Cars are the primary mode of transport, used by 88% of residents, while walking accounts for 8%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 25.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, there is an average of 20 trips per day, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Maleny's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Maleny residents' health outcomes are relatively positive, according to health data. AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions shows results largely matching national benchmarks. Common health condition prevalence is low across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover rate is approximately 50% (~2,051 people), lower than Regional Qld's 52.5% and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (13.0%) and mental health issues (8.3%), with 58.7% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age residents have a higher chronic health condition prevalence than average. Maleny has 41.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,702 people), higher than Regional Qld's 20.4%. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Maleny's population showed low cultural diversity, with 77.0% born in Australia, 89.8% being citizens, and 94.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 43.4%. Judaism had a slight overrepresentation at 0.1%, compared to Regional Qld's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.7%), Australian (22.6%), and Irish (10.9%). Scottish ancestry was notably higher in Maleny at 10.3% versus regional 7.8%, Welsh at 1.0% versus 0.5%, and French at 0.9% versus 0.5%.

Maleny ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Maleny is 59 years, which is significantly higher than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and substantially exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Regional Queensland, Maleny has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (20.2%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (5.8%). This concentration of 65-74-year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the age group 75 to 84 has grown from 13.5% to 15.3% of Maleny's population, while the age group 45 to 54 has declined from 11.8% to 9.9%. By 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Maleny's age structure. The age cohort of 85 years and older is projected to increase markedly by 66%, from 235 people to 390 people. This demographic aging continues as residents aged 65 and older represent 79% of the anticipated growth, while the age cohorts of 5-14 and 65-74 are expected to experience population declines.