Marcoola

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

Marcoola's population, as of November 2025, is estimated at approximately 3,581 people. This figure represents a growth of 226 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,355. AreaSearch, after examining the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and validating three new addresses, estimated the resident population at 3,562. This results in a density ratio of 245 persons per square kilometer. Marcoola's growth rate of 6.7% since the Census places it within 2.1 percentage points of its SA3 area's growth rate of 8.8%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 93.0% of the overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Future population trends suggest lower quartile growth for national regional areas. The suburb of Marcoola is expected to grow by 146 persons to the year 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 2.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Marcoola recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Marcoola has seen approximately 13 new home approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 69 homes. As of FY26, two approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.4 new residents arrive per year for each new home approved between FY21 and FY25. The average construction value for new properties is $503,000.

In FY26, commercial approvals amounted to $248,000, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to the regional average in Rest of Qld, where Marcoola has 50% less development activity per person. This limited supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. New development consists predominantly of standalone homes (82%) and townhouses or apartments (18%), maintaining the area's traditional low-density character appealing to families seeking space. With around 159 people per dwelling approval, Marcoola exhibits growth area characteristics.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by approximately 93 residents by 2041, with current development patterns indicating that new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

AreaSearch has identified 35 infrastructure projects that could impact the area. Key projects include the Marcoola Affordable Housing Project, Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project (scheduled for completion in 2020), Marcoola Surf Life Saving Club Redevelopment (commenced in 2019), and Sunshine Motorway West Coolum Road Upgrade Interchange (due to start construction in late 2021). The following list details those projects likely to be 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.

The labour market in Marcoola demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Marcoola's skilled workforce has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of June 2025, 2029 residents are employed with a 0.6% lower unemployment rate than Rest of Qld's 3.9%.

Workforce participation is at 61.9%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.7% versus the regional average of 4.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population to local population count.

Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.1%, employment fell by 0.9%, and unemployment dropped by 1.1 percentage points in Marcoola, contrasting with Rest of Qld's employment rise of 1.8% and unemployment increase of 0.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (Sep-22) project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Marcoola's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest data for financial year 2022 shows Marcoola's median income is $48,023 and average income is $63,892. This is lower than national averages of $50,780 (median) and $64,844 (average). By September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $54,741 (median) and $72,830 (average), based on a 13.99% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Marcoola's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 28th and 42nd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 31.8% of residents earn between $1,500 - $2,999 annually (1,138 people), consistent with regional trends. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Marcoola, with only 79.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 22nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Marcoola displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Marcoola's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 43.4% houses and 56.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld had 51.7% houses and 48.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Marcoola was 29.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.7% and rented ones at 41.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,820. The median weekly rent in Marcoola was $406, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $420. Nationally, Marcoola's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $406 compared to the national figure of $375.

Marcoola features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 64.6% of all households, consisting of 20.5% couples with children, 31.4% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.4%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households comprising 5.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of Qld.

Marcoola demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Marcoola trails regional benchmarks in educational qualifications, with 24.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, held by 43.3% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (30.2%). Educational participation is high at 27.8%, with 9.2% in primary, 7.5% in secondary, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Schools are located outside immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access them in neighboring areas.

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

Marcoola has 21 active public transport stops, all serving buses. Two routes operate here, together offering 481 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 179 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency averages 68 trips across all routes, translating to about 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Marcoola are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Marcoola shows below-average health indicators.

Common conditions are slightly more prevalent here than average across both younger and older residents. Private health cover stands at approximately 53%, covering around 1,880 people, which is slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affect 9.3% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.3%. About 68.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.2% in Rest of Qld. Marcoola has 20.6% of residents aged 65 and over (737 people), lower than the 24.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Marcoola's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 85.1% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (82.8%), and speaking English only at home (94.3%). Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 44.0% of Marcoola's population. Buddhism was overrepresented compared to the rest of Queensland, with 1.4% of Marcoola's population identifying as Buddhist versus 1.2%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.5%), Australian (24.5%), and Irish (10.3%). Notably, Scottish ethnicity was slightly overrepresented at 9.5%, compared to the regional average of 9.1%. French ethnicity showed no significant difference at 0.7% versus the regional rate of 0.7%, while Dutch ethnicity was slightly higher at 1.7% versus 1.4%.

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

Marcoola has a median age of 45, which is higher than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and also above the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 16.6% of the population, while those aged 5-14 are comparatively smaller at 10.1%. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Since the Census in 2021, the age group of 25 to 34 has grown from 11.7% to 13.5%, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 4.7% to 6.3%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 15.2% to 13.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Marcoola's age structure. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 19%, reaching 575 people from the current figure of 483. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 45 to 54 cohorts.