Aroona
Roughly 96% of Aroona's dwellings are separate houses, which is exceptional even by Queensland standards, and more than half of those have four or more bedrooms. The suburb sits on the Sunshine Coast in postcode 4551, covering just 1.89 square kilometres with a population of 3,466 and a median age of 43, three years above the national figure. Household income places it at the 67th percentile nationally, comfortably mid-range. Ownership rates are strong: 37.5% own outright and 48% carry a mortgage, meaning fewer than 15% rent, well below state averages. The suburb has aged steadily over the past decade, with the senior share rising 8.5 points while young adults have declined.
Population
3,466
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,857/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$557K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $557,000 based on 2025 rental data, placing Aroona below many Sunshine Coast coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Four-bedroom-plus homes dominate at 52.5% of stock, with three-bedroom at 43.8%, so buyers have limited choice of smaller dwellings. The stock is almost entirely detached housing at 96.2%, with semi-detached at just 3.3% and apartments under 1%. This detached-dominant composition means buyers are selecting almost exclusively freestanding homes, and competition for the rare smaller property can be sharper. Compared to Sunshine Coast median prices in premium beach suburbs, Aroona offers relative affordability for a fully detached, family-sized home.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $557,000 based on 2025 rental data, placing Aroona below many Sunshine Coast coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Four-bedroom-plus homes dominate at 52.5% of stock, with three-bedroom at 43.8%, so buyers have limited choice of smaller dwellings. The stock is almost entirely detached housing at 96.2%, with semi-detached at just 3.3% and apartments under 1%. This detached-dominant composition means buyers are selecting almost exclusively freestanding homes, and competition for the rare smaller property can be sharper. Compared to Sunshine Coast median prices in premium beach suburbs, Aroona offers relative affordability for a fully detached, family-sized home.
For Investors
At 14.5% renter share, Aroona's rental market is thin compared to the national average, which limits tenant demand and reduces yield stability. Weekly rent averages $450, and against a $557,000 median price that implies a gross yield near 4.2%, higher than many coastal markets. The vacancy rate of 4.6% is elevated, signalling more supply than current demand can absorb, so extended vacancies are a real risk. Net internal migration averages 56 people per year, and net overseas migration adds 12 annually, giving steady but modest population growth of about 1.16% per year. Development activity is minimal, with only 2 applications in the past 12 months. The low rental competition and thin pipeline mean investors should weigh the decent yield against the above-average vacancy and aging demographic trajectory.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the aging trend is accelerating: the senior share has risen 8.5 points over the decade, while the working-age share fell 2.5 points. Overseas-born residents make up 17.9%, which is 3.7 points below the national average, reflecting an Anglo-leaning heritage profile. English ancestry leads with 1,669 residents, followed by Irish (487) and Scottish (451). University qualifications reach 26.8%, which is 3.3 points below the national rate, consistent with the trade and service employment base. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national. The volunteer rate of 16.9% signals active community participation, and 5.6% of residents need daily assistance, broadly proportional to the older age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.2%
Houses
3.3%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between outright ownership at 37.5%, mortgage at 48%, and renting at 14.5%, with owner-occupiers holding a clear majority at over 85%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 52.5% of stock and three-bedroom for 43.8%, so the suburb caters heavily to families rather than downsizers or singles. Separate houses make up 96.2% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 3.3% and apartments at 0.6%, one of the highest detached ratios compared to most Queensland suburban areas. Housing stress indicators are mild: rent-to-income runs at 24.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.3%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Vacancy sits at 4.6%, suggesting some softness in rental demand relative to available stock.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$775
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
59
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.8%
Couples, no children
2,940
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.3% of workers (267 people), followed by Construction at 15.1% (181) and Education at 14% (167). Professional services contribute 6.6% and Public Administration 6.3%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 403 workers, Clerical/Admin with 228, and Community/Personal Services with 219. Full-time employment runs at 58.4% of those employed, with a participation rate of 57.5%, below the national average partly because 910 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the older age profile. Unemployment sits at 4.6%, in line with state figures. SEIFA scores place the suburb at decile 6 on IRSD (relative disadvantage) and decile 5 on IRSAD (advantage/disadvantage combined), both close to the national median. The IEO education/occupation decile of 4 is below the national midpoint, consistent with the trade-focused workforce.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
5,332
Unemployed
182
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.4%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
57.5%
Employed
1,556
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.8%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
17.9%
Dwellings
1,225
Transport to Work
Transport in Aroona is car-dependent: 89.5% of residents drive to work and only 1.3% use public transport, which is low compared to urban Sunshine Coast nodes. Walking or cycling accounts for 2.8%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs for schooling. Safety data is not available for this area in the dataset. The suburb rates decile 6 on IRSD, near the national midpoint for relative disadvantage, and the mortgage and rent stress measures are both below 25%, indicating manageable housing costs for most households. Couples with children make up the largest family group at 1,197, and couples without children follow at 877. Housing stress is low, and the high outright ownership rate at 37.5% points to an established, financially settled resident base.
Drive
89.5%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.16%/yr
(+54 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 18.1% over the past decade, above the national average for established suburbs of similar size. The annual growth rate is 1.16%, adding about 54 people per year. Medium forecasts project the population rising from approximately 4,665 in 2025 to around 4,921 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with net internal arrivals averaging 56 per year and overseas migration contributing 12 annually. The suburb is classified as established rather than greenfield, and the gentrification score of 15 puts it in the not gentrifying stage. Affordability held broadly stable between 2011 (40.1%) and 2021 (41.9%), and real income grew only 1% over the decade, meaning the suburb has not attracted the higher-income cohort shifts seen in gentrifying areas. The aging trajectory is the dominant structural trend.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+12
Net Internal / yr
+56
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +25% since 2011, Net internal migration +56/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Aroona compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aroona a good suburb to live in?
Aroona suits families who want a large detached home. More than 96% of dwellings are separate houses, and over 85% of residents own their home. The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, so the community skews toward established households. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 24.3% and rent-to-income at 24.2%, both below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Aroona?
The median house price in Aroona is estimated at $557,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,950. This places Aroona below many Sunshine Coast coastal suburbs in price, while still offering almost exclusively detached housing.
What schools are in Aroona?
No schools are recorded within the Aroona suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs in the Caloundra area. Despite this, 26.8% of residents hold university qualifications, which is close to but slightly below the national average of around 30%.
Is Aroona safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Aroona in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb sits at decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, near the national midpoint. Housing stress is low at 24.3% mortgage-to-income, and the population of 3,466 is stable with consistent internal migration inflows of 56 people per year.
Is Aroona good for property investment?
Rent of $450 per week against a $557,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, higher than many coastal Queensland markets. However, the vacancy rate of 4.6% is elevated and the renter share of 14.5% is thin compared to the national average. Annual population growth of 1.16% provides modest demand support, but the aging trajectory and low rental demand are risks to monitor.
How is Aroona's population changing?
Aroona grew 18.1% over the past decade, above the national rate for similarly sized established suburbs. The current annual growth rate is 1.16%, adding about 54 residents per year. Medium forecasts project the population reaching approximately 4,921 by 2031, up from around 4,665 in 2025. The primary change within that growth is an aging structure, with the senior share up 8.5 points since 2011.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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