Caloundra West
A 196.7% population increase over 10 years, the largest in this batch, marks Caloundra West as a greenfield suburb still in its construction phase. Annual growth of 4.93% (+1,176 persons) is driven overwhelmingly by internal migration at +1,626 per year, meaning Australians are relocating here from other parts of the country at a rate that tripled the suburb's population in a decade. Despite this explosion, household incomes sit at just the 51st percentile nationally, and the university attainment rate of 23.1% runs 7 points below the national average. This is affordable Sunshine Coast living, not a knowledge-worker corridor.
Population
7,270
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,571/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$556K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $556,000, Caloundra West offers Sunshine Coast positioning at a price well below coastal suburb medians. The stock is 83.3% detached houses with 45.7% having 4-plus bedrooms and 42.1% three-bedroom, a family-friendly profile. Mortgage-to-income of 27.1% approaches but does not cross the 30% stress line. Semi-detached at 16.6% provides townhouse alternatives. The 29.6% outright ownership rate is higher than expected for a new suburb, suggesting retirees cashing out of southern capitals. The 74.2% residential retention rate (25.8% turnover) confirms a community still settling in.
For Buyers
At an estimated $556,000, Caloundra West offers Sunshine Coast positioning at a price well below coastal suburb medians. The stock is 83.3% detached houses with 45.7% having 4-plus bedrooms and 42.1% three-bedroom, a family-friendly profile. Mortgage-to-income of 27.1% approaches but does not cross the 30% stress line. Semi-detached at 16.6% provides townhouse alternatives. The 29.6% outright ownership rate is higher than expected for a new suburb, suggesting retirees cashing out of southern capitals. The 74.2% residential retention rate (25.8% turnover) confirms a community still settling in.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $465 on the estimated $556,000 median produces a gross yield of approximately 4.4%, the highest in this batch. The 4.3% vacancy rate sits within the healthy band. The 32.8% renter share provides a reasonable tenant pool. Population growth of 4.93% per year is exceptional, driven by net internal migration of +1,626 annually, ensuring demand growth far outpaces current supply. Only 2 DAs in 12 months at the individual lot level, because development here operates at the precinct and master-plan scale. Rent growth of 26.3% over the decade is moderate, compressed by new supply entering the market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-33.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Caloundra West iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Unity College
Prep-12 · 1450 students
Demographics
Caloundra West's median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, but the internal migration pattern reveals a mixed-age intake rather than purely young families. The senior share actually declined 3.7 points while the working-age share gained 2.7 points, the opposite of aging, because working-age movers are arriving faster than retirees. University attainment at 23.1% is 7 points below the national rate. English ancestry dominates (3,320), with Scottish (827) and Irish (795) completing an Anglo-Celtic core. At 22.7% born overseas, just 1.1 points above the national average. Household size of 2.6 is close to the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.3%
Houses
16.6%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The estimated median house price of $556,000 is based on rental data; no historical price series is available for this new suburb. Detached houses at 83.3% dominate, with semi-detached at 16.6% providing the townhouse segment and virtually no apartments (0.1%). Ownership splits into 29.6% outright, 37.6% mortgage, and 32.8% renting. The relatively balanced split reflects the mixed demographic of retirees (outright) and young families (mortgaged). Rent-to-income of 29.6% is the highest in this batch, approaching the stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income of 27.1% is also elevated relative to the household income base at the 51st percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wk
$465
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$751
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
122
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.5%
Couples, no children
5,992
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare overwhelms at 26.2% of employment (604 workers), the highest single-industry share in this batch, reflecting the Sunshine Coast's medical and aged care infrastructure. Construction (11.2%, 259 workers) and education (10.1%, 233 workers) follow, consistent with a growth suburb building schools and homes simultaneously. Retail (7.5%) and hospitality (5.9%) round out a service-sector base. Community and personal services workers (520) are the second-largest occupation group after professionals (614). Unemployment at 5.3% exceeds the national average, and the 57.1% participation rate is low. SEIFA shows moderate scores: IRSAD decile 6, IEO decile 5.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
12,342
Unemployed
374
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.2%
Part-time
34.5%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
3,042
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.1%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
22.7%
Dwellings
2,702
Transport to Work
Unity College (Catholic, ICSEA 1065, 1,450 students) is the sole school, scoring 65 points above the national benchmark and enrolling a significant share of the suburb's children. Car dependency is very high at 91.8%, with public transport at just 0.8%, reflecting the early-stage transport infrastructure of a greenfield suburb. Walking and cycling at 1.8% is minimal. The need-for-assistance rate of 5.8% is slightly above the national average. The IRSAD decile of 6 places Caloundra West slightly above the national midpoint, a strong position for a suburb of this age and income profile.
Drive
91.8%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+4.93%/yr
(+1,176 people/yr)
High GrowthThe 4.93% annual growth rate (+1,176 persons) is the fastest in this batch by a large margin. Net internal migration of +1,626 per year is the dominant driver, with overseas migration adding 103. The 10-year population change of 196.7% reflects a suburb that barely existed a decade ago. Real income growth of 31.2% over the decade is the highest profiled, suggesting rising household quality. Affordability improved dramatically from 71.8% mortgage-to-income in 2011 to 56.2% in 2021, though both figures remain well above the 30% stress line because early buyers paid infrastructure premiums. Population is projected to reach 28,444 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+103
Net Internal / yr
+1,626
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Caloundra West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caloundra West a good suburb to live in?
Caloundra West suits families seeking affordable Sunshine Coast entry at an estimated $556,000 median. Unity College (ICSEA 1065, 1,450 students) provides strong schooling. The main trade-offs are 91.8% car dependency, limited public transport (0.8%), and the infrastructure gaps typical of a suburb that grew 196.7% in 10 years.
What is the median house price in Caloundra West?
The estimated median house price is $556,000 as of 2025, derived from rental data. No historical sales series is available for this new suburb. Mortgage repayments absorb 27.1% of household income at the 51st-percentile income level.
What schools are in Caloundra West?
Caloundra West has 1 school: Unity College (Catholic, ICSEA 1065, 1,450 students). It scores 65 points above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1000. Its large enrolment reflects the rapid population growth of the area.
Is Caloundra West safe?
Crime data is not available for Caloundra West in the current dataset. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 places it slightly above the national midpoint. The suburb's rapid growth (196.7% over 10 years) means community services and policing infrastructure are still catching up with population.
Is Caloundra West good for property investment?
Gross yield of approximately 4.4% ($465/week on $556,000) is the highest in this batch. Population growth of 4.93% per year, driven by net internal migration of +1,626 annually, ensures strong demand. The risk is oversupply from ongoing greenfield development and rent stress near the 29.6% threshold.
How is Caloundra West's population changing?
Population is growing at 4.93% annually (+1,176 persons), the fastest in this batch. The 10-year change of 196.7% tripled the suburb's population. Growth is driven by internal migration (+1,626/year), meaning Australians relocating from other regions. Projected population is 28,444 by 2031.
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.
Explore Caloundra West on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map