Coogee
At 7,631.8 residents per sqkm on just 1.92 sqkm, Coogee is a compact beach market where apartments, renters and high incomes define demand. Apartments make up 80.0% of dwellings and renters 55.6%, much higher than a traditional detached-house suburb. Compared with nearby Randwick's hospital and university spine and Maroubra's broader residential spread, Coogee's identity is more tightly tied to coastal density. Household income sits at the 97.1 percentile, while the median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national benchmark.
Population
14,634
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,976/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
125
Median House
$1.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are paying for scarcity and location more than land size: separate houses are only 10.6% of dwellings, while apartments account for 80.0%. The house benchmark is $1,695,000, with the latest price series at $1,705,000 in 2025 after a 2.0% lift from 2024 and no fall from the peak. Buying pressure is softened by high local incomes because mortgage costs take 25.0% of income, below common stress thresholds. Families needing 4 or more bedrooms face tighter choice, with that stock only 10.9% of homes.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying for scarcity and location more than land size: separate houses are only 10.6% of dwellings, while apartments account for 80.0%. The house benchmark is $1,695,000, with the latest price series at $1,705,000 in 2025 after a 2.0% lift from 2024 and no fall from the peak. Buying pressure is softened by high local incomes because mortgage costs take 25.0% of income, below common stress thresholds. Families needing 4 or more bedrooms face tighter choice, with that stock only 10.9% of homes.
For Investors
Coogee is a renter-majority market, with 55.6% of homes rented and a median rent of $650 per week, giving investors a deep tenant pool. The caution is vacancy: 12.4% is higher than a balanced rental market, so pricing and property quality matter. Development activity is also elevated, with 112 applications over 12 months, which can refresh stock but add competition. Balanced migration, including 104 net overseas and 68 net internal arrivals a year, supports demand because new residents often rent before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
711
Last 12 Months
125
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-11.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coogee iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Brigid's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 205 students
Coogee Public School
K-6 · 361 students
Demographics
Coogee skews young, educated and internationally connected. The median age is 35, which is 5.0 years below the national comparison, and university attainment is 62.6%, 32.5 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 40.9%, 19.3 points above national, helping explain the mix of French, Portuguese, Greek, German and Italian speakers. English ancestry leads with 5,300 people, followed by Irish at 2,853, while Christianity accounts for 5,826 residents. Household size is 2.2, lower than the national comparison by 0.3.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
10.6%
Houses
9.0%
Townhouse
80.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Coogee's housing base is overwhelmingly compact: 51.1% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms, 14.2% have 0 or 1, and only 10.9% have 4 or more. That structure is higher-density than neighbouring detached-house markets because apartments represent 80.0% and separate houses just 10.6%. Prices have been stable rather than speculative in the short series: the median moved from $1,671,750 in 2024 to $1,705,000 in 2025, a 2.0% gain, and the latest quarter matches the peak. Ownership is split between 23.5% owned outright, 20.9% mortgaged and 55.6% rented.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,226
Rent / wk
$650
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,555
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.4%
Unoccupied
879
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.7%
Couples, no children
9,686
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is concentrated in high-skill services, which helps explain incomes above most Australian suburbs. Professional and tech work accounts for 19.1% of jobs, healthcare 14.9%, education 10.4%, finance 9.5% and construction 8.7%. Occupations reinforce the pattern, with 3,930 professionals and 1,861 managers. Labour force conditions are strong: unemployment is 3.6%, participation is 69.0% and the full-time rate is 74.2%. SEIFA is top-decile on advantage and disadvantage measures, with IEO 10, IRSD 10 and IRSAD 10, while IER is lower at decile 7, suggesting resources are more mixed than education and advantage.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
6,496
Unemployed
151
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.2%
Part-time
22.2%
Participation
69.0%
Employed
8,431
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.6%
Postgraduate
19.0%
Born Overseas
40.9%
Dwellings
6,198
Transport to Work
Coogee's livability is strongest for residents who value walkable coastal density over car-light rail access. Walking and cycling account for 15.3% of commuting, above many car-oriented suburbs, while 13.1% use public transport and 67.5% drive. Schooling is primary-focused inside the suburb: Coogee Public School has ICSEA 1154 and 361 students, while St Brigid's Catholic Primary has ICSEA 1159 and 205 students, giving 2 local schools across Government and Catholic sectors. The ICSEA range of 1154 to 1159 sits high, consistent with IRSAD decile 10. Crime-rate fields are not available, so buyers should check current local incident sources.
Drive
67.5%
Public Transport
13.1%
Walk / Cycle
15.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.71%/yr
(+189 people/yr)
EstablishedCoogee is forecast to keep growing at a moderate pace rather than surge. The trend path adds 1.71% a year, or about 189 people annually, with the medium scenario rising from 11,119 in 2026 to 12,062 in 2031. Migration is balanced, led by 104 net overseas arrivals and 68 net internal arrivals a year, so demand is not reliant on one channel. The shift profile points to an aging trajectory, with senior share up 4.1 points and working share down 1.0 point. Gentrification is scored 36 and labelled Early signs, lower than a mature displacement cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+104
Net Internal / yr
+68
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +38% since 2011, Net internal migration +68/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coogee compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coogee a good suburb to live in?
Coogee suits buyers and renters who want dense coastal living, high incomes and strong walkability. It has 80.0% apartments, a median age of 35 and household income in the 97.1 percentile, higher than most suburbs nationally.
What is the median house price in Coogee?
The median house price benchmark is $1,695,000, while the latest price series records $1,705,000 in 2025. That is 2.0% above the 2024 figure and equal to the recorded peak.
What schools are in Coogee?
Coogee has 2 local primary schools: Coogee Public School with 361 students and ICSEA 1154, and St Brigid's Catholic Primary School with 205 students and ICSEA 1159. Both sit above average on ICSEA.
Is Coogee safe?
Coogee cannot be ranked here by a crime rate, but its socio-economic indicators are strong: IRSAD is decile 10 and only 1.9% of residents need assistance. Check current NSW crime maps for street-level safety.
Is Coogee good for property investment?
Coogee has strong rental depth, with 55.6% of homes rented and median rent at $650 per week. The main risk is the 12.4% vacancy rate, which is higher than a tight market, so asset quality matters.
How is Coogee's population changing?
The forecast trend adds 1.71% a year, or about 189 residents annually. The medium scenario rises from 11,119 in 2026 to 12,062 in 2031, supported by 104 net overseas and 68 net internal arrivals a year.
What languages are spoken in Coogee?
Coogee has a higher overseas-born share at 40.9%, which is 19.3 percentage points above national. Reported languages include French with 140 speakers, Portuguese with 110, Greek with 89, German with 77 and Italian with 68.
How much development is happening in Coogee?
Development activity is substantial, with 112 applications over 12 months. That is high for a compact 1.92 sqkm suburb and reflects ongoing renovations, dwelling changes and food or drink premises activity.
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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