Cooloola Cove
Cooloola Cove's defining contrast is its age profile: the median age is 62, which is 22 years above the national comparison, while 59.0% of residents own their homes outright. Its 2,921 residents occupy 13.53 sq km at 215.8 people per sq km, and 96.5% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income sits at the 4.7th national percentile, helping explain a more budget-sensitive market than the settings associated with nearby Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach. A vacancy rate of 11.1% and 75.7% five-year address stability point to a settled, age-led suburb rather than a high-turnover market.
Local council: Gympie
Population
2,921
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$808/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Homebuyers in Cooloola Cove are choosing a predominantly detached, established housing base rather than apartment stock. Separate houses account for 96.5% of dwellings, far higher than the 0.3% apartment share, while 52.4% have 3 bedrooms and 31.1% have 4 or more. The $300 weekly rent is a useful affordability reference, but buyers should compare recent settled sales by land size and condition. Household income is $808 a week, mortgage costs are $1,172 a month and mortgage stress reaches 33.5%, so rate changes, insurance and maintenance need careful testing. The 59.0% outright ownership rate supports downsizer appeal, while 25.6% mortgaged households leave room for active family demand.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Cooloola Cove are choosing a predominantly detached, established housing base rather than apartment stock. Separate houses account for 96.5% of dwellings, far higher than the 0.3% apartment share, while 52.4% have 3 bedrooms and 31.1% have 4 or more. The $300 weekly rent is a useful affordability reference, but buyers should compare recent settled sales by land size and condition. Household income is $808 a week, mortgage costs are $1,172 a month and mortgage stress reaches 33.5%, so rate changes, insurance and maintenance need careful testing. The 59.0% outright ownership rate supports downsizer appeal, while 25.6% mortgaged households leave room for active family demand.
For Investors
Investor appeal is mixed because the suburb has limited rental tenure but elevated vacancy. Only 14.8% of homes are rented, compared with 59.0% owned outright, while vacancy is 11.1%; that combination can mean a smaller tenant pool and longer letting periods. Weekly rent is $300 and rent growth is 27.3%, higher than real income growth of 2.7%, creating affordability risk even when headline rents rise. Five development applications were lodged in 12 months. The established forecast points to 1.5% annual growth driven by internal migration, favouring a patient strategy that checks insurance, maintenance and resale liquidity rather than relying on rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Cooloola Cove has an older, smaller-household profile: median age is 62, 22 years above the national comparison, and average household size is 2.1, or 0.4 below the national figure. University attainment is 9.5%, 20.6 percentage points below nationally, while 17.3% were born overseas, 4.3 points below the national share. English ancestry is recorded for 1,305 residents, ahead of Irish at 353 and Scottish at 317; Christianity counts 1,430 people versus 1,152 reporting no religion. The age structure helps explain why couples without children represent 67.8% of families and why healthcare leads employment at 17.6%. With 75.7% staying at the same address five years earlier, the suburb is more settled than a young, high-turnover growth area.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Cooloola Cove's housing is overwhelmingly detached and owner-occupied. Separate houses make up 96.5% of dwellings, compared with 0.3% apartments and 0.4% semi-detached homes. Tenure is led by outright ownership at 59.0%, followed by mortgages at 25.6% and renting at 14.8%, making ownership much more common than renting. The stock is mostly family-sized: 52.4% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 31.1% have 4 or more, despite an average household size of 2.1. That pattern is consistent with retirees retaining larger homes after children leave, matching a median age of 62. Rent-to-income pressure is 37.1%, higher than mortgage-to-income pressure at 33.5%, while real income growth is only 2.7%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,172
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $300.
$590
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $590
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$433
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.1%
Unoccupied
156
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.7%
Couples with children
67.8%
Couples, no children
12.6%
Single parent
898
Total families
Economy & Employment
Cooloola Cove's economy is service-led and closely aligned with its older resident base. Healthcare leads at 17.6% or 64 workers, ahead of construction at 11.0% or 40, hospitality at 10.7% or 39, retail at 10.4% or 38, and education at 7.7% or 28. Occupations are practical, led by labourers at 133 and trades at 99, above sales at 97. Participation is 29.1%, unemployment 7.5% and full-time work 41.9%. Household income is $808 weekly and sits at the 4.7th national percentile; SEIFA IEO and IER are in deciles 1 and 2. Compared with higher-income areas, spending power is constrained, but local healthcare and service demand is supported by the age profile.
Unemployment
7.5%
Labour Force
764
Unemployed
57
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
41.9%
Part-time
47.0%
Participation
29.1%
Employed
707
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.5%
Postgraduate
1.1%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
1,245
Transport to Work
Livability in Cooloola Cove is easiest for residents who drive. Car driving accounts for 78.6% of journeys to work, compared with 0.9% by public transport and 1.8% walking or cycling; 12.2% work from home. That pattern means errands, health services and regional connections should be planned around private vehicle access rather than frequent transit. The 2.1-person average household and 12.8% volunteering rate support a quieter lifestyle, but 14.4% need assistance, so accessible homes and nearby services matter. Socioeconomic disadvantage is significant: IRSAD and IRSD both sit in decile 1, below the IER decile 2. Check recent Queensland Police statistics before committing, and compare the exact street, services and transport with a transit-rich suburb.
Drive
78.6%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
12.2%
Growth Outlook
Cooloola Cove is forecast to grow at 1.5% a year, with internal migration the primary driver. The wider area follows an Aging trajectory: senior share has increased 17.0 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 6.8 points and the working share has dropped 8.7 points. Population change across the wider area is 14.8% over 10 years. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage with a score of 29, so change is more likely to come through incoming households and gradual reinvestment than rapid redevelopment. Rent growth of 27.3% is higher than real income growth of 2.7%, which may temper demand. The established classification and 5 development applications reinforce a gradual trajectory.
Population trend: Gympie council area
Cooloola Cove sits in the Gympie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cooloola Cove's.
Residents 2025
58,487
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cooloola Cove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cooloola Cove a good suburb to live in?
Cooloola Cove can suit buyers seeking a quieter, detached-home setting, especially older households. The median age is 62, 96.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 78.6% drive to work. It is less convenient than a transit-rich suburb, so check car access, daily services and exact travel times before choosing an address.
What is the median house price in Cooloola Cove?
A current median house price is not available for Cooloola Cove. Use the $300 weekly rent, 96.5% separate-house share and 52.4% 3-bedroom share as context, then compare recent settled sales by land size, condition and street. Avoid treating a wider regional figure as a precise local median.
What schools are in Cooloola Cove?
School access should be checked against the exact address, enrolment zone and transport route before buying or renting. Cooloola Cove has a strongly car-based pattern, with 78.6% driving to work and 0.9% using public transport. Confirm current nearby school options directly because boundaries and availability can change.
Is Cooloola Cove safe?
Do not treat the suburb label alone as a safety guarantee. Check recent Queensland Police statistics and visit the exact street at different times. Cooloola Cove has 2,921 residents and an 11.1% vacancy rate, so activity and passive surveillance may vary between occupied and quieter pockets.
Is Cooloola Cove good for property investment?
It may suit a patient investor, but the signals are mixed. Rent is $300 a week, vacancy is 11.1%, rent growth is 27.3% and annual forecast growth is 1.5%, driven by internal migration. The 14.8% renter share and 5 development applications mean tenant demand, liquidity and future supply should be tested carefully.
How is Cooloola Cove's population changing?
Cooloola Cove is aging while still attracting residents through internal migration. The forecast trend is 1.5% annual growth, with population change across the wider area at 14.8% over 10 years. Senior share rose 17.0 percentage points, while the young share fell 6.8 points, so future demand is likely to favour accessible homes and services.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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