Cooloola Cove
With a median age of 62 and household income in the 4.7th percentile nationally, Cooloola Cove sits among Queensland's most affordable, most retired coastal communities. The suburb's 2,921 residents skew heavily toward couples without children, who make up 57% of families, and 59.4% own their homes outright, well above national norms. All four SEIFA indexes rank the suburb in decile 1 or 2, placing it in the lowest advantage tier in the country. Yet vacancy sits at 11.1%, pointing to holiday or seasonal use for a portion of the detached housing stock that accounts for 96.5% of all dwellings.
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
2
Median House
$357K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $357,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, making Cooloola Cove one of Queensland's more affordable coastal entry points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,172, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes. Only 25.8% of residents carry a mortgage, compared to 59.4% who own outright, suggesting most purchases are made by cash buyers or retirees paying down existing debt. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.4% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 31.1%, giving buyers plenty of family-sized stock. Separate houses make up 96.5% of all housing, with apartments at just 0.3%, so demand concentrates on detached property.
For Buyers
The median house price of $357,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, making Cooloola Cove one of Queensland's more affordable coastal entry points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,172, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes. Only 25.8% of residents carry a mortgage, compared to 59.4% who own outright, suggesting most purchases are made by cash buyers or retirees paying down existing debt. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.4% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 31.1%, giving buyers plenty of family-sized stock. Separate houses make up 96.5% of all housing, with apartments at just 0.3%, so demand concentrates on detached property.
For Investors
Gross yield looks modest against the $357,000 median: weekly rent of $300 implies a gross yield near 4.4%, workable but not exceptional. The 11.1% vacancy rate is elevated and signals seasonal demand, which can compress consistent rental income for landlords. Only 14.8% of residents rent, a low renter share that limits the tenant pool. Migration figures tell a more optimistic story: net internal migration averages 176 people a year, and the population grew 14.8% over the prior decade, reaching 2,921. One development application lodged in the past 12 months indicates very limited new supply entering the market, which supports existing owners if demand holds. Rent grew 27.3% over the measurement period, well ahead of real income growth of 2.7%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
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
The median age of 62 is 22 years above the national median, making Cooloola Cove one of the oldest-skewing suburbs in Queensland. The senior share increased 17 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 8.7 points, a dramatic aging trajectory. University qualifications reach 9.5%, which is 20.6 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar and retiree base. Overseas-born residents are 17.3%, compared to a national average roughly 21.6 points higher. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,305 residents), Irish (353) and Scottish (317). Average household size is 2.1, 0.4 below the national average, consistent with older empty-nester couples.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 59.4% is well above national norms, driven by the retirement-age profile. Mortgage holders account for just 25.8% and renters 14.8%, a tenure split that tilts sharply toward debt-free established residents. Separate houses comprise 96.5% of the stock, with semi-detached at 0.4% and apartments at just 0.3%, making this one of Queensland's most detached-dominant suburbs. The bedroom distribution reflects family-sized homes: 52.4% have 3 bedrooms and 31.1% have 4 or more. Rent-to-income at 37.1% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, so the small renter cohort faces genuine affordability pressure against local wages. The median house price of $357,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data.
Mortgage / mo
$1,172
Rent / wk
$300
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
57.0%
Couples, no children
2,150
Total families
Economy & Employment
The participation rate of 26.1% is very low nationally, reflecting the large retired population, with 1,678 residents not in the labour force. Of those who work, healthcare leads at 17.6% of employed workers, followed by construction (11%), hospitality (10.7%) and retail (10.4%). By occupation, labourers are the largest group (133 workers), followed by sales (97) and community and personal service roles (91). Unemployment sits at 8.3%, above the national average, partly because the denominator is small and fluctuates, but it also reflects limited local employment. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 1 and IRSAD decile of 1 place the suburb in the most disadvantaged tier nationally, driven by low incomes, few university graduates and high welfare dependency. Household income of $808 per week sits in the 4.7th percentile nationally.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
2,475
Unemployed
143
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
47.1%
Part-time
44.6%
Participation
26.1%
Employed
628
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.5%
Postgraduate
1.1%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
1,245
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 89.6% of residents drive to work and only 1.0% use public transport, which is well below the national average and reflects the limited transit infrastructure typical of regional coastal Queensland. Volunteering is recorded at 12.8%, a modest but positive community participation rate. About 14.4% of residents, or 391 people, need daily assistance, well above the national average and consistent with the aging profile and SEIFA decile 1 disadvantage. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on facilities in nearby townships. The IRSAD decile of 1 indicates the suburb ranks in the bottom tier nationally for combined advantage and disadvantage, though 43.8% of households have no car, suggesting some residents face mobility constraints.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.5%/yr
(+107 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 14.8% over the decade to reach 2,921 and is forecast to continue at 1.5% annually, adding roughly 107 people per year. Medium scenario projections put the broader area population at around 7,790 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary growth engine, averaging 176 net arrivals per year, with overseas migration adding 17 per year. The gentrification score of 29 with an early signs classification points to gradual demographic change, supported by signals like 22% population growth since 2011 and continued net internal migration. Affordability has been stable, moving from 60.3% in 2011 to 60.7% in 2021, suggesting the suburb's relative price position has not shifted meaningfully compared to incomes.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+17
Net Internal / yr
+176
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal migration +176/yr
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 suits retirees and lifestyle seekers more than career-focused residents. With 59.4% of homes owned outright and a median age of 62, it is one of Queensland's most established retirement communities. SEIFA decile 1 across all four indexes reflects low incomes, but the $357,000 median house price and $300 weekly rent make costs lower than most QLD coastal suburbs.
What is the median house price in Cooloola Cove?
The median house price is estimated at $357,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,172. With 59.4% of residents owning outright, most transactions involve cash buyers rather than mortgage-dependent purchasers.
What schools are in Cooloola Cove?
No schools are recorded within the Cooloola Cove suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with children rely on schools in neighbouring townships. The suburb's population is predominantly retired, with a median age of 62 and 57% of families being couples with no children, so school proximity is a lower priority for most residents.
Is Cooloola Cove safe?
Detailed crime rate statistics are not available for Cooloola Cove in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb has a SEIFA IRSD decile of 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, which can correlate with higher crime in some areas. The 14.4% rate of residents needing daily assistance (391 people) suggests a vulnerable population. Checking current QLD Police crime maps is recommended for specific safety data.
Is Cooloola Cove good for property investment?
At $357,000 median and $300 weekly rent, the gross yield is approximately 4.4%, which is reasonable for coastal Queensland. Net internal migration of 176 per year and 14.8% population growth over the decade support demand. However, the 11.1% vacancy rate signals seasonal softness, and the 14.8% renter share is low, limiting the tenant pool for landlords.
How is Cooloola Cove's population changing?
The population stands at 2,921 and grew 14.8% over the prior decade, with annual growth forecast at 1.5% (roughly 107 people per year). Internal migration is the primary driver at 176 net arrivals annually. The suburb is aging: the senior share rose 17 points and the working-age share fell 8.7 points over 10 years, a trajectory that will continue shaping local demand.
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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