Cooran
With 42.2% of residents owning their homes outright and zero apartments in the dwelling stock, Cooran sits at an unusual point on the Sunshine Coast hinterland property spectrum. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national average, and household income falls at the 30.7th percentile nationally, making this one of the more affordable pockets in a region that has seen rapid price escalation. Population grew 31% over the decade, and the gentrification score of 59 signals the suburb is in an active phase, drawing internal migrants at a net 737 per year to the broader area while rents climbed 53.2%.
Population
1,756
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,294/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$459K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $459,000 sits well below the Sunshine Coast regional average, offering a lower entry point than coastal counterparts while still within the mortgage reach of most buyers. All dwellings are separate houses, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 51.6% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom homes at 25.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 42.2% is high compared to the national average, which typically runs around 31%, suggesting a cohort of long-established, debt-free residents rather than a churn of leveraged buyers. That ownership structure also limits turnover and keeps supply tight.
For Buyers
The median house price of $459,000 sits well below the Sunshine Coast regional average, offering a lower entry point than coastal counterparts while still within the mortgage reach of most buyers. All dwellings are separate houses, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 51.6% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom homes at 25.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 42.2% is high compared to the national average, which typically runs around 31%, suggesting a cohort of long-established, debt-free residents rather than a churn of leveraged buyers. That ownership structure also limits turnover and keeps supply tight.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $385 against a $459,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, reasonable for a hinterland suburb. The vacancy rate of 9.0% is elevated compared to typical sub-3% healthy markets, indicating softer rental demand relative to supply and warranting caution before purchasing for rental income. The renter share is only 11.3%, well below the national average, which means the investor pool competes for a thin tenant base. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications in 12 months, so new supply pressure is negligible. Net internal migration of 737 per year to the broader local government area supports the long-term demand outlook, and rent growth of 53.2% over the period reflects the structural undersupply that has driven prices across the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
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
Schools in Cooran iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cooran State School
Prep-6 · 139 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 exceeds the national figure by 6 years, and the senior share rose 3.7 points over the decade, confirming an aging trajectory. The working-age share fell 1.5 points over the same period, consistent with a lifestyle-oriented population rather than a commuter base. University qualifications reach 24.0%, which is 6.1 points below the national average, while overseas-born residents at 19.0% run 2.6 points below national. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (816), Irish (236) and Scottish (229) account for the bulk of responses. The average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly. Couples with children make up 37.2% of families, while 30.2% are couples without children, a split that reflects both established family households and semi-retired residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every dwelling in Cooran is a separate house, placing it in a narrow category of fully detached-dominant suburbs rarely seen in Queensland's faster-growing corridors. Tenure skews strongly toward ownership: 42.2% own outright and 46.4% hold a mortgage, leaving only 11.3% renting, compared to national renter rates that typically exceed 30%. The 3-bedroom home at 51.6% of stock is the clear mode, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 25.9% reflecting the larger rural lot sizes common in hinterland areas. Mortgage-to-income sits at 27.1% and rent-to-income at 29.8%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The median house price is estimated at $459,000, anchored to rent data for 2025, as direct transaction volumes are limited for a suburb of 1,756 residents.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$385
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$628
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
63
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.2%
Couples, no children
1,328
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 20.0% of workers (104 people), followed by Construction at 14.6% (76) and Education at 12.9% (67). That top-three combination reflects a small community with a working population partially employed in nearby Noosa and Gympie service centres rather than within Cooran itself. The unemployment rate of 7.0% runs above the national average, and the participation rate of 48.8% is low, largely because 532 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age. By occupation, Professionals lead at 159, with Community/Personal service workers at 100 and Managers, Labourers and Clerical/Admin each near 75-80. SEIFA deciles sit at 4 on both IRSD and IRSAD, placing Cooran in the lower-middle tier nationally for relative advantage.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
9,329
Unemployed
435
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.8%
Part-time
41.2%
Participation
48.8%
Employed
651
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.0%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
19.0%
Dwellings
642
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 90.8% of residents driving to work, compared to national averages where car use typically runs around 60 to 65% for metropolitan areas. This reflects the suburban and rural character of the 37.58 km2 area and the absence of meaningful public transport. No schools are recorded within Cooran itself, so families rely on facilities in nearby Cooroy or Pomona, adding a travel dimension to household decisions with children. The volunteering rate of 18.8% is strong, indicating community participation typical of smaller hinterland towns. At IRSAD decile 4, Cooran ranks in the lower-middle tier nationally for socioeconomic advantage, though rent-to-income at 29.8% and mortgage-to-income at 27.1% show housing costs remain manageable relative to local incomes.
Drive
90.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.04%/yr
(+430 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 31% over the decade and the active gentrification score of 59 reflects real structural demand. The broader local government area absorbed 737 net internal migrants annually, and the medium forecast projects the wider population reaching 22,789 by 2031, up from 21,067 in 2025, representing annual growth of approximately 2%. Real income growth of 18.5% over the period confirms rising economic capacity even if the household income percentile remains below average. Rent growth of 53.2% outpaced income growth significantly, which is the primary affordability risk for the suburb going forward. The young adult share fell 0.2 points while seniors rose 3.7 points, so growth is led by middle-aged and retiring internal migrants rather than younger household formation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+68
Net Internal / yr
+737
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +46% since 2011, Net internal migration +737/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 38%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cooran compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cooran a good suburb to live in?
Cooran suits buyers seeking detached housing at $459,000 median, well below coastal Sunshine Coast prices, with a low-stress mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%. The trade-off is high car dependency (90.8% drive to work), no schools recorded within the suburb, and a 9.0% rental vacancy rate. SEIFA IRSAD decile 4 places it in the lower-middle tier nationally for advantage.
What is the median house price in Cooran?
The median house price is approximately $459,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $385 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,517, keeping mortgage-to-income at 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. All dwellings are separate houses, with 3-bedroom homes making up 51.6% of the stock.
What schools are in Cooran?
No schools are recorded within Cooran in this dataset. Families typically use schools in nearby Cooroy or Pomona. Despite the absence of local schools, 24.0% of residents hold university qualifications, though this is 6.1 percentage points below the national average.
Is Cooran safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Cooran at the suburb level. As a proxy, the suburb has a low renter share of 11.3% and a high outright ownership rate of 42.2%, both associated with stable, established communities. The volunteering rate of 18.8% also indicates strong community engagement for a suburb of 1,756 residents.
Is Cooran good for property investment?
Rent of $385 a week against a $459,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, which is reasonable, but the 9.0% vacancy rate is above healthy market levels and the renter share is only 11.3%, well below national averages. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications in 12 months. Rent growth of 53.2% over the period shows structural demand, but high vacancy suggests oversupply in the current rental stock.
How is Cooran's population changing?
Cooran's population grew 31% over the decade to reach 1,756 residents, driven by internal migration at a net 737 per year across the local area. The suburb's gentrification score of 59 signals an active phase. The trend favours older arrivals, with the senior share up 3.7 points and working-age share down 1.5 points, and medium forecasts project the wider area growing at approximately 2% annually through 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.
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