Cooran
Cooran's most distinctive feature is its older, detached-housing profile: the median age is 46, or 6.0 years above the national figure, and the recorded housing mix is 100.0% separate houses. Its population is 1,756, with 41.5% of homes owned outright, 45.6% under mortgage and just 11.1% rented. Household income sits at the 30.7th percentile, while 24.0% of residents hold university qualifications, 6.1 percentage points below the national comparison. Compared with nearby Pomona and Cooroy, Cooran presents a quieter hinterland setting with strong owner participation, a high car-use rate of 76.5% and an ageing trajectory that will shape future services.
Local council: Noosa
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
5
Cooran is better suited to buyers assessing land, detached homes and longer-term ownership than apartment-style living. A current median house price is not stated, so recent comparable sales and building condition matter more than a headline suburb figure. The recorded housing mix is 100.0% separate houses, with 51.6% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 25.9% having 4 or more. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,517, equal to 27.1% of household income and not flagged as mortgage stress. Weekly rent is $385, or 29.8% of income, also below the stress flag. Compared with denser housing markets, the trade-off is more space and privacy but greater reliance on a car.
For Buyers
Cooran is better suited to buyers assessing land, detached homes and longer-term ownership than apartment-style living. A current median house price is not stated, so recent comparable sales and building condition matter more than a headline suburb figure. The recorded housing mix is 100.0% separate houses, with 51.6% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 25.9% having 4 or more. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,517, equal to 27.1% of household income and not flagged as mortgage stress. Weekly rent is $385, or 29.8% of income, also below the stress flag. Compared with denser housing markets, the trade-off is more space and privacy but greater reliance on a car.
For Investors
Cooran's investment case rests on detached housing, modest rental participation and population movement rather than a high-volume rental market. Only 11.1% of households rent, the weekly rent is $385 and vacancy is 9.0%, so tenant demand should be tested carefully against the limited rental pool. Compared with a suburb where renters dominate, this lower renter share can mean fewer leasing opportunities but potentially steadier owner occupation. Four development applications were recorded over 12 months, including secondary-dwelling work, which may support incremental housing supply. The wider trend is 2.04% annually and internal migration is the primary driver. Without a current median sale price, gross yield cannot be calculated reliably.
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
Schools in Cooran
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Cooran State School
Demographics
Cooran has an established, older resident base, with a median age of 46, 6.0 years above the national comparison. Household size is 2.5 people, matching the national figure, while couples without children account for 42.6% of families, compared with 37.7% for couples with children and 20.1% for one-parent families. The overseas-born share is 19.0%, 2.6 percentage points below the national comparison, and university attainment is 24.0%, 6.1 points lower. English ancestry is reported by 816 residents, followed by Irish at 236 and Scottish at 229. No religion is the largest response at 946, above Christianity at 534. A high 78.8% stayed at the same address, indicating less turnover than the 21.2% who moved.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Cooran's housing stock is unusually concentrated in detached dwellings, with separate houses representing 100.0% of the recorded mix. Tenure is split between 41.5% owned outright, 45.6% mortgaged and 11.1% rented, making owner occupation more prominent than in rental-heavy suburbs. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.6%, while 4-bedroom-plus homes account for 25.9%, supporting family households and buyers seeking extra space. Mortgage repayments average $1,517 per month, or 27.1% of household income, while rent is $385 weekly and 29.8% of income. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, this stock is less varied but better aligned with land-based living. Affordability is worsening, moving from 54.7 in 2011 to 57.6 in 2021, while rent growth reached 53.2%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$385
Census 2021
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
37.7%
Couples with children
42.6%
Couples, no children
20.1%
Single parent
477
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Cooran's largest recorded industry, employing 104 people or 20.0%, followed by construction with 76 people at 14.6% and education with 67 at 12.9%. Professional and technical work accounts for 40 people, while retail accounts for 35. The occupational mix includes 159 professionals, 129 trades workers, 100 community and personal service workers, and 80 each in management and labouring. Unemployment is 6.1%, participation is 55.9% and full-time employment is 44.8%. Household income sits at the 30.7th percentile, below the national midpoint, which helps explain the IRSAD and IRSD scores both sitting at decile 4. The economic resources index is higher at decile 6, above the education and occupation index at decile 4, suggesting resources are stronger than formal qualification measures.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
801
Unemployed
49
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
44.8%
Part-time
41.8%
Participation
55.9%
Employed
752
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.0%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
19.0%
Dwellings
642
Transport to Work
Cooran's 37.58 square kilometres and density of 46.7 people per square kilometre create a low-density, detached-home setting. Daily mobility is car-led: 76.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 2.4% who walk or cycle, while 15.7% work from home. That pattern suits residents with private vehicles but can make access to jobs and services less convenient than in higher-density centres. One named local school is Cooran State School, a government school, and families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. The IRSAD score is at decile 4, while the median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national comparison. The practical strengths are space and lower turnover; the main considerations are transport dependence and ageing-related service needs.
Drive
76.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
15.7%
Growth Outlook
Cooran's growth outlook is active but accompanied by demographic ageing. The annual trend is 2.04%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 31.0% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 3.7 percentage points and the working share down 1.5 points. Gentrification is also classified as Active, with a score of 55, so change is occurring alongside the established resident base rather than replacing it outright. Compared with a no-growth locality, 2.04% annual expansion is meaningful, but the ageing pattern means demand may favour accessible homes, healthcare and local services. Affordability is worsening from 54.7 to 57.6, while rent growth of 53.2% adds pressure for incoming households.
Population trend: Noosa council area
Cooran sits in the Noosa council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cooran's.
Residents 2025
59,551
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
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 Cooran compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cooran a good suburb to live in?
Cooran can suit households seeking detached homes, space and a settled lifestyle. The median age is 46, 100.0% of recorded dwellings are separate houses, and 76.5% of residents drive, so private transport is important. Check services and enrolment zones for the exact address.
What is the median house price in Cooran?
A current median house price is not stated. The housing mix is 100.0% separate houses, with 51.6% containing 3 bedrooms and 25.9% containing 4 or more. Buyers should compare recent local sales, land size, renovations and building condition before setting a budget.
What schools are in Cooran?
Cooran State School is the named local government school. Families should confirm the school's current year levels, enrolment capacity and catchment for the exact address, particularly when comparing properties across the 37.58 square kilometre locality.
Is Cooran safe?
There is no suburb-level crime rate to quote, so check current Queensland Police statistics and speak with local residents before deciding. For everyday access, 76.5% of residents drive and only 2.4% walk or cycle, which reflects a low-density setting rather than a safety measure.
Is Cooran good for property investment?
Cooran may suit investors targeting detached housing and longer-term tenants, but the market needs careful checking. Rent is $385 per week, vacancy is 9.0%, renters comprise 11.1% of households and 4 development applications were recorded over 12 months. A median sale price is needed to assess yield.
How is Cooran's population changing?
Growth across the wider area is running at 2.04% annually, driven primarily by internal migration, with 31.0% population change over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.7 percentage points. Gentrification is classified as Active with a score of 55.
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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