QLD 4670 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Coral Cove

At a median age of 50, Coral Cove sits 10 years above the national figure, making it one of Queensland's older resident bases. The suburb houses 1,462 people across 2.33 km2, and 42.4% of homeowners hold their property outright, well above the national average, reflecting a settled, debt-light community. Household income falls at the 53.2nd percentile nationally, squarely middle-income, yet housing stress is low because mortgage repayments consume just 23.6% of income and rent-to-income sits at 23.0%. Nearly all dwellings (98.1%) are separate houses, and a striking 68.5% have four or more bedrooms, pointing to a suburb built for families that has since aged in place.

Coral Cove urban fabric map

Population

1,462

Median Age

50.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,620/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

7

Median House

$466K

Estimated from rent (2025)

2.33 km²· 628.4 people/km²· Family income $1,786/wk

The median house price is estimated at $466,000, considerably lower than state capital benchmarks, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,655. That repayment represents 23.6% of household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.1%, and 68.5% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, meaning buyers get substantial space relative to price compared to metropolitan markets. Outright owners account for 42.4% of occupied dwellings, higher than the national average, which signals long-held tenure and limited churn. Households averaging 2.7 people align with the couples-with-children and couples-without-children profile that dominates, with 477 couple-with-children families versus 496 couples without children.

For Buyers

The median house price is estimated at $466,000, considerably lower than state capital benchmarks, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,655. That repayment represents 23.6% of household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.1%, and 68.5% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, meaning buyers get substantial space relative to price compared to metropolitan markets. Outright owners account for 42.4% of occupied dwellings, higher than the national average, which signals long-held tenure and limited churn. Households averaging 2.7 people align with the couples-with-children and couples-without-children profile that dominates, with 477 couple-with-children families versus 496 couples without children.

For Investors

Rental demand in Coral Cove is thin rather than deep. Only 20.2% of dwellings are rented, below the state average for coastal Queensland towns, and the vacancy rate runs at 7.9%, a level that indicates meaningful competition among landlords for tenants. Weekly rent of $373 against a $466,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, moderate but not compelling given the high vacancy. Development activity is low, with just 3 applications lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term concern. The suburb's aging demographic, 76.6% resident retention rate, and low turnover suggest capital stability rather than speculative growth. Investors suited to this market are those seeking low-maintenance long-term holds rather than yield maximisation.

Development Activity

Total DAs

7

Last 12 Months

7

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

Other
3
Fencing
1
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
1
Subdivision
1
New Dwelling
1

Demographics

The median age of 50 is 10.0 years above the national figure, placing Coral Cove firmly in the older-resident category. University qualifications reach 28.9%, just 1.2 percentage points below the national figure, a narrower gap than many regional Queensland suburbs. Overseas-born residents account for 18.7%, which is 2.9 points below national. Ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (626), Irish (182) and Scottish (164) backgrounds. The household composition reflects the older age profile: 39.8% of families are couples without children versus 38.3% couples with children. The volunteering rate of 19.6% is notably active for a suburb of this size, and only 7.7% of residents require daily assistance with core activities.

Age Distribution

0-14
17.6%
15-24
7.9%
25-44
19.0%
45-64
28.5%
65+
27.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
N/A
2 bed
5.0%
3 bed
26.6%
4+ bed
68.5%

Dwelling Structure

98.1%

Houses

1.9%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 42.4% Mortgage 37.5% Rent 20.2%

Coral Cove's housing stock is distinctively homogeneous: 98.1% separate houses, compared to the mixed stock typical of coastal Queensland suburbs. Large homes dominate, with 68.5% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 26.6% having three bedrooms. Tenure reflects long-term ownership: 42.4% own outright, 37.5% hold a mortgage and only 20.2% rent. Those carrying a mortgage pay an average of $1,655 per month, which equates to 23.6% of household income, below the stress threshold. The rent-to-income ratio of 23.0% similarly stays within comfortable bounds for tenants. The $466,000 median price makes this one of the more affordable detached-house markets in coastal Queensland, where larger properties are often priced significantly higher.

Mortgage / mo

$1,655

Rent / wk

$373

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$664

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

7.9%

Unoccupied

44

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.0%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.6%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
626
Irish
182
Scottish
164
German
114
Other
99
Ancestry NS
80

Household Composition

39.8%

Couples, no children

1,245

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 28.3% of workers (115 people), a rate that is notably high relative to the small workforce and reflects demand driven by the suburb's older population. Education accounts for 18.5% (75 workers) and Public Administration 8.4% (34 workers), giving the local economy a public-sector orientation typical of regional service centres. By occupation, Professionals lead at 149 workers, followed by Managers (95) and Community/Personal roles (81). The participation rate of 48.3% is lower than national norms, because a large share of the population (525 people) are outside the labour force, consistent with an aging demographic with a significant retired cohort. The unemployment rate of 2.6% is low, and full-time employment among those who do work runs at 63.0%.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

63.0%

Part-time

34.4%

Participation

48.3%

Employed

565

Occupations

Professionals 149
Managers 95
Community/Personal 81
Clerical/Admin 76
Labourers 44
Sales 42
Machinery/Drivers 31

Top Industries

Healthcare 28.3%
Education 18.5%
Public Admin 8.4%
Retail 7.9%
Construction 5.9%

University

28.9%

Postgraduate

6.3%

Born Overseas

18.7%

Dwellings

518

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high in Coral Cove: 91.2% of workers drive to work, above the national figure, reflecting the suburb's location within the Bundaberg region where public transport options are limited. Only 0.6% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the Coral Cove boundary, so families use schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Bundaberg local government area. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb at the SA2 level. Broader liveability indicators are positive: housing stress is below the national stress threshold on both rent and mortgage measures, the volunteering rate of 19.6% points to community cohesion, and the 7.9% vacancy rate, while elevated, reflects a quiet coastal setting rather than economic distress. Rent-to-income at 23.0% keeps tenants comfortable.

Drive

91.2%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

0.6%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Coral Cove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 24%
Household Income
Top 47%
Rent Level
Top 21%
Renters
Bottom 50%
Uni Educated
Top 37%
Born Overseas
Top 34%
Density
Top 18%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Coral Cove a good suburb to live in?

Coral Cove suits buyers looking for large detached houses at affordable prices. The median house price is around $466,000 and mortgage repayments average $1,655 per month, which is 23.6% of household income, below the stress threshold. The suburb has high residential stability: 76.6% of residents stayed in place, and the volunteering rate of 19.6% points to an engaged community.

What is the median house price in Coral Cove?

The median house price in Coral Cove is estimated at $466,000, with weekly rent averaging $373. Monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,655, representing 23.6% of household income. The vast majority of dwellings are separate houses, with 68.5% having four or more bedrooms.

What schools are in Coral Cove?

No schools are recorded within the Coral Cove suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Bundaberg local government area. Locally, 28.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 1.2 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Coral Cove safe?

Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Coral Cove in this dataset. Broader indicators suggest a stable community: 76.6% of residents stayed in the suburb over the reference period, housing stress is below national stress thresholds on both rent and mortgage measures, and the population of 1,462 is tightly settled across 2.33 km2.

Is Coral Cove good for property investment?

The investment case is moderate. Weekly rent of $373 against a $466,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, but the vacancy rate of 7.9% is elevated and only 20.2% of dwellings are rented, limiting the rental pool. Low development activity (3 applications in 12 months) means new supply is not a risk. Capital growth data is not available for this suburb.

How is Coral Cove's population changing?

Coral Cove has a population of 1,462 and shows the hallmarks of a stabilised, aging community. The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, the participation rate is 48.3%, and 525 residents are outside the labour force. The 76.6% residential retention rate confirms low churn. Population forecasts are not available for this suburb.

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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