Coral Cove
Coral Cove's most distinctive feature is its age profile: the median age is 50, or 10 years above the national comparison, across a population of 1,462. Housing is strongly detached, with 98.1% separate houses and 68.5% containing four or more bedrooms, while density reaches 628.4 people per square kilometre. Household income sits at the 53.2nd percentile nationally, and 42.4% of homes are owned outright. That combination points to established households because older residents and outright ownership generally support lower residential churn. Compared with nearby Bargara, Coral Cove calls for a house-and-car-focused assessment, with 81.1% driving to work and only 0.6% walking or cycling.
Local council: Bundaberg
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
9
Homebuyers will find a low-rise, larger-format housing pattern: 98.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 68.5% have four or more bedrooms, so land, maintenance and running costs matter more than apartment amenity. A dependable median house price is not available as a benchmark, but the typical mortgage repayment is $1,655 a month and weekly rent is $373, useful for testing affordability against household income of $1,620 a week. Mortgage stress is not flagged, with repayments at 23.6% of household income, slightly higher than rent's 23.0% share. Compared with nearby Bargara, Coral Cove should be assessed as a detached-home purchase, with buyers checking insurance, coastal exposure, access and building condition before relying on headline affordability.
For Buyers
Homebuyers will find a low-rise, larger-format housing pattern: 98.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 68.5% have four or more bedrooms, so land, maintenance and running costs matter more than apartment amenity. A dependable median house price is not available as a benchmark, but the typical mortgage repayment is $1,655 a month and weekly rent is $373, useful for testing affordability against household income of $1,620 a week. Mortgage stress is not flagged, with repayments at 23.6% of household income, slightly higher than rent's 23.0% share. Compared with nearby Bargara, Coral Cove should be assessed as a detached-home purchase, with buyers checking insurance, coastal exposure, access and building condition before relying on headline affordability.
For Investors
Coral Cove's rental case is shaped by a 20.2% renting share, weekly rent of $373 and a 7.9% vacancy rate. Compared with a low-vacancy market, that vacancy level calls for realistic assumptions about leasing periods rather than uninterrupted occupancy. The detached stock is substantial, with 98.1% separate houses and 68.5% of homes containing four or more bedrooms, which can suit family tenants but may increase upkeep and reletting costs. Development activity is modest at 8 applications in 12 months, limiting the immediate supply signal. Employment is concentrated in healthcare at 28.3% and education at 18.5%, providing local service anchors. Compared with a smaller-unit strategy around Bargara, Coral Cove leans toward land, maintenance and tenant-demand analysis.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
9
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
Coral Cove has an older resident base, with a median age of 50, which is 10 years above the national comparison. Household size averages 2.7 people, 0.2 above the national figure, while 55.0% of families are couples without children and 36.4% are couples with children. That age structure helps explain the large couples-without-children share and the relatively settled housing profile. Overseas-born residents account for 18.7%, 2.9 percentage points below the national comparison, and university participation is 28.9%, 1.2 points below nationally. English ancestry is recorded for 626 residents, followed by Irish at 182 and Scottish at 164; Christianity counts 825 people versus 530 reporting no religion. Compared with nearby Bargara, this is a settled, older household profile to weigh alongside the coastal lifestyle.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.1%
Houses
1.9%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Coral Cove is overwhelmingly a detached-home market: 98.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 1.9% are semi-detached. Larger homes dominate, with 68.5% at four bedrooms or more and 26.6% at three bedrooms, while the average household size is 2.7. The 2.33 square kilometre footprint and density of 628.4 people per square kilometre indicate a close-set suburban form despite the detached stock. Tenure is relatively settled, with 42.4% owned outright, 37.5% mortgaged and 20.2% rented. Mortgage repayments average $1,655 monthly, and mortgage-to-income is 23.6%, slightly higher than rent-to-income at 23.0%, so holding costs deserve attention even where stress is not flagged. Compared with nearby Bargara, Coral Cove is best approached as a large-home, car-oriented housing choice rather than a compact apartment market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,655
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $373.
$585
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $585 · units $440
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
Household Composition
36.4%
Couples with children
55.0%
Couples, no children
8.8%
Single parent
453
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is concentrated in service sectors: healthcare accounts for 28.3% of industry jobs, education 18.5%, public administration 8.4%, retail 7.9% and construction 5.9%. This mix points to a stronger care, teaching and government orientation than a purely tourism-led profile. The labour force totals 618 people, with 356 employed full time and 209 part time; unemployment is 2.4% and participation is 51.4%. Occupations are led by 149 professionals, 95 managers, 81 community or personal service workers, 76 clerical or administrative workers and 69 trades workers. Household income sits at the 53.2nd percentile, while university attainment is 28.9%, 1.2 points below the national comparison. The lower participation rate is consistent with a median age of 50 and 525 people outside the labour force.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
618
Unemployed
15
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
51.4%
Employed
603
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.9%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
18.7%
Dwellings
518
Transport to Work
Daily life in Coral Cove is car dependent: 81.1% of workers drive, compared with 0.6% who walk or cycle, while 11.1% work from home. The 2.33 square kilometre area has a density of 628.4 people per square kilometre, so local streets are relatively close-set even though access beyond the suburb is likely to rely on a vehicle. Volunteering reaches 19.6%, supporting local participation, while 7.7% need assistance indicates some households may need accessible services. Families should confirm enrolment zones and school travel times for the exact address, and buyers should check current local safety information before committing. Compared with a transit-oriented setting, Coral Cove suits residents comfortable with driving.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
11.1%
Growth Outlook
Coral Cove's visible growth signal is measured rather than rapid: 8 development applications were recorded over 12 months, while 76.6% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 23.4%. The much larger stayed share, compared with turnover, points to a relatively settled base rather than a highly mobile expansion market. A median age of 50, 10 years above the national comparison, may temper household churn because established owners often move less frequently. New dwellings can still change the local mix, but the current pipeline is small enough that each project may have a noticeable neighbourhood effect. Buyers should test any growth story against servicing, coastal exposure and actual completion timing rather than assume that application activity will translate directly into completed homes.
Population trend: Bundaberg council area
Coral Cove sits in the Bundaberg council area. These are the council area's residents, not Coral Cove's.
Residents 2025
107,297
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.3%
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 Coral Cove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coral Cove a good suburb to live in?
Coral Cove can suit buyers seeking a quieter detached-home setting, with a median age of 50 and 98.1% separate houses. Car use is high at 81.1%, so daily life is better suited to households comfortable driving. Check exact service access, enrolment zones, insurance and coastal exposure before choosing an address.
What is the median house price in Coral Cove?
A reliable current median house price is not available for Coral Cove. Buyers should compare recent settled sales with the $373 weekly rent and the typical $1,655 monthly mortgage repayment, then obtain an independent valuation before making an offer.
What schools are in Coral Cove?
School options should be checked against the exact Coral Cove address, including sector, enrolment zone and travel time. This is especially important because 81.1% of workers drive and only 0.6% walk or cycle, making transport a practical consideration. Families should contact nearby schools directly about current places and bus arrangements.
Is Coral Cove safe?
Assessing safety in Coral Cove should include current Queensland Police information and an inspection at different times of day. The suburb has 1,462 residents, 81.1% car commuting and 19.6% volunteering, but those figures are context rather than a substitute for street-level checks around the exact property.
Is Coral Cove good for property investment?
Coral Cove may suit a long-hold detached-house strategy, with 20.2% renters, $373 weekly rent and a 7.9% vacancy rate. The 98.1% separate-house share supports family-oriented stock, but vacancy is higher than the 2.4% unemployment rate, so investors should stress-test letting periods, maintenance and insurance rather than rely on gross rent alone.
How is Coral Cove's population changing?
Coral Cove has 1,462 residents today. Its resident base appears settled, with 76.6% staying at the same address and 23.4% turnover, while the median age of 50 is 10 years above the national comparison. Eight development applications in 12 months suggest some change, but not a large current construction pipeline.
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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