Kooralbyn
At a median age of 53, Kooralbyn's residents are 13 years older than the national average, placing it firmly among Queensland's most age-skewed communities. Vacancy at 15.7% is high for a small rural settlement of 1,697 people, pointing to a housing stock that outpaced demand. University qualifications reach only 15.8%, which is 14.3 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trade and services workforce.
Local council: Scenic Rim
Population
1,697
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$942/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Separate houses dominate at 77.7% of dwellings, and 39.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, which is skewed large relative to the average household size of 2.3. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.9%, above the standard 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in just the 10.2nd percentile nationally. Outright ownership is high at 41.9%, compared to 37.9% with a mortgage and 20.2% renting, suggesting a stable, long-tenure owner base rather than a market driven by recent buyers.
For Buyers
Separate houses dominate at 77.7% of dwellings, and 39.8% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, which is skewed large relative to the average household size of 2.3. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.9%, above the standard 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in just the 10.2nd percentile nationally. Outright ownership is high at 41.9%, compared to 37.9% with a mortgage and 20.2% renting, suggesting a stable, long-tenure owner base rather than a market driven by recent buyers.
For Investors
Rental demand in Kooralbyn is thin. Weekly rent averages $250, and only 20.2% of households rent, lower than most regional Queensland markets. The 15.7% vacancy rate is the standout risk figure: at that level, a landlord entering the market faces meaningful periods without tenants. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, confirming little new supply pressure but also no signals of demand-driven growth. The labor force participation rate is just 34.8%, compared to the national average, because the large retired population depresses employment demand.
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
Schools in Kooralbyn
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
The Kooralbyn International School (Kooralbyn)
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, the defining characteristic of Kooralbyn's population. The large couples-without-children cohort at 44.9% of families explains both the older profile and the below-average household size of 2.3, which is 0.2 less than national. Overseas-born residents account for 23.3% of the population, slightly above the national average by 1.7 percentage points. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (766 residents), Irish (216) and Scottish (181). University qualifications at 15.8% are 14.3 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting an occupational mix weighted toward trade, service and manual roles. Community volunteering reaches 14.4% of residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.7%
Houses
21.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Kooralbyn is characterised by large, detached dwellings on generous land. Separate houses make up 77.7% of stock, with semi-detached at 21.3% accounting for most of the remainder. Four-bedroom or larger homes represent 39.8% of dwellings, notably high for a settlement where average household size is just 2.3 people, producing underutilised floorspace across the suburb. Tenure reflects long-term stability: 41.9% own outright and only 20.2% rent, both signals that residents stay. The 15.7% vacancy rate, however, is elevated and indicates the total housing stock exceeds current demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $250.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $420
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$474
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.7%
Unoccupied
131
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.7%
Couples with children
57.8%
Couples, no children
13.0%
Single parent
483
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education (14.1%) and Healthcare (13.5%) together account for over a quarter of local employment, followed by Construction at 11.2%, Retail at 8.6% and Hospitality at 5.9%. By occupation, the workforce spreads across Clerical/Admin (70 workers), Labourers (67), Community and Personal services (63), Machinery and Drivers (56) and Managers (55). The unemployment rate is 10.7%, notably higher than the national average, reflecting the small labour force of just 503 employed residents. Labour force participation at 34.8% is depressed compared to national norms because 763 residents are outside the workforce, most attributable to retirement given the median age of 53. Weekly personal income averages $474, in the bottom income decile nationally.
Unemployment
9.5%
Labour Force
566
Unemployed
54
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.9%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
39.1%
Employed
512
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.8%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
23.3%
Dwellings
698
Transport to Work
Car dependence defines daily life in Kooralbyn: 88.8% of residents drive to work, and public transport accounts for just 0.8% of commutes. Walking and cycling, at 4.1%, is slightly above what typical rural Queensland communities record. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families travel to neighbouring areas. Crime statistics are not available for Kooralbyn in this dataset. About 12.9% of residents require some form of daily assistance, higher than national averages, consistent with the aging population profile where a median age of 53 brings elevated care needs. Rent-to-income at 26.5% stays below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing costs manageable for renters relative to low local incomes.
Drive
74.3%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
16.3%
Growth Outlook
Kooralbyn's population of 1,697 is spread across 87.46 square kilometres, producing a density of just 19.4 people per square kilometre. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating no near-term supply additions. Residential turnover sits at 25.2%, meaning roughly one in four dwellings changed occupants over the measured period, but 74.8% of residents stayed, indicating attachment to the area rather than a transient population. The aging demographic profile, with a median age of 53 that is 13 years above the national figure, means natural population growth is structurally constrained. Income levels in the 10.2nd percentile nationally leave limited capacity for price growth driven by local purchasing power.
Population trend: Scenic Rim council area
Kooralbyn sits in the Scenic Rim council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kooralbyn's.
Residents 2025
46,947
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
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 Kooralbyn compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kooralbyn a good suburb to live in?
Kooralbyn suits retirees and those seeking affordable rural living. The trade-off is limited local services, no recorded schools within the suburb, and a 10.7% unemployment rate, higher than national averages.
What is the median house price in Kooralbyn?
Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. At that price level, Kooralbyn sits significantly below Queensland's state median, making it one of the more affordable owner-occupier options in the region.
What schools are in Kooralbyn?
No schools are recorded within the Kooralbyn suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically travel to neighbouring towns for schooling. University qualifications among residents reach only 15.8%, which is 14.3 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the predominantly trade and services employment profile.
Is Kooralbyn safe?
Crime statistics specific to Kooralbyn are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 74.8% of residents stayed in the suburb over the measured period, suggesting residents feel settled. About 12.9% of the 1,697 residents require daily assistance, higher than national norms, driven largely by the older median age of 53.
Is Kooralbyn good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed. However, the 15.7% vacancy rate is high, meaning periods without tenants are a real risk. No development applications in the past 12 months signals flat demand conditions.
How is Kooralbyn's population changing?
Kooralbyn's population stands at 1,697 across 87.46 square kilometres. The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national average, indicating the community skews heavily toward retirees. Structural aging and household incomes in the 10.2nd percentile nationally limit organic population and income growth in the near term.
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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