Kuluin
At 1.91 square kilometres with 2,700 residents, Kuluin is one of the Sunshine Coast's more compact, owner-occupier suburbs, where 89.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 77.4% of households own or are paying off their home. The suburb sits at the 59.5th income percentile nationally, which is above average, yet house prices at an estimated $532,000 median remain more accessible than many coastal peers. The population grew 39.7% over ten years, and the gentrification score of 66 marks the suburb as Advanced, driven by overseas migration of 336 residents per year and strong internal migration inflows. Median age of 41 matches the national figure almost exactly, though the senior share has grown 4.8 points since 2011.
Population
2,700
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,696/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$532K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $532,000 sits at a level where mortgage repayments average $1,733 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That makes Kuluin more financially manageable than many Sunshine Coast suburbs closer to the beach. Separate houses dominate at 89.5% of dwellings, with semi-detached properties at 9.0% and apartments at just 1.5%, so buyers are choosing from a largely detached stock. Bedroom composition skews larger: 38.4% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 51.6% have three, which suits families rather than downsizers. Outright ownership at 32.6% is notable, suggesting a cohort of established, debt-free holders, while 44.8% are still paying mortgages and 22.6% rent.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $532,000 sits at a level where mortgage repayments average $1,733 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That makes Kuluin more financially manageable than many Sunshine Coast suburbs closer to the beach. Separate houses dominate at 89.5% of dwellings, with semi-detached properties at 9.0% and apartments at just 1.5%, so buyers are choosing from a largely detached stock. Bedroom composition skews larger: 38.4% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 51.6% have three, which suits families rather than downsizers. Outright ownership at 32.6% is notable, suggesting a cohort of established, debt-free holders, while 44.8% are still paying mortgages and 22.6% rent.
For Investors
A vacancy rate of 6.3% is elevated compared to healthy market norms below 3%, signalling some softness in rental demand relative to supply. Weekly rent of $450 against a $532,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.4%, reasonable for a regional Queensland suburb. The renter share at 22.6% is below the national average, so the tenant pool is thinner than in more renter-heavy suburbs. However, population growth of 2.08% annually and overseas migration averaging 336 per year create underlying demand. Only 1 development application was recorded in the past 12 months, indicating minimal new supply competing with existing stock. Rent growth of 36.7% over the measurement period points to strong past rental appreciation, even if current vacancy warrants caution.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-83.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kuluin iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kuluin State School
Prep-6 · 612 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1 year above the national figure, and the shift is toward older cohorts: the senior share grew 4.8 points while working-age residents fell 1.5 points over the decade. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic in character, led by English (1,249 residents), Scottish (319) and Irish (304), consistent with the identity signal of an anglo-leaning suburb. Overseas-born residents make up 20.3%, which is 1.3 points below the national rate, so international diversity is moderate rather than high. University qualifications reach 20.0%, which is 10.1 points below the national figure, reflecting a workforce concentrated in trade, community, and health roles rather than professional knowledge work. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, pointing to family-oriented households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.5%
Houses
9.0%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Kuluin's tenure pattern shows 32.6% owning outright, 44.8% with a mortgage, and 22.6% renting, meaning over three-quarters of households have owner-occupier status, higher than most urban suburbs. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 89.5%, with semi-detached at 9.0% and apartments at 1.5%, so the suburb offers almost none of the high-density options common in coastal QLD. The bedroom mix is family-sized: 51.6% three-bedroom, 38.4% four-plus, and only 9.9% with two bedrooms or fewer. Rent-to-income at 26.5% stays below the 30% stress level, keeping rentals affordable relative to local incomes. Mortgage-to-income of 23.6% is similarly comfortable, placing Kuluin below the state average for housing cost pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$697
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
62
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.3%
Couples, no children
2,123
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing sector at 19.5% (165 workers), followed by Construction at 14.9% (126) and Education at 11.3% (95), a profile more characteristic of a local-service suburb than a commercial centre. Retail at 9.6% and Hospitality at 6.8% round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 190 workers, followed by Community and Personal Services at 170 and Clerical/Admin at 158. The unemployment rate of 4.4% is above the full-time-skewed national benchmark, and the labour participation rate of 54.1% is lower than typical, partly because 741 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the aging trajectory. SEIFA deciles sit at 5 across IRSD and IRSAD, placing the suburb in the middle tier nationally for both advantage and disadvantage.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
13,622
Unemployed
604
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
54.1%
Employed
1,134
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.0%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
20.3%
Dwellings
913
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 89.8% of residents drive to work, compared to the national rate that sits meaningfully lower, and public transport use is just 1.5%. Walking or cycling accounts for 3.1%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in surrounding Sunshine Coast suburbs. The volunteering rate of 14.4% indicates a moderately engaged community. Housing stress is low across both rental and mortgage metrics, with rent-to-income at 26.5% and mortgage-to-income at 23.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Need for daily assistance affects 9.2% of residents (241 people), which is consistent with the suburb's aging demographic trajectory and senior share growing 4.8 points since 2011. IRSAD decile of 5 places Kuluin in the national middle range for socioeconomic advantage.
Drive
89.8%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.08%/yr
(+536 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 39.7% over ten years, a pace well above the national average, and the forecast trend continues at 2.08% annually, adding roughly 536 residents per year to the broader area. The primary driver is overseas migration at 336 per year, supplemented by net internal migration of 266, meaning Kuluin is drawing people both from within Australia and internationally. The gentrification score of 66 places the suburb in the Advanced stage, with signals including a 48% population gain since 2011 and an acceleration in turnover from 15% to 29%. Affordability has improved from 57.8% in 2011 to 53.7% in 2021, indicating that price growth has not outpaced income growth as severely as in many southeast Queensland markets. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 28,778 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+336
Net Internal / yr
+266
Gentrification Signal
Advanced
Population +48% since 2011, Net internal migration +266/yr, Strong overseas inflow +336/yr, Accelerating: 15% → 29%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kuluin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kuluin a good suburb to live in?
Kuluin suits owner-occupier families looking for detached housing at a manageable price. At a $532,000 estimated median, mortgage repayments average $1,733 per month, a ratio of 23.6% of household income, well below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb's IRSAD decile of 5 places it in the national middle range, and population has grown 39.7% over ten years, reflecting sustained demand.
What is the median house price in Kuluin?
The estimated median house price is $532,000, based on 2025 data. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6% against the area's household income base.
What schools are in Kuluin?
No schools are recorded within the Kuluin suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in neighbouring Sunshine Coast suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 20.0%, which is 10.1 points below the national figure, reflecting a workforce more focused on trade and service industries.
Is Kuluin safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Kuluin in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the suburb sits at SEIFA IRSD decile 5, in the national middle range for relative disadvantage, and housing stress is low with both rent-to-income (26.5%) and mortgage-to-income (23.6%) below the 30% stress threshold. The volunteering rate of 14.4% suggests moderate community engagement.
Is Kuluin good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Gross rental yield is approximately 4.4% based on $450 weekly rent against a $532,000 median, which is reasonable for regional QLD. However, the vacancy rate of 6.3% is above healthy market levels below 3%, and the renter share at 22.6% is below average. Rent growth of 36.7% over the measurement period shows strong past appreciation, and overseas migration of 336 per year supports ongoing demand.
How is Kuluin's population changing?
Population grew 39.7% over ten years, among the stronger growth rates on the Sunshine Coast. The suburb adds roughly 536 residents per year at a 2.08% annual rate. Overseas migration contributes 336 per year and net internal migration adds 266, making external demand the primary growth driver. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 28,778 by 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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