Lake Macdonald
With a median age of 49 that sits 9 years above the national figure, Lake Macdonald is distinctly oriented toward established owner-occupiers rather than young families. Population stands at 1,352 across 26.67 square kilometres, giving a density of just 50.7 residents per square kilometre. Household income lands in the 62.4th percentile nationally, above the midpoint but a long way from the premium tier. Ownership is the dominant tenure: 47.5% own outright and 42.0% hold a mortgage, while only 10.4% rent, far below state and national averages. Nearly all dwellings (97.7%) are separate houses, and 48.9% have four or more bedrooms, reflecting the spacious lifestyle preferences of an older, settled community.
Population
1,352
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,771/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$510K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $510,000 positions Lake Macdonald as an affordable entry point in the Noosa hinterland, considerably lower than the Noosa coastal medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and mortgage-to-income sits at 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the typical buyer here carries a manageable debt load compared to many southeast Queensland markets. The stock is almost uniformly detached houses at 97.7%, with four-plus bedroom homes the most common configuration at 48.9%, followed by three-bedroom at 39.7%. Apartments make up just 1.5% of dwellings. For buyers seeking large land parcels and a rural residential setting without coastal price premiums, the combination of spacious stock, low mortgage stress and weekly rent of $420 as a yield anchor makes the economics workable.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $510,000 positions Lake Macdonald as an affordable entry point in the Noosa hinterland, considerably lower than the Noosa coastal medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and mortgage-to-income sits at 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the typical buyer here carries a manageable debt load compared to many southeast Queensland markets. The stock is almost uniformly detached houses at 97.7%, with four-plus bedroom homes the most common configuration at 48.9%, followed by three-bedroom at 39.7%. Apartments make up just 1.5% of dwellings. For buyers seeking large land parcels and a rural residential setting without coastal price premiums, the combination of spacious stock, low mortgage stress and weekly rent of $420 as a yield anchor makes the economics workable.
For Investors
Rental vacancy sits at 7.3%, which is elevated above the typical healthy range of 2-3%, signalling softer rental demand relative to supply. Only 10.4% of households rent, one of the lower renter shares found in any suburb, which limits the size of the tenant pool. Weekly rent of $420 against an estimated $510,000 median house price implies a gross yield near 4.3%, reasonable for a tree-change market but the high vacancy tempers confidence in sustained occupancy. Development activity is low at 6 applications in the past 12 months, mostly operational and minor works, pointing to a stable rather than growing supply environment. The suburb drew 6 DAs in the last year, none of which added significant new dwellings, so capital growth rather than rental arbitrage would be the primary investment thesis here.
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
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9.0 years above the national median, one of the clearer signals of an aging resident base in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Overseas-born residents account for 17.9%, which is 3.7 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the strongly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (665), Scottish (193) and Irish (160) are the three largest ancestry groups. University qualifications reach 27.3%, which is 2.8 percentage points below the national figure, sitting close to but slightly under average. Average household size of 2.6 is only marginally above the national figure. Couples without children (40.8% of families) outnumber couples with children (415 families), which fits the older age profile. A volunteering rate of 19.8% signals civic engagement above what many comparable rural suburbs record.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.7%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 47.5% is the defining tenure characteristic here, nearly double the national rate and well above the Queensland state average. Mortgage holders at 42.0% and renters at just 10.4% complete the picture of a community that has largely paid off its homes. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 97.7%, with virtually no apartment or townhouse product. Four-plus bedroom dwellings dominate at 48.9%, followed by three-bedroom at 39.7%, reflecting the large-lot, rural-residential character of the suburb. Weekly rent of $420 and monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 both remain below stress thresholds: rent-to-income is 23.7% and mortgage-to-income is 22.6%, both comfortable compared to coastal neighbours. Vacancy at 7.3% is the main watch point for prospective investors.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$721
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
38
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.8%
Couples, no children
1,124
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.6% (66 workers), followed jointly by Construction and Education at 12.6% each (50 workers apiece), then Professional/Tech at 11.3% (45 workers) and Manufacturing at 7.1% (28 workers). By occupation, Professionals (115) and Managers (91) are the two largest groups, suggesting a workforce with above-average seniority. The full-time employment rate is 55.9% and the participation rate is 51.0%, the latter depressed because 435 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a retired and semi-retired population at a median age of 49. The unemployment rate of 6.5% is somewhat above the national baseline, though the absolute count of 37 unemployed persons is small. Personal weekly income averages $721 and household weekly income averages $1,771, placing the suburb in the 62.4th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
37.6%
Participation
51.0%
Employed
535
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.3%
Postgraduate
5.5%
Born Overseas
17.9%
Dwellings
479
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 93.2% of residents drive to work and only 0.9% use public transport, reflecting the rural hinterland location more than 10 kilometres from major public transit nodes. Walking and cycling account for just 1.6%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families travel to Cooroy or Noosa hinterland centres for schooling. Crime data is not available at the suburb level, but indirect indicators are favourable: mortgage and rent stress are both below 25%, only 5.6% of residents (71 people) need daily assistance, and the 19.8% volunteering rate is above the typical suburban benchmark. The lifestyle draw is space and tranquillity: a density of 50.7 residents per square kilometre and 97.7% detached housing give Lake Macdonald a distinctly semi-rural character that its 77% long-term-resident retention rate suggests most occupants value.
Drive
93.2%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lake Macdonald compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Macdonald a good suburb to live in?
Lake Macdonald suits owner-occupiers who prioritise space and quiet over services and commute convenience. The suburb has 1,352 residents, a median age of 49, 97.7% detached houses and a 77% resident retention rate. Mortgage and rent stress ratios are both below 25%, and the 19.8% volunteering rate signals an engaged community, but there are no schools within the suburb and public transport serves only 0.9% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Lake Macdonald?
The estimated median house price is $510,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. This makes it considerably more affordable than Noosa's coastal suburbs.
What schools are in Lake Macdonald?
No schools are recorded within the Lake Macdonald boundary. Families rely on schools in nearby centres such as Cooroy, which is roughly 5 kilometres away. The local adult population has a 27.3% university qualification rate, which is 2.8 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Lake Macdonald safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Lake Macdonald. Indirect indicators suggest a low-stress environment: only 5.6% of the 1,352 residents need daily assistance, mortgage-to-income sits at 22.6% and rent-to-income at 23.7%, both well below financial stress thresholds. The 77% long-term resident retention rate also suggests a stable, settled community.
Is Lake Macdonald good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $420 against an estimated $510,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, above many coastal markets. However, the vacancy rate of 7.3% is high compared to the healthy 2-3% range, and the renter share is only 10.4%, limiting tenant depth. Only 6 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is minimal.
How is Lake Macdonald's population changing?
Lake Macdonald has a stable, low-growth profile. Population stands at 1,352 and 77% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period, indicating very low turnover. The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, and the aging profile with 435 residents not in the labour force points to natural attrition rather than expansion over coming years.
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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