Maleny
At 59, Maleny's median age sits 19 years above the national figure, making it one of Queensland's most distinctly older-skewed communities. The participation rate of 38.2% tells the story: nearly half of residents are not in the labour force, a direct result of that age profile. Despite household incomes at only the 21.4th percentile nationally, 57.6% of residents own their homes outright, the highest tenure category by far, pointing to long-established owners rather than active buyers. The 92.1% detached house share confirms a low-density, owner-occupier character across 24.3 square kilometres of hinterland.
Population
3,959
Median Age
59.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,144/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$475K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $475,000, moderate by Queensland coastal-hinterland standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 32.8%, above the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 21.4th percentile nationally. That said, only 23.4% of households carry a mortgage, compared to 57.6% owning outright, which suggests most existing owners have no active debt burden. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 92.1%, with just 6.6% semi-detached and 1.4% apartments, so competition for the limited detached supply is the main dynamic for buyers. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.7% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms for 31.8%, pointing to a stock well suited to families and retirees rather than singles.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $475,000, moderate by Queensland coastal-hinterland standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 32.8%, above the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 21.4th percentile nationally. That said, only 23.4% of households carry a mortgage, compared to 57.6% owning outright, which suggests most existing owners have no active debt burden. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 92.1%, with just 6.6% semi-detached and 1.4% apartments, so competition for the limited detached supply is the main dynamic for buyers. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.7% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms for 31.8%, pointing to a stock well suited to families and retirees rather than singles.
For Investors
A 19.0% renter share and weekly rent of $390 produce modest investor fundamentals. Against the $475,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.3%, reasonable for a regional hinterland location. The vacancy rate at 9.8% is elevated, indicating more rental supply than current demand can absorb, a caution for landlords. Development activity is low at 9 applications in the past 12 months, mostly building permits and operational works rather than new residential supply, so the stock is unlikely to grow quickly. The aging resident base and below-national household incomes at the 21.4th percentile nationally limit tenant depth. Investors with a long hold time benefit from the outright-ownership culture, which keeps forced sales rare, but yield growth depends on population inflows that are not strongly evidenced in the data.
Development Activity
Total DAs
44
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Maleny iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
The River School
Prep-6 · 77 students
Maleny State School
Prep-6 · 409 students
Maleny State High School
7-12 · 647 students
Demographics
The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national average, the most distinctive feature of Maleny's profile. Overseas-born residents reach 23.0%, which is 1.4 points above the national figure, a modest international mix. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominated: English (1,933), Irish (627) and Scottish (593) account for the top three groups. University qualifications at 35.5% sit 5.4 points above the national average, a notable concentration of educated residents for a non-metropolitan suburb. Average household size is 2.1, 0.4 below national, consistent with the prevalence of couples without children, who make up 46.1% of families. The volunteering rate at 28.0% is high, reflecting the community-oriented character of an older, settled population. Only 75 residents are unemployed, giving an unemployment rate of 5.6%, within a workforce where part-time employment (655 workers) slightly outnumbers full-time (607).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.1%
Houses
6.6%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership without a mortgage dominates at 57.6%, well above national averages, while just 23.4% carry a mortgage and 19.0% rent. The outright-ownership rate is the defining housing signal: it suggests a population of long-established, debt-free residents rather than an active transaction market. Detached houses account for 92.1% of the stock, with semi-detached at 6.6% and apartments at only 1.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 46.7%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 31.8% and two-bedroom at 18.0%, a profile that suits families and downsizers with space requirements. The vacancy rate of 9.8% is above typical healthy levels, signalling that the rental segment carries some oversupply relative to demand. Rent stress affects tenants, with rent-to-income at 34.1% above the 30% threshold, while mortgage-to-income at 32.8% is also above stress levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$618
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.8%
Unoccupied
186
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.8% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.1%
Couples, no children
2,925
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 20.6% (212 workers), followed by Education at 14.5% (149 workers), Professional and Technical services at 9.1% (93), Construction at 9.0% (92) and Retail at 8.2% (84). This is a service-sector economy oriented around health and education, which aligns with the older resident base generating healthcare demand and the above-national university qualification rate of 35.5%. By occupation, Professionals (362) and Managers (219) lead, with Community and Personal service workers third at 188. The participation rate of 38.2% is low compared to national levels because 1,829 residents are not in the labour force, a direct result of the high median age of 59. The unemployment rate is 5.6%, with 75 unemployed. Household incomes at the 21.4th percentile nationally reflect the retirement profile rather than low-wage employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.1%
Part-time
46.3%
Participation
38.2%
Employed
1,262
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.5%
Postgraduate
10.4%
Born Overseas
23.0%
Dwellings
1,694
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 83.6% of commuters, well above national averages, while only 0.7% use public transport, reflecting the rural hinterland setting with limited transit options. Walking and cycling account for 8.6%, above average for a non-urban suburb. No schools are recorded in the dataset for the Maleny postcode area, so families access education in nearby centres. The suburb has no crime data available in the dataset. Rent stress affects 34.1% of tenant income and mortgage stress sits at 32.8%, both above the 30% threshold, although the small mortgage-holding cohort of 23.4% limits the breadth of that pressure. The need-for-assistance rate is 8.7% (331 residents), which is consistent with an older population of median age 59 but not extreme. A volunteering rate of 28.0% is notably high, indicating active social participation across the community.
Drive
83.6%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
8.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Maleny compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maleny a good suburb to live in?
Maleny suits lifestyle-focused residents, particularly retirees and remote workers. The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national average, and 57.6% of residents own their homes outright, reflecting long-established community stability. University qualifications reach 35.5%, which is 5.4 points above the national figure. The main limitations are high car dependency at 83.6% and household incomes at the 21.4th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Maleny?
The median house price in Maleny is estimated at $475,000 (based on 2025 rental data). Weekly rent averages $390 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,625. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 32.8%, above the 30% stress threshold, though only 23.4% of households carry a mortgage.
What schools are in Maleny?
No schools are recorded within the Maleny postcode boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Sunshine Coast hinterland towns. The local population is well educated, with 35.5% holding university qualifications, which is 5.4 points above the national figure.
Is Maleny safe?
Crime data is not available for Maleny in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a high 28.0% volunteering rate and a low unemployment rate of 5.6% with only 75 unemployed residents. The long-term stability of the community is reflected in 77.3% of residents having not moved in the reference period.
Is Maleny good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is approximately 4.3% based on $390 weekly rent against a $475,000 median. The 9.8% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling more supply than current rental demand, which adds risk for landlords. Development activity is low at 9 applications in 12 months, limiting new supply. The aging population and incomes at the 21.4th percentile nationally constrain tenant depth.
How is Maleny's population changing?
Maleny has a population of 3,959 with a low turnover rate of 22.7%, meaning 77.3% of residents stayed at the same address during the reference period. The aging profile, with a median age of 59 that is 19 years above national, and 46.1% couples-without-children households, suggests slow organic growth driven by lifestyle migrants rather than family formation.
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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