Maroochy River
At a household income in the 82nd percentile nationally, Maroochy River punches well above its modest 1,667-person population on economic standing. The suburb's most distinctive characteristic is its housing stock: 96.7% separate houses and 61.8% of dwellings with four or more bedrooms, ratios that place it among the most detached, large-lot markets in Queensland. A median age of 42, two years above the national figure, combines with 76.9% of residents who lived in the same address five years prior, pointing to an owner-occupier community that stays put rather than churn. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.5% and rent-to-income at 21.4%, both comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
Population
1,667
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,152/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$570K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $570,000, modest compared to surrounding Sunshine Coast markets, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.5% that is well below the national stress benchmark. That affordability picture is reinforced by the high outright-ownership rate of 39.7%, above the national average, indicating settled, long-term holders rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.7%, and 61.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, so buyers get genuine space. Apartments account for only 1.8% and semi-detached 1.5%, meaning competition for detached family homes is the primary dynamic.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $570,000, modest compared to surrounding Sunshine Coast markets, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.5% that is well below the national stress benchmark. That affordability picture is reinforced by the high outright-ownership rate of 39.7%, above the national average, indicating settled, long-term holders rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.7%, and 61.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, so buyers get genuine space. Apartments account for only 1.8% and semi-detached 1.5%, meaning competition for detached family homes is the primary dynamic.
For Investors
Rental demand is thin in Maroochy River: only 15.4% of dwellings are rented, lower than the national average, and the vacancy rate stands at 7.6%, which is elevated and signals limited rental liquidity. Weekly rent of $460 against a $570,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, reasonable for a regional market, but the high vacancy rate tempers that figure. Development activity is very low at 5 applications in the past 12 months, consistent with a stable, constrained land market rather than one experiencing new supply pressure. The 76.9% residential stability rate suggests tenant turnover is low when rentals are occupied, reducing void costs for landlords who can secure tenants.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-44.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits two years above the national figure, and the household composition reflects this maturity: 608 families are couples with children and 437 are couples without children, the latter at 31.2% of all families. The overseas-born share at 18.1% is 3.5 percentage points below the national average, consistent with an Anglo-leaning heritage. English (784 residents), Irish (216) and Scottish (205) are the top ancestries. University qualifications reach 29.1%, approximately one percentage point below the national figure. Average household size is 2.9, which is 0.4 above the national average, in line with the large-dwelling, family-oriented stock where 61.8% of homes have four or more bedrooms.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.7%
Houses
1.5%
Townhouse
1.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership patterns here differ markedly from the national average: 39.7% of households own outright, 45.0% carry a mortgage, and only 15.4% rent, compared to significantly higher renter shares nationally. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.5% and rent-to-income of 21.4% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning neither owners nor tenants face housing affordability pressure at the median income level. Separate houses account for 96.7% of dwellings and four-plus-bedroom homes make up 61.8%, reflecting a large-lot, rural-residential character across the suburb's 25.9 square kilometre area. The density is only 64.4 people per square kilometre, far below the metropolitan average.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$827
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
44
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.2%
Couples, no children
1,400
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 21.4% of workers (127 residents), followed by Construction at 14.0% (83) and Education at 13.3% (79), with Retail at 8.1% and Professional/Tech at 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals (174) and Managers (121) lead, reflecting the above-average income profile. Unemployment stands at 4.3% and the full-time employment rate is 58.7%, with a labour force participation rate of 59.7%. A notable 402 residents are not in the labour force, which is consistent with the older median age of 42 and high outright-ownership rate suggesting a proportion are retirees or near-retirement. Household income in the 82nd percentile nationally shows the workforce earns well relative to most Australian suburbs.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
59.7%
Employed
763
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.1%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
18.1%
Dwellings
542
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 92.4% of residents drive to work, reflecting the suburb's rural-residential setting and limited public transport alternatives. Walking or cycling accounts for 2.7% of commutes. The volunteering rate of 20.5% is above the national average, indicating a strong community engagement level. Only 4.1% of residents (65 people) need assistance with daily activities, low relative to the median age of 42. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in nearby Sunshine Coast centres. Housing stress is absent at both the mortgage and rental level, with both income-to-housing cost ratios sitting below 22%, well below the 30% national stress benchmark.
Drive
92.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Maroochy River compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maroochy River a good suburb to live in?
Maroochy River suits owner-occupier families and retirees who want space and low housing costs. Household income sits in the 82nd percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is 21.5% and rent-to-income is 21.4%, both well below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are high car dependency at 92.4% of commuters and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Maroochy River?
The median house price is estimated at $570,000 (based on 2025 rental data). Weekly rent averages $460 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $2,000. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.5% is below the national stress threshold, making the suburb affordable relative to incomes in the 82nd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Maroochy River?
No schools are recorded inside the Maroochy River suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Sunshine Coast suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 29.1%, approximately 1 percentage point below the national average.
Is Maroochy River safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Maroochy River in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income sits in the 82nd percentile nationally and only 4.1% of the 1,667 residents need daily assistance, both characteristics associated with lower disadvantage areas. The high residential stability rate of 76.9% also points to a settled community.
Is Maroochy River good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $460 against a $570,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, reasonable for a regional Queensland market. However, the vacancy rate of 7.6% is elevated, meaning landlords may face extended vacancy periods. Only 15.4% of dwellings are rented, lower than the national average, and development activity is minimal at 5 applications in the past 12 months.
How is Maroochy River's population changing?
Maroochy River has a population of 1,667 across 25.9 square kilometres, with a residential stability rate of 76.9%, meaning most residents have lived at the same address for at least 5 years. Development is minimal at just 5 applications in the past 12 months. The Sunshine Coast corridor is growing rapidly, but Maroochy River itself shows limited expansion signals.
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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