Maroochydore
A 47-year median age, 7 years above the national figure, gives Maroochydore a more mature coastal-centre profile than many fast-growth Sunshine Coast suburbs. The resident base is 20,629, with small households of 2.1 people and a high 44.2% renting share. Compared with Mooloolaba's beachfront focus and Buderim's hillier detached-house feel, Maroochydore is more mixed: 37.8% separate houses, 36.8% apartments and 24.3% semi-detached homes. A 13.3% vacancy rate and 35 recent development applications point to an active but uneven market.
Population
20,629
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,360/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
40
Median House
$503K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers should treat Maroochydore as a mixed-density coastal centre rather than a conventional family-house market. Separate houses make up 37.8% of dwellings, almost matched by apartments at 36.8%, with semi-detached homes adding 24.3%. That variety helps downsizers and smaller households because 35.9% of homes have 2 bedrooms and the average household size is only 2.1. Mortgage pressure is lower than rental pressure: mortgage costs sit at 29.4% of income compared with rent at 30.1%, while the $1,733 median monthly mortgage is more manageable than in many premium beachside markets.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should treat Maroochydore as a mixed-density coastal centre rather than a conventional family-house market. Separate houses make up 37.8% of dwellings, almost matched by apartments at 36.8%, with semi-detached homes adding 24.3%. That variety helps downsizers and smaller households because 35.9% of homes have 2 bedrooms and the average household size is only 2.1. Mortgage pressure is lower than rental pressure: mortgage costs sit at 29.4% of income compared with rent at 30.1%, while the $1,733 median monthly mortgage is more manageable than in many premium beachside markets.
For Investors
Maroochydore has clear tenant depth, with 44.2% of households renting, above the 22.7% share paying a mortgage and the 33.1% owned outright share. The caution is vacancy: 13.3% is high, so lease-up risk matters even with $410 median weekly rent and rent growth of 36.7% over the longer shift period. Demand has a structural base because forecast growth is 2.08% a year, or 536 people, and migration is led by 336 net overseas arrivals plus 266 net internal arrivals annually. The 35 development applications also mean investors face new supply as well as renewal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
124
Last 12 Months
40
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Maroochydore iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Stella Maris School
Prep-6 · 737 students
The Industry School - Sunshine Coast
10-12 · 226 students
Maroochydore State High School
7-12 · 1205 students
Maroochydore State School
Prep-6 · 222 students
Demographics
Maroochydore skews older and smaller-household. The 47 median age is 7 years above the national benchmark, while the 2.1 average household size is 0.4 below national, which helps explain the strong 2-bedroom and apartment presence. Overseas-born residents are 26.4%, 4.8 percentage points above national, but university attainment at 29.7% is 0.4 points below national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 8,726 people, followed by Irish at 2,550 and Scottish at 2,363. Nepali, Portuguese and Punjabi are the leading non-English languages, each with fewer than 110 speakers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
37.8%
Houses
24.3%
Townhouse
36.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Maroochydore is broad rather than dominated by one dwelling type. Separate houses account for 37.8%, but apartments and semi-detached homes together reach 61.1%, higher than the detached share, which suits singles, couples and downsizers. Tenure is also split: 33.1% own outright, 22.7% have a mortgage and 44.2% rent. A suburb-wide median house price is not available, so stress measures are more useful: rent-to-income is 30.1% and flagged as stressed, while mortgage-to-income is 29.4% and below the stress flag. The 40.8% share of 3-bedroom homes keeps some family appeal.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$410
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.3%
Unoccupied
1,358
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.7%
Couples, no children
13,036
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the main employment anchor, with 1,432 workers or 22.0% of local industry employment, well above construction at 10.5%, education at 9.2%, hospitality at 8.8% and professional or tech roles at 8.2%. The occupation base is led by 1,951 professionals, 1,385 community and personal service workers and 1,197 managers, matching the hospital, service and administrative role of the suburb. Labour force participation is 48.6% with 5.1% unemployment, partly reflecting the older population. SEIFA is mid-range overall: IEO decile 5, IRSD 5 and IRSAD 5, but IER decile 3 is lower than the other measures, pointing to weaker household resources.
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
59.2%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
8,487
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.7%
Postgraduate
6.5%
Born Overseas
26.4%
Dwellings
8,797
Transport to Work
Daily life is convenient for drivers and local walkers, but not public-transport led. Car driving accounts for 84.5% of commuting, well above the 1.8% using public transport, while 8.1% walk or cycle. The school mix is a strength for families wanting options inside the suburb: 4 schools span Catholic, Independent and Government sectors, with ICSEA values from 969 to 1081. Stella Maris School leads on ICSEA at 1081 with 737 enrolments, followed by The Industry School - Sunshine Coast at 1054 and Maroochydore State High School at 1011 with 1,205 students. IRSAD decile 5 suggests average socio-economic advantage.
Drive
84.5%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
8.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.08%/yr
(+536 people/yr)
EstablishedMaroochydore is forecast to keep growing at 2.08% a year, adding about 536 people annually. The medium path rises from 26,099 in 2026 to 28,778 by 2031, which is meaningful for an established coastal centre. Migration is the main engine: overseas migration contributes an average 336 net people a year, higher than the 266 from internal migration. The growth story is not just volume because the gentrification score is 66 and stage is Advanced, while the shift profile is Aging. Senior share has risen 4.8 points, young share is down 1.3 points and rents have grown 36.7%, so renewal is occurring alongside demographic ageing.
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 Maroochydore compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maroochydore a good suburb to live in?
Maroochydore suits buyers who want a coastal centre with services, 4 local schools and mixed housing. It is car-oriented, with 84.5% of commuters driving, and has an older 47-year median age.
What is the median house price in Maroochydore?
A current suburb-wide median house price is not available. Cost context comes from $410 median weekly rent, a $1,733 median monthly mortgage and rent-to-income at 30.1%.
What schools are in Maroochydore?
Maroochydore has 4 schools: Stella Maris School, The Industry School - Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore State High School and Maroochydore State School, with ICSEA values from 969 to 1081.
Is Maroochydore safe?
A local crime rate is not available for Maroochydore. Practical safety checks should focus on specific streets, lighting and building security, especially in a suburb of 20,629 residents with 44.2% renters.
Is Maroochydore good for property investment?
Maroochydore has investment positives, including 44.2% renting households, $410 median weekly rent and forecast growth of 2.08% a year. The key risk is the high 13.3% vacancy rate.
How is Maroochydore's population changing?
Population growth is forecast at 2.08% a year, or about 536 people annually. The medium projection rises from 26,099 in 2026 to 28,778 by 2031, led by overseas migration.
What development is happening in Maroochydore?
There were 35 development applications over the past 12 months, including operational works and building works. That activity supports renewal, but it can also add supply in a market with 13.3% vacancy.
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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