Meridan Plains
Population growth of 46.5% over the decade makes Meridan Plains one of the Sunshine Coast's fastest-expanding pockets, yet the median house price of $554,000 still sits below the national metro median, which is the tension that defines the suburb. Household income lands in the 48th percentile nationally, firmly mid-table, while the SEIFA IER decile of 7 signals above-average economic resources relative to that income level. With 45.1% of residents renting and a vacancy rate of 4.5%, the housing market is tenant-heavy in ways that shape both liveability and investment dynamics. Identity signals point to an affordable, detached-dominant, high-growth suburb with early gentrification signs that are likely to intensify as the Sunshine Coast population builds.
Population
4,589
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,529/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$554K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $554,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, placing Meridan Plains well below many comparable coastal growth corridors and below the national median for detached houses. Separate houses make up 71.9% of the dwelling stock, so buyers have genuine choice in the property type that holds value longest. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 36.7% and three-bedroom homes 36.9%, meaning most available stock suits families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold, a meaningful distinction compared to many QLD coastal markets. For first-home buyers this is a real affordability advantage, even as affordability has tightened from 78.2% in 2011 to 64.2% in 2021.
For Buyers
The median house price of $554,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, placing Meridan Plains well below many comparable coastal growth corridors and below the national median for detached houses. Separate houses make up 71.9% of the dwelling stock, so buyers have genuine choice in the property type that holds value longest. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 36.7% and three-bedroom homes 36.9%, meaning most available stock suits families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold, a meaningful distinction compared to many QLD coastal markets. For first-home buyers this is a real affordability advantage, even as affordability has tightened from 78.2% in 2011 to 64.2% in 2021.
For Investors
Renters make up 45.1% of the suburb, well above the national average, and weekly rent averages $460, producing a gross yield in the range of 4.3% against the $554,000 median. Rent grew 18.6% over the measurement period, a pace that outperformed many comparable QLD locations. The vacancy rate of 4.5% is slightly elevated and worth monitoring, but the growth fundamentals are supportive: net overseas migration adds 94 residents annually and internal migration contributes another 65, giving a combined demand driver of 159 new residents a year. Population is forecast to reach 18,253 by 2031 under the medium scenario, up from the 2025 base of 15,068. Development activity is low at 2 applications in 12 months, limiting near-term supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Meridan Plains iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Pacific Lutheran College
Prep-12 · 1204 students
Meridan State College
Prep-12 · 1795 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, which signals a younger-than-average resident base that is still building household wealth. Overseas-born residents stand at 24.1%, which is 2.5 percentage points above the national rate. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominant, led by English (1,979), Irish (493) and Scottish (485). University qualifications reach 26.4%, which is 3.7 points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and services workforce profile. Average household size is 2.6, matching the national figure closely. Couples with children are the largest household type at 1,519 families, and couples without children total 980, reflecting the family-oriented nature of the suburb rather than a retiree or investor-led demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.9%
Houses
24.2%
Townhouse
4.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers are split between outright owners (22.3%) and mortgage holders (32.6%), with renters making up the remaining 45.1%, a share higher than the state average. Separate houses dominate at 71.9%, followed by semi-detached dwellings at 24.2% and apartments at just 4.0%, keeping the suburb firmly in the detached-house category compared to inner-urban QLD markets. The bedroom mix leans large, with 36.7% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 36.9% having 3, meaning the stock serves families well. The rent-to-income ratio sits at 30.1%, technically at the stress threshold, while the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9% remains below it. The 4.5% vacancy rate is a factor for buyers to note, as it reflects more rental supply than demand in some segments.
Mortgage / mo
$1,850
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$777
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
79
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
27.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.2%
Couples, no children
3,603
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 27.6% of the local workforce (388 workers), a share substantially higher than most suburban averages and likely linked to nearby Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Construction follows at 11.8% (165 workers) and Education at 10.6% (149 workers), with Retail at 8.0% and Professional/Tech at 5.8%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 419 workers, followed by Community/Personal roles at 291 and Clerical/Admin at 271. The unemployment rate is 5.0% and the full-time employment rate is 59.7%, with a participation rate of 55.5%. SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 and IRSAD decile of 5 both sit near the national median, confirming a middle-income suburb without significant concentration of either advantage or disadvantage.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
7,533
Unemployed
221
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.7%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
55.5%
Employed
1,913
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.4%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
24.1%
Dwellings
1,684
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 89.2% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, which is a direct consequence of the suburb's position within a low-density coastal precinct with limited public transport, reflected in the 0.6% public transport usage rate. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Sunshine Coast institutions. The IRSAD decile of 5 places the suburb at the national median for relative advantage, neither materially advantaged nor disadvantaged. Volunteering runs at 15.2% and 7.9% of residents require daily assistance, both broadly in line with comparable Queensland growth suburbs. Household income in the 48th percentile nationally and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9% below the stress threshold mean residents are managing housing costs without the pressure seen in higher-priced coastal markets.
Drive
89.2%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.67%/yr
(+403 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth of 2.67% (about 403 persons per year) is well above the national average for established suburbs and driven by balanced migration: 94 net overseas arrivals and 65 net internal arrivals each year. Population grew 46.5% over the decade to 2021, an exceptionally strong run for an established suburb category. The medium forecast puts Meridan Plains at 18,253 residents by 2031, up from 15,068 in 2025. Gentrification is scored at 24 out of 100, in the early signs stage, with signals including the +49% population growth and sustained internal migration inflow. The young share declined 4.8 points and the working-age share fell 1.2 points over the decade, suggesting the initial young-family cohort is aging in place, which typically supports long-term housing demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+94
Net Internal / yr
+65
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +49% since 2011, Net internal migration +65/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Meridan Plains compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meridan Plains a good suburb to live in?
Meridan Plains suits families and working-age residents well. The suburb has a median age of 36, 4 years below the national figure, and 71.9% detached houses. Housing costs are manageable with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-off is high car dependency, with 89.2% driving to work and public transport usage at just 0.6%.
What is the median house price in Meridan Plains?
The median house price is estimated at $554,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $460 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,850. This places Meridan Plains below many comparable coastal QLD markets, giving it a relative affordability advantage despite the 18.6% rent growth recorded over the recent period.
What schools are in Meridan Plains?
No schools are recorded within the Meridan Plains boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the broader Caloundra and Sunshine Coast area. Despite this, 26.4% of residents hold university qualifications, and 10.6% of the local workforce is employed in education, indicating strong community engagement with schooling.
Is Meridan Plains safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Meridan Plains in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 6, near the national median for relative disadvantage, suggesting no significant concentration of socioeconomic factors associated with higher crime rates. The volunteering rate of 15.2% reflects a degree of community cohesion.
Is Meridan Plains good for property investment?
The investment case is supported by a 45.1% renter share, 18.6% rent growth over the measured period, and annual net migration of 159 residents from both overseas and internal sources. Gross yield is approximately 4.3% against the $554,000 median and $460 weekly rent. The vacancy rate of 4.5% is slightly elevated, so stock selection matters. Population is forecast to reach 18,253 by 2031, compared to 15,068 in 2025.
How is Meridan Plains's population changing?
Population grew 46.5% over the decade and is currently expanding at 2.67% annually, adding about 403 residents each year. The medium forecast projects growth from 15,068 in 2025 to 18,253 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with 94 net overseas arrivals and 65 net internal arrivals per year. Gentrification is in the early signs stage with a score of 24 out of 100.
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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