Moffat Beach
At a median age of 47, Moffat Beach runs 7 years older than the national figure, making it one of the more distinctly aged communities on the Sunshine Coast. The suburb covers just 1.38 square kilometres with a population of 2,691, producing a density of 1,952 per square kilometre. Household income sits in the 56.7th percentile nationally, placing it squarely in the middle tier, while 39.5% of residents own their home outright, a proportion above the national average that signals a settled, longer-tenure base. The vacancy rate of 17.4% is an outlier worth noting, pointing to a meaningful share of holiday or short-stay properties in an area where 75.9% of dwellings are separate houses.
Population
2,691
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,639/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$545K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price sits at $545,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,167. At a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.5%, buyers are right at the stress threshold, meaning serviceability is possible but tight. The dwelling stock skews toward larger homes, with 37.9% having four or more bedrooms and 37.0% having three, so the market is dominated by family-sized detached houses rather than compact units. Separate houses account for 75.9% of all dwellings, compared to 10.0% apartments and 12.8% semi-detached. Outright ownership at 39.5% outnumbers mortgage holders at 29.2%, suggesting many owners purchased well before today's price levels and are now debt-free, which keeps forced-sale pressure low.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price sits at $545,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,167. At a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.5%, buyers are right at the stress threshold, meaning serviceability is possible but tight. The dwelling stock skews toward larger homes, with 37.9% having four or more bedrooms and 37.0% having three, so the market is dominated by family-sized detached houses rather than compact units. Separate houses account for 75.9% of all dwellings, compared to 10.0% apartments and 12.8% semi-detached. Outright ownership at 39.5% outnumbers mortgage holders at 29.2%, suggesting many owners purchased well before today's price levels and are now debt-free, which keeps forced-sale pressure low.
For Investors
Moffat Beach presents a mixed picture for investors. The weekly median rent of $400 against a $545,000 estimated median price implies a gross yield near 3.8%, below the typical Queensland coastal investor benchmark. The vacancy rate of 17.4% is high relative to state averages, reflecting the concentration of holiday letting in a beachside suburb rather than year-round tenancies. The renter share is 31.3%, providing a base of long-term tenants, but the elevated vacancy dilutes effective returns. Overseas migration drives an average net gain of 92 residents per year, offset by internal outflow of 49, so total growth of around 21 persons annually is slow. With only 7 development applications in the past 12 months, new supply pressure is low.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, placing Moffat Beach firmly in the older-resident category. The senior share increased by 4.2 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 2.4 points, confirming an aging trajectory that is common across lifestyle coastal suburbs. Overseas-born residents account for 19.3% of the population, which is 2.3 points below the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,231 residents), followed by Irish (385) and Scottish (368). University qualifications reach 36.5% of residents, which is 6.4 points above the national rate, consistent with the professional occupational mix. Average household size of 2.4 is slightly below national, with 37.1% of families being couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.9%
Houses
12.8%
Townhouse
10.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership tenure is dominated by outright owners at 39.5%, with mortgage holders at 29.2% and renters at 31.3%. The high outright ownership rate compared to the national average reflects a long-standing resident base rather than recent churn. The stock is heavily oriented toward larger detached dwellings: 75.9% are separate houses, 37.9% have four or more bedrooms and 37.0% have three. This distribution is typical for a suburban beachside area where land lots allow full-sized homes. The estimated median house price of $545,000 corresponds to a monthly mortgage of $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.5% sits at the conventional stress boundary. Rent-to-income at 24.4% stays below the stress threshold for tenants, a notable contrast.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$782
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.4%
Unoccupied
218
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.1%
Couples, no children
1,994
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment mix at 24.3% of workers (212 people), more than double the share of the next largest sector, Education at 14.2% (124 workers). Construction accounts for 12.8% (112 workers), Professional and Technical services 8.7% (76), and Hospitality 6.4% (56). By occupation, Professionals lead at 352 workers, reflecting the 36.5% university qualification rate that ranks 6.4 points above national. The suburb scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 6, meaning it sits above average but not in the upper tier nationally. The participation rate is 51.6%, below what the income profile might suggest, because a significant share of the older population is not in the labour force. Unemployment sits at 5.4% and the full-time employment rate is 55.9%.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
4,234
Unemployed
159
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
38.7%
Participation
51.6%
Employed
1,120
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.5%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
1,024
Transport to Work
Moffat Beach is almost entirely car-dependent: 86.6% of residents drive to work, compared to just 1.8% who use public transport. Walking and cycling account for 5.6%, above the national figure for coastal areas where short-distance travel is practical. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 6 nationally, placing it in the middle-to-upper band of socioeconomic advantage, and the IEO decile is also 6, consistent with the above-average university qualification rate. Crime data is not available for this suburb. No schools are recorded within the 1.38 square kilometre boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Caloundra. Volunteering runs at 17.3% of residents, and 4.7% (117 people) require daily assistance, a figure consistent with the older median age of 47.
Drive
86.6%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.25%/yr
(+21 people/yr)
EstablishedMoffat Beach is growing slowly, at 0.25% per year or approximately 21 persons annually. The 10-year population change of 4.6% confirms a steady but unspectacular expansion. Medium-scenario forecasts project population rising from an estimated 8,311 in 2026 to 8,418 by 2031. Overseas migration contributes an average net 92 residents per year, while internal migration runs at a net negative 49, meaning the suburb is a net exporter of residents to other parts of Australia while drawing international arrivals. Gentrification signals are minimal, with a score of 23 at early-signs stage. Rents grew 29.0% over the period, and real income growth of 19.4% has not kept pace, which explains why affordability has tightened from 61.6% in 2011 to 54.1% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+92
Net Internal / yr
-49
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Moffat Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moffat Beach a good suburb to live in?
Moffat Beach scores IRSAD decile 6 nationally, placing it in the upper-middle advantage tier. The suburb has a median age of 47, 7 years above the national figure, and 39.5% of residents own their home outright. It suits those wanting a quieter coastal lifestyle, though public transport is limited at just 1.8% usage and families need to look to neighbouring suburbs for schools.
What is the median house price in Moffat Beach?
The estimated median house price is $545,000 (2025 estimate). Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.5%, right at the conventional stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $400, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 24.4%, which is below the stress level for tenants.
What schools are in Moffat Beach?
No schools are recorded within the 1.38 square kilometre Moffat Beach boundary. Families rely on schools in adjacent areas such as Caloundra. Despite this, the local population is well educated, with 36.5% holding university qualifications, which is 6.4 points above the national rate.
Is Moffat Beach safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Moffat Beach in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, which is above the national midpoint. Only 4.7% of its 2,691 residents (117 people) require daily assistance, consistent with a stable, lower-disadvantage community.
Is Moffat Beach good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against an estimated $545,000 median price implies a gross yield near 3.8%. The vacancy rate of 17.4% is high relative to most suburbs, reflecting holiday letting activity. Overseas migration adds a net 92 residents per year, though internal migration is negative at minus 49. Total annual growth of 21 persons limits near-term rental demand expansion.
How is Moffat Beach's population changing?
Population is growing at 0.25% per year, adding around 21 people annually. The 10-year change is 4.6%, with medium forecasts projecting the wider area reaching 8,418 by 2031. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.2 points and young adult share falling 2.4 points over the decade.
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.
Explore Moffat Beach on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map