Moffat Beach
An older coastal pocket of 2,691 residents, Moffat Beach has a median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national comparison. Its 1.38 square kilometres support a density of 1,952 people per square kilometre, while 75.9% of dwellings are separate houses. A 17.4% vacancy rate is a notable feature, pointing to a housing market with some short-term or seasonal movement. Compared with nearby Caloundra, Moffat Beach presents as smaller, quieter and more age-mature, with household income around the 56.7th percentile nationally. Growth is slow at 0.25% annually, so its appeal is driven more by coastal amenity and established housing than rapid expansion.
Local council: Sunshine Coast
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
24
Moffat Beach suits buyers seeking an established coastal setting, but purchase decisions require recent comparable sales because a current suburb median house price is not available. Monthly mortgage repayments are listed at $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income share of 30.5% is above the 24.4% rent-to-income figure, signalling meaningful repayment pressure for leveraged households. Separate houses account for 75.9% of homes, while 37.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, giving family buyers more choice than in a strongly apartment-led market. The $400 weekly rent provides a useful fallback comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing.
For Buyers
Moffat Beach suits buyers seeking an established coastal setting, but purchase decisions require recent comparable sales because a current suburb median house price is not available. Monthly mortgage repayments are listed at $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income share of 30.5% is above the 24.4% rent-to-income figure, signalling meaningful repayment pressure for leveraged households. Separate houses account for 75.9% of homes, while 37.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, giving family buyers more choice than in a strongly apartment-led market. The $400 weekly rent provides a useful fallback comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing.
For Investors
Moffat Beach has 30.8% renter occupancy and a weekly rent of $400, which gives investors an established tenant base. The 17.4% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly balanced rental market and may lengthen leasing periods or increase the need for competitive presentation. Development activity reached 20 applications over 12 months, indicating ongoing small-scale building and renovation interest rather than a major new dwelling pipeline. The annual growth trend is 0.25%, so investors should prioritise asset quality, realistic rent-setting and coastal demand over short-term capital growth. Overseas migration is the primary forecast migration driver, while rent growth has reached 29.0% across the shift period.
Development Activity
Total DAs
44
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+140.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Moffat Beach has an older profile than the national comparison, with a median age of 47, or 7 years above the national figure. University attainment is 36.5%, which is 6.4 percentage points above the national comparison, supporting a sizeable professional presence. Overseas-born residents account for 19.3%, 2.3 points below the national figure, while average household size is 2.4, slightly below the national average by 0.1. English ancestry is recorded for 1,231 residents, followed by Irish at 385 and Scottish at 368. Compared with neighbouring Caloundra, Moffat Beach reads as a more age-mature, lower-turnover community, with 73.8% of residents staying at the same address over the reference period.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.9%
Houses
12.8%
Townhouse
10.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Moffat Beach is detached-house dominant: 75.9% of dwellings are separate houses, higher than the 10.0% apartment share and the 12.8% semi-detached share. The bedroom profile is also relatively spacious, with 37.9% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and 37.0% containing 3 bedrooms. Tenure is divided between 38.9% owned outright, 28.7% mortgaged and 30.8% rented, so the suburb combines a substantial established-owner base with a meaningful rental market. Compared with a more apartment-oriented coastal suburb, this stock profile favours family houses and renovation-led demand. A current median house price is not available, making recent property-level comparisons more important than relying on a single headline figure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $400.
$745
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $745 · units $650
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
35.7%
Couples with children
49.1%
Couples, no children
13.5%
Single parent
750
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Moffat Beach's largest recorded industry at 24.3%, or 212 workers, well above Education at 14.2%, or 124 workers. Construction contributes 12.8% and 112 workers, while Professional and Technical services account for 8.7% and Hospitality 6.4%. The occupational mix is led by Professionals at 352 people, followed by Trades at 166 and Community and Personal services at 159. This combination supports local employment linked to care, education, building and service work. Unemployment is 4.8% and labour-force participation is 57.8%, while household income sits at the 56.7th percentile nationally. An IRSAD decile of 6 places the suburb around the middle of the socioeconomic range rather than in a top or bottom decile.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
1,327
Unemployed
64
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.6%
Part-time
39.1%
Participation
57.8%
Employed
1,263
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.5%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
1,024
Transport to Work
Daily travel in Moffat Beach is strongly car-oriented, with 68.5% driving to work compared with 1.4% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 4.4%, while 20.8% work from home, which may support a lifestyle less dependent on daily commuting. An IRSAD decile of 6 indicates a middle-range socioeconomic position, so amenity and housing choice are likely to vary by street and property type. Families should check nearby primary and secondary school options against the exact address and enrolment zones, as practical access can differ across the surrounding coastal area. For safety decisions, use current local police information and visit at different times; the IRSAD decile of 6 is not a crime measure.
Drive
68.5%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
20.8%
Growth Outlook
Moffat Beach has a slow-growth forecast, with annual growth of 0.25% and population change across the wider area of 4.6% over 10 years. The primary migration driver is Overseas migration, but the trajectory is labelled Aging, consistent with a senior share increase of 4.2% and a young-share decline of 2.4%. Rent growth of 29.0% has occurred alongside affordability improving from 61.6 in 2011 to 54.1 in 2021. Compared with a fast-growth corridor, the 0.25% annual trend points to gradual change rather than rapid expansion. The dedicated gentrification indicator is 0 and labelled Not gentrifying, although another shift measure records a score of 23 and Early signs, suggesting selective property change rather than broad transformation.
Population trend: Sunshine Coast council area
Moffat Beach sits in the Sunshine Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Moffat Beach's.
Residents 2025
381,957
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit residents seeking an established coastal setting, larger houses and a quieter age profile. The median age is 47, 75.9% of homes are separate houses and 20.8% of workers work from home. Car use is high at 68.5%, so lifestyle preferences and transport needs matter.
What is the median house price in Moffat Beach?
A current median house price is not available for Moffat Beach, so buyers should compare recent sales by street, land size and dwelling condition. The suburb has 75.9% separate houses, 37.9% homes with 4 or more bedrooms and a weekly rent of $400, providing useful context for price and yield analysis.
What schools are in Moffat Beach?
Families should check nearby primary and secondary school options against the exact property address and current enrolment zones. Travel patterns are mainly car-based, with 68.5% driving to work and only 1.4% using public transport, so school runs and catchments should be assessed locally rather than assumed from the suburb name.
Is Moffat Beach safe?
Safety should be assessed using current police incident information, street visits and conversations with local residents. Moffat Beach has an IRSAD decile of 6, indicating a middle-range socioeconomic position, but that measure is not a crime rating. Checking conditions at different times is sensible for any property purchase.
Is Moffat Beach good for property investment?
Moffat Beach has some investor appeal through a $400 weekly rent and 30.8% renter share, but the 17.4% vacancy rate is a significant leasing risk. Annual growth is forecast at 0.25%, so investors should focus on property quality, realistic pricing and tenant demand rather than relying on rapid capital growth.
How is Moffat Beach's population changing?
Moffat Beach has 2,691 residents today and an older trajectory, with a median age of 47. Wider-area population change is 4.6% over 10 years and annual growth is forecast at 0.25%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the senior share has increased by 4.2%.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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