Mollymook Beach
At a median age of 57, Mollymook Beach sits 17 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest resident profiles on the South Coast. That demographic fact shapes almost everything else: a 58.5% outright ownership rate, a participation rate of just 41.1%, and a 35.1% dwelling vacancy rate that points to substantial holiday-home holdings. The median house price sits at $1,050,000, well above the national median, despite household incomes at the 27.6th percentile nationally. Separate houses account for 89.7% of dwellings, and 56 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, signalling ongoing activity in a small 3.34 km2 coastal pocket.
Population
2,531
Median Age
57.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,247/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
60
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,050,000 median house price reflects coastal premium rather than income-driven demand, since household income sits at the 27.6th percentile nationally. Prices slipped from $1,100,000 in 2024 to $1,030,000 in 2025, a 6.4% fall from peak, offering buyers some relief after an extended run-up. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.7%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 40.9% and 3-bedroom homes 47.2%, so buyers have limited apartment or townhouse alternatives within the suburb itself. Outright owners at 58.5% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.5%, confirming that most residents are long-term or sea-change buyers who have already paid down their debt.
For Buyers
The $1,050,000 median house price reflects coastal premium rather than income-driven demand, since household income sits at the 27.6th percentile nationally. Prices slipped from $1,100,000 in 2024 to $1,030,000 in 2025, a 6.4% fall from peak, offering buyers some relief after an extended run-up. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.7%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 40.9% and 3-bedroom homes 47.2%, so buyers have limited apartment or townhouse alternatives within the suburb itself. Outright owners at 58.5% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.5%, confirming that most residents are long-term or sea-change buyers who have already paid down their debt.
For Investors
The investment picture is mixed. Weekly rent of $380 against a $1,050,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.9%, below typical regional thresholds. The 35.1% vacancy rate is high and reflects seasonal letting patterns tied to the holiday economy rather than structural oversupply, though the distinction matters for cash-flow planning. Only 18.0% of dwellings are occupied by renters, compared to a higher national average, leaving a narrow permanent tenant pool. Development activity is moderate at 56 applications over 12 months in a small suburb, with recent lodgements covering subdivisions, dwelling additions and pool works. Rent-to-income at 30.5% meets the stress flag threshold for existing tenants, suggesting little room to push rents higher without tenant turnover.
Development Activity
Total DAs
353
Last 12 Months
60
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 57 is 17 years above the national figure, the defining characteristic of this suburb. Couples without children account for 48.6% of families, consistent with a post-family or retirement demographic rather than a family-formation market. Overseas-born residents reach 15.3%, which is 6.3 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,194), Irish (409) and Scottish (345). University qualifications sit at 30.9%, just 0.8 points above national, indicating a professional minority alongside a broader trade and service workforce. The volunteering rate of 21.5% is relatively high, often associated with older, community-engaged populations. Average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national, consistent with the couples-dominant profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.7%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership rates are unusually high: 58.5% of dwellings are owned outright, well above the national figure, and only 23.5% carry a mortgage. Renters make up 18.0% of occupants. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 89.7%, with semi-detached homes at 7.6% and apartments at just 2.6%. The dominant bedroom size is 3-bedroom at 47.2%, with 4-plus bedroom homes close behind at 40.9%, reflecting the beach-house scale typical of coastal NSW. The median price fell 6.4% from $1,100,000 in 2024 to $1,030,000 in 2025, a correction from peak, though prices remain elevated relative to the 27.6th percentile household income base. Mortgage repayments average $1,700 per month and weekly rent is $380, both below state capital levels despite the high median price.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$681
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
35.1%
Unoccupied
579
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.5% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.6%
Couples, no children
1,918
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 15.6% (108 workers), followed by Education at 14.5% (100) and Construction at 13.9% (96), with Professional/Tech at 9.7% and Hospitality at 8.2%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 216, followed by Community/Personal service workers at 129 and Managers at 123. The participation rate of 41.1% is low compared to the national average, largely because the older median age of 57 places a large share of residents outside the labour force, with 1,068 people not participating. Unemployment is just 2.5%, and among those working, the full-time rate is 50.5% with 440 full-time and 431 part-time workers, suggesting the local economy supports a high proportion of flexible or reduced-hours arrangements.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.5%
Part-time
47.0%
Participation
41.1%
Employed
871
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.9%
Postgraduate
6.8%
Born Overseas
15.3%
Dwellings
1,072
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 91.1% of residents driving to work, with just 3.3% walking or cycling, which is consistent with a coastal suburb lacking urban rail connections. No schools are recorded within the Mollymook Beach boundary in the available data, so families with children depend on nearby town centres such as Ulladulla for schooling. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb in the dataset. The volunteering rate of 21.5% is above average nationally, reflecting the community-engaged older population. Rent-to-income at 30.5% sits at the stress threshold for renters, while the 6.4% of residents needing daily assistance (151 people) is above the national average, a consequence of the 57-year median age. The high outright ownership rate of 58.5% provides most households with housing security despite below-average incomes.
Drive
91.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mollymook Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mollymook Beach a good suburb to live in?
Mollymook Beach suits retirees and sea-changers more than families or commuters. The median age is 57, which is 17 years above the national figure, and 58.5% of residents own their home outright. The area has a 21.5% volunteering rate and low unemployment of 2.5%, but car dependence is high at 91.1% and no schools are recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Mollymook Beach?
The median house price is $1,050,000 (PSI derived, 2024-2025). Prices fell 6.4% from $1,100,000 in 2024 to $1,030,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,700, though the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.5%, above the stress threshold.
What schools are in Mollymook Beach?
No schools are recorded inside the Mollymook Beach boundary in the available data, so families rely on schools in nearby Ulladulla and surrounding areas. The suburb's population skews older with a median age of 57, and 48.6% of families are couples without children, so school proximity is less central than in family-oriented suburbs.
Is Mollymook Beach safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Mollymook Beach in this dataset. As indirect indicators, unemployment is just 2.5% and 78.3% of residents have stayed at the same address, suggesting a stable, settled community. The suburb's older demographic profile, with a median age of 57, is generally associated with lower crime rates nationally.
Is Mollymook Beach good for property investment?
The 35.1% vacancy rate reflects holiday-letting dynamics and warrants careful cash-flow modelling. Weekly rent of $380 against a $1,050,000 median gives a gross yield around 1.9%, below typical regional benchmarks. Prices fell 6.4% over 2024-2025, though only 18.0% of dwellings are renter-occupied, limiting the permanent tenant pool.
How is Mollymook Beach's population changing?
Mollymook Beach has 2,531 residents at a density of 757 per km2. The resident turnover rate is 21.7%, with 78.3% staying at the same address, indicating a stable population base. The aging profile, with 57 as the median age, 17 years above national, suggests the suburb will continue attracting retirees and downsizers rather than growing through family formation.
How much development is happening in Mollymook Beach?
There were 56 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a moderate volume for a 3.34 km2 suburb of 2,531 residents. Recent applications include a subdivision, pool construction and dwelling additions. Activity skews toward improving existing stock rather than adding significant new supply, consistent with the high 58.5% outright-ownership rate.
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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