Mollymook
A 38.3% vacancy rate in a suburb of only 1,195 residents tells the real story of Mollymook: this is a coastal holiday and semi-retirement destination more than a year-round community. The median age of 55 sits 15 years above the national figure, and 56.5% of households own their home outright, well above the national average, pointing to a wealth-held, debt-light ownership base. Median house prices reached $1,000,000 in 2025, and the stock is 87.4% separate houses. With a participation rate of just 47.1%, a large portion of the adult population is retired, making the suburb's economy lean heavily on healthcare, education and tourism-adjacent hospitality.
Population
1,195
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,346/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
Median House
$985K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $1,000,000 in 2025, up from $970,000 in 2024, a 3.1% gain. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 87.4%, with semi-detached at 7.1% and apartments at just 4.3%. Bedroom distribution favours larger homes: 43.6% have four or more bedrooms and 44.2% have three, meaning the market is almost entirely family or lifestyle-scale dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 against a household weekly income of $1,346, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 56.5% substantially outnumber mortgage holders at 23.1%, which is much higher than national averages and reflects the older, settled population rather than a churn of new buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,000,000 in 2025, up from $970,000 in 2024, a 3.1% gain. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 87.4%, with semi-detached at 7.1% and apartments at just 4.3%. Bedroom distribution favours larger homes: 43.6% have four or more bedrooms and 44.2% have three, meaning the market is almost entirely family or lifestyle-scale dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 against a household weekly income of $1,346, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 56.5% substantially outnumber mortgage holders at 23.1%, which is much higher than national averages and reflects the older, settled population rather than a churn of new buyers.
For Investors
With only 20.4% of households renting and a vacancy rate of 38.3%, Mollymook's rental market is structurally thin. Weekly rent of $375 against a $1,000,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, low by any standard. The high vacancy reflects significant holiday or investment stock sitting empty outside peak season rather than a genuine demand shortfall. Development activity is moderate at 33 applications in the past 12 months, including a dual occupancy complying development certificate lodged in April 2026, indicating some infill activity. The investment case here rests on lifestyle capital growth and long-term land scarcity rather than rental yield, as the permanent population base is too small at 1,195 residents to drive strong year-round rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
280
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-33.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 55 is 15 years above the national figure, the most striking demographic feature of Mollymook. Overseas-born residents account for 16.1%, which is 5.5 points below the national average, consistent with the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry mix led by English (520), Irish (175) and Scottish (163) residents. University qualifications stand at 26.9%, which is 3.2 points below the national figure. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below national. Couples without children form 45.4% of families, reinforcing the retired or semi-retired character. The volunteering rate is 20.1%, above many comparable coastal towns, which reflects an engaged, older community with time and capacity to contribute locally.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.4%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
4.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure in Mollymook skews heavily toward outright ownership at 56.5%, compared to the national average, with only 23.1% carrying a mortgage and 20.4% renting. This split reflects the age profile: at a median of 55, most owners have paid down debt over decades. Separate houses dominate at 87.4% of the stock, with only 4.3% apartments and 7.1% semi-detached, so the suburb offers very little unit or apartment exposure. The bedroom split is top-heavy: 43.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 44.2% have three. The price-to-income ratio is elevated, with a $1,000,000 median against a weekly household income of $1,346, meaning buyers need significant equity or savings rather than income to enter the market. Mortgage-to-income sits at 26.0%, below stress levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$375
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$697
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
38.3%
Unoccupied
310
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.4%
Couples, no children
929
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mollymook's workforce is small, with a participation rate of just 47.1% compared to national norms, because 471 residents are not in the labour force, largely retirees. Of those who work, healthcare leads at 18.3% (63 workers), followed by education at 15.1% and construction at 12.8%. Retail and hospitality each account for 9.9%, reflecting the tourist-facing economy. By occupation, professionals (103) and managers (95) are the top two groups, consistent with the 26.9% university qualification rate. The unemployment rate is 4.7% and the full-time employment rate is 51.8%. SEIFA data is not available for Mollymook, but household income in the 34.5th percentile nationally indicates modest income levels relative to the high property values, a gap explained by the retiree base drawing on savings and superannuation rather than wages.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.8%
Part-time
43.5%
Participation
47.1%
Employed
467
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.9%
Postgraduate
6.2%
Born Overseas
16.1%
Dwellings
493
Transport to Work
Mollymook sits on 1.47 square kilometres on the NSW South Coast, with 88.4% of residents driving to work, above the national average, reflecting a car-dependent layout typical of coastal towns without train access. Walking or cycling accounts for 4.0% of commute mode. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on institutions in neighbouring Ulladulla and Milton. Rent-to-income sits at 27.9%, just below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing costs manageable for the renting minority. With 6.3% of residents needing daily assistance, equivalent to 73 people, services will be increasingly in demand as the population ages further. The housing stress indicators are favourable overall, with both mortgage-to-income at 26.0% and rent-to-income at 27.9% remaining below critical levels.
Drive
88.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mollymook compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mollymook a good suburb to live in?
Mollymook suits retirees and lifestyle-seekers well. The median age is 55, which is 15 years above the national figure, and 56.5% of households own outright. Mortgage-to-income sits at 26.0%, below the stress threshold. The trade-off is limited schools within the boundary and a small permanent population of 1,195, with services oriented toward the holiday market.
What is the median house price in Mollymook?
The median house price reached $1,000,000 in 2025, up 3.1% from $970,000 in 2024. The stock is 87.4% separate houses, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517. Weekly rent is $375 for the 20.4% of households that rent.
What schools are in Mollymook?
No schools are recorded within the Mollymook suburb boundary in this dataset. Families use schools in neighbouring Ulladulla and Milton, both within a short drive. University qualifications are held by 26.9% of residents, which is 3.2 points below the national figure.
Is Mollymook safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Mollymook in this dataset. The suburb has a median age of 55, a 56.5% outright ownership rate and a volunteering rate of 20.1%, indirect indicators of a stable, low-turnover community. Only 6.3% of residents, equivalent to 73 people, require daily assistance.
Is Mollymook good for property investment?
The yield case is weak: weekly rent of $375 against a $1,000,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, and the 38.3% vacancy rate signals substantial holiday or empty stock. The 33 development applications in 12 months show ongoing activity. Returns depend on long-term South Coast capital growth rather than rental income.
How is Mollymook's population changing?
The permanent population is 1,195 with a median age of 55, which is 15 years above the national average. The resident base is aging and stable, with 78.4% of residents remaining in place and a turnover rate of 21.6%. The high 38.3% vacancy rate means total dwelling count far exceeds the permanent resident count.
How much development is happening in Mollymook?
There were 33 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, notable for a suburb of 1,195 residents. Recent applications include a new dwelling house in May 2026 and a dual occupancy complying development certificate in April 2026, indicating both new construction and infill activity.
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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