Mooloolaba
Apartments make up 48.0% of Mooloolaba's housing stock, outnumbering separate houses (38.9%), a ratio that sets it apart from most Sunshine Coast suburbs. The vacancy rate of 19.8% is among the highest in Queensland, consistent with a beachside market where holiday rentals and seasonal occupancy dominate. Despite the transient character, 34.0% of residents hold university degrees, 3.9 percentage points above the national average, and the median age of 44 reflects a lifestyle-oriented older demographic rather than a retiree enclave.
Population
8,202
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,506/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$498K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $498,000 makes Mooloolaba one of the more accessible beachfront suburbs on the Sunshine Coast, though this figure reflects a rent-derived estimate rather than recent sales. Two-bedroom units (34.3%) and 3-bedroom homes (36.9%) dominate the stock, while 8.0% are studios or 1-beds, higher than most Queensland suburbs. Mortgage-to-income sits at a comfortable 27.0%, below the stress threshold. The high apartment share (48.0%) means body corporate fees add to ownership costs. Turnover is remarkably high at 31.6%, meaning nearly a third of residents moved in the past 5 years.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $498,000 makes Mooloolaba one of the more accessible beachfront suburbs on the Sunshine Coast, though this figure reflects a rent-derived estimate rather than recent sales. Two-bedroom units (34.3%) and 3-bedroom homes (36.9%) dominate the stock, while 8.0% are studios or 1-beds, higher than most Queensland suburbs. Mortgage-to-income sits at a comfortable 27.0%, below the stress threshold. The high apartment share (48.0%) means body corporate fees add to ownership costs. Turnover is remarkably high at 31.6%, meaning nearly a third of residents moved in the past 5 years.
For Investors
The 19.8% vacancy rate is the elephant in the room: nearly 1 in 5 dwellings sits empty, likely holiday homes or short-term lets. For traditional long-term investors, weekly rent at $400 against a $498,000 median produces roughly 4.2% gross yield, higher than Brisbane metro. The 42.5% renter share is large, and 15 development applications in 12 months show steady pipeline activity. Population grows at 0.79% annually (103 persons/yr), driven by overseas migration (+259/yr), while internal migration runs negative at -141/yr. The affordable entry point combined with Sunshine Coast population growth supports longer-term capital upside.
Development Activity
Total DAs
56
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mooloolaba iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mooloolaba State School
Prep-6 · 807 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 sits 4 years above the national figure, consistent with a lifestyle-chooser demographic. Couples without children make up 39.6% of families, the largest family type, well above the national average. English ancestry leads strongly at 3,656 residents, followed by Irish (1,120) and Scottish (990). The overseas-born share of 27.0% is 5.4pp above the national figure. Average household size is just 2.1, lower than the national 2.5, reflecting the dominance of couples and singles. Healthcare professionals make up 21.2% of the workforce, the highest single-industry concentration.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.9%
Houses
11.7%
Townhouse
48.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Mooloolaba's dwelling mix is apartment-led (48.0%), followed by separate houses (38.9%) and semi-detached at 11.7%. This splits sharply from the Sunshine Coast norm of detached housing. Two and 3-bedroom properties account for 71.2% of all stock combined. Outright ownership at 33.7% is notable, while mortgage holders at 23.8% are unusually low, suggesting many purchases are cash or investment-funded. The 42.5% renter share sits well above the national average. Housing stress indicators are comfortable: rent-to-income at 26.6% and mortgage-to-income at 27.0%, both below the 30% threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,762
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$843
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.8%
Unoccupied
867
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.6%
Couples, no children
5,505
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 21.2% of employment (601 workers), followed by construction (12.7%), education (10.5%), hospitality (8.5%), and professional/tech (8.1%). The hospitality share is higher than most suburbs, reflecting the tourism economy. Professionals (903) are the top occupation, with community/personal workers (577) in second, consistent with the healthcare and services focus. Unemployment at 4.3% sits below the national average. SEIFA scores are middling: IRSAD decile 6 and IEO decile 7, placing Mooloolaba in the upper-middle band nationally. The volunteering rate of 15.1% ranks above the national average.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
7,455
Unemployed
188
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
35.9%
Participation
53.9%
Employed
3,676
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.0%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
27.0%
Dwellings
3,474
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling captures 6.8% of commuters, well above average, reflecting the beachside walkability. Car dependence remains at 85.3%, while public transport is minimal at 2.4%. Mooloolaba State School is the sole local school (Government, ICSEA 1064, 807 students), scoring above the national median. The lack of a secondary school means older students must travel to nearby Buderim or Maroochydore. The SEIFA IEO decile of 7 indicates above-average educational opportunity. Need for assistance sits at 4.7%, close to the national average.
Drive
85.3%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.79%/yr
(+103 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 0.79% annually, adding about 103 people per year. The medium forecast projects 13,725 residents by 2031, up from 13,209 in 2026. Overseas migration adds 259 per year, but internal migration runs at -141 per year, meaning more Australians leave than arrive. Over the past decade, population grew 12.6%, above the national average but slower than Sunshine Coast growth corridors. The senior share climbed 6.1 percentage points in a decade, the sharpest aging signal. Affordability improved from 49.9% to 46.5%, partly because incomes rose 16.5% in real terms.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+259
Net Internal / yr
-141
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011, Net internal outflow -141/yr, Strong overseas inflow +259/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mooloolaba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mooloolaba a good suburb to live in?
Mooloolaba ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 6, placing it in the upper-middle band nationally. The beachside lifestyle supports a 6.8% walking/cycling commute rate, well above average. Mooloolaba State School has an ICSEA of 1064. Unemployment is low at 4.3%, and housing stress stays below 30%.
What is the median house price in Mooloolaba?
The estimated median house price is $498,000, derived from rental data rather than recent sales due to the suburb's apartment-dominated market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,762, and mortgage-to-income sits at 27.0%, comfortably below the stress line.
What schools are in Mooloolaba?
Mooloolaba has 1 school: Mooloolaba State School (Government primary, ICSEA 1064, 807 students). The ICSEA score sits above the national median of 1000. No secondary school exists within the suburb boundary; nearby Buderim and Maroochydore serve that need.
Is Mooloolaba safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Mooloolaba. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 and low unemployment rate of 4.3% are both positively correlated with lower crime rates in Australian research. Need-for-assistance sits at 4.7%, close to the national average.
Is Mooloolaba good for property investment?
Gross yield around 4.2% ($400/week rent vs $498,000 median) outperforms many coastal markets. However, the 19.8% vacancy rate is a major outlier, driven by holiday homes and short-term rentals. The 42.5% renter share provides a broad tenant pool, and 15 DAs in 12 months signal ongoing development.
How is Mooloolaba's population changing?
Population grows at 0.79% annually, adding 103 people per year. Overseas migration (+259/yr) drives growth, while internal migration is negative (-141/yr). The medium forecast projects 13,725 residents by 2031. The senior share rose 6.1 percentage 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.
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