Moonee Beach
At 2,176 residents, Moonee Beach has a distinctly detached-home profile: 90.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.3% contain four or more bedrooms. The median age is 41, just 1.0 year above the national figure, while household income sits at the 68.2nd percentile. Compared with nearby Sapphire Beach and the more urban Coffs Harbour area, the suburb is more oriented to larger family homes, with 44.1% of couples having children and 16.2% working from home.
Local council: Coffs Harbour
Population
2,176
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,875/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
126
Moonee Beach suits buyers seeking space more than compact living. Separate houses account for 90.2% of dwellings, while 57.3% have four or more bedrooms and only 0.7% are apartments. Mortgage holders represent 41.7% of households, with a reported monthly mortgage of $1,965 and mortgage payments equal to 24.2% of household income. That burden is below common stress thresholds, but buyers should allow for insurance, coastal maintenance and rate changes. Compared with apartment-oriented options around Coffs Harbour, the trade-off is more land and upkeep rather than necessarily lower entry cost.
For Buyers
Moonee Beach suits buyers seeking space more than compact living. Separate houses account for 90.2% of dwellings, while 57.3% have four or more bedrooms and only 0.7% are apartments. Mortgage holders represent 41.7% of households, with a reported monthly mortgage of $1,965 and mortgage payments equal to 24.2% of household income. That burden is below common stress thresholds, but buyers should allow for insurance, coastal maintenance and rate changes. Compared with apartment-oriented options around Coffs Harbour, the trade-off is more land and upkeep rather than necessarily lower entry cost.
For Investors
Rental investors face a low-renter, detached-house market rather than a broad apartment pool. Renting is 19.1%, weekly rent is $450 and vacancy is 7.0%, so income should be stress-tested against periods without a tenant. The 121 development applications lodged in 12 months indicate a higher level of local project activity than a quiet pipeline, which may improve amenity but can also add competing stock. Compared with a lower-vacancy market, the vacancy allowance is material. Demand is more likely to centre on family-sized homes because 57.3% contain four or more bedrooms.
Development Activity
Total DAs
478
Last 12 Months
126
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+0.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Moonee Beach has a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.8, or 0.3 above the national figure. University attainment is 27.6%, 2.5 percentage points below the national level, while overseas-born residents are 12.7%, 8.9 points lower. English ancestry is recorded at 1,050 people, followed by Irish at 286 and Scottish at 259. Christianity accounts for 1,023 people and no religion for 1,015. Compared with national benchmarks, the lower overseas-born share helps explain the suburb's established Anglo-leaning character, reinforced by 74.5% staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.2%
Houses
5.6%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Moonee Beach is a detached, larger-home market: 90.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 5.6% are semi-detached and 0.7% are apartments. Four-plus-bedroom homes account for 57.3%, compared with 33.1% for three bedrooms, so stock is weighted toward families and households seeking more internal space. Tenure is split between 38.7% owned outright and 41.7% with a mortgage, while renting is 19.1%. Mortgage payments consume 24.2% of household income and rent 24.0%, both below common stress thresholds. Compared with nearby Korora and apartment-oriented parts of Coffs Harbour, the housing choice is less varied but more consistently house-led.
Mortgage / mo
$1,965
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $450.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $680 · units $500
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$801
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.0%
Unoccupied
56
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.1%
Couples with children
43.7%
Couples, no children
11.4%
Single parent
639
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Moonee Beach's largest listed industry at 20.2% of workers, followed by construction at 15.0%, public administration and education at 11.3% each, and retail at 7.7%. The occupation mix is similarly practical and service-based: professionals number 219, trades 157, clerical and administration 154, community and personal service 145, and managers 136. Participation is 64.8%, unemployment is 3.7% and full-time work is 53.7%. Household income sits at the 68.2nd percentile, above the midpoint, because healthcare, government, education and construction provide a broader base than retail alone. Compared with a single-industry economy, that mix should reduce exposure to one sector.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
1,098
Unemployed
41
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.7%
Part-time
41.9%
Participation
64.8%
Employed
1,057
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.6%
Postgraduate
6.4%
Born Overseas
12.7%
Dwellings
736
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 77.3% drive to work, compared with 1.6% who walk or cycle, while 16.2% work from home. That pattern suits households prioritising home space, but it makes travel times and vehicle costs more important than in a transit-led suburb. Moonee Beach covers 18.22 square kilometres at 119.4 people per square kilometre, giving it a lower-density feel than compact urban areas. Families should confirm nearby school options, enrolment zones and transport from the exact address rather than infer access from the suburb name. Safety should be checked through current local sources. With 109 residents, or 5.2%, needing assistance, accessible design and nearby services matter.
Drive
77.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
16.2%
Growth Outlook
Moonee Beach's strongest current growth signal is development activity: 121 applications were recorded over 12 months, a higher count than would be expected in a low-change setting. The pipeline includes a new exhibition-home structure, earthworks and a dwelling house, indicating that housing and site works are both active. Residential demand is anchored by 2,176 residents, while 25.5% address turnover sits alongside 74.5% who stayed at the same address. That combination suggests change is occurring without wholesale churn. Compared with a transient market, the high stay rate points to more settled growth, while the application count signals continued pressure for new or improved stock.
Population trend: Coffs Harbour council area
Moonee Beach sits in the Coffs Harbour council area. These are the council area's residents, not Moonee Beach's.
Residents 2025
82,109
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
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 Moonee Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moonee Beach a good suburb to live in?
Moonee Beach suits households wanting detached homes, larger blocks and a quieter setting. Separate houses make up 90.2% of dwellings, 57.3% have four or more bedrooms and 16.2% work from home. Compared with a transit-led suburb, the trade-off is greater reliance on cars, with 77.3% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Moonee Beach?
Use recent local sales to set the median house price rather than relying on a broad suburb estimate. Moonee Beach is 90.2% separate houses and 57.3% four-plus-bedroom homes, so like-for-like comparisons matter more than an apartment benchmark. Mortgage payments currently represent 24.2% of household income.
What schools are in Moonee Beach?
School options should be checked against the exact address, enrolment zone and travel route. Moonee Beach has 2,176 residents, with 44.1% of couples having children, so family access is an important practical consideration. Compared with compact urban areas, daily school travel may involve more car use because 77.3% drive to work.
Is Moonee Beach safe?
A definitive safety assessment should use current local police information rather than assumptions based on housing or population. Moonee Beach has 2,176 residents and 109 people, or 5.2%, needing assistance, so lighting, accessibility and service proximity are worth checking. Compare recent incident patterns by street and travel route before deciding.
Is Moonee Beach good for property investment?
It can suit investors targeting detached, family-sized rental homes. Weekly rent is $450, vacancy is 7.0% and renters account for 19.1% of households. The 121 development applications in 12 months indicate a higher level of project activity than a quiet market. Compared with lower-vacancy areas, investors should allow more carefully for vacancy and holding costs.
How is Moonee Beach's population changing?
The current population is 2,176. Address turnover is 25.5%, while 74.5% stayed at the same address, indicating change without a highly transient base. With 121 development applications in 12 months, housing and site activity is elevated compared with a low-change market. That points to ongoing local change rather than wholesale churn.
What development is occurring in Moonee Beach?
There were 121 development applications over the past 12 months. Examples include an exhibition home, earthworks with retaining walls and structural support, and a new dwelling house. Compared with a quieter pipeline, this indicates higher construction and site activity, although the application count does not confirm that every project will proceed.
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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