Mount Coolum
A 44-year median age, 4,545 residents and density of 909.1 people per square kilometre give Mount Coolum a settled, compact coastal profile. Average households contain 2.4 people, below the national comparison by 0.1, while household income sits at the 59.3rd percentile. Housing is mixed, with 62.6% separate houses, 28.3% semi-detached homes and 9.1% apartments. Compared with nearby Coolum Beach and Marcoola, Mount Coolum reads as a smaller, more consolidated residential area. Car travel is dominant at 72.8%, although 21.4% of residents work from home, supporting demand from established households seeking coastal amenity without relying on daily public transport.
Population
4,545
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,690/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Homebuyers should use current comparable sales to establish value because a suburb-wide median house price is not available. The main affordability guideposts are a mortgage figure of $1,863 per month, mortgage payments equal to 25.5% of household income, and weekly rent of $450. Compared with a strongly apartment-led market, Mount Coolum provides more family-oriented formats: 62.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 28.3% are semi-detached and 9.1% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.9% of stock and 4-bedroom-or-larger homes 28.6%, so buyers can target established family layouts. The 29.6% outright ownership rate and 39.6% mortgage ownership share suggest a substantial owner-occupier base, which can support neighbourhood stability but also limit bargain listings.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should use current comparable sales to establish value because a suburb-wide median house price is not available. The main affordability guideposts are a mortgage figure of $1,863 per month, mortgage payments equal to 25.5% of household income, and weekly rent of $450. Compared with a strongly apartment-led market, Mount Coolum provides more family-oriented formats: 62.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 28.3% are semi-detached and 9.1% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.9% of stock and 4-bedroom-or-larger homes 28.6%, so buyers can target established family layouts. The 29.6% outright ownership rate and 39.6% mortgage ownership share suggest a substantial owner-occupier base, which can support neighbourhood stability but also limit bargain listings.
For Investors
Mount Coolum has a meaningful rental base, with 29.8% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent at $450. The 9.6% vacancy rate is higher than an exceptionally tight rental market, so investors should allow for leasing periods, presentation costs and property-specific differences rather than assuming automatic occupancy. Compared with a low-turnover owner-only suburb, the 26.1% household turnover rate creates more opportunities to attract relocating tenants, while the 73.9% stay rate points to a settled community. Nineteen development matters were recorded across 12 months, including detached-dwelling works, garages, pools and roof replacement. This supports renovation and amenity-led demand more than a clear large-scale apartment pipeline, making property condition and exact location important to returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+950.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Mount Coolum is older than the national profile, with a median age of 44, or 4 years above the national comparison. University attainment is 33.6%, 3.5 percentage points above the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 19.7%, 1.9 points below it. English ancestry is prominent at 2,108 people, followed by Irish at 654 and Scottish at 598, giving the suburb a more Anglo-oriented profile than many migrant-majority areas. No religion is recorded for 2,370 residents compared with 1,743 identifying with Christianity. The 2.4-person average household is below national levels by 0.1, consistent with 43.3% of families being couples without children and 40.2% couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
62.6%
Houses
28.3%
Townhouse
9.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Mount Coolum's tenure pattern is more mortgage-oriented than outright-owner dominated: 39.6% of households own with a mortgage, compared with 29.6% owning outright and 29.8% renting. The remaining 1.1% sits in other tenure categories. Compared with a purely detached suburban market, the dwelling mix is more varied, with 62.6% separate houses, 28.3% semi-detached homes and 9.1% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 48.9%, followed by 4-bedroom-or-larger homes at 28.6% and 2-bedroom homes at 19.0%. Housing costs are not yet flagged as severe: mortgage payments represent 25.5% of household income and rent represents 26.6%. That mix supports demand from families and couples who value space but may not require a large standalone house.
Mortgage / mo
$1,863
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $450.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $850 · units $700
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$808
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
189
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.2%
Couples with children
43.3%
Couples, no children
15.9%
Single parent
1,255
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Mount Coolum's largest listed industry at 23.9%, representing 410 workers, above education at 13.7% and construction at 11.6%. Professional and technical work accounts for 9.7%, while retail contributes 6.1%. The occupational mix is similarly broad: professionals number 568, community and personal service workers 347, trades 335, managers 288 and clerical or administrative workers 232. Compared with a single-industry employment base, this spread provides more resilience because healthcare, education, construction and professional services respond to different demand cycles. Labour force participation is 62.9%, unemployment is 4.0%, and 50.9% of workers are employed full time. The 21.4% work-from-home rate also supports local spending and flexible employment patterns.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
2,378
Unemployed
96
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.9%
Part-time
38.3%
Participation
62.9%
Employed
2,282
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.6%
Postgraduate
7.9%
Born Overseas
19.7%
Dwellings
1,777
Transport to Work
Mount Coolum suits households comfortable with car-based living: 72.8% of residents drive to work, compared with only 1.0% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. The 21.4% work-from-home rate reduces commuting pressure for some households, while density of 909.1 people per square kilometre keeps services and neighbours relatively close. Compared with a transit-oriented urban suburb, daily errands and school travel are more likely to require a car, so exact address, parking and road connections matter. Families should confirm current school options and enrolment zones against the address, particularly as 40.2% of couples have children and 15.9% of families are one-parent households. Community participation is supported by a 17.1% volunteering rate, while safety decisions should use recent street-level incident information rather than a broad suburb label.
Drive
72.8%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
21.4%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Coolum compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Coolum a good suburb to live in?
Mount Coolum suits residents seeking a settled coastal setting with mixed housing and a strong work-from-home segment. Its median age is 44, density is 909.1 people per square kilometre and 21.4% work from home. Car dependence is high at 72.8%, so lifestyle fit depends on transport needs.
What is the median house price in Mount Coolum?
A reliable current median house price is not stated. Buyers should compare recent sales for the exact street and dwelling type, using the $1,863 monthly mortgage guide, $450 weekly rent and 62.6% separate-house share as context rather than a substitute for a current valuation.
What schools are in Mount Coolum?
Families should check the current primary and secondary options serving the exact address, since enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. School access is especially relevant for Mount Coolum's 40.2% couples-with-children share and its average household size of 2.4 people.
Is Mount Coolum safe?
Safety is best assessed at street level rather than by a broad suburb label. Mount Coolum has 4,545 residents and 72.8% of workers drive, so buyers should inspect lighting, traffic, parking and evening activity around the exact property and review recent Queensland Police incident information.
Is Mount Coolum good for property investment?
Mount Coolum can suit investors seeking established coastal rental demand, with 29.8% of dwellings rented, weekly rent of $450 and a 9.6% vacancy rate. Nineteen development matters across 12 months support ongoing renovation activity, but property condition and leasing competition require careful assessment.
How is Mount Coolum's population changing?
Mount Coolum has 4,545 residents and appears relatively settled: 73.9% stayed at the same address while turnover was 26.1%. Nineteen development matters over 12 months indicate continuing property upgrades and some housing activity, but the mix points to gradual change rather than a clearly large new-estate expansion.
What is the rental market like in Mount Coolum?
Renters make up 29.8% of occupied dwellings and the weekly rent guide is $450. The 9.6% vacancy rate is higher than an exceptionally tight market, so tenants may have more choice than in lower-vacancy areas, while landlords need competitive pricing and presentation.
How do residents commute from Mount Coolum?
Mount Coolum is strongly car-oriented, with 72.8% of workers driving to work. Public transport accounts for 1.0% and walking or cycling for 1.5%, while 21.4% work from home. Compared with a transit-led suburb, access to a reliable vehicle is more important for regular commuting.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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