Pomona
At 53.52 km2 with just 2,931 residents, Pomona is one of the Sunshine Coast hinterland's lowest-density suburbs, sitting at 54.8 people per km2 compared to most coastal equivalents that run ten times that figure. The median age of 49 is nine years above the national figure, and 45.4% of dwellings are owned outright, which is the hallmark of a long-settled, mortgage-light community rather than a high-growth market. Separate houses make up 98.2% of housing stock. Household income sits at the 39.4th percentile nationally, below the Australian median, yet mortgage stress is absent because ownership is entrenched and debt levels are low.
Population
2,931
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,384/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
At that price point, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.9%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. For buyers who prefer detached housing, Pomona delivers almost exclusively that: 98.2% of dwellings are separate houses, with just 0.9% semi-detached. Bedroom mix skews larger than average nationally, with 40.3% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 42.8% having three, so families get space without a premium floor plan surcharge. Outright ownership at 45.4% is notably high compared to national norms, signalling an established owner base with little forced-sale pressure.
For Buyers
At that price point, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.9%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. For buyers who prefer detached housing, Pomona delivers almost exclusively that: 98.2% of dwellings are separate houses, with just 0.9% semi-detached. Bedroom mix skews larger than average nationally, with 40.3% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 42.8% having three, so families get space without a premium floor plan surcharge. Outright ownership at 45.4% is notably high compared to national norms, signalling an established owner base with little forced-sale pressure.
For Investors
A 13.2% renter share is below typical urban investor markets, limiting the depth of the tenant pool. The vacancy rate sits at a high 7.5%, above the 3% threshold that signals balanced conditions, so landlords face real competition for tenants. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating minimal new supply pressure. That low pipeline may stabilise vacancy over time, but demand drivers are constrained: the 46.1% labour force participation rate is low compared to the national average, reflecting the aged profile, and there are few signals of population acceleration.
Development Activity
Total DAs
11
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Pomona iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Pomona State School
Prep-6 · 272 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 places Pomona nine years above the national figure, ranking it firmly in the aging-resident-base category. English ancestry dominates at 1,347 residents, followed by Irish (462) and Scottish (367), making Pomona one of the more Anglo-Celtic suburbs in the region. Overseas-born residents account for 17.6%, which is four percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the predominantly locally-born composition. University qualifications are held by 25.4% of residents, or 4.7 percentage points below the national benchmark. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national figure. The volunteering rate of 18.9% is notably high, consistent with an older, community-embedded population with available time.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.2%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is the defining housing story in Pomona: 45.4% of dwellings are owned outright and 41.4% carry a mortgage, leaving only 13.2% renting. That tenure structure is heavily skewed toward owners compared to the national average, and outright owners nearly match mortgage holders, which is unusual outside long-settled regional towns. Almost all stock is separate houses (98.2%), with virtually no apartments. Bedroom sizes are generous: 40.3% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 42.8% have three. The rent-to-income ratio of 30.3% does flag mild rent stress for tenants, though the rental pool is small at 13.2% of households.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$420
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$643
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
89
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.3% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.4%
Couples, no children
2,364
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the single largest employing industry at 19.7% (168 workers), followed by Education at 13.2% (113) and Construction at 11.8% (101). Retail accounts for 7.2% and Public Admin 6.2%, rounding out a public-sector-oriented local economy more typical of a regional service hub than a coastal tourism centre. By occupation, Professionals lead at 233, followed by Community and Personal Service Workers (165) and Managers (162). Unemployment is 5.2%, above the national benchmark, and the full-time employment rate of 56.2% is moderate. The participation rate of 46.1% is low relative to national levels, which is directly linked to the high proportion of residents not in the labour force (1,027), consistent with the 49-year median age.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
38.6%
Participation
46.1%
Employed
1,072
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.4%
Postgraduate
4.8%
Born Overseas
17.6%
Dwellings
1,085
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total in Pomona: 91.5% of commuters drive, which is high compared to the national average, and only 0.3% use public transport, reflecting the hinterland location and limited transit infrastructure. Walking and cycling accounts for 3.8% of journeys. Crime data is not available at the suburb level. The need-for-assistance rate is 6.0% (168 residents), above the national baseline, consistent with the aged population. The volunteering rate of 18.9% indicates a cohesive community, and the high outright ownership rate of 45.4% points to a stable, settled residential environment.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Pomona compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pomona a good suburb to live in?
Pomona suits buyers seeking space, quiet and an established community rather than urban amenity. With 98.2% separate houses, a median age of 49 and 45.4% of homes owned outright, it is an owner-dominated, low-density suburb.
What is the median house price in Pomona?
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.9%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. That price point is relatively affordable for the wider Sunshine Coast region.
What schools are in Pomona?
Families typically rely on schools in nearby Cooroy or broader Noosa Hinterland towns. University qualifications are held by 25.4% of Pomona residents, which is 4.7 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Pomona safe?
Crime statistics are not available at the suburb level for Pomona in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the community has a volunteering rate of 18.9% and a high outright ownership rate of 45.4%, both associated with stable, long-established residential areas. Need-for-assistance rates are 6.0%, or 168 residents, above national baselines due to the aging population.
Is Pomona good for property investment?
However, the 7.5% vacancy rate is well above the 3% balanced-market threshold, and the renter pool is thin at 13.2% of households. Only 4 development applications were lodged in 12 months, so new supply is not a risk, but demand is limited by the low 46.1% participation rate.
How is Pomona's population changing?
Pomona's current population is 2,931 across 53.52 km2, giving a low density of 54.8 per km2. The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, and the volunteering rate of 18.9% reflects an older, settled community. The 20.5% annual turnover rate suggests moderate residential mobility, but 79.5% of residents stayed in place, consistent with a stable ownership-dominated suburb.
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.
Explore Pomona on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map