Moving to Coolum Beach QLD 4573
What the official numbers say about living in Coolum Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $450 a week, against a median household income of $1,600 a week.
About 68% of homes are owner-occupied and 29% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Coolum Beach grew 16% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,905 → 9,152 people).
Around 70% of households are families, averaging 2.4 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, German, French.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Coolum Beach scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (74% of workers), while 21% work from home.
Nearest airport: Sunshine Coast Airport, 7.5 km south.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 105 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 4 schools · 11 cafes & restaurants · 4 supermarkets · 15 parks · 4 beaches — see them all on the Coolum Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Coolum State School 700 m · Coolum State High School 3.4 km · Peregian Springs State School 3.6 km · St Andrew's Anglican College 4.3 km
Groceries: Natural Harvest 650 m · Coles Coolum 750 m · Coles 750 m · Woolworths 900 m
Parks and reserves: Cinnamon Park 600 m · Frogs Hollow 650 m · Jack Morgan Park 650 m · Edith Place Park 750 m · Cordellia Street Park 800 m · Tickle Park 900 m · Lions & Norrie Job Park 950 m · Magenta Drive Park 1.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Coolum Beach, most often seen first: Brown Honeyeater · Torresian Crow · Willie Wagtail · Welcome Swallow · Noisy Friarbird · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Coolum Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coolum Beach here | 9,152 | — | 7/10 | 44% |
| Yaroomba | 2,043 | — | 10/10 | 38% |
| Mount Coolum | 4,545 | — | 7/10 | 49% |
| Peregian Springs | 9,532 | — | 8/10 | 29% |
| Peregian Beach | 4,972 | — | 9/10 | 47% |
| Marcoola | 3,355 | — | 5/10 | 35% |
| Mudjimba | 2,664 | — | 7/10 | 55% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Sunshine Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Fairfax — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4573 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Coolum Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $450 a week, and about 29% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 16% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,905 people to 9,152. It sits about 105 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Sunshine Coast council, and the federal seat is Fairfax.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Coolum Beach vs Peregian Springs · Coolum Beach vs Peregian Beach.
Nearby guides: Yaroomba · Mount Coolum · Peregian Springs · Peregian Beach · Marcoola · Mudjimba.
Keep an eye on Coolum Beach
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