Moving to Mooloolaba QLD 4557
What the official numbers say about living in Mooloolaba — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $400 a week, against a median household income of $1,506 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Mooloolaba grew 12% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,333 → 8,202 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, India; most spoken languages besides English: Portuguese, Spanish, Gujarati.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Mooloolaba scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (75% of workers), while 17% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Kawana station, 2.8 km south-east.
Nearest airport: Sunshine Coast Airport, 9.7 km north.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 88 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 7 schools · 37 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 79 parks · 4 beaches — see them all on the Mooloolaba profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Mooloolaba State School 400 m · Mountain Creek State High School 1.2 km · Mountain Creek State School 1.6 km · Buddina State School 2.8 km · Brightwater State School 3.1 km · Immanuel Lutheran College 3.4 km · Maroochydore State School 4.5 km
Groceries: Coles 400 m · Seasons IGA 2.5 km · Woolworths 2.6 km · IGA 2.6 km · Coles 2.8 km · Aldi 2.9 km · Woolworths 2.9 km
Parks and reserves: O'Connor's Park 300 m · Perraton Green Park 500 m · Pacific Park 550 m · Mooloolabah Esplanade Park 550 m · Bindaree Crescent Park 600 m · Charles Clarke Park 600 m · Northern Parkland Mooloolaba Foreshore 600 m · Arthur Parkyn Park 700 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Mooloolaba, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Welcome Swallow · Torresian Crow · Australian Brush-turkey · Australian White Ibis.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Mooloolaba, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mooloolaba here | 8,202 | — | 7/10 | 9% |
| Alexandra Headland | 4,235 | — | 8/10 | 15% |
| Minyama | 2,726 | — | 8/10 | 5% |
| Buddina | 4,236 | — | 8/10 | 9% |
| Mountain Creek | 11,950 | — | 7/10 | 27% |
| Parrearra | 4,661 | — | 8/10 | 15% |
| Maroochydore | 20,629 | — | 6/10 | 13% |
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 Fisher — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4557 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Mooloolaba profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $400 a week.
The population grew 12% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,333 people to 8,202. It sits about 88 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Sunshine Coast council, and the federal seat is Fisher.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Mooloolaba vs Alexandra Headland · Mooloolaba vs Buddina.
Nearby guides: Alexandra Headland · Minyama · Buddina · Mountain Creek · Parrearra · Maroochydore.
Keep an eye on Mooloolaba
One email when this data meaningfully changes — new census figures, prices, rankings. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.