Moving to Mount Coolum QLD 4573
What the official numbers say about living in Mount Coolum — 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 $1,690 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Mount Coolum grew 24% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (3,669 → 4,545 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: German, Spanish, Japanese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Mount Coolum scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (76% of workers), while 21% work from home.
Nearest airport: Sunshine Coast Airport, 3.7 km south.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 101 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school · 5 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 15 parks · 5 beaches — see them all on the Mount Coolum profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Coolum State School 3.6 km
Groceries: Whites IGA Mt Coolum 250 m
Parks and reserves: Jarnahill Drive Park 250 m · Binnacle Park 500 m · Waalum Park 700 m · Lumeah Drive Park 750 m · Fairway Close Park 900 m · Warrack Park 1.1 km · Glen Retreat Park 1.3 km · Orungal Park 1.5 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Mount Coolum, most often seen first: Brown Honeyeater · Torresian Crow · Lewin's Honeyeater · Willie Wagtail · Welcome Swallow · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Mount Coolum, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Coolum here | 4,545 | — | 7/10 | 63% |
| Yaroomba | 2,043 | — | 10/10 | 53% |
| Marcoola | 3,355 | — | 5/10 | 28% |
| Coolum Beach | 9,152 | — | 7/10 | 49% |
| Mudjimba | 2,664 | — | 7/10 | 63% |
| Pacific Paradise | 2,675 | — | 3/10 | 21% |
| Twin Waters | 2,966 | — | 9/10 | 36% |
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 Mount Coolum profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $450 a week.
The population grew 24% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 3,669 people to 4,545. It sits about 101 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: Mount Coolum vs Yaroomba · Mount Coolum vs Marcoola.
Nearby guides: Yaroomba · Marcoola · Coolum Beach · Mudjimba · Pacific Paradise · Twin Waters.
Keep an eye on Mount Coolum
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