Maroochydore
QLDMaroochydore is a growing suburb in QLD with 20,629 residents.
- SAL code
- 31772
- SA2
- 316031427
- Population
- 20,629
- LGA
- Sunshine Coast
Maroochydore, QLD had 20,629 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 12.8% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 25-34 years, and the median age sits at 47. Households are most often couples without children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,733 a month. Around 53.2% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being rented at 42.1%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 38.2% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 82 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Maroochydore, QLD at a glance
Maroochydore is the commercial heart of the Sunshine Coast, ~100 km north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast Council LGA. It stretches ~12.6 km from the river mouth along the coast, mixing surf-side units, older free-standing houses, and a brand-new high-rise CBD under active build-out. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle, and council context they don't.
For homebuyers
Maroochydore is the part of the Sunshine Coast where the lifestyle and the work both happen. You'll find Sunshine Plaza on the river, multiple patrolled beaches (Maroochydore, Cotton Tree, Alexandra Headland a few minutes south), 43 parks across the suburb, and a riverfront that anchors weekend life. Dwelling stock is mixed: older brick-and-tile houses on the western side, low-rise unit blocks closer to the surf, and the new high-rise CBD precinct rolling out around Bright Place and Maroochy Boulevard. Maroochydore State High School sits ~3 km from the beach; Sunshine Coast Grammar is a short drive west. The Sunshine Coast Airport is ~10 min north, Brisbane CBD ~1 hr 5 min by car, and the planned mass-transit corridor along Maroochydore's spine is in active council planning. In short: a coastal lifestyle suburb that's also genuinely a CBD — uncommon on the Australian east coast outside the capitals.
For investors
Maroochydore runs hot on growth and tight on supply. Median house sale ~$1.175m with house rents $760/wk for a ~3.36% gross yield; units median rent $700/wk yielding ~4.23% (htag/YIP, May 2026). 12-month house growth +7.1%, units +9.5%. Days-on-market 31 (houses) / 32 (units); 316 house and 420 unit sales in the past 12 months. Vacancy 0.99% — among the tightest on the coast.
Strengths
- Vacancy at 0.99% (May 2026) — chronic undersupply across both houses and units.
- Unit segment outperforming: +9.5% YoY values, +6.1% rent growth, ~4.23% gross yield (htag May 2026).
- Healthy turnover for a tight market — 316 house + 420 unit sales in the past 12 months (htag May 2026).
- $2.5b Walker Corporation CBD build-out plus 15,000+ projected jobs underwrites long-run tenant demand.
Trade-offs
- House yield is thin at ~3.36% gross — entry prices ($1.175m median) outpace rental income.
- High-rise CBD pipeline (SOL by Walker, multiple Walker towers in build-out) adds meaningful unit supply through 2027-28 and could cap unit rent growth.
- Coastal exposure: parts of the suburb sit on the Maroochy River floodplain — check overlay maps before bidding.
- Investor-heavy unit pockets and short-stay competition can lift turnover costs vs the suburb headline.
What's coming
Sunshine Coast Council and Walker Corporation are mid-delivery on the 53-hectare Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area, with SOL apartments under construction (commenced July 2025) and SunCentral transitioning its functions back to Council in February 2026. Up to $2.5b of private investment is committed, plus the council-led mass-transit corridor study running along the Maroochydore spine.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: a rare beach-plus-CBD suburb with the work, the surf, and the schools in one postcode. For investors: a tight-vacancy growth play stronger on units than houses, with CBD supply the key risk to watch into 2027.
Population
?20,629
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+12.8%
3yr: +7.0% · 10yr: +31.1%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,360/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
47
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?5/10
SA2 · middle-range
Unemployment
?4.4%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
3
2 primary, 1 secondary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?12
8 long day, 3 OSHC
Parks & green space
?82
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?40
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?392
Sunshine Coast · Feb 2026
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
state Valuer-General sale price data not yet loaded for QLD
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from QLD police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Maroochydore - Kuluin (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Maroochydore suburb alone is ~20,629 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 14,919 to 25,797 over 24 years, averaging 2.3% per year.
Schools
3 in suburbSector
2 public · 1 private
Type
2 primary · 1 secondary
Total enrolment
1,603(2 of 3 reporting)
Avg per school
802
Government school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for QLD.
Source when available: QLD Department of Education — QSpatial State School Catchment Areas.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 4.5%Mostly detached houses (38.2%), mixed tenure (53.2% own or mortgage), built for families (41% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
QLD 33%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: QLD QRA Bushfire Prone Area
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
Source: QLD Local Government Flood Planning Areas
As of May 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
15 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE | Low Density Residential ZoneResidential | 11.6% | 1.51 km² |
| MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE | Medium Density Residential ZoneResidential | 8.4% | 1.09 km² |
| PRINCIPAL CENTRE ZONE | Principal Centre ZoneBusiness | 7.0% | 0.91 km² |
| ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION ZONE | Environmental Management and Conservation ZoneEnvironmental | 6.5% | 0.85 km² |
| COMMUNITY FACILITIES ZONE | Community Facilities ZoneOther | 6.4% | 0.84 km² |
| OPEN SPACE ZONE | Open Space ZoneRecreation | 4.0% | 0.53 km² |
| HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE | High Density Residential ZoneResidential | 2.7% | 0.35 km² |
| EMERGING COMMUNITY ZONE | Emerging Community ZoneOther | 2.3% | 0.30 km² |
| SPORT AND RECREATION ZONE | Sport and Recreation ZoneRecreation | 2.2% | 0.28 km² |
| SPECIALISED CENTRE ZONE | Specialised Centre ZoneOther | 1.9% | 0.25 km² |
| TOURIST ACCOMMODATION ZONE | Tourist Accommodation ZoneResidential | 0.8% | 0.10 km² |
| MEDIUM IMPACT INDUSTRY ZONE | Medium Impact Industry ZoneIndustrial | 0.5% | 0.07 km² |
| LOCAL CENTRE ZONE | Local Centre ZoneBusiness | 0.4% | 0.05 km² |
| LOW IMPACT INDUSTRY ZONE | Low Impact Industry ZoneIndustrial | 0.3% | 0.04 km² |
| LIMITED DEVELOPMENT (LANDSCAPE RESIDENTIAL) ZONE | Limited Development (Landscape Residential) ZoneOther | 0.2% | 0.03 km² |
Source: QLD DSDILGP Local Government Planning Scheme Zones (ZONE_QLD/2026-05-12/be11464ce5af1cd4) · As of May 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.