Coolangatta, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Coolangatta QLD is 6,491 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Coolangatta is $785 per week ($40,820 per year). Median rent in Coolangatta is $405 per week ($1,755 per month). Coolangatta has a median age of 50 years, older than the national median of 38. Coolangatta has a population density of 3,413 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Coolangatta is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (43.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Portuguese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Coolangatta is $1,805.

There were 3,231 recorded offences in Coolangatta in 2025-26, a rate of 498 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (1,490 offences).

Population
6,491
Census 2021
Median income
$785/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$405/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
50years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au), 2025-26.

Coolangatta vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Coolangatta is $785 a week, 5% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 637th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $405 a week, $85 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 30.4% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 50, 8 years older than in the typical QLD suburb (42).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureCoolangattaTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$785/wk$747/wk +5%$766/wk
Household income$1,331/wk$1,593/wk −16%$1,637/wk
Rent$405/wk$320/wk +27%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,805/mo$1,625/mo +11%$1,733/mo
Median age5042 +8 yrs42
Rent share of household income30.4%20.4% +10.0 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Coolangatta, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Coolangatta Population

6,491 residents at the 2021 Census.

Coolangatta Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$785/wk
$40,820 per year
Ranked 3,839 of 14,663
Median Rent
$405/wk
$1,755 per month
Ranked 1,818 of 14,663
Median Age
50years
12 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,805/mo
Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Coolangatta Rent Prices & Affordability

30% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,331/wk
Median rent $405/wk
Rent to income 30.4%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Coolangatta against your income

About $5,768 a month
Median rent $405/wk
Left after rent $926/wk
Rent share 30.4%

Coolangatta Schools

15
schools nearby
5
government
967
avg ICSEA score
2,950
total students
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 302 students
1069
ICSEA
The Village School Gold Coast Independent
Primary · Prep-6 · 88 students
1047
ICSEA
Pacific Coast Christian School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 999 students
1027
ICSEA
Pacific Hope Christian School Independent
Combined · U · 85 students
1014
ICSEA
Coolangatta State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 285 students
989
ICSEA
Tweed Heads Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 394 students
984
ICSEA
Tweed River High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 590 students
940
ICSEA
Fingal Head Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 33 students
934
ICSEA
Tweed Heads South Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 142 students
882
ICSEA
Pacific Gulgangali Jarjums Christian School Independent
Primary · K-6 · 32 students
781
ICSEA
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Junior School Independent
Primary
The BUSY School - Coolangatta Campus Independent
Secondary
Pacific Online Christian School Independent
Secondary
Mastery Schools Australia - Coolangatta Campus Independent
Combined
Hillcrest Christian College - Coolangatta Campus Independent
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Coolangatta, with a map

Coolangatta Map

Coolangatta, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Coolangatta, Queensland: 28.1694°S, 153.5362°E

Coolangatta Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (15)

People in Coolangatta

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.4% (3,139) Female 51.6% (3,351)

Population Density

3,413
people per km²
6,491 people · 1.9 km²

Households

1.9
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$1,787
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

New Zealand
4.3%
England
3.9%
Brazil
2.5%
Philippines
0.7%
United States of America
0.6%
South Africa
0.6%
Canada
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Portuguese
2.7%
Spanish
1.1%
French
0.5%
Italian
0.5%
Japanese
0.4%
German
0.3%
Thai
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
42.3%
Australian
31.8%
Irish
14.2%
Scottish
12.2%
German
4.6%
Italian
3.9%
Australian Aboriginal
2.2%
Dutch
1.2%
Spanish
1.2%
French
1.2%
Chinese
1.1%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
43.2%
Catholic
19.2%
Anglican
13.8%
Not stated
8.7%
Uniting Church
2.8%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.6%
Christian (other)
2.0%
Buddhism
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
36.0% 2,143
Separated
3.9% 231
Divorced
14.4% 858
Widowed
6.4% 380
Never married
39.4% 2,348

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
53.2%
Couple: children under 15
23.8%
Couple: no children under 15
9.4%
One parent: no children under 15
7.2%
One parent: children under 15
6.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
37.5%
2 persons
44.2%
3 persons
11.0%
4 persons
5.2%
5 persons
1.5%
6+ persons
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Coolangatta

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,944 occupied private dwellings in Coolangatta at the 2021 Census, 41.2% were rented, 36.5% owned outright and 19.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 29 dwellings
Owned outright
36.5% 1,076 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
19.2% 564 dwellings
Rented
41.2% 1,213 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.0% 58 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
64.8%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
31.1%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
12.7%
2 bedrooms
58.4%
3 bedrooms
21.1%
4 bedrooms
5.9%
5 bedrooms
1.4%
6+ bedrooms
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.3%
$300-$449/mo
3.1%
$450-$599/mo
1.8%
$600-$799/mo
2.0%
$800-$999/mo
5.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
17.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
16.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
25.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
9.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
9.0%
1 vehicle
49.1%
2 vehicles
32.3%
3 vehicles
6.2%
4+ vehicles
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Coolangatta

Employment

Employed full-time
30.3% 1,555 people
Employed part-time
23.9% 1,226 people
Unemployed
3.6% 185 people
Not in labour force
42.2% 2,169 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
30.7%
Managers
14.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
14.4%
Community & Personal Service
14.4%
Clerical & Administrative
10.1%
Labourers
6.2%
Sales Workers
5.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
1.2%
$150-$299/wk
1.3%
$300-$399/wk
3.6%
$400-$499/wk
7.2%
$500-$649/wk
7.2%
$650-$799/wk
6.8%
$800-$999/wk
7.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.3%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.2%
$4,000+/wk
8.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.2%
$1-$149/wk
3.7%
$150-$299/wk
5.4%
$300-$399/wk
4.3%
$400-$499/wk
4.8%
$500-$649/wk
5.0%
$650-$799/wk
10.9%
$800-$999/wk
12.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.0%
$3,500+/wk
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.4%
Did not go to work
13.6%
Walked only
7.1%
Bicycle
3.1%
Car (passenger)
3.0%
Bus
1.5%
Other
0.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.8%
Truck
0.5%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
62.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
25.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.6%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
33.2%
Bachelor Degree
33.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.6%
Postgraduate Degree
8.4%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.8%
Certificate I/II
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
23.5%
Health
15.9%
Society & Culture
11.9%
Engineering
11.5%
Architecture & Building
9.9%
Education
8.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.3%
Creative Arts
6.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.2%
Agriculture & Environment
2.2%
Information Technology
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
28.9%
Primary: Government
16.2%
Secondary: Government
15.2%
Pre-school
10.2%
Primary: Catholic
10.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
8.4%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
6.5%
Secondary: Catholic
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
85.8%
Has need for assistance
6.7%
Need for assistance not stated
7.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
596
Arthritis
287
Heart disease
206
Asthma
176
Lung condition
151
Diabetes
139
Cancer
137
Stroke
97
Kidney disease
70
Dementia
48

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
11.9% 642
Did not provide
88.1% 4,768

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
13.4% 726
Not a volunteer
86.6% 4,693

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 8
Previously served
3.5% 189
Never served
96.4% 5,253

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
43.6%
1 child
13.7%
2 children
23.8%
3 children
13.5%
4 children
4.8%
5+ children
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
24
1951: 1960
71
1961: 1970
133
1971: 1980
123
1981: 1990
148
1991: 2000
104
2001: 2010
204
2011: 2015
156
2016
52
2017
57
2018
84
2019
93
2020
35
2021
20

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

24.3%
moved in the last year
58.2%
moved in the last 5 years
5.7%
unemployment rate (Census)
55.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,515
Moved from QLD
544
Moved from NSW
444
Moved: same area (SA2)
211
Moved from VIC
96
Moved from overseas
82
Moved from WA
15
Moved from SA
13
Moved from TAS
4
Moved from NT
4
Moved from ACT
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
23.5%
5: 14 hours
29.8%
15: 29 hours
11.4%
30+ hours
6.1%
Did not do domestic work
29.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
80.0%
Step family: no other children
15.6%
Blended family: no other children
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Coolangatta Crime Statistics

3,231 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
1,490
Drug Offences
492
Break & Enter
329
Assault
246
Fraud
184
Property Damage
162
Traffic
112
Domestic Violence
99
Weapons
60
Sexual Offences
46
Robbery
10
Homicide
1

Total offences by year

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Ocean View
Income: $941/wk Rent: $350/wk $55/wk less rent
Coral Cove
Income: $664/wk Rent: $373/wk $32/wk less rent
Tinbeerwah
Income: $776/wk Rent: $400/wk $5/wk less rent
Blackall
Income: $686/wk Rent: $157/wk $248/wk less rent
Home Hill
Income: $657/wk Rent: $220/wk $185/wk less rent
Sandgate (Qld)
Income: $774/wk Rent: $294/wk $111/wk less rent
Gooburrum
Income: $693/wk Rent: $300/wk $105/wk less rent
Mission Beach
Income: $711/wk Rent: $350/wk $55/wk less rent

Suburbs near Coolangatta

The closest suburb to Coolangatta is Tweed Heads, 0.9 km away.

Tweed Heads
0.9 km away · income $660/wk · rent $403/wk
Bilinga
2.9 km away · income $804/wk · rent $428/wk
Tweed Heads South
3.3 km away · income $561/wk · rent $390/wk
Tweed Heads West
3.6 km away · income $612/wk · rent $350/wk
Tugun
4.9 km away · income $850/wk · rent $460/wk
Banora Point
6.1 km away · income $629/wk · rent $440/wk

Compare Coolangatta (Qld)

Frequently Asked Questions About Coolangatta

What is the population of Coolangatta QLD?

The population of Coolangatta QLD is 6,491 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 3,413 people per km². Coolangatta is ranked #1,187 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Coolangatta?

The median personal income in Coolangatta QLD is $785 per week, or $40,820 per year. The median household income is $1,331 per week. Family income is $1,787 per week. Coolangatta is ranked #3,839 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Coolangatta?

Median rent in Coolangatta QLD is $405 per week ($1,755 per month). Rent represents 30.4% of household income, which is considered moderate. Coolangatta ranks #1,818 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Coolangatta?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Coolangatta QLD is $1,805. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Coolangatta?

The median age in Coolangatta QLD is 50 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Coolangatta a good suburb to live in?

Coolangatta is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 6,491. The median income is $785/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (30.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Brisbane Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30680. All dollar figures in AUD.