Maleny, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Maleny QLD is 3,959 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Maleny is $618 per week ($32,136 per year). Median rent in Maleny is $390 per week ($1,690 per month). Maleny has a median age of 59 years, older than the national median of 38. Maleny has a population density of 163 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Maleny is England. The most common religion is No religion (47.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Maleny is $1,625.

There were 225 recorded offences in Maleny in 2025-26, a rate of 57 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (87 offences).

Population
3,959
Census 2021
Median income
$618/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$390/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
59years
Census 2021

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

Maleny vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Maleny is $618 a week, 17% below the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 1,161st of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $390 a week, $70 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 34.1% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 59, 17 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.
MeasureMalenyTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$618/wk$747/wk −17%$766/wk
Household income$1,144/wk$1,593/wk −28%$1,637/wk
Rent$390/wk$320/wk +22%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,625/mo$1,625/mo 0%$1,733/mo
Median age5942 +17 yrs42
Rent share of household income34.1%20.4% +13.7 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 Maleny, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Maleny Population

3,959 residents at the 2021 Census.

Maleny Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$618/wk
$32,136 per year
Ranked 6,808 of 14,663
Median Rent
$390/wk
$1,690 per month
Ranked 2,258 of 14,663
Median Age
59years
21 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,625/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Maleny Rent Prices & Affordability

34% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,144/wk
Median rent $390/wk
Rent to income 34.1%

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

Median rent in Maleny against your income

About $4,957 a month
Median rent $390/wk
Left after rent $754/wk
Rent share 34.1%

Maleny Schools

3
schools nearby
2
government
1051
avg ICSEA score
1,133
total students
The River School Independent
Primary · Prep-6 · 77 students
1074
ICSEA
Maleny State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 409 students
1050
ICSEA
Maleny State High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 647 students
1029
ICSEA

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

All schools near Maleny, with a map

Maleny Map

Maleny, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Maleny

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 45.6% (1,809) Female 54.4% (2,155)

Population Density

163
people per km²
3,959 people · 24.3 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,426
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

England
7.5%
New Zealand
3.1%
Germany
1.1%
United States of America
1.0%
India
0.7%
Scotland
0.7%
Papua New Guinea
0.6%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

German
1.0%
Japanese
0.5%
Vietnamese
0.5%
Spanish
0.4%
Malayalam
0.4%
Portuguese
0.4%
Mandarin
0.3%

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

Ancestry

English
48.8%
Australian
32.7%
Irish
15.8%
Scottish
15.0%
German
8.0%
Italian
2.3%
Dutch
1.9%
Australian Aboriginal
1.8%
Welsh
1.5%
French
1.3%
New Zealander
1.2%

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
47.9%
Anglican
13.5%
Catholic
10.7%
Not stated
8.6%
Uniting Church
5.5%
Christian (other)
3.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.8%
Buddhism
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
50.8% 1,778
Separated
3.2% 113
Divorced
13.4% 468
Widowed
8.3% 290
Never married
24.3% 849

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
46.4%
Couple: children under 15
24.7%
Couple: no children under 15
11.8%
One parent: children under 15
9.4%
One parent: no children under 15
7.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.7%
2 persons
44.7%
3 persons
11.5%
4 persons
8.1%
5 persons
3.0%
6+ persons
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Maleny

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,707 occupied private dwellings in Maleny at the 2021 Census, 18.3% were rented, 55.4% owned outright and 22.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
3.0% 52 dwellings
Owned outright
55.4% 945 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
22.4% 383 dwellings
Rented
18.3% 312 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.2% 21 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
93.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
4.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.4%
2 bedrooms
18.0%
3 bedrooms
46.8%
4 bedrooms
26.5%
5 bedrooms
4.5%
6+ bedrooms
0.9%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.9%
$300-$449/mo
2.4%
$450-$599/mo
2.7%
$600-$799/mo
6.9%
$800-$999/mo
6.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
16.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
22.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
10.2%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.6%
1 vehicle
46.0%
2 vehicles
33.9%
3 vehicles
9.6%
4+ vehicles
5.9%

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

Work, income and education in Maleny

Employment

Employed full-time
19.2% 610 people
Employed part-time
20.7% 659 people
Unemployed
2.4% 75 people
Not in labour force
57.7% 1,834 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
31.8%
Managers
16.4%
Technicians & Trade Workers
13.9%
Community & Personal Service
13.6%
Clerical & Administrative
7.7%
Sales Workers
7.7%
Labourers
6.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.4%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.3%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
1.7%
$300-$399/wk
3.4%
$400-$499/wk
9.1%
$500-$649/wk
7.4%
$650-$799/wk
11.7%
$800-$999/wk
9.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.5%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.2%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.1%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.3%
$4,000+/wk
7.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.9%
$1-$149/wk
5.2%
$150-$299/wk
8.3%
$300-$399/wk
6.6%
$400-$499/wk
5.8%
$500-$649/wk
5.5%
$650-$799/wk
12.8%
$800-$999/wk
10.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.9%
$3,500+/wk
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
66.9%
Did not go to work
18.0%
Walked only
6.9%
Car (passenger)
5.7%
Truck
0.6%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Other
0.6%
Bus
0.3%
Train
0.3%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
64.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
25.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
3.4%

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

Bachelor Degree
29.3%
Certificate III/IV
27.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
22.2%
Postgraduate Degree
12.4%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
7.4%
Certificate I/II
1.7%

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

Field of Study

Health
14.9%
Society & Culture
14.8%
Education
14.7%
Management & Commerce
14.5%
Engineering
11.9%
Architecture & Building
7.6%
Creative Arts
6.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.0%
Agriculture & Environment
3.8%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.8%
Information Technology
1.8%

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

School & University Attendance

Secondary: Government
34.8%
Primary: Government
29.0%
Vocational Education
11.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
9.8%
Pre-school
8.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.7%
Secondary: Catholic
0.9%
Primary: Catholic
0.6%

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
87.2%
Has need for assistance
8.4%
Need for assistance not stated
4.4%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
403
Arthritis
201
Heart disease
177
Lung condition
149
Asthma
132
Cancer
115
Diabetes
84
Stroke
59
Kidney disease
46
Dementia
29

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.3% 504
Did not provide
84.7% 2,793

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
28.0% 928
Not a volunteer
72.0% 2,388

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
5.3% 177
Never served
94.7% 3,153

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
26.3%
1 child
13.7%
2 children
33.6%
3 children
18.2%
4 children
6.8%
5+ children
1.5%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
25
1951: 1960
80
1961: 1970
155
1971: 1980
131
1981: 1990
142
1991: 2000
75
2001: 2010
124
2011: 2015
47
2016
3
2017
12
2018
6
2019
28
2020
16

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

Population Mobility

15.5%
moved in the last year
44.3%
moved in the last 5 years
4.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
43.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,183
Moved from QLD
307
Moved: same area (SA2)
167
Moved from NSW
56
Moved from overseas
15
Moved from VIC
11
Moved from SA
7
Moved from TAS
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.7%
5: 14 hours
30.9%
15: 29 hours
19.2%
30+ hours
13.5%
Did not do domestic work
19.7%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.8%
Step family: no other children
8.9%
Blended family: no other children
5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Maleny Crime Statistics

225 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
87
Break & Enter
26
Traffic
24
Property Damage
23
Assault
20
Domestic Violence
15
Fraud
14
Drug Offences
12
Sexual Offences
4

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

Suburbs near Maleny

The closest suburb to Maleny is Witta, 5.8 km away.

Witta
5.8 km away · income $594/wk · rent $368/wk
Montville
6.9 km away · income $719/wk · rent $375/wk
Eudlo
8.9 km away · income $669/wk · rent $368/wk
Peachester
10.3 km away · income $667/wk · rent $325/wk
Mooloolah Valley
11.2 km away · income $768/wk · rent $420/wk
Palmwoods (Qld)
12.4 km away · income $746/wk · rent $430/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Maleny

What is the population of Maleny QLD?

The population of Maleny QLD is 3,959 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 163 people per km². Maleny is ranked #1,943 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Maleny?

The median personal income in Maleny QLD is $618 per week, or $32,136 per year. The median household income is $1,144 per week. Family income is $1,426 per week. Maleny is ranked #6,808 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Maleny?

Median rent in Maleny QLD is $390 per week ($1,690 per month). Rent represents 34.1% of household income, which is considered moderate. Maleny ranks #2,258 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Maleny?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Maleny QLD is $1,625. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Maleny?

The median age in Maleny QLD is 59 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Maleny a good suburb to live in?

Maleny is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 3,959. The median income is $618/wk, which is below the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (34.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 31739. All dollar figures in AUD.