Main Beach
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Main Beach are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Main Beach's population was around 4669 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 671 people, a growth rate of 16.8% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3998 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4225 in June 2024 and an additional 270 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 1349 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Main Beach's growth rate exceeded that of non-metro areas (8.6%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data were adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of national regional areas, with Main Beach expected to increase by 1627 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 25.3% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Main Beach when compared nationally

Main Beach has received approximately 155 dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data from the ABS covers financial years FY-21 to FY-25, totalling 777 approvals with none yet recorded in FY-26. Over these five years, an average of 0.2 new residents per year has been associated with each new home. This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $2,275,000, indicating a focus on the premium market. Commercial approvals totalling $14.2 million have been registered in this financial year, implying balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Main Beach has seen 84.0% more development activity per person, offering buyers greater choice and showing robust developer interest in the area. New building activity consists of 2.0% standalone homes and 98.0% medium to high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 281 people per dwelling approval, Main Beach exhibits a developing market. Future projections estimate an increase of 1,183 residents by 2041, suggesting that current development patterns should readily meet demand and facilitate potential population growth beyond current projections.

Future projections show Main Beach adding 1,183 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Main Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 49 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones are Drift Residences, La Mer Main Beach, Marine Quarter Scenic Tower, and Lune Main Beach. The following details projects expected to have the greatest influence.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment conditions in Main Beach demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Main Beach has an educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.8% as of a certain period, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 2,362 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.1% below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Main Beach lagged significantly at 51.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area showed strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 0.7% versus the regional average of 4.5%. The ratio of 0.8 workers for each resident indicated a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.1% and labour force increased by 2.1%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. This contrasted with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.8%, the labour force grew by 2.0%, and unemployment rose 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 showed QLD employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lagged behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggested potential future demand within Main Beach. These projections estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with significant variations between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Main Beach's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.9%% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. Main Beach had a median income of $54,454 and an average income of $90,138 among taxpayers. Nationally, these figures are high compared to Rest of Qld's median of $50,780 and average of $64,844. Considering Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for March 2025 would be approximately $60,831 (median) and $100,693 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 72nd percentile ($938 weekly), while household income is at the 46th percentile. Income analysis shows that 27.9% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (1,302 residents). This pattern is similar to the broader area where 31.7% fall within this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 48th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Main Beach features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Main Beach, as per the latest Census, was 3.4% houses and 96.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Non-Metro Qld's 25.1% houses and 74.9% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Main Beach was 47.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.6% and rented at 31.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,091, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in Main Beach was $500, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $437. Nationally, Main Beach's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,091 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Main Beach features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 58.6% of all households, including 11.1% couples with children, 40.8% couples without children, and 6.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.4%, with lone person households at 35.5% and group households comprising 5.7%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.1.

The educational profile of Main Beach exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Main Beach is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 35.7% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 32.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding them - advanced diplomas account for 14.4% and certificates for 17.7%.

Notably, 23.7% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.4% in tertiary education, 5.2% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing primary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside Main Beach's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis shows 18 active stops in Main Beach. These include lightrail and bus services. There are 3 routes operating, providing 2,844 weekly passenger trips combined.

Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents usually located 117 meters from the nearest stop. Services run an average of 406 trips per day across all routes, which equals about 158 weekly trips per individual stop.

Main Beach's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Main Beach's health metrics closely match national benchmarks, with common health conditions evenly distributed across age cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 67% (3,114 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 58.1% and the national average of 55.3%. Arthritis and asthma are most prevalent, affecting 10.6% and 5.9% respectively.

67.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Rest of Qld. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 38.7% (1,806 people), higher than Rest of Qld's 21.8%. Senior health outcomes exceed those of the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Main Beach was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Main Beach had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 10.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 29.4% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 59.4%. Judaism's representation was over twice that of the region, at 0.6% compared to 0.3%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.2%), Australian (18.9%), and Irish (11.8%). Notably, French (1.0%) and Scottish (9.5%) were more prevalent than in the rest of Queensland, while Russian (0.5%) was slightly underrepresented compared to the region's 0.6%.

Main Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Main Beach is 56 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, the 75-84 age cohort is notably over-represented in Main Beach at 15.0%, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 2.6%. This concentration of the 75-84 age group is well above the national average of 6.0%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 85+ age group has grown from 2.3% to 5.2%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 12.5% to 15.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 12.8% to 10.0% and the 55-64 age group dropped from 19.0% to 16.2%. By 2041, Main Beach is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand substantially, increasing by 621 people (258%) from 240 to 862. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 73% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. On the other hand, both the 45-54 and 15-24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.