Noosa Heads
Statistical Area - sa2

Noosa Heads lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Noosa Heads' population is approximately 5,331 as of Aug 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 211 people (4.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,120. The increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 5,295 in June 2024 and an additional 115 validated new addresses since then. This results in a density ratio of 409 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Noosa Heads has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%, outperforming non-metro areas. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023, using 2021 data, are adopted. These state projections lack age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, using 2022 data for each age cohort. By 2041, Noosa Heads' population is expected to increase by 620 persons, recording a gain of 10.9% over the 17 years, based on the latest population numbers.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Noosa Heads recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Noosa Heads has averaged approximately 38 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 190 dwellings approved over the past five financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, and one so far in FY-26. On average, 1.1 new residents have been added per year per dwelling constructed over these five financial years. This indicates a balanced supply and demand scenario, creating stable market conditions.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $1,706,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. There have also been $16.2 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Noosa Heads shows moderately higher construction activity, being 46.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This balances buyer choice while supporting current property values, though development activity has moderated in recent periods. New development consists of 45.0% standalone homes and 55.0% medium to high-density housing.

This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, marking a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, currently 72.0% houses. Noosa Heads shows characteristics of a low density area with around 240 people per dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate Noosa Heads will gain approximately 580 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.

Noosa Heads has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones include Noosa Business Centre Village Precinct, Noosa Junction Mixed-Use Development, Tea Tree Residences, and Bottlebrush Noosa Heads. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Noosa Heads ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Noosa Heads has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.7%.

Compared to the rest of Queensland (Rest of Qld), Noosa Heads' unemployment rate is 2.3% lower, at 3.9%, but its workforce participation rate is significantly lower at 50.7% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Residents are primarily employed in accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. The area specializes strongly in accommodation & food, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 4.5%. There is a substantial local employment opportunity ratio of 0.9 workers per resident as of the Census.

Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.2%, and employment declined by 1.4% in Noosa Heads, resulting in an unemployment rate decrease of 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a slight increase in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. As of Sep-25, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Noosa Heads' employment could grow by approximately 6.9% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation using the local employment mix.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Noosa Heads' median income among taxpayers was $48,704, with an average of $88,732 in the financial year 2022. Nationally, this is extremely high compared to Rest of Qld's median of $50,780 and average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $54,407 (median) and $99,123 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Noosa Heads cluster around the 62nd percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 26.6% of locals (1,418 people) predominantly fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category. This pattern is similar to metropolitan regions where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Noosa Heads is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Noosa Heads dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 72.3% houses and 27.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Noosa Heads was 50.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.5% and rented at 24.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Noosa Heads was $550, versus Non-Metro Qld's $500. Nationally, Noosa Heads' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Noosa Heads features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.4% of all households, including 20.1% couples with children, 41.2% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households comprising 5.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Noosa Heads performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Noosa Heads has a notably higher proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications compared to broader regions. Specifically, 36.6% of Noosa Heads' residents have university qualifications, whereas the figures for Rest of Qld and the SA4 region are 20.6% and 24.9%, respectively. The area's educational attainment is particularly strong in bachelor degrees (26.0%), postgraduate qualifications (7.4%), and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (15.0%) and certificates (18.4%).

A significant portion of the population is actively engaged in education, with 22.4% pursuing formal studies. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 2.6% in tertiary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside Noosa Heads' immediate boundaries, necessitating families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Noosa Heads has 21 operational public transport stops. These are served by buses on nine different routes, offering a total of 1,059 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 339 meters, indicating good accessibility.

There are approximately 151 daily trips across all routes, which translates to around 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

Noosa Heads's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Noosa Heads residents show positive health outcomes with common conditions seen across young and old age groups. Private health cover is high at approximately 64% (3,411 people), compared to 57.2% in Rest of Qld and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.5%) and mental health issues (5.8%).

68.8% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of Qld's 68.8%. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 30.9% (1,646 people), higher than Rest of Qld's 25.8%. Senior health outcomes are strong, exceeding general population metrics.

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

Noosa Heads has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 8.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 30.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Noosa Heads, comprising 46.4% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Noosa Heads at 0.6%, compared to 0.3% across the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestry groups are English (33.4%), Australian (19.2%), and Scottish (11.2%). Some other ethnic groups show significant variations: French (1.6% vs regional 1.0%), South African (1.0% vs 0.8%), and Irish (10.9% vs 9.8%) are notably overrepresented in Noosa Heads.

Noosa Heads ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Noosa Heads has a median age of 53 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, the 75-84 cohort is notably over-represented at 12.3% locally, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 9.1%. The concentration of the 75-84 age group is well above the national average of 6.0%. According to data from the 2021 Census, a rejuvenation is evident as the median age fell from 54 to 53 years. Notable shifts include the 75-84 age group growing from 9.7% to 12.3%, and the 15-24 cohort increasing from 7.2% to 9.4%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort declined from 19.4% to 15.8%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 13.6% to 12.5%. Demographic modeling suggests that Noosa Heads' age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 cohort showing the strongest projected growth of 34%, adding 177 residents to reach 706. Conversely, both the 55-64 and 5-14 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.