Noosa Hinterland
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Noosa Hinterland's population was 26,055 as of Aug 2025, an increase of 1,848 people (7.6%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 24,207. This change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 25,972 in June 2024 and additional 152 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 31 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Noosa Hinterland's compound annual growth rate was 1.6%, outpacing non-metro areas. Interstate migration contributed approximately 71.5% of overall population gains recently. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data for years post-2032.

Considering projected demographic shifts, Noosa Hinterland is expected to increase by just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas, expanding by 3,101 persons to 2041 with an 11.6% total increase over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Noosa Hinterland among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Noosa Hinterland has received approximately 115 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) records this data on a financial year basis, totaling 577 approvals from FY21 to FY25 and an additional 9 in FY26. Each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25 has attracted an average of 3.9 new residents annually, indicating high demand outstripping supply, which often leads to price increases and intense buyer competition. Developments in the area focus on the premium market, with an average construction cost of $859,000 per dwelling.

In terms of commercial development, Noosa Hinterland has seen $25.6 million in approvals during FY26, suggesting moderate levels of commercial growth relative to the rest of Queensland. The region's development levels are similar to those of surrounding areas when adjusted for population size, maintaining market equilibrium. Recent construction comprises 89% standalone homes and 11% medium to high-density housing, preserving Noosa Hinterland's traditional low-density character with a focus on family-friendly living spaces.

The area currently supports around 235 people per dwelling approval, leaving room for future growth. By 2041, the population is projected to increase by 3,018 residents. Current development trends align well with anticipated future needs, suggesting steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Noosa Hinterland has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 70 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project initiated on 15th March 2019, another Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project starting on 1st April 2020, and a third Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project commencing on 1st May 2021. Additionally, Noosa Wastewater Treatment Plant Works began on 1st June 2018. The following list details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Noosa Hinterland ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Noosa Hinterland had an unemployment rate of 2.9% as of June 2025. It employed 12,845 residents with a participation rate of 55.0%, lower than Rest of Qld's 59.1%.

Key industries were healthcare & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction had notable concentration at 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety was lower at 4.0% compared to the regional average of 5.9%. Labour force levels decreased by 2.2% over the year ending June 2025, with employment falling by 1.0%, resulting in a 1.1 percentage point drop in unemployment rate.

This contrasted with Rest of Qld's employment growth of 1.8% and labour force expansion of 2.0%. State-level data to Sep-25 showed Queensland employment contracted by 0.23%, losing 8,070 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Noosa Hinterland's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Noosa Hinterland's median income among taxpayers was $43,855 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $59,624 during the same period. These figures compare to the Rest of Qld's median and average incomes of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Noosa Hinterland would be approximately $48,990 (median) and $66,606 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Noosa Hinterland rank modestly between the 23rd and 36th percentiles. The largest income segment comprises 31.4% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (8,181 residents), similar to regional levels where 31.7% occupy this bracket. After housing expenses, 85.1% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Noosa Hinterland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Noosa Hinterland, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.1% houses and 4.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is comparable to Non-Metro Qld's dwelling structure, which also had 96.1% houses and 4.0% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Noosa Hinterland was similar to that of Non-Metro Qld, with 46.2% of dwellings owned outright or with a mortgage, while the remaining dwellings were rented (13.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,800, aligning with the Non-Metro Qld average. However, the median weekly rent figure in Noosa Hinterland was $415, which is higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Noosa Hinterland's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

Noosa Hinterland features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 77.7% of all households, including 31.0% couples with children, 36.4% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.3%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Queensland.

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

In the Noosa Hinterland region, 23.0% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.0% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (13.3%) and certificates (29.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education. There are 10 schools operating within Noosa Hinterland, educating approximately 2,977 students. The region demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1037) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 5 primary, 2 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transport in the Noosa Hinterland shows that there are currently 27 active transport stops operating. These include both train stations and bus stops. A total of 10 individual routes service these stops, providing a combined number of 192 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in this region is considered limited, with residents typically located approximately 3043 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, across all routes, there are 27 trips per day, which equates to around 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Noosa Hinterland are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Noosa Hinterland. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~12,897 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.1 and 8.0% of residents respectively. 68.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the Rest of Qld figure. The area has 24.5% of residents aged 65 and over (6,391 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Noosa Hinterland ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Noosa Hinterland has a cultural diversity score below average, with 79.6% of its population born in Australia, 88.6% being citizens, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, comprising 42.1% of Noosa Hinterland's population. Judaism, however, is proportionally similar to the rest of Queensland at 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (33.8%), Australian (27.0%), and Irish (9.5%). Notably, Scottish (9.4%) and French (0.7%) ancestry are equally represented compared to regional averages, while Welsh (0.7%) is also similarly proportioned.

Noosa Hinterland hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Noosa Hinterland's median age at 49 years is significantly higher than Queensland's average of 41 and exceeds the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are prominent, making up 14.3%, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 7.3%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 15-24 grew from 9.4% to 10.9%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 6.9% to 8.0%. Conversely, the 55-64 group declined from 17.1% to 15.9%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 12.7% to 11.7%. By 2041, Noosa Hinterland's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ cohort will grow by 102%, reaching 1,157 people from 573, while the 15-24 group is projected to decline by 164 people.