Sunshine Beach
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Sunshine Beach reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Sunshine Beach's population is approximately 7,452 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 601 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,851. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,443 in June 2024 and an additional 10 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1,023 persons per square kilometer, which is comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sunshine Beach's growth rate of 8.8% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area (6.5%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a region with significant population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.9% of overall population gains during recent periods, though all factors including natural growth and interstate migration were positive contributors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population projections anticipate lower quartile growth of national regional areas. By 2041, Sunshine Beach is expected to expand by 262 persons, representing a total increase of 3.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Sunshine Beach among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Sunshine Beach has seen approximately 36 new homes approved annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY21 and FY25, around 184 dwellings were approved, with one recorded so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling built over these five years has resulted in three new residents.

This indicates healthy demand supporting property values, with new homes constructed at an average cost of $681,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting quality developments. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $107,000, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Sunshine Beach's development levels per person are similar to those in the Rest of Qld, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. New development consists of 47.0% detached houses and 53.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the area's existing housing (65.0% houses) suggests decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse housing options.

With around 177 people per approval, Sunshine Beach is a developing area expected to grow by 253 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Sunshine Beach has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 31stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 11 projects likely influencing the area. Notable ones are Sunrise Beach Village, David Low Way Retaining Wall and Shared Pathway at Sunrise Beach, Noosa Aquatic Centre Facility Upgrade Plan, and Noosa Business Centre Village Precinct. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

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

Sunshine Beach has an educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% in June 2025.

There were 4,076 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 2.0% lower than Rest of Qld's 3.9%. Workforce participation was similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries included accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area had a strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence at 0.8% compared to 4.5% regionally.

Labour force decreased by 2.3% over a 12-month period ending June 2025, accompanied by a 1.4% employment decrease, resulting in a 0.9 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8%, labour force growth of 2.0%, and a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National comparisons were not provided for Sep-25. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 indicated a projected increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Sunshine Beach's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.9%% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Sunshine Beach's median income among taxpayers was $48,704 and average income was $88,732 during financial year 2022. These figures were higher than those for Rest of Qld, which had median and average incomes of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. As of March 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $54,407 and average income would be around $99,123, based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Sunshine Beach cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that 32.2% of residents (2,399 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to the surrounding region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Residents spend 16.7% of their income on housing costs, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Sunshine Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure in Sunshine Beach, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 65.4% houses and 34.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine Beach was at 39.2%, with the remainder mortgaged (33.1%) or rented (27.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, above Non-Metro Qld's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Sunshine Beach was $500, matching Non-Metro Qld's figure. Nationally, Sunshine Beach's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Sunshine Beach features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 72.5% of all households, including 27.1% composed of couples with children, 34.7% consisting of couples without children, and 10.1% being single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.5%, with lone person households at 22.5% and group households comprising 5.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of Qld average.

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

Sunshine Beach's educational attainment is notably high, with 36.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 24.9% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 34.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 13.3% and certificates at 21.4%. Educational participation is high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.6% in secondary education, 9.0% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education. Sunshine Beach's five schools have a combined enrollment of 2,944 students as of the latest available data (year). The area has typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA score of 1044, indicating balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with three primary and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups. As of the year, Sunshine Beach functions as an education hub with 39.5 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 16.9, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Sunshine Beach has 32 active public transport stops operating within its area. These stops are used by a mix of bus routes, with four individual routes currently in service. Together, these routes provide a total of 1,012 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 195 meters from their nearest transport stop. On average, there are 144 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sunshine Beach's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Sunshine Beach shows excellent health outcomes with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Its private health cover rate stands at approximately 64%, covering 4,769 people, compared to Rest of Qld's 57.2% and the national average of 55.3%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 7.1% and 6.3% respectively.

A total of 75.3% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Rest of Qld's 68.8%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.5%, or 1,450 people, compared to Rest of Qld's 25.8%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Sunshine Beach are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Sunshine Beach has a higher-than-average cultural diversity, with 9.5% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 28.1% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sunshine Beach, comprising 41.1% of the population. While Judaism makes up only 0.3% of Rest of Qld's population, it represents 0.4% of Sunshine Beach's population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (32.9%), Australian (21.1%), and Irish (10.5%). Notably, French (1.4%) and Scottish (9.9%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Sunshine Beach compared to regional averages of 1.0% and 9.7%, respectively. Spanish ethnicity is also slightly higher at 0.7%.

Sunshine Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sunshine Beach's median age is 46 years, significantly higher than Rest of Qld's 41 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Sunshine Beach has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (16.0%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.6%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 9.1% to 10.6%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 5.8% to 7.1%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 10.9%. By 2041, Sunshine Beach's age composition is expected to change notably. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 19%, reaching 939 people from 786. Meanwhile, the 45-54 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.