Sunshine Beach

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, as of February 2026, is approximately 7452. This figure represents an increase of 601 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6851. The growth was inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 7443 in June 2024 and validation of 10 new addresses post-Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1023 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sunshine Beach's growth rate of 8.8% since the 2021 Census exceeded its SA3 area's growth rate of 5.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.9% of overall population gains during recent periods, though all drivers were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts 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 from 2023 based on 2021 data are used. These state projections do not provide age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population projections indicate lower quartile growth for national regional areas, with Sunshine Beach expected to expand by 262 persons to 2041, reflecting 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. From FY-21 to FY-25, around 184 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY-26. Each dwelling built over these years resulted in an average of 3 new residents per year, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are constructed at an average cost of $865,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment by developers. In FY-26, $107,000 worth of commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting a predominantly residential development focus. Sunshine Beach's development levels per person are similar to those in the rest of Queensland, maintaining market balance with surrounding areas. New developments consist of 47.0% detached houses and 53.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 65.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse housing options.

With around 177 people per approval, Sunshine Beach reflects an area experiencing development growth. By 2041, Sunshine Beach is projected to gain approximately 253 residents (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current construction levels suggest that housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth exceeding current forecasts.

Sunshine Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable ones include Sunrise Beach Village, Noosa Aquatic Centre Facility Upgrade Plan, Noosa Business Centre Village Precinct, and David Low Way Retaining Wall and Shared Pathway at Sunrise Beach.

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

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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. As of September 2025, its unemployment rate is 2.1%. It has 4,035 residents in work, a 1.9% lower unemployment rate than Rest of Qld's 4.1%, and similar workforce participation at 65.7%.

Census responses show 26.9% of residents work from home. Key industries are accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, construction; accommodation & food has high specialization with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.8%. The area may lack local employment opportunities as indicated by Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between September 2024 and August 2025, labour force decreased by 2.5% and employment by 1.9%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points.

Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment could expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunshine Beach's employment mix, local employment may increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sunshine Beach SA2 has one of the highest income levels nationally according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Sunshine Beach SA2 is $49,856, with an average income of $111,551. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld's of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $54,797 (median) and $122,606 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, Sunshine Beach's incomes cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. Distribution shows that 32.2% of residents (2,399 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to the surrounding region at 31.7%. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income in Sunshine Beach SA2, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 54th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Sunshine Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The latest Census evaluated Sunshine Beach's dwelling structure as 65.4% houses and 34.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld had a higher proportion of houses at 76.4%, with 23.6% being other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine Beach was 39.2%, compared to mortgaged dwellings at 33.1% and rented ones at 27.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sunshine Beach was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Sunshine Beach was $500, lower than Non-Metro Qld's figure of $345. Nationally, Sunshine Beach's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Rents in Sunshine Beach were substantially above the national figure of $375 at $500.

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

Family households account for 72.5% of all households, consisting of 27.1% couples with children, 34.7% couples without children, and 10.1% 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%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

Sunshine Beach has a notable educational advantage with 36.5% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 24.9% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.7% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 13.3% and certificates at 21.4%. Educational participation is high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.6% in secondary education, 9.0% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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.

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, all serving buses. These are covered by four routes, offering a total of 889 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents living an average of 194 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car use dominates at 88%, while cycling accounts for 2%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 26.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 127 trips per day across all routes, translating to about 27 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

Health outcomes data for Sunshine Beach shows excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 76% of the total population (5,670 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.1 and 6.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 75.3%, reported being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents have particularly low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 19.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,465 people), with health outcomes among seniors ranking broadly in line with the general population nationally.

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

Sunshine Beach had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 9.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 28.1% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 41.1%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to 0.1% in the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (21.1%), and Irish (10.5%). Notably, French (1.4%) and Scottish (9.9%) groups were overrepresented, while Spanish was slightly higher at 0.7%.

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

Sunshine Beach has a median age of 45, which is higher than both the Rest of Qld figure at 41 and the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 15.8% of the population, while those aged 15-24 are comparatively smaller at 10.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 9.1% to 10.9%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 5.8% to 7.3%. However, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 10.8%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 16.7% to 15.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Sunshine Beach's age structure. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 16%, reaching 939 people from the current 810. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 5-14 and 55-64.