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 was approximately 6,851 people as per the 2021 Census. By Nov 2025, this had risen to around 7,452, an increase of 601 individuals (8.8%). This growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 7,443 in June 2024 and ten additional validated addresses since the Census date. The population density was approximately 1,023 persons per square kilometer. Sunshine Beach's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (5.9%), making it a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed about 81.9% to overall population gains recently, though all factors were positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year. For areas not covered or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 (using 2021 data) are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Future population projections indicate lower quartile growth, with the area expected to expand by 262 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 3.4% over 17 years.

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 FY21 to FY25, around 184 homes were approved, with another 13 approved in FY26 so far. Each dwelling built over these years has attracted an average of 3 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $865,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment. This financial year, Sunshine Beach has seen $107,000 in commercial approvals, predominantly focused on residential development. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Sunshine Beach maintains similar development levels per capita, preserving market equilibrium with surrounding areas. New developments consist of 47% detached houses and 53% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 65% houses) reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles' need for 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 meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers while potentially allowing growth beyond current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely to affect 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. The following list details those most relevant.

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. Its unemployment rate was 2.1% in September 2025. There were 4,035 residents employed, with a 1.9% lower unemployment rate compared to Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation was at Rest of Qld's level of 65.7%. According to Census responses, 26.9% of residents worked from home. Key industries included accommodation & food (1.8 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence with 0.8% employment compared to 4.5% regionally.

The area offered limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, Sunshine Beach's labour force decreased by 2.5%, and employment decreased by 1.9%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, with local employment projected to increase accordingly based on industry-specific projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sunshine Beach SA2's income level is among the top percentile nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Its median income among taxpayers is $49,856 and average income stands at $111,551, comparing to Rest of Qld's figures 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. Census 2021 income data shows incomes in Sunshine Beach cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 32.2% of residents (2,399 people), mirroring surrounding region at 31.7%. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, placing disposable income at the 54th percentile and area's SEIFA income ranking in the 7th decile.

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

Sunshine Beach's dwellings were 65.4% houses and 34.6% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other') in the latest Census, compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% others. Home ownership was higher at 39.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.1% and rented at 27.8%. Median monthly mortgage repayments were $2,167, above Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent was $500, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Sunshine Beach's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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, including 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, 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 notably high educational attainment, with 36.5% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This is significantly higher than the broader benchmarks of 20.6% in the Rest of Qld and 24.9% in the SA4 region. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held by its residents. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 25.4% of residents holding them, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%.

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas held by 13.3% of residents and certificates held by 21.4%. Educational participation in Sunshine Beach is notably high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes secondary education (9.6%), primary education (9.0%), and tertiary education (3.6%).

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 of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 889 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 194 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to Sunshine Beach being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation, used by 88% of residents, 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. Across all routes, service frequency averages 127 trips per day, equating to approximately 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

Sunshine Beach demonstrates excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 76% of Sunshine Beach's total population (5,670 people) has private health cover, compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.1 and 6.3% of residents respectively. A total of 75.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents show low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,450 people), with health outcomes among seniors ranking broadly in line with the national average for the general population.

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's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 9.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 28.1% born overseas. Christianity was the main religion in Sunshine Beach, making up 41.1% of people. Judaism was overrepresented compared to the rest of Queensland, comprising 0.4% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (21.1%, lower than the regional average of 26.5%), and Irish (10.5%). French, Scottish, and Spanish ethnicities were notably overrepresented in Sunshine Beach compared to regional averages: French at 1.4% versus 0.5%, Scottish at 9.9% versus 7.8%, and Spanish at 0.7% versus 0.3%.

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

Sunshine Beach's median age of 46 years is significantly higher than Rest of Qld's 41 and the national average of 38. 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 now, the 25-34 age group has increased from 9.1% to 10.6%, while the 75-84 cohort has grown from 5.8% to 7.1%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased 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.