Dicky Beach

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

As of Nov 2025, Dicky Beach's population is estimated at around 1,950 people. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 1,921 people, showing a rise of 29 individuals (1.5%). The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as 1,937, based on their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 3 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,893 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver behind this population growth.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 are used, based on 2021 data. 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, Dicky Beach is expected to grow by 197 persons to reach a population of around 2,147 by 2041. This reflects an increase of approximately 10.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Dicky Beach, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Dicky Beach had nine dwelling approvals over five years, ending 2019. This minimal residential development activity is typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited construction activity due to local demand and infrastructure capacity. Yearly growth figures can vary significantly with such low approval numbers.

Dicky Beach shows less construction activity than the Rest of Qld and below national averages. All new constructions were standalone homes, favoring family homes suited for rural lifestyle seekers. Notably, 66% of dwellings at Census were traditional houses, indicating strong demand despite density pressures. As of 2019, Dicky Beach had approximately 976 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an established market.

AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Dicky Beach to add 204 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Dicky Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Two projects identified by AreaSearch are likely to impact the area: Caloundra Transport Hub and Caloundra to Currimundi Active Transport Corridor. Other projects include Lagune Moffat Beach and Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade, but they are less relevant.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Dicky Beach recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Dicky Beach has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of June 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

In this period, 894 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.7% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Dicky Beach was lower at 49.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Health care & social assistance showed particularly strong specialization with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 1.1% versus the regional average of 4.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.7%, while employment declined by 1.2%, resulting in a fall in unemployment rate by 1.4 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of Qld where employment grew by 1.8% and labour force expanded by 2.0%, but unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offered insights into potential future demand within Dicky Beach. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Dicky Beach's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.9% over ten years.

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

Dicky Beach's median income among taxpayers was $43,818 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $55,944 during the same period. These figures compare to the Rest of Qld's median and average incomes of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest Dicky Beach's median income would be approximately $49,948 and the average around $63,771, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that incomes in Dicky Beach fall between the 21st and 21st percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile shows that 25.4% of residents earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, which aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 31.7%. Dicky Beach has a diverse economic landscape with lower-income residents (33.7%) and affluent households (21.3%) well-represented. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 21st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Dicky Beach, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.8% houses and 34.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's figures of 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Dicky Beach was 44.8%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (24.0%) or rented (31.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,863, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure in Dicky Beach was recorded at $400, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $450. Nationally, Dicky Beach's mortgage repayments are similar to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

Dicky Beach features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.3% of all households, consisting of 20.7% couples with children, 32.0% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 32.3% and group households comprising 2.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Dicky Beach aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 29.6% among residents aged 15+, exceeding both the Rest of Qld average (20.6%) and SA3 area average (23.6%). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (23.0%).

Educational participation is high at 26.0%, including 8.5% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. Currimundi Special School serves the local area with an enrollment of 176 students as of a specific date. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 998) with balanced educational opportunities. All 1 schools offer integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey. School places per 100 residents are 9.0, lower than the regional average of 13.2, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Transport analysis shows 10 active public transport stops in Dicky Beach. These stops offer bus services via three routes, carrying a total of 760 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 162 meters to the nearest one.

The service frequency is 108 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 76 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Dicky Beach is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges at Dicky Beach, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 962 people, which is lower compared to Queensland's average of 52.7% and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.5%) and mental health issues (8.6%).

Around 62.2% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 66.2% in the rest of Queensland. Dicky Beach has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 30.7%, or approximately 598 people, compared to 22.3% across Queensland. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors perform better than the general population.

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

Dicky Beach, as per the findings, exhibited a cultural diversity below average. Its population composition was predominantly citizens at 88.1%, with 81.0% born in Australia and 96.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity emerged as the primary religion in Dicky Beach, accounting for 51.1% of its population, slightly higher than the regional average of 50.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English at 33.9%, Australian at 25.9%, and Irish at 10.3%. Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented in Dicky Beach at 10.0% compared to the regional average of 8.8%. Similarly, German ancestry stood at 5.4% versus the regional 4.6%, and New Zealand ancestry was recorded at 0.8% against a regional average of 1.1%.

Dicky Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Dicky Beach 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 55 - 64 cohort is notably over-represented at 18.4% locally, while the 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented at 7.5%. The 55 - 64 concentration is well above the national average of 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 5.9% to 7.5% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.0% to 11.8%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 9.8% to 8.6%. By 2041, Dicky Beach is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 61%, reaching 166 people from a starting point of 103. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 65% of projected growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.