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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of Nov 2025, Dicky Beach's estimated population is around 1,919. This reflects a decrease of 2 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 1,921. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 1,916 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 3 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,863 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits, hence AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national non-metropolitan areas is expected. The Dicky Beach (SA2) is projected to grow by 194 persons to reach a total population of 2,113 by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 12.1% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Dicky Beach according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Dicky Beach has had minimal residential development activity with five dwelling approvals over the period from 2014 to 2018 inclusive. This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably based on individual projects, given such low approval numbers.

Dicky Beach shows significantly less construction activity than the rest of Queensland. The development pattern here is also well below national averages. All new construction has been standalone homes, with a focus on family homes suited to those seeking rural lifestyle and space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests at Census (66.0%), indicating continued strong demand for family homes.

The location has approximately 976 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Dicky Beach is projected to add 232 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Dicky Beach has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects expected to influence this region: Caloundra Transport Hub and Caloundra to Currimundi Active Transport Corridor. Other notable projects include Lagune Moffat Beach and Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade, though the following list focuses on those most relevant.

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Dicky Beach faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Dicky Beach has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.0% as of September 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

In September 2025, there were 867 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.0% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Dicky Beach was lower at 49.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Health care & social assistance showed strong specialization with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 4.5%.

The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.3%, and employment declined by 2.6%, resulting in a fall of 0.7 percentage points in unemployment rate compared to Rest of Qld where employment grew by 1.7%. State-level data as of 25-Nov showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates varied significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Dicky Beach's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localized population projections.

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

The suburb of Dicky Beach had a lower than average national income level according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Dicky Beach was $43,818 and the average income stood at $55,944. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld which were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $48,160 (median) and $61,488 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Dicky Beach all fall between the 21st percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows the largest segment comprises 25.4% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (487 residents), aligning with metropolitan regions where this cohort likewise represents 31.7%. A diverse economic landscape emerges with both 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 fifth decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Dicky Beach, as evaluated in the latest Census, comprised 65.8% houses and 34.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dicky Beach was at 44.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.0% and rented ones at 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 was recorded at $400, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $450. Nationally, Dicky Beach's mortgage repayments were similar to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 65.3% of all households, including 20.7% couples with children, 32.0% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 32.3% and group households making up 2.9%. 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%, higher than the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and the SA3 area's rate of 23.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 35.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 23.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.0% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.5% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 4.2% in tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 10 active stops operating at Dicky Beach, consisting of buses. These stops are served by 3 routes, offering a total of 688 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 162 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 98 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 68 weekly trips per individual 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 about 947 people, which is lower than Queensland's average of 53.9% and the national average of 55.7%. The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (11.5%) and mental health concerns (8.6%).

About 62.2% report no medical ailments, compared to 66.2% in Queensland excluding Dicky Beach. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 30.7%, or about 589 people, compared to 22.3% in the rest of Queensland. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are better than those of 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, surveyed in June-August 2016, had a culturally diverse population with 88.1% citizens, 81.0% born in Australia, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 51.1%, compared to 50.0% regionally. The top three ancestral groups were English (33.9%), Australian (25.9%), and Irish (10.3%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher in Dicky Beach at 10.0% than the regional average of 8.8%, as was German ancestry at 5.4% compared to 4.6%. New Zealand ancestry was lower at 0.8% versus 1.1% regionally.

Dicky Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Dicky Beach's median age is 53 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 years and considerably older than the Australian median of 38 years. The 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented in Dicky Beach at 18.4%, compared to the Rest of Qld average of 11.2%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.5%. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 5.9% to 7.5%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.0% to 11.8% and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 9.8% to 8.5%. By 2041, Dicky Beach is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 63%, reaching 166 people from the previous count of 101. This growth will be led by those aged 65 and above, comprising 63% of the projected growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to decrease in number.