Sunrise Beach

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

The suburb of Sunrise Beach had an estimated population of around 3,977 as of Feb 2026, reflecting a growth of 290 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 7.9% rise from the previous population count of 3,687. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,972, based on an examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and validation of eight new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,597 persons per square kilometer, which is higher than the average found across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sunrise Beach's growth rate of 7.9% since the 2021 census surpassed that of the SA3 area at 5.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with other factors such as natural growth and interstate migration also being positive contributors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. 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. 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 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, regional areas across the nation are expected to experience lower quartile growth, with the suburb of Sunrise Beach anticipated to expand by 149 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 4.7% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Sunrise Beach when compared nationally

Sunrise Beach has seen approximately 23 new homes approved annually, with a total of 116 approvals between FY-21 and FY-25. In FY-26, up to 8 homes have been approved so far. On average, each dwelling accommodates around 2.2 new residents per year over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is approximately $681,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY-26, there has been $107,000 in commercial development approvals recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Sunrise Beach has seen slightly more development, with 19.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This balance preserves buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. In terms of dwelling types, 58.0% are detached dwellings and 42.0% are townhouses or apartments, offering a range of medium-density options across different price brackets. The location has approximately 109 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Sunrise Beach is projected to add around 188 residents by 2041 based on current development patterns. This suggests that new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Sunrise 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 three projects likely affecting this region. Major initiatives include Sunrise Beach Village, Noosa Aquatic Centre Facility Upgrade Plan, David Low Way Retaining Wall and Shared Pathway at Sunrise Beach, and Noosa Business Centre Village Precinct. The following details those most relevant:.

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Sunrise Beach ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Sunrise Beach has an educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.1%, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation as of September 2025. There are 2,261 employed residents, with an unemployment rate 1.9% lower than Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation stands at 69.9%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses show 23.8% work from home. Employment is concentrated in accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, employment in accommodation & food is 1.9 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.4%, compared to region's 4.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.4% and employment fell by 1.8%, reducing unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's employment rise of 1.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunrise Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Sunrise Beach had a median income among taxpayers of $47,189 and an average income of $85,971 in the financial year 2023, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld's of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated median income is approximately $51,865 and average income is around $94,491 as of September 2025. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Sunrise Beach cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 34.0% of residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,352 residents), consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 31.7% in the same category. High housing costs consume 17.9% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Sunrise Beach's housing structure, as per the latest Census, had 68.0% houses and 32.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunrise Beach was 34.1%, similar to Non-Metro Qld, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.0% and rented ones at 27.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655, while the median weekly rent was $508, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Sunrise Beach's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 73.2% of all households, including 32.1% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 26.8%, with lone person households at 21.2% and group households at 5.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of Queensland.

Sunrise Beach demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Sunrise Beach has a notably high level of educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 33.8% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the broader benchmark for Rest of Qld at 20.6%, and is higher than the SA4 region's 24.9%. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its strong position regarding knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent among residents with university qualifications, at 23.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas held by 12.8% of residents and certificates held by 22.7%. Educational participation is notably high in Sunrise Beach, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes secondary education (11.2%), primary education (9.5%), and tertiary education (3.4%).

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

Sunrise Beach has 13 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by three different routes, offering a total of 567 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 185 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the dominant mode at 91%, with cycling at 3%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 23.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Daily service frequency averages 81 trips across all routes, equating to around 43 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results for Sunrise Beach, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (2,436 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.7% and 6.5% of residents respectively. 75.6% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 15.7% of residents aged 65 and over (624 people), lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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

Sunrise Beach exhibited above-average cultural diversity, with 10.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 27.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 40.6%. Judaism showed significant overrepresentation, at 0.5%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.7%), Australian (21.6%), and Irish (9.9%). French (1.2%) was notably overrepresented compared to regional figures (0.5%), as were Spanish (1.0%, vs 0.3%) and Scottish (9.8%, vs 7.8%).

Sunrise Beach hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Sunrise Beach's median age is 44 years, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's average of 41 years and considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 45-54 are particularly prominent at 16.9%, while the 65-74 group stands at 8.2%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 9.2% to 11.1%, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 4.5% to 6.1%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort declined from 10.4% to 8.2%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 18.2% to 16.9%. Population forecasts for Sunrise Beach indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 35 to 44 cohort is projected to grow strongly at 15%, adding 82 residents to reach 631. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 cohorts.