Sunset Beach

Population growth drivers in Sunset Beach are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on demographic evaluations from official statistics bureaus and newly registered locations verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the resident count of Sunset Beach is projected to be approximately 1,874 in May 2026. This represents a rise of 316 people (20.3%) from the 1,558 residents registered during the 2021 Census. This growth is calculated using the baseline population of 1,870 estimated by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ABS ERP publication, combined with an extra 8 validated new addresses since the Census. With this resident count, the suburb has a density of 1,046 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical suburban ratios documented by AreaSearch. Sunset Beach's expansion rate of 20.3% since the 2021 census was higher than the SA4 region (8.2%) and the SA3 area, establishing the community as a leading growth zone. The main driver of this expansion was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 57.99999999999999% of total population additions, with natural increase and overseas migration also playing supportive roles.

Projections utilize the 2024 cohort models published by ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as the base year. For locations lacking specific projection coverage, and to determine long-term expansion rates beyond 2032, growth rates by age cohort are sourced from the ABS 2023 Greater Capital Region forecasts, which are based on 2022 data. Future trends point to an above-median population expansion rate compared to other regional parts of the country, with local resident counts anticipated to rise by 354 persons by 2041, representing a total increase of 18.7% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Sunset Beach among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Analysis of building permit statistics indicates that Sunset Beach averages approximately 6 residential building approvals per year, summing to an estimated 32 homes over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 14 building permits have been issued. With a ratio of 8.6 new residents entering the area for every completed residence between FY-21 and FY-25, construction pace is lagging behind demand, which typically elevates buyer rivalry and drives up prices. The average cost of new residential projects is $407,000, showing that builders are concentrating on upscale properties. Additionally, commercial development is minimal, with only $53,000 in commercial approvals registered during this financial year.

Compared to the Rest of WA, residential construction per resident in Sunset Beach is 14.0% lower, though it ranks in the 75th percentile nationally, reflecting a recent acceleration in building activity. Recent construction projects have consisted exclusively of standalone houses, preserving the low-density feel of the suburb and appealing to buyers seeking extra space. The area currently records about 160 people per dwelling approval, showing a growing market.

Forecasts show that Sunset Beach is on track to add 350 residents by 2041, calculated from the most recent quarterly estimates. If current building rates do not increase, housing supply could fall behind demographic growth, likely intensifying competition among buyers and supporting property price increases.

Sunset Beach has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, new developments, and planning schemes are major drivers of regional growth. There are no projects identified by AreaSearch that are expected to impact this suburb. Key regional developments include the Glenfield Commercial Retail Hub, Geraldton Heights Estate, Geraldton Youth Precinct Masterplan Development, and the Dongara-Geraldton-Northampton Route (DGN Route), with specific details provided in the following list.

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Employment conditions in Sunset Beach rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Sunset Beach features a qualified workforce with a strong presence in essential services, a very low unemployment rate of 1.0%, and a job growth rate of 4.4% over the past year. As of March 2026, there are 982 employed residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 2.5% below the Regional WA level of 3.5%. Participation in the labor force is matching the Regional WA rate of 65.6%. According to Census responses, a minor 3.6% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure reflects conditions during pandemic lockdowns.

The local labor market is dominated by sectors such as health care and social assistance, education and training, and retail trade. Health care and social assistance stands out as a particularly strong industry, accounting for an employment share that is 1.5 times the regional average. In contrast, agriculture, forestry and fishing holds a relatively small share of employment at 1.8%, which is notably lower than the regional rate of 9.3%. The area's predominantly residential nature is reflected in the comparison between the Census working population and the resident population, suggesting that local employment opportunities remain limited.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data from AreaSearch, aggregated from broader statistical areas, indicates that over the 12 months to March 2026, employment grew by 4.4% and the labour force expanded by 4.3%, while unemployment stayed virtually the same. In contrast, Regional WA saw a 0.1% decline in employment, a 0.3% increase in the labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts, published in May-25, provide additional context for anticipating future demand in Sunset Beach. These forecasts span five and ten-year horizons and have been overlaid with local employment data to project growth trajectories. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and by 13.7% over ten years, though sectoral growth varies considerably. When these industry-level projections are applied to Sunset Beach's employment composition, local employment is expected to rise by 6.4% over five years and by 13.5% over ten years. This estimation uses a basic weighting method for illustrative purposes only and does not incorporate local population forecasts.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Taxpayer statistics for the financial year 2023 show that income levels in the suburb of Sunset Beach exceed the national average. The median income among local taxpayers is $58,032 and the average income is $71,733, compared to Regional WA figures of $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $64,375 for the median and $79,573 for the average. Census records place personal incomes at the 65th percentile ($888 weekly), while household incomes are at the 49th percentile. Earnings distribution shows that 38.1% of the community (713 individuals) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, similar to the regional proportion of 31.1%. After meeting housing expenses, households retain 87.3% of their income, indicating strong financial capacity.

Sunset Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Housing styles in Sunset Beach at the last Census were composed of 93.0% detached houses and 7.0% other dwelling types like townhouses and apartments, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options across Regional WA. Home ownership rates in Sunset Beach matched Regional WA at 33.2%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (33.7%) or rented (33.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,517 was below the Regional WA average of $1,560, while the median weekly rent of $310 was higher than the Regional WA average of $265. Locally, mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national median of $375.

Sunset Beach has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of local households at 72.3%, consisting of couples with children at 25.3%, couples without children at 31.3%, and single parent households at 12.8%. Non-family households represent the remaining 27.7%, with single person homes at 25.2% and group housing at 3.1%. The average household occupancy is 2.4 people, slightly below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

Academic attainment shows some areas for development, with university degree holders making up 18.5% of the population, well below the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Practical and vocational skills are prominent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (31.7%).

Learning engagement is high in the community, with 30.0% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This population is distributed across primary schools (11.1%), secondary schools (7.7%), and tertiary institutions (3.2%).

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

Public transit options in the suburb include 23 operational stops, which are serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 2 distinct routes that provide 99 passenger trips per week. Transit accessibility is strong, with residents living an average of 155 meters from the nearest stop. Because the suburb is mostly residential, many workers commute out of the area, with private cars being the main transport mode for 93% of commuters. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles. Working from home is uncommon, representing only 3.6% of residents during the 2021 Census, which was influenced by COVID-19 rules.

Transit services average 14 daily trips across the routing network, representing approximately 4 weekly departures at each individual stop.

Health performance in Sunset Beach is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators present challenges based on local mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, though chronic issues are distributed across both young and old demographics. The level of private health insurance coverage is high, encompassing roughly 56% of residents (~1,043 people).

The most prevalent health issues reported locally are asthma, affecting 9.6% of residents, and mental health conditions, affecting 8.7%. Meanwhile, 68.1% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. Working-age individuals have higher rates of chronic health conditions than average. Seniors aged 65 and over represent 15.5% of the community (290 people), which is lower than the Regional WA average of 19.2%.

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

Cultural diversity metrics are below the national average, with citizens making up 85.0% of the population, 81.7% born in Australia, and 90.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 48.6% of the population. The most distinct religious variance is seen in Islam, which represents 2.3% of the community compared to 0.8% across Regional WA.

In terms of ancestral background, the primary groups identified are Australian at 31.1%, English at 29.3%, and Scottish at 6.6%. Some demographic differences exist compared to regional figures, with New Zealand ancestry representing 1.2% of the population (compared to 0.9% regionally), South Australian at 1.1% (compared to 0.6%), and Maori at 1.0% (compared to 1.0%).

Sunset Beach's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of residents is 36 years, which is lower than the Regional WA average of 40 and below the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented locally at 16.1% compared to the region, while the 65 - 74 bracket is underrepresented at 8.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age bracket grew from 11.9% to 13.6% of the population, and the 25 to 34 bracket rose from 14.6% to 16.1%, while the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.5% to 10.5%. Demographic projections for 2041 point to shifts, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 42% (125 people), rising from 301 to 427, while the cohort aged 85+ will decrease by two residents.