Sunshine Beach

Sunshine Beach is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Sunshine Beach as of May 2026 is around 2,780. This reflects an increase of 300 people (12.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,480 people. The change was inferred from the resident population estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional one validated new address since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,463 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 12.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (6.1%) and the Rest of Qld, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, which were released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Looking at population projections moving forward, lower quartile growth of Australia's regional areas is anticipated, with the suburb expected to expand by 106 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 3.8% in total over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Sunshine Beach recorded approximately 11 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 58 homes. So far in FY-26, six approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.7 new residents arrive per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand outpacing supply which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $681,000, showing developers focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Sunshine Beach records 14.0% less building activity per person while it places among the 84th percentile nationally in terms of building activity, though activity has accelerated in recent years. New building activity shows 33.0% standalone homes and 67.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend toward denser development providing accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition of 57.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 117 people per dwelling approval, Sunshine Beach shows characteristics of a growth area.

Looking ahead, Sunshine Beach is expected to grow by 106 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sunshine 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 likely affecting the area: Sunrise Beach Village and Noosa Aquatic Centre Facility Upgrade Plan. Other notable projects include Noosa Business Centre Village Precinct and Calile Hotel Noosa.

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The labour market in Sunshine Beach shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Sunshine Beach has a highly educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. At this time, 1,434 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.8 percentage points lower than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Sunshine Beach was somewhat below standard at 60.2%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses indicated that a high 29.4% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents were accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Notably, accommodation & food had employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

Public administration & safety had limited presence with 1.8% employment compared to 5.9% regionally. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.7% alongside a 2.6% employment decline, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. This contrasts with Regional Qld where employment rose by 0.7%, the labour force grew by 1.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Sunshine Beach. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Sunshine Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Sunshine Beach had a high national income level according to AreaSearch data aggregated from ATO records for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $50,611 and the average income stood at $92,207. These figures compared to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $56,360 (median) and $102,682 (average). Census data from 2021 showed personal income ranked at the 67th percentile ($902 weekly), while household income sat at the 49th percentile. Income analysis revealed that 29.5% of locals (820 people) fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to broader regional trends showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 83.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

In Sunshine Beach, as per the latest Census evaluation, 56.9% of dwellings were houses while 43.1% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwellings. This differed from Regional Queensland's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine Beach stood at 42.4%, with mortgaged properties making up 26.0% and rented ones 31.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Regional Queensland's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Sunshine Beach was recorded at $495, compared to Regional Queensland's $345. Nationally, Sunshine Beach's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 68.1% of all households, including 18.6% couples with children, 38.7% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.9%, with lone person households at 26.9% and group households making up 4.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland 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 higher level of educational attainment than broader averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 38.4% have university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 24.9% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.9% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (14.3%) and certificates (20.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 25.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.9% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Sunshine Beach has 15 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 721 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Sunshine Beach being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 82%, while walking accounts for 8% and cycling for 3%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high number of residents work from home, with this figure standing at 29.4%. This may be reflective of COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 103 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 48 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's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (1,771 people), compared to Regional Qld's 52.5%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in Sunshine Beach are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4 and 6.1% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 74.2%, report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Regional Qld's 67.6%. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.4% (706 people), compared to Regional Qld's 20.4%. Notably, health outcomes among seniors in Sunshine Beach rank even higher than the general population nationally.

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 had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 9.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 29.3% born overseas as of 2021. Christianity was the predominant religion in Sunshine Beach, comprising 40.0%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (33.6%), Australian (19.2%), and Irish (11.7%). Notably, French (1.7%) and Welsh (0.9%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5%, while Scottish was also notably high at 10.1% versus 7.8%.

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

Sunshine Beach has a median age of 48, which is higher than Regional Qld's figure of 41 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The age group of 55-64 shows strong representation at 16.7%, compared to Regional Qld, whereas the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.3%. This 55-64 concentration is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.1% to 9.0%, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 10.3% to 11.7%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 16.1% to 14.2%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 15.6% to 14.0%. By 2041, Sunshine Beach is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 17%, reaching 379 people from 325. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.