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, the estimated population of Sunshine Beach as of February 2026 is around 2,749. This reflects an increase of 269 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,480. The change was inferred from the resident population of 2,747 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional two validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,446 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb of Sunshine Beach's 10.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area (5.9%) 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, contributing 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, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. However, 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 110 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 2.0% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Sunshine Beach shows around 11 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 58 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. So far in FY-26, 4 approvals have been recorded.

An average of 4 new residents per year arrives per dwelling constructed during this period. Demand outpaces supply, potentially increasing prices and competition among buyers. Developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments, constructing properties at an average value of $681,000. Sunshine Beach records 12.0% less building activity per person compared to the Rest of Qld but places among the 84th percentile nationally. Building activity has accelerated in recent years, with 33.0% standalone homes and 67.0% townhouses or apartments.

This shift from the area's existing housing (currently 57.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse housing options. With around 116 people per dwelling approval, Sunshine Beach is considered a growth area. AreaSearch estimates an increase of 55 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially exceeding current growth 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 expected to affect this region. Notable projects include Sunrise Beach Village, Noosa Aquatic Centre Facility Upgrade Plan, Noosa Business Centre Village Precinct, and Calile Hotel Noosa.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Sunshine Beach demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Sunshine Beach has a highly educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.9%, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data as of September 2025. There are 1,423 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.1% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation lags at 60.4%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 29.4% of residents work from home. Key industries include accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Accommodation & food has notably high concentration with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

Public administration & safety has limited presence at 1.8%, compared to regional 5.9%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.6% alongside a 2.0% employment decline, causing unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points, contrasting with Rest of Qld's employment rise of 1.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunshine Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sunshine Beach suburb has a high national income level based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Its median income among taxpayers is $50,611 and average income stands at $92,207. These figures compare to Rest of Qld's median and average incomes of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. With a 9.91% increase in wages since financial year 2023 (as per Wage Price Index), estimated current incomes are approximately $55,627 (median) and $101,345 (average) by September 2025. Census 2021 data shows Sunshine Beach's personal income ranks at the 67th percentile ($902 weekly) and household income at the 49th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 29.5% of locals (810 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to regional levels at 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places 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 most recent Census data, 56.9% of dwellings were houses while 43.1% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine Beach stood at 42.4%, with mortgaged properties at 26.0% and rented ones at 31.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,863. Weekly rent in Sunshine Beach averaged $495, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345 and the national figure of $375. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus Australia's 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 constitute 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 comprise 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, smaller than the Rest of Qld 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 notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above. Specifically, 38.4% of these residents possess university qualifications, which is significantly higher than the broader benchmarks of 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 24.9% in the SA4 region. This substantial advantage suggests a strong position for Sunshine Beach in knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent, with 26.5% of residents holding them, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 9.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%.

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.9% of residents aged 15 and above having them – advanced diplomas account for 14.3%, while certificates make up 20.6%. Educational participation is notably high in Sunshine Beach, 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 serving mixed bus routes. These stops are covered by four different routes, offering a total of 721 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered excellent, with residents living an average of 193 meters from the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. The car remains the primary mode of transport at 82%, while walking accounts for 8% and cycling makes up 3%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.3 per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 29.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 103 trips per day, equating to roughly 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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results for Sunshine Beach based on 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 (1,752 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4% and 6.1% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 74.2%, report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.5% (673 people), compared to the Rest of Qld's 20.4%. Senior health outcomes rank nationally even higher than those of the general population.

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, as per the 2016 Census, had a higher than average cultural diversity with 9.1% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 29.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Sunshine Beach, accounting for 40.0% of people. Notably, Judaism, comprising 0.2% of the population, was overrepresented compared to the Rest of Qld's 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.6%), Australian (19.2%), and Irish (11.7%). There were also notable differences in representation for French (1.7% vs regional 0.5%), Welsh (0.9% vs 0.5%), and Scottish (10.1% vs 7.8%) groups.

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

Sunshine Beach has a median age of 48, which is higher than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and significantly above the national norm of 38. The 55 - 64 age group makes up 16.8% of Sunshine Beach's population, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5 - 14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.0%. This 55 - 64 concentration is well above the national figure of 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.1% to 8.9%, and the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 10.3% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 16.1% to 13.7%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 15.6% to 13.9%. By 2041, Sunshine Beach is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 group growing by 15 people (from 327 to 377), while the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.