Sunshine Beach, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Sunshine Beach QLD is 2,480 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Sunshine Beach is $902 per week ($46,904 per year). Median rent in Sunshine Beach is $495 per week ($2,145 per month). Sunshine Beach has a median age of 49 years, older than the national median of 38. Sunshine Beach has a population density of 1,303 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Sunshine Beach is England. The most common religion is No religion (51.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sunshine Beach is $2,167.

Population
2,480
Census 2021
Median income
$902/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$495/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
49years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Sunshine Beach vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Sunshine Beach is $902 a week, 21% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 337th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $495 a week, $175 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 28.5% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 49, 7 years older than in the typical QLD suburb (42).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureSunshine BeachTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$902/wk$747/wk +21%$766/wk
Household income$1,735/wk$1,593/wk +9%$1,637/wk
Rent$495/wk$320/wk +55%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,167/mo$1,625/mo +33%$1,733/mo
Median age4942 +7 yrs42
Rent share of household income28.5%20.4% +8.1 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Sunshine Beach, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Sunshine Beach Population

2,480 residents at the 2021 Census.

Sunshine Beach Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$902/wk
$46,904 per year
Ranked 2,104 of 14,663
Median Rent
$495/wk
$2,145 per month
Ranked 696 of 14,663
Median Age
49years
11 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,167/mo
Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Sunshine Beach Rent Prices & Affordability

29% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,735/wk
Median rent $495/wk
Rent to income 28.5%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Sunshine Beach against your income

About $7,518 a month
Median rent $495/wk
Left after rent $1,240/wk
Rent share 28.5%

Sunshine Beach Schools

5
schools nearby
2
government
1045
avg ICSEA score
2,849
total students
St Thomas More Primary School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 578 students
1086
ICSEA
Sunshine Beach State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 706 students
1083
ICSEA
Montessori Noosa Independent
Primary · Prep-6 · 58 students
1057
ICSEA
Sunshine Beach State High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,405 students
1043
ICSEA
Noosa Flexible School Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 102 students
958
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Sunshine Beach, with a map

Sunshine Beach Map

Sunshine Beach, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Sunshine Beach, Queensland: 26.4038°S, 153.1061°E

Sunshine Beach Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (5)

People in Sunshine Beach

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (1,218) Female 50.9% (1,263)

Population Density

1,303
people per km²
2,480 people · 1.9 km²

Households

2.2
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$2,129
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
7.6%
New Zealand
5.1%
Brazil
1.7%
Germany
1.4%
United States of America
1.1%
Canada
0.8%
Italy
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

German
1.7%
Portuguese
1.7%
French
0.9%
Spanish
0.8%
Italian
0.6%
Russian
0.3%
Greek
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
46.5%
Australian
26.5%
Irish
16.2%
Scottish
14.0%
German
7.1%
Italian
4.0%
French
2.4%
Dutch
1.9%
Welsh
1.3%
New Zealander
1.1%
Polish
1.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
51.8%
Catholic
15.9%
Anglican
12.5%
Not stated
8.6%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.9%
Uniting Church
1.9%
Buddhism
1.7%
Christian (other)
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
46.6% 1,006
Separated
3.3% 71
Divorced
13.8% 297
Widowed
2.6% 56
Never married
33.7% 728

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
46.0%
Couple: children under 15
29.8%
Couple: no children under 15
11.5%
One parent: children under 15
6.5%
One parent: no children under 15
6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
26.7%
2 persons
47.2%
3 persons
12.5%
4 persons
8.7%
5 persons
3.9%
6+ persons
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Sunshine Beach

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,032 occupied private dwellings in Sunshine Beach at the 2021 Census, 30.8% were rented, 41.5% owned outright and 25.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 10 dwellings
Owned outright
41.5% 428 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
25.1% 259 dwellings
Rented
30.8% 318 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.7% 7 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
77.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
19.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.3%
2 bedrooms
31.9%
3 bedrooms
37.1%
4 bedrooms
22.0%
5 bedrooms
5.4%
6+ bedrooms
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
11.4%
$300-$449/mo
4.7%
$450-$599/mo
5.7%
$600-$799/mo
1.6%
$800-$999/mo
3.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
10.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
8.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
21.2%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
13.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
19.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.3%
1 vehicle
43.0%
2 vehicles
39.3%
3 vehicles
10.5%
4+ vehicles
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Sunshine Beach

Employment

Employed full-time
28.0% 532 people
Employed part-time
26.9% 510 people
Unemployed
2.5% 47 people
Not in labour force
42.6% 809 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
32.7%
Managers
18.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
13.6%
Community & Personal Service
12.8%
Clerical & Administrative
7.7%
Sales Workers
7.0%
Labourers
6.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
3.2%
$1-$149/wk
1.0%
$150-$299/wk
2.3%
$300-$399/wk
2.0%
$400-$499/wk
4.5%
$500-$649/wk
4.5%
$650-$799/wk
6.0%
$800-$999/wk
6.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.9%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.9%
$4,000+/wk
18.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.6%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
4.4%
$300-$399/wk
3.7%
$400-$499/wk
4.0%
$500-$649/wk
3.0%
$650-$799/wk
10.2%
$800-$999/wk
10.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
10.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.8%
$3,500+/wk
8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
65.4%
Did not go to work
15.4%
Walked only
6.8%
Car (passenger)
4.6%
Bicycle
2.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
2.0%
Bus
2.0%
Other
1.1%
Truck
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
75.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
14.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
2.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
37.5%
Certificate III/IV
23.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.5%
Postgraduate Degree
13.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.8%
Certificate I/II
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
22.7%
Health
13.5%
Society & Culture
13.1%
Architecture & Building
9.8%
Engineering
9.0%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.4%
Education
7.8%
Creative Arts
7.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.7%
Agriculture & Environment
3.0%
Information Technology
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
18.9%
Secondary: Government
18.3%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
16.9%
Vocational Education
13.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
12.8%
Primary: Catholic
8.3%
Pre-school
7.5%
Secondary: Catholic
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
90.0%
Has need for assistance
2.9%
Need for assistance not stated
7.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
158
Arthritis
84
Asthma
73
Heart disease
68
Cancer
50
Lung condition
46
Kidney disease
26
Diabetes
24
Stroke
18
Dementia
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
11.1% 221
Did not provide
88.9% 1,778

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
19.4% 391
Not a volunteer
80.6% 1,622

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.2% 44
Never served
97.8% 1,974

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
38.5%
1 child
13.1%
2 children
29.1%
3 children
14.8%
4 children
4.1%
5+ children
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
23
1951: 1960
26
1961: 1970
64
1971: 1980
60
1981: 1990
84
1991: 2000
68
2001: 2010
111
2011: 2015
84
2016
19
2017
23
2018
30
2019
39
2020
31
2021
15

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

23.5%
moved in the last year
51.2%
moved in the last 5 years
4.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
56.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,760
Moved from QLD
214
Moved: same area (SA2)
140
Moved from VIC
66
Moved from overseas
52
Moved from NSW
49
Moved from WA
8
Moved from SA
5
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.7%
5: 14 hours
35.1%
15: 29 hours
15.2%
30+ hours
7.6%
Did not do domestic work
20.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
87.5%
Step family: no other children
10.9%
Blended family: no other children
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Sandgate (Qld)
Income: $774/wk Rent: $294/wk $201/wk less rent
Ocean View
Income: $941/wk Rent: $350/wk $145/wk less rent
Clifton Beach (Qld)
Income: $808/wk Rent: $365/wk $130/wk less rent
Burbank
Income: $901/wk Rent: $365/wk $130/wk less rent
Tinbeerwah
Income: $776/wk Rent: $400/wk $95/wk less rent
Bilinga
Income: $804/wk Rent: $428/wk $67/wk less rent
Shorncliffe
Income: $930/wk Rent: $275/wk $220/wk less rent
Moffat Beach
Income: $782/wk Rent: $400/wk $95/wk less rent

Suburbs near Sunshine Beach

The closest suburb to Sunshine Beach is Noosa Heads, 1.1 km away.

Noosa Heads
1.1 km away · income $909/wk · rent $550/wk
Sunrise Beach
1.4 km away · income $841/wk · rent $508/wk
Noosaville
5.3 km away · income $749/wk · rent $490/wk
Peregian Beach
8.5 km away · income $881/wk · rent $500/wk
Tewantin
8.8 km away · income $640/wk · rent $450/wk
Doonan
10.2 km away · income $796/wk · rent $470/wk

Compare Sunshine Beach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sunshine Beach

What is the population of Sunshine Beach QLD?

The population of Sunshine Beach QLD is 2,480 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,303 people per km². Sunshine Beach is ranked #2,735 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Sunshine Beach?

The median personal income in Sunshine Beach QLD is $902 per week, or $46,904 per year. The median household income is $1,735 per week. Family income is $2,129 per week. Sunshine Beach is ranked #2,104 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Sunshine Beach?

Median rent in Sunshine Beach QLD is $495 per week ($2,145 per month). Rent represents 28.5% of household income, which is considered moderate. Sunshine Beach ranks #696 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Sunshine Beach?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sunshine Beach QLD is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Sunshine Beach?

The median age in Sunshine Beach QLD is 49 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Sunshine Beach a good suburb to live in?

Sunshine Beach is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 2,480. The median income is $902/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (28.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Brisbane Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 32700. All dollar figures in AUD.