Rainbow Beach, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Rainbow Beach QLD is 1,220 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Rainbow Beach is $602 per week ($31,304 per year). Median rent in Rainbow Beach is $280 per week ($1,213 per month). Rainbow Beach has a median age of 56 years, older than the national median of 38. Rainbow Beach has a population density of 92 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Rainbow Beach is England. The most common religion is No religion (40.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rainbow Beach is $1,605.

Population
1,220
Census 2021
Median income
$602/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$280/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
56years
Census 2021

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

Rainbow Beach vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Rainbow Beach is $602 a week, 19% below the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 1,198th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $280 a week, $40 less than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 28.8% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 56, 14 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.
MeasureRainbow BeachTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$602/wk$747/wk −19%$766/wk
Household income$972/wk$1,593/wk −39%$1,637/wk
Rent$280/wk$320/wk −13%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,605/mo$1,625/mo −1%$1,733/mo
Median age5642 +14 yrs42
Rent share of household income28.8%20.4% +8.4 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 Rainbow Beach, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Rainbow Beach Population

1,220 residents at the 2021 Census.

Rainbow Beach Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$602/wk
$31,304 per year
Ranked 7,049 of 14,663
Median Rent
$280/wk
$1,213 per month
Ranked 5,374 of 14,663
Median Age
56years
18 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,605/mo
Avg household size: 2 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Rainbow Beach Rent Prices & Affordability

29% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $972/wk
Median rent $280/wk
Rent to income 28.8%

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

Median rent in Rainbow Beach against your income

About $4,212 a month
Median rent $280/wk
Left after rent $692/wk
Rent share 28.8%

Rainbow Beach Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
987
avg ICSEA score
47
total students
Rainbow Beach State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 47 students
987
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 Rainbow Beach, with a map

Rainbow Beach Map

Rainbow Beach, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Rainbow Beach, Queensland: 25.9054°S, 153.0758°E

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

People in Rainbow Beach

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 53.1% (648) Female 46.9% (572)

Population Density

92
people per km²
1,220 people · 13.3 km²

Households

2
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,271
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
4.2%
New Zealand
2.5%
South Africa
1.3%
Germany
0.9%
Canada
0.7%
France
0.7%
Italy
0.5%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

German
0.8%
Italian
0.5%
Vietnamese
0.5%
Filipino
0.3%
Spanish
0.3%
Afrikaans
0.2%
Portuguese
0.2%

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

Ancestry

English
39.6%
Australian
36.1%
Irish
12.3%
Scottish
11.5%
German
8.4%
Australian Aboriginal
2.0%
Italian
2.0%
Dutch
1.5%
New Zealander
1.1%
French
0.7%
Vietnamese
0.7%

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
40.7%
Anglican
16.7%
Catholic
15.0%
Not stated
13.1%
Uniting Church
4.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.5%
Christian (other)
1.6%
Lutheran
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
47.4% 508
Separated
3.7% 40
Divorced
14.8% 159
Widowed
5.3% 57
Never married
28.7% 308

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
53.6%
Couple: children under 15
26.0%
One parent: children under 15
8.1%
Couple: no children under 15
8.0%
One parent: no children under 15
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
35.2%
2 persons
47.1%
3 persons
8.7%
4 persons
6.4%
5 persons
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Rainbow Beach

Housing Tenure

Of the 510 occupied private dwellings in Rainbow Beach at the 2021 Census, 30.2% were rented, 44.7% owned outright and 20.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.4% 7 dwellings
Owned outright
44.7% 228 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
20.4% 104 dwellings
Rented
30.2% 154 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.5% 13 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
81.4%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
10.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
8.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
6.3%
2 bedrooms
21.5%
3 bedrooms
46.5%
4 bedrooms
22.5%
5 bedrooms
3.2%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.3%
$300-$449/mo
6.5%
$600-$799/mo
5.4%
$800-$999/mo
9.8%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
12.0%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
25.0%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
8.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
8.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.9%
1 vehicle
39.1%
2 vehicles
39.3%
3 vehicles
12.8%
4+ vehicles
3.8%

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

Work, income and education in Rainbow Beach

Employment

Employed full-time
25.1% 232 people
Employed part-time
24.3% 224 people
Unemployed
1.1% 10 people
Not in labour force
49.5% 457 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
22.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
20.7%
Managers
18.1%
Community & Personal Service
12.3%
Labourers
11.0%
Clerical & Administrative
7.8%
Sales Workers
5.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.3%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
2.5%
$300-$399/wk
5.0%
$400-$499/wk
10.1%
$500-$649/wk
9.9%
$650-$799/wk
9.4%
$800-$999/wk
10.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.7%
$4,000+/wk
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.3%
$1-$149/wk
2.2%
$150-$299/wk
9.0%
$300-$399/wk
7.7%
$400-$499/wk
6.3%
$500-$649/wk
7.2%
$650-$799/wk
11.6%
$800-$999/wk
12.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
4.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
2.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.2%
$3,500+/wk
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
57.3%
Did not go to work
15.8%
Walked only
12.6%
Car (passenger)
7.3%
Other
3.6%
Truck
1.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Bicycle
0.7%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
47.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
38.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
5.5%

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

Certificate III/IV
48.5%
Bachelor Degree
20.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.8%
Postgraduate Degree
4.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.4%
Certificate I/II
3.7%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
19.0%
Management & Commerce
16.9%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
14.2%
Education
12.2%
Health
9.2%
Society & Culture
7.8%
Architecture & Building
7.5%
Agriculture & Environment
4.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
4.1%
Creative Arts
3.7%
Information Technology
1.4%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
40.5%
Secondary: Government
19.8%
Secondary: Catholic
14.5%
Vocational Education
9.9%
Pre-school
8.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
6.9%

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
82.0%
Has need for assistance
5.7%
Need for assistance not stated
12.5%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
100
Arthritis
76
Heart disease
46
Lung condition
40
Cancer
40
Diabetes
36
Asthma
31
Stroke
17
Kidney disease
10
Dementia
4

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
10.9% 103
Did not provide
89.1% 838

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.8% 168
Not a volunteer
82.2% 777

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.7% 35
Never served
96.3% 910

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
20.3%
1 child
12.4%
2 children
33.5%
3 children
26.1%
4 children
6.2%
5+ children
1.5%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
8
1951: 1960
11
1961: 1970
21
1971: 1980
24
1981: 1990
28
1991: 2000
19
2001: 2010
24
2011: 2015
16
2016
5
2017
4
2018
3
2019
6

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

Population Mobility

17.1%
moved in the last year
48.9%
moved in the last 5 years
2.2%
unemployment rate (Census)
45.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
886
Moved from QLD
91
Moved: same area (SA2)
51
Moved from WA
9
Moved from TAS
4
Moved from overseas
4

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.0%
5: 14 hours
31.0%
15: 29 hours
17.1%
30+ hours
10.0%
Did not do domestic work
22.9%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
91.2%
Step family: no other children
8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Toogoolawah
Income: $501/wk Rent: $260/wk $20/wk less rent
Monto
Income: $491/wk Rent: $170/wk $110/wk less rent
Forrest Beach (Qld)
Income: $543/wk Rent: $240/wk $40/wk less rent
Crows Nest (Qld)
Income: $492/wk Rent: $270/wk $10/wk less rent
Julatten
Income: $559/wk Rent: $275/wk $5/wk less rent
Jandowae
Income: $495/wk Rent: $200/wk $80/wk less rent
Wondai
Income: $527/wk Rent: $225/wk $55/wk less rent
Ravenshoe
Income: $483/wk Rent: $250/wk $30/wk less rent

Suburbs near Rainbow Beach

The closest suburb to Rainbow Beach is Cooloola Cove, 12.3 km away.

Cooloola Cove
12.3 km away · income $433/wk · rent $300/wk
Tin Can Bay
14.2 km away · income $456/wk · rent $260/wk

Compare Rainbow Beach

Frequently Asked Questions About Rainbow Beach

What is the population of Rainbow Beach QLD?

The population of Rainbow Beach QLD is 1,220 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 92 people per km². Rainbow Beach is ranked #3,675 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Rainbow Beach?

The median personal income in Rainbow Beach QLD is $602 per week, or $31,304 per year. The median household income is $972 per week. Family income is $1,271 per week. Rainbow Beach is ranked #7,049 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Rainbow Beach?

Median rent in Rainbow Beach QLD is $280 per week ($1,213 per month). Rent represents 28.8% of household income, which is considered moderate. Rainbow Beach ranks #5,374 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Rainbow Beach?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rainbow Beach QLD is $1,605. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Rainbow Beach?

The median age in Rainbow Beach QLD is 56 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Rainbow Beach a good suburb to live in?

Rainbow Beach is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 1,220. The median income is $602/wk, which is below the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (28.8% 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: 32385. All dollar figures in AUD.