Queensland · Suburb Profile

Sunshine Beach QLD — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Sunshine Beach, Queensland. ABS Census 2021.

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 1303.5 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Sunshine Beach is England. The most common religion is No Religion (54% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Portuguese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sunshine Beach is $2,167.

Sunshine Beach Map

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Sunshine Beach Population

residents (Census 2021)

Sunshine Beach Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$902/wk

$46,904 per year

#2104 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$495/wk

$2,145 per month

#696 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

49years

11 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$2,167/mo

Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Sunshine Beach Demographics

Gender Split

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

Population Density

1303.5

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

Sunshine Beach 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 & Locality (SAL)

Sunshine Beach Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

62.3% 428 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

37.7% 259 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Sunshine Beach Country of Birth

Australia

83.3%

England

10.2%

Brazil

2.4%

Canada

1.1%

France

0.8%

Germany

0.8%

India

0.5%

Hong Kong

0.4%

Indonesia

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Sunshine Beach Religion

No Religion

54.2%

Catholic

16.6%

Anglican

13.1%

Not stated

9.0%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.0%

Uniting Church

2.0%

Buddhism

1.8%

Christian (other)

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Sunshine Beach 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%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Sunshine Beach Languages Spoken at Home

Portuguese

30.5%

German

14.7%

Other

13.7%

Spanish

9.5%

French

8.4%

Italian

7.4%

Arabic

5.3%

SAL Indon

5.3%

SAL Tot

5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach Ancestry

English

35.0%

Australian

20.0%

Irish

12.2%

Scottish

10.5%

Other

8.3%

German

5.3%

Italian

3.0%

French

1.8%

Dutch

1.4%

Welsh

0.9%

New Zealander

0.8%

Polish

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

3.1% 145

✅

No need for assistance

96.9% 4,467

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

Sunshine Beach Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

19.4% 391

—

Not a volunteer

80.6% 1,622

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach Indigenous Population

0.9%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Indigenous residents

4,599

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Sunshine Beach Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

158

Arthritis

Asthma

Heart disease

Cancer

Lung condition

Kidney disease

Diabetes

Stroke

Dementia

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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach Military Service

🏅

Previously served

2.2% 44

👤

Never served

97.8% 1,974

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Sunshine Beach Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

11.1% 221

—

Did not provide

88.9% 1,778

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

111

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,760

Moved from QLD

214

Moved — same area (SA2)

140

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Moved from NSW

Moved from WA

Moved from SA

Moved from TAS

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

Sunshine Beach 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

Sunshine Beach Schools

schools nearby

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

View all schools in Sunshine Beach with map →

Sunshine Beach Rent Prices & Affordability

29%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $1,735/wk

Median Rent $495/wk

Rent-to-Income 28.5%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Sunshine Beach

Your weekly income

≈ $7,518/month

Median rent $495/wk

Left after rent $1,240/wk

Rent share 28.5%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Sandgate (Qld)

Income: $774/wk Rent: $294/wk Save: $201/wk

Ocean View

Income: $941/wk Rent: $350/wk Save: $145/wk

Clifton Beach (Qld)

Income: $808/wk Rent: $365/wk Save: $130/wk

Burbank

Income: $901/wk Rent: $365/wk Save: $130/wk

Tinbeerwah

Income: $776/wk Rent: $400/wk Save: $95/wk

Bilinga

Income: $804/wk Rent: $428/wk Save: $67/wk

Shorncliffe

Income: $930/wk Rent: $275/wk Save: $220/wk

Moffat Beach

Income: $782/wk Rent: $400/wk Save: $95/wk

Sunshine Beach vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in QLD

Kalbar

Pop: 1,246 Income: $631/wk Rent: $300/wk

South Kolan

Pop: 1,258 Income: $636/wk Rent: $280/wk

Yungaburra

Pop: 1,272 Income: $722/wk Rent: $290/wk

Babinda (Qld)

Pop: 1,287 Income: $548/wk Rent: $230/wk

Sun Valley (Qld)

Pop: 1,296 Income: $699/wk Rent: $260/wk

Witta

Pop: 1,296 Income: $594/wk Rent: $368/wk

Compare Sunshine Beach

Sunshine Beach vs Kalbar →Sunshine Beach vs South Kolan →Sunshine Beach vs Yungaburra →Sunshine Beach vs Babinda (Qld) →

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 1303.5 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 QLD average of $759/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (28.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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