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Central Queensland vs Sunshine Coast

Name: Central Queensland vs Sunshine Coast — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 429 km apart · Central Queensland profile · Sunshine Coast profile

Central Queensland Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland are two very different parts of the state. Sunshine Coast has a much higher share of people born overseas (21.0% compared to 10.9%) and a typical resident who is noticeably older at 44, whereas the typical age in Central Queensland is 38. Local infrastructure also varies widely; Sunshine Coast has far more public transport departures per 1,000 people (561.7 compared to 39.9) and more homes within a short walk of groceries and health services. In contrast, Central Queensland has a much higher share of separate houses (87.4% compared to 74.0%) and a larger First Nations population (7.2% compared to 2.3%).

Some gaps between these two areas are widening, such as the difference in the share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher, which has grown since 2011. Despite these shifts, they share many commonalities. Typical weekly household incomes are very similar, sitting at $1,574 in Sunshine Coast and $1,626 in Central Queensland. They also have nearly identical rates of volunteering and people providing unpaid care.

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Where they differ most

Full-time: 11.4 pts higher in Central Queensland Population: 170,594 larger in Sunshine Coast Rent: $160 higher in Sunshine Coast Under 15: 3.7 pts higher in Central Queensland Separate houses: 13.4 pts higher in Central Queensland

Demographics & Identity

Population in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +170,594 larger in Sunshine Coast gap widening

228,246 53rd pct 398,840 83rd pct

Median age in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +6 yrs older in Sunshine Coast gap narrowing

38 yrs 36th pct 44 yrs 79th pct

Age structure

25.9% Older adults (45–64) +1.2 pts ▸ 27.2%

25.9% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +3.3 pts 22.6%

15.5% Seniors (65+) +7.0 pts ▸ 22.5%

20.7% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.7 pts 17.0%

11.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.3 pts 10.6%

Marital status

45.8% Married +3.1 pts ▸ 48.9%

35.9% Never married ◂ +4.8 pts 31.2%

9.4% Divorced +1.6 pts ▸ 11.1%

4.8% Widowed +0.7 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.0% Separated ◂ +0.6 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Central Queensland Sunshine Coast

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

80.8% Australia ◂ +6.9 pts 73.9%

1.8% England +4.3 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.3% New Zealand +1.9 pts ▸ 4.2%

0.8% South Africa +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.7 pts 0.5%

0.5% India +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

38.8% English +6.9 pts ▸ 45.7%

41.1% Australian ◂ +5.9 pts 35.1%

10.5% Irish +2.2 pts ▸ 12.6%

9.9% Scottish +2.6 pts ▸ 12.5%

6.6% German ◂ +0.1 pts 6.5%

1.6% Italian +1.0 pts ▸ 2.6%

1.3% Dutch +0.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.5% Filipino ◂ +0.8 pts 0.7%

1.0% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.7% Indian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.3% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

86.1% English only +2.6 pts ▸ 88.7%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Mandarin ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.1% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Punjabi even 0.2%

0.1% Hindi even 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.0% Greek even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.7% Christianity ◂ +5.5 pts 43.2%

39.0% No religion +8.0 pts ▸ 47.0%

10.1% Not stated ◂ +2.8 pts 7.3%

0.7% Buddhism +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Hinduism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.5% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.4% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +43 more in Central Queensland

140 79th pct 97 40th pct

Schools/1k kids in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +1.53 more in Central Queensland

2.96 66th pct 1.43 13th pct

Students in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +15,787 more in Sunshine Coast

48,747 60th pct 64,534 76th pct

Avg size in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +312 larger in Sunshine Coast

353 38th pct 665 89th pct

ICSEA in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +88 higher in Sunshine Coast

962 14th pct 1,050 72nd pct

Highest year of school

45.6% Year 12 +10.9 pts ▸ 56.5%

26.4% Year 10 ◂ +3.9 pts 22.5%

10.5% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.7 pts 6.8%

7.5% Year 11 +0.2 pts ▸ 7.6%

Highest qualification level

40.2% Certificate III / IV ◂ +8.8 pts 31.5%

16.3% Bachelor degree +7.0 pts ▸ 23.3%

11.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +5.2 pts ▸ 16.9%

3.4% Postgraduate degree +2.8 pts ▸ 6.3%

2.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.1 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.2 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

21.2% Engineering & related ◂ +8.0 pts 13.2%

13.6% Management & commerce +3.4 pts ▸ 17.0%

9.2% Health +3.4 pts ▸ 12.6%

9.1% Society & culture +2.4 pts ▸ 11.5%

8.4% Education +0.9 pts ▸ 9.3%

5.2% Architecture & building +2.3 pts ▸ 7.5%

5.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.6 pts ▸ 6.1%

1.3% Creative arts +2.3 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 2.2%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences +0.6 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.2% Information technology +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +$36 higher in Central Queensland gap narrowing

$786 52nd pct $750 39th pct

Household income in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +$52 higher in Central Queensland gap narrowing

$1,626 47th pct $1,574 43rd pct

Family income in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +$132 higher in Central Queensland gap narrowing

$2,035 55th pct $1,903 42nd pct

Household income distribution

28.4% $1,500–$2,999 +1.2 pts ▸ 29.6%

25.7% $650–$1,499 +3.1 pts ▸ 28.8%

16.4% Under $650 ◂ +0.7 pts 15.7%

9.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.9 pts 9.0%

9.1% $4,000 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

Personal income distribution

38.5% Under $650 +2.6 pts ▸ 41.1%

28.5% $650–$1,499 +4.4 pts ▸ 32.9%

18.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.7 pts 15.3%

4.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 3.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.1% Arthritis +1.4 pts ▸ 10.5%

9.4% Mental health ◂ +0.1 pts 9.2%

8.7% Asthma ◂ +0.6 pts 8.0%

7.5% Other condition +1.2 pts ▸ 8.6%

4.9% Diabetes ◂ +1.2 pts 3.6%

4.3% Heart disease +0.4 pts ▸ 4.7%

2.8% Cancer +1.0 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 2.2%

1.0% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.6% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.9% None +1.8 pts ▸ 61.6%

18.8% One condition +1.3 pts ▸ 20.1%

6.3% Two conditions +0.2 pts ▸ 6.5%

3.5% Three or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +7,210 larger in Central Queensland

16,477 86th pct 9,267 69th pct

Median age in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +2 yrs older in Sunshine Coast

21 yrs 7th pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +$96 higher in Sunshine Coast

$551 32nd pct $647 66th pct

Household income in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +$304 higher in Sunshine Coast

$1,478 44th pct $1,782 71st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast even gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

55.1% Couples with children ◂ +2.5 pts 52.5%

27.8% Couples without children +5.3 pts ▸ 33.1%

16.1% One-parent families ◂ +2.5 pts 13.6%

1.1% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 0.8%

Household size

35.1% 2 people +3.7 pts ▸ 38.9%

26.0% 1 person ◂ +2.4 pts 23.6%

14.5% 3 people +0.4 pts ▸ 14.9%

14.3% 4 people +0.1 pts ▸ 14.4%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +0.8 pts 5.7%

3.5% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +$160 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$280 25th pct $440 86th pct

Mortgage in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +$390 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$1,517 29th pct $1,907 58th pct

People / bedroom in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.5% Owned outright +5.9 pts ▸ 35.4%

34.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.5 pts 34.0%

31.8% Rented ◂ +5.4 pts 26.3%

2.4% Other tenure +0.5 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.4 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

87.4% Separate house ◂ +13.4 pts 74.0%

5.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.1 pts ▸ 12.9%

5.5% Flat or apartment +6.6 pts ▸ 12.1%

0.9% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

40.1% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.2 pts 37.9%

33.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.1 pts 31.9%

14.1% 2 bedrooms +3.4 pts ▸ 17.5%

6.7% 5 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 7.3%

3.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.1 pts 3.5%

0.6% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

24.8% $350–$549 +28.0 pts ▸ 52.8%

47.2% $200–$349 ◂ +31.2 pts 16.0%

21.8% Under $200 ◂ +14.3 pts 7.5%

1.4% $550–$749 +15.3 pts ▸ 16.7%

0.2% $750 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 4.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

40.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +11.8 pts 28.1%

25.7% $1,800–$2,999 +11.5 pts ▸ 37.3%

20.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +6.1 pts 14.5%

7.7% $3,000 or more +5.9 pts ▸ 13.6%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +814 more in Sunshine Coast

182 5th pct 996 45th pct

Stops/1k in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +1.70 more in Sunshine Coast

0.80 3rd pct 2.50 13th pct

Departures/1k in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +521.8 more in Sunshine Coast

39.9 3rd pct 561.7 42nd pct

PT routes in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +48 more in Sunshine Coast

8 5th pct 56 30th pct

How people get to work

66.6% Car (driver) ◂ +4.7 pts 61.9%

6.6% Worked at home +8.5 pts ▸ 15.2%

5.7% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.8 pts 3.9%

3.0% Walked ◂ +0.9 pts 2.1%

1.3% Bus ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

0.5% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.0% Train +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

38.4% 2 vehicles +1.4 pts ▸ 39.8%

33.3% 1 vehicle +1.9 pts ▸ 35.2%

14.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.4 pts 13.4%

8.4% 4 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 7.7%

5.1% No vehicle ◂ +1.2 pts 3.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

12.7% Health care & social assistance +4.7 pts ▸ 17.5%

8.7% Construction +3.3 pts ▸ 12.0%

8.9% Retail trade +1.0 pts ▸ 9.9%

9.1% Education & training ◂ +0.4 pts 8.7%

6.9% Accommodation & food +1.8 pts ▸ 8.7%

8.4% Mining ◂ +6.9 pts 1.5%

7.2% Manufacturing ◂ +2.6 pts 4.6%

3.2% Professional & technical +3.2 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.8 pts 3.9%

5.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.3 pts 3.0%

4.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +3.2 pts 1.5%

4.1% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 4.0%

Occupations people work in

14.9% Professionals +6.1 pts ▸ 21.0%

17.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.4 pts 15.1%

11.7% Community & personal service +1.7 pts ▸ 13.4%

10.9% Managers +1.8 pts ▸ 12.7%

12.1% Labourers ◂ +2.4 pts 9.8%

11.1% Clerical & administrative +0.8 pts ▸ 11.9%

11.7% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +7.0 pts 4.8%

8.1% Sales workers +1.5 pts ▸ 9.6%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +197,288 higher in Sunshine Coast

244,220 43rd pct 441,508 80th pct

Growth in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +3.7 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

5.7% 47th pct 9.4% 78th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +1,092 higher in Sunshine Coast

559 22nd pct 1,651 98th pct

Max temp in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +4.9 higher in Central Queensland

30.7 92nd pct 25.8 69th pct

Min temp in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +0.1 higher in Central Queensland

15.0 86th pct 14.9 86th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +1.7 higher in Sunshine Coast

3.1 10th pct 4.8 45th pct

Types ≤15 min in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +1.1 more in Sunshine Coast

3.4 12th pct 4.5 42nd pct

15-min city in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +12.2 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

40.2% 14th pct 52.4% 41st pct

Walk to shops in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +14.9 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

41.1% 14th pct 56.0% 48th pct

Walk to transit in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +54.1 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

14.5% 5th pct 68.5% 44th pct

Walk to school in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +1.8 pts higher in Central Queensland

50.1% 20th pct 48.3% 16th pct

Walk to a park in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +15.1 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

70.8% 20th pct 85.9% 48th pct

Walk to health in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +10.0 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

35.6% 26th pct 45.7% 55th pct

Amenities/1k in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +1.0 more in Sunshine Coast

11.9 15th pct 12.9 23rd pct

Intersections/km² in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +15 higher in Sunshine Coast

0 8th pct 16 52nd pct

Mean slope in Central Queensland in Sunshine Coast +0.7 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

6.0% 60th pct 6.6% 74th pct

Compare Central Queensland with nearby areas

Wide Bay Darling Downs - Maranoa Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday Moreton Bay - North Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Bay - South Ipswich Brisbane - West Brisbane - North Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South

Compare Sunshine Coast with nearby areas

Moreton Bay - North Moreton Bay - South Brisbane - North Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - West Brisbane - South Brisbane - East Ipswich Toowoomba Logan - Beaudesert Gold Coast Wide Bay

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Central Queensland vs Sunshine Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/308/central-queensland/vs/316/sunshine-coast