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Sunshine Coast vs Toowoomba

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 131 km apart · Sunshine Coast profile · Toowoomba profile

Sunshine Coast Toowoomba

Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba are two Queensland regions with distinct profiles. Sunshine Coast is noticeably older, with a typical resident aged 44 and 22.5% of the population aged 65 and over. It is also much less religious, with 47.0% of people reporting no religion, far higher than the 32.9% in Toowoomba. In contrast, Toowoomba sees far more recent arrivals from overseas (26.4% compared to 10.6%) and has a higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of a school (64.1% versus 48.3%).

These gaps in demographics and beliefs are continuing to pull the two areas apart, with the differences in religion and overseas arrivals widening since 2011. Despite these shifts, the two regions share a very similar economic baseline. They have almost identical typical weekly household incomes—around $1,500—and nearly the same unemployment rate, while both sit near the national figure for the number of people per home.

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Where they differ most

Recent arrivals: 15.8 pts higher in Toowoomba No religion: 14.1 pts higher in Sunshine Coast Full-time: 8.7 pts higher in Toowoomba Population: 236,781 larger in Sunshine Coast Rent: $130 higher in Sunshine Coast

Demographics & Identity

Population in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +236,781 larger in Sunshine Coast gap widening

398,840 83rd pct 162,059 37th pct

Median age in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +7 yrs older in Sunshine Coast gap widening

44 yrs 79th pct 37 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

27.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.9 pts 23.3%

22.6% Young adults (25–44) +2.8 pts ▸ 25.5%

22.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.1 pts 18.4%

17.0% Children (0–14) +2.6 pts ▸ 19.6%

10.6% Youth (15–24) +2.5 pts ▸ 13.1%

Marital status

48.9% Married ◂ +1.5 pts 47.4%

31.2% Never married +3.4 pts ▸ 34.6%

11.1% Divorced ◂ +2.2 pts 8.9%

5.5% Widowed +0.1 pts ▸ 5.6%

3.4% Separated +0.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Sunshine Coast Toowoomba

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

73.9% Australia +5.9 pts ▸ 79.8%

6.1% England ◂ +4.3 pts 1.9%

4.2% New Zealand ◂ +2.7 pts 1.5%

0.6% India +0.8 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.2% South Africa ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

0.5% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% China +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

45.7% English ◂ +7.1 pts 38.6%

35.1% Australian +2.5 pts ▸ 37.7%

12.6% Irish ◂ +0.1 pts 12.6%

12.5% Scottish ◂ +1.6 pts 10.8%

6.5% German +4.4 pts ▸ 11.0%

2.6% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 1.7%

2.0% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 1.4%

1.0% Chinese +0.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.8% Indian +0.6 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.7% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

88.7% English only ◂ +4.1 pts 84.6%

0.3% Mandarin +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Arabic +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Punjabi +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

43.2% Christianity +11.5 pts ▸ 54.7%

47.0% No religion ◂ +14.1 pts 32.9%

7.3% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 6.6%

0.5% Other religions +1.6 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.6% Hinduism +0.9 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.2% Islam +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

1.0% Buddhism even 1.0%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +27 more in Sunshine Coast

97 40th pct 70 16th pct

Schools/1k kids in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +0.77 more in Toowoomba

1.43 13th pct 2.20 51st pct

Students in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +33,998 more in Sunshine Coast

64,534 76th pct 30,536 30th pct

Avg size in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +229 larger in Sunshine Coast

665 89th pct 436 49th pct

ICSEA in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +43 higher in Sunshine Coast

1,050 72nd pct 1,007 46th pct

Highest year of school

56.5% Year 12 ◂ +3.2 pts 53.3%

22.5% Year 10 +1.3 pts ▸ 23.8%

6.8% Year 9 or below +4.0 pts ▸ 10.8%

7.6% Year 11 ◂ +1.7 pts 5.9%

Highest qualification level

31.5% Certificate III / IV +1.9 pts ▸ 33.3%

23.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +0.5 pts 22.9%

16.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.3 pts 14.7%

6.3% Postgraduate degree +0.7 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.7% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.1 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.0% Certificate I / II +0.8 pts ▸ 2.8%

Field of qualification

17.0% Management & commerce ◂ +0.4 pts 16.6%

13.2% Engineering & related +1.2 pts ▸ 14.4%

12.6% Health +0.4 pts ▸ 13.0%

11.5% Society & culture +0.6 pts ▸ 12.1%

9.3% Education +0.6 pts ▸ 9.9%

7.5% Architecture & building ◂ +2.2 pts 5.3%

6.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.3 pts 5.8%

3.6% Creative arts ◂ +1.2 pts 2.4%

2.2% Agriculture & environment +0.9 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.2% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.2 pts 2.0%

1.5% Information technology +0.4 pts ▸ 1.9%

Income

Personal income in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +$8 higher in Toowoomba gap narrowing

$750 39th pct $758 43rd pct

Household income in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +$72 higher in Sunshine Coast gap narrowing

$1,574 43rd pct $1,502 35th pct

Family income in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +$11 higher in Sunshine Coast gap narrowing

$1,903 42nd pct $1,892 40th pct

Household income distribution

29.6% $1,500–$2,999 +0.9 pts ▸ 30.5%

28.8% $650–$1,499 +1.0 pts ▸ 29.7%

15.7% Under $650 +0.8 pts ▸ 16.5%

9.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 7.3%

9.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.5 pts 8.5%

Personal income distribution

41.1% Under $650 even 41.1%

32.9% $650–$1,499 +1.1 pts ▸ 34.0%

15.3% $1,500–$2,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 15.9%

3.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 2.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.2% Mental health +1.9 pts ▸ 11.1%

10.5% Arthritis ◂ +0.1 pts 10.4%

8.0% Asthma +1.7 pts ▸ 9.7%

8.6% Other condition +0.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

3.6% Diabetes +1.4 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.7% Heart disease ◂ +0.1 pts 4.6%

3.8% Cancer ◂ +0.6 pts 3.3%

2.2% Lung condition ◂ +0.2 pts 2.0%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

0.9% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.6% None ◂ +1.4 pts 60.3%

20.1% One condition +0.7 pts ▸ 20.8%

6.5% Two conditions +0.6 pts ▸ 7.2%

3.4% Three or more +0.6 pts ▸ 4.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +1,528 larger in Sunshine Coast

9,267 69th pct 7,739 63rd pct

Median age in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +3 yrs older in Sunshine Coast

23 yrs 29th pct 20 yrs 0th pct

Median income in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +$52 higher in Sunshine Coast

$647 66th pct $595 52nd pct

Household income in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +$290 higher in Sunshine Coast

$1,782 71st pct $1,492 45th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba even gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

52.5% Couples with children +1.7 pts ▸ 54.3%

33.1% Couples without children ◂ +4.3 pts 28.8%

13.6% One-parent families +2.2 pts ▸ 15.8%

0.8% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

38.9% 2 people ◂ +3.4 pts 35.5%

23.6% 1 person +3.5 pts ▸ 27.1%

14.9% 3 people ◂ +0.5 pts 14.4%

14.4% 4 people ◂ +1.3 pts 13.1%

5.7% 5 people +0.5 pts ▸ 6.2%

2.5% 6 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +$130 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$440 86th pct $310 35th pct

Mortgage in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +$390 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

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

People / bedroom in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +0.10 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

0.80 29th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.4% Owned outright ◂ +4.2 pts 31.1%

34.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.0 pts 33.0%

26.3% Rented +6.5 pts ▸ 32.9%

2.8% Other tenure ◂ +1.2 pts 1.7%

1.4% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

74.0% Separate house +7.3 pts ▸ 81.3%

12.9% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.3 pts ▸ 14.1%

12.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +7.9 pts 4.1%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

37.9% 3 bedrooms +2.1 pts ▸ 40.0%

31.9% 4 bedrooms +1.1 pts ▸ 33.1%

17.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.0 pts 15.5%

7.3% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 7.4%

3.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.9 pts 2.5%

0.5% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

16.0% $200–$349 +39.7 pts ▸ 55.7%

52.8% $350–$549 ◂ +23.8 pts 29.0%

16.7% $550–$749 ◂ +15.2 pts 1.5%

7.5% Under $200 +3.1 pts ▸ 10.6%

4.0% $750 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

28.1% $1,000–$1,799 +16.2 pts ▸ 44.4%

37.3% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +11.2 pts 26.1%

14.5% Under $1,000 +3.1 pts ▸ 17.6%

13.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +6.6 pts 7.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +384 more in Sunshine Coast

996 45th pct 612 24th pct

Stops/1k in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +1.28 more in Toowoomba

2.50 13th pct 3.78 26th pct

Departures/1k in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +215.5 more in Sunshine Coast

561.7 42nd pct 346.2 31st pct

PT routes in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +47 more in Sunshine Coast

56 30th pct 9 6th pct

How people get to work

61.9% Car (driver) +8.0 pts ▸ 69.9%

15.2% Worked at home ◂ +7.9 pts 7.3%

3.9% Car (passenger) +2.2 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.1% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.7% Bus ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.2% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.9 pts 37.8%

35.2% 1 vehicle +0.6 pts ▸ 35.8%

13.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.3 pts 13.1%

7.7% 4 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 7.5%

3.9% No vehicle +1.8 pts ▸ 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.5% Health care & social assistance +1.2 pts ▸ 18.7%

12.0% Construction ◂ +3.6 pts 8.4%

8.7% Education & training +2.3 pts ▸ 11.0%

9.9% Retail trade ◂ +0.5 pts 9.4%

8.7% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.6 pts 6.2%

4.6% Manufacturing +2.2 pts ▸ 6.7%

6.3% Professional & technical ◂ +1.6 pts 4.8%

3.9% Public administration & safety +2.0 pts ▸ 5.9%

1.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +3.1 pts ▸ 4.6%

4.0% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.0% Transport & warehousing +0.9 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.6% Administrative & support ◂ +1.1 pts 2.5%

Occupations people work in

21.0% Professionals ◂ +0.6 pts 20.4%

15.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.9 pts 14.2%

13.4% Community & personal service +0.2 pts ▸ 13.5%

12.7% Managers ◂ +2.0 pts 10.7%

11.9% Clerical & administrative +0.7 pts ▸ 12.5%

9.8% Labourers +2.3 pts ▸ 12.1%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +0.9 pts 8.7%

4.8% Machinery operators & drivers +1.4 pts ▸ 6.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +265,801 higher in Sunshine Coast

441,508 80th pct 175,707 25th pct

Growth in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +2.3 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

9.4% 78th pct 7.1% 63rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +944 higher in Sunshine Coast

1,651 98th pct 707 38th pct

Max temp in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +2.3 higher in Toowoomba

25.8 69th pct 28.1 87th pct

Min temp in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +2.3 higher in Sunshine Coast

14.9 86th pct 12.6 64th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba even

4.8 45th pct 4.8 46th pct

Types ≤15 min in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +0.3 more in Toowoomba

4.5 42nd pct 4.7 47th pct

15-min city in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +6.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

52.4% 41st pct 58.5% 50th pct

Walk to shops in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +1.3 pts higher in Toowoomba

56.0% 48th pct 57.3% 50th pct

Walk to transit in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +5.4 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

68.5% 44th pct 63.1% 36th pct

Walk to school in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +15.8 pts higher in Toowoomba

48.3% 16th pct 64.1% 50th pct

Walk to a park in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +1.2 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

85.9% 48th pct 84.7% 46th pct

Walk to health in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +4.8 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

45.7% 55th pct 40.9% 46th pct

Amenities/1k in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +0.5 more in Toowoomba

12.9 23rd pct 13.3 27th pct

Intersections/km² in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +7 higher in Sunshine Coast

16 52nd pct 9 45th pct

Mean slope in Sunshine Coast in Toowoomba +0.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

6.6% 74th pct 6.7% 75th pct

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

Compare Toowoomba with nearby areas

Ipswich Brisbane - West Moreton Bay - North Moreton Bay - South Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Brisbane - North Logan - Beaudesert Brisbane - East Sunshine Coast Gold Coast Richmond - Tweed

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Sunshine Coast vs Toowoomba [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/316/sunshine-coast/vs/317/toowoomba