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Sunshine Coast vs Wide Bay

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 165 km apart · Sunshine Coast profile · Wide Bay profile

Sunshine Coast Wide Bay

Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay are both large Queensland regions, but they differ significantly in their layout and education levels. Sunshine Coast is far more walkable (somewhat walkable) than Wide Bay (mostly car-dependent), and it has much higher rates of university degrees at 21.7% compared to 10.8% in Wide Bay. The two areas also have very different transport and housing patterns; Sunshine Coast has far more public transport departures per 1,000 people (561.7 versus 64.2) and Wide Bay has a much higher share of separate houses at 87.8%.

These gaps in education and employment have grown over time, with the difference in bachelor degree completion widening since 2011. Despite these shifting trends, the two regions remain similar in some ways. They have nearly the same share of children under 15, and the typical age for First Nations residents is 23 in both places. Both areas also have very low rates of public transport use for commuting, staying well below the national figure.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 18.4 pts higher in Sunshine Coast Rent: $160 higher in Sunshine Coast Separate houses: 13.8 pts higher in Wide Bay Unemployment: 2.6 pts higher in Wide Bay One-parent: 3.7 pts higher in Wide Bay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +91,095 larger in Sunshine Coast gap widening

398,840 83rd pct 307,745 71st pct

Median age in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +5 yrs older in Wide Bay gap widening

44 yrs 79th pct 49 yrs 97th pct

Age structure

27.2% Older adults (45–64) +0.3 pts ▸ 27.5%

22.5% Seniors (65+) +4.8 pts ▸ 27.3%

22.6% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +3.4 pts 19.2%

17.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.9 pts 16.1%

10.6% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.7 pts 9.9%

Marital status

48.9% Married ◂ +1.7 pts 47.2%

31.2% Never married ◂ +1.5 pts 29.6%

11.1% Divorced +0.8 pts ▸ 11.9%

5.5% Widowed +1.5 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.4% Separated +1.0 pts ▸ 4.4%

Age & sex structure

Sunshine Coast Wide Bay

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

73.9% Australia +5.8 pts ▸ 79.7%

6.1% England ◂ +2.4 pts 3.7%

4.2% New Zealand ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%

1.2% South Africa ◂ +0.7 pts 0.5%

0.5% Philippines +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% India ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

45.7% English ◂ +2.4 pts 43.2%

35.1% Australian +4.4 pts ▸ 39.5%

12.6% Irish ◂ +2.3 pts 10.3%

12.5% Scottish ◂ +1.9 pts 10.6%

6.5% German +1.8 pts ▸ 8.4%

2.6% Italian ◂ +0.8 pts 1.9%

2.0% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 1.5%

0.7% Filipino +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

1.0% Chinese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.8% Indian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

88.7% English only +0.3 pts ▸ 89.0%

0.3% Mandarin even 0.3%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.1% Hindi even 0.1%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

43.2% Christianity +5.0 pts ▸ 48.2%

47.0% No religion ◂ +6.3 pts 40.7%

7.3% Not stated +1.8 pts ▸ 9.2%

1.0% Buddhism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.6% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.5% Other religions even 0.5%

0.2% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +66 more in Wide Bay

97 40th pct 163 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +1.86 more in Wide Bay

1.43 13th pct 3.29 72nd pct

Students in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +18,829 more in Sunshine Coast

64,534 76th pct 45,705 56th pct

Avg size in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +383 larger in Sunshine Coast

665 89th pct 282 29th pct

ICSEA in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +83 higher in Sunshine Coast

1,050 72nd pct 967 18th pct

Highest year of school

56.5% Year 12 ◂ +18.4 pts 38.1%

22.5% Year 10 +8.8 pts ▸ 31.3%

6.8% Year 9 or below +7.7 pts ▸ 14.5%

7.6% Year 11 even 7.6%

Highest qualification level

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

23.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +8.8 pts 14.5%

16.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.1 pts 13.8%

6.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.4 pts 2.9%

3.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.2 pts 2.4%

2.0% Certificate I / II +1.3 pts ▸ 3.3%

Field of qualification

17.0% Management & commerce ◂ +3.5 pts 13.5%

13.2% Engineering & related +3.3 pts ▸ 16.5%

12.6% Health ◂ +2.0 pts 10.7%

11.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.1 pts 11.5%

9.3% Education ◂ +0.7 pts 8.6%

7.5% Architecture & building ◂ +1.3 pts 6.2%

6.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.2 pts ▸ 6.3%

3.6% Creative arts ◂ +2.0 pts 1.6%

2.2% Agriculture & environment +0.7 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.2% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.9 pts 1.3%

1.5% Information technology ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +$193 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$750 39th pct $557 0th pct

Household income in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +$478 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$1,574 43rd pct $1,096 0th pct

Family income in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +$553 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$1,903 42nd pct $1,350 0th pct

Household income distribution

28.8% $650–$1,499 +7.1 pts ▸ 35.9%

29.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +6.4 pts 23.3%

15.7% Under $650 +7.5 pts ▸ 23.2%

9.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +5.3 pts 3.9%

9.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.7 pts 5.3%

Personal income distribution

41.1% Under $650 +10.3 pts ▸ 51.4%

32.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.6 pts 28.3%

15.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.6 pts 9.7%

3.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.3 pts 1.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.5% Arthritis +4.5 pts ▸ 15.0%

9.2% Mental health +2.9 pts ▸ 12.1%

8.6% Other condition +1.6 pts ▸ 10.2%

8.0% Asthma +1.7 pts ▸ 9.8%

4.7% Heart disease +1.9 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.6% Diabetes +3.0 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.8% Cancer +0.6 pts ▸ 4.5%

2.2% Lung condition +1.8 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.2% Stroke +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.9% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.6% None ◂ +9.3 pts 52.4%

20.1% One condition +2.3 pts ▸ 22.5%

6.5% Two conditions +2.7 pts ▸ 9.2%

3.4% Three or more +2.7 pts ▸ 6.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +7,573 larger in Wide Bay

9,267 69th pct 16,840 86th pct

Median age in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay even

23 yrs 29th pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +$171 higher in Sunshine Coast

$647 66th pct $476 17th pct

Household income in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +$570 higher in Sunshine Coast

$1,782 71st pct $1,212 8th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +0.2 larger in Sunshine Coast gap widening

2.5 57th pct 2.3 14th pct

Family composition

52.5% Couples with children ◂ +8.1 pts 44.5%

33.1% Couples without children +4.1 pts ▸ 37.2%

13.6% One-parent families +3.7 pts ▸ 17.3%

0.8% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

38.9% 2 people +2.2 pts ▸ 41.1%

23.6% 1 person +4.3 pts ▸ 28.0%

14.9% 3 people ◂ +2.2 pts 12.7%

14.4% 4 people ◂ +4.1 pts 10.3%

5.7% 5 people ◂ +0.8 pts 4.9%

2.5% 6 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +$160 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$440 86th pct $280 25th pct

Mortgage in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +$607 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$1,907 58th pct $1,300 14th pct

People / bedroom in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.4% Owned outright +7.2 pts ▸ 42.5%

34.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +6.0 pts 28.1%

26.3% Rented ◂ +1.3 pts 25.1%

2.8% Other tenure ◂ +0.6 pts 2.2%

1.4% Not stated +0.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

74.0% Separate house +13.8 pts ▸ 87.8%

12.9% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +6.6 pts 6.3%

12.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +8.3 pts 3.7%

0.8% Other dwelling +1.0 pts ▸ 1.7%

Bedrooms per home

37.9% 3 bedrooms +5.3 pts ▸ 43.2%

31.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.5 pts 27.5%

17.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.9 pts 16.7%

7.3% 5 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 5.4%

3.5% 1 bedroom +0.8 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.5% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

Weekly rent distribution

16.0% $200–$349 +40.1 pts ▸ 56.1%

52.8% $350–$549 ◂ +31.0 pts 21.8%

7.5% Under $200 +9.6 pts ▸ 17.1%

16.7% $550–$749 ◂ +15.8 pts 0.9%

4.0% $750 or more ◂ +3.7 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

28.1% $1,000–$1,799 +15.4 pts ▸ 43.5%

37.3% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +20.5 pts 16.8%

14.5% Under $1,000 +14.7 pts ▸ 29.2%

13.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +9.2 pts 4.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +527 more in Sunshine Coast

996 45th pct 469 14th pct

Stops/1k in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +0.97 more in Sunshine Coast

2.50 13th pct 1.52 7th pct

Departures/1k in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +497.6 more in Sunshine Coast

561.7 42nd pct 64.2 5th pct

PT routes in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +22 more in Sunshine Coast

56 30th pct 34 19th pct

How people get to work

61.9% Car (driver) +5.7 pts ▸ 67.6%

15.2% Worked at home ◂ +7.2 pts 7.9%

3.9% Car (passenger) +2.0 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.1% Walked +0.9 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.7% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.2% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +3.6 pts 36.2%

35.2% 1 vehicle +2.1 pts ▸ 37.3%

13.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.1 pts 13.3%

7.7% 4 or more even 7.7%

3.9% No vehicle +1.6 pts ▸ 5.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.5% Health care & social assistance +0.6 pts ▸ 18.1%

12.0% Construction ◂ +3.4 pts 8.6%

9.9% Retail trade +0.6 pts ▸ 10.5%

8.7% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.8 pts 6.9%

8.7% Education & training even 8.7%

1.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +6.6 pts ▸ 8.2%

4.6% Manufacturing +2.1 pts ▸ 6.7%

6.3% Professional & technical ◂ +3.3 pts 3.1%

3.9% Public administration & safety +1.3 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.0% Other services even 4.0%

3.6% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 3.0%

3.0% Transport & warehousing +0.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

21.0% Professionals ◂ +6.5 pts 14.6%

15.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.2 pts 13.9%

9.8% Labourers +5.0 pts ▸ 14.8%

13.4% Community & personal service +1.1 pts ▸ 14.5%

12.7% Managers ◂ +0.9 pts 11.8%

11.9% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.8 pts 11.0%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +0.2 pts 9.5%

4.8% Machinery operators & drivers +3.2 pts ▸ 7.9%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +105,838 higher in Sunshine Coast

441,508 80th pct 335,670 63rd pct

Growth in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +1.4 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

9.4% 78th pct 8.0% 72nd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +1,016 higher in Sunshine Coast

1,651 98th pct 635 29th pct

Max temp in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +3.5 higher in Wide Bay

25.8 69th pct 29.3 89th pct

Min temp in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +0.7 higher in Sunshine Coast

14.9 86th pct 14.3 81st pct

Walkability

Walk score in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +2.1 higher in Sunshine Coast

4.8 45th pct 2.6 7th pct

Types ≤15 min in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +1.7 more in Sunshine Coast

4.5 42nd pct 2.8 8th pct

15-min city in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +21.6 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

52.4% 41st pct 30.8% 8th pct

Walk to shops in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +19.3 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

56.0% 48th pct 36.7% 11th pct

Walk to transit in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +46.5 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

68.5% 44th pct 22.0% 8th pct

Walk to school in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +11.7 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

48.3% 16th pct 36.6% 10th pct

Walk to a park in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +28.1 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

85.9% 48th pct 57.8% 9th pct

Walk to health in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +22.9 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

45.7% 55th pct 22.8% 8th pct

Amenities/1k in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +1.3 more in Sunshine Coast

12.9 23rd pct 11.6 13th pct

Intersections/km² in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +15 higher in Sunshine Coast

16 52nd pct 1 20th pct

Mean slope in Sunshine Coast in Wide Bay +0.7 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

6.6% 74th pct 5.9% 59th 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 Wide Bay with nearby areas

Moreton Bay - North Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Bay - South Brisbane - North Ipswich Brisbane - West Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Brisbane - East Central Queensland Logan - Beaudesert

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Sunshine Coast vs Wide Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/316/sunshine-coast/vs/319/wide-bay