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Castaways Beach vs Sunshine Beach

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

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 2.9 km apart · Castaways Beach profile · Sunshine Beach profile

Castaways Beach Sunshine Beach

Sunshine Beach and Castaways Beach are neighbouring areas in Queensland with very different lifestyles. Sunshine Beach is more urban and accessible, with a walkability score of 5.8 (somewhat walkable) and far more people renting homes (30.8%). In contrast, Castaways Beach is mostly car-dependent (2.8) and dominated by large, owner-occupied homes, with 87.5% being separate houses compared to 56.9% in Sunshine Beach. There is also a sharp contrast in demographics; Sunshine Beach has a much higher share of recent overseas arrivals (20.2% versus 4.7%) and far more people living alone (26.8% versus 10.5%).

These two areas share a similar age profile for their seniors, with about 24% of residents aged 65 and over in both. They also have nearly identical typical weekly personal incomes of around $900. However, a significant gap has widened between them regarding First Nations residents, who are far older in Castaways Beach (typical age 49) than in Sunshine Beach (typical age 25).

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,797 larger in Sunshine Beach Separate houses: 30.6 pts higher in Castaways Beach 3+ bedrooms: 29.1 pts higher in Castaways Beach Renting: 19.5 pts higher in Sunshine Beach PT commute: 1.5 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

Demographics & Identity

Population in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +1,797 larger in Sunshine Beach gap steady

683 69th pct 2,480 81st pct

Median age in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +2 yrs older in Castaways Beach gap narrowing

51 yrs 74th pct 49 yrs 67th pct

Age structure

32.8% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.6 pts 32.2%

24.0% Seniors (65+) +0.4 pts ▸ 24.4%

14.3% Young adults (25–44) +6.8 pts ▸ 21.1%

18.3% Children (0–14) ◂ +5.4 pts 12.9%

8.8% Youth (15–24) +0.2 pts ▸ 9.0%

Marital status

63.6% Married ◂ +17.1 pts 46.5%

22.6% Never married +11.1 pts ▸ 33.6%

8.3% Divorced +5.4 pts ▸ 13.7%

3.4% Widowed ◂ +0.8 pts 2.6%

1.8% Separated +1.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

Age & sex structure

Castaways Beach Sunshine Beach

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

73.9% Australia ◂ +7.7 pts 66.2%

8.6% England ◂ +1.1 pts 7.6%

2.8% New Zealand +2.3 pts ▸ 5.1%

2.0% South Africa ◂ +1.5 pts 0.6%

1.2% China ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

0.7% Philippines ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.0% Italy +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% India +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

47.4% English ◂ +0.9 pts 46.5%

36.3% Australian ◂ +9.8 pts 26.5%

13.0% Irish +3.2 pts ▸ 16.2%

13.9% Scottish +0.1 pts ▸ 14.0%

7.6% German ◂ +0.5 pts 7.1%

2.8% Italian +1.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.1% Dutch ◂ +1.2 pts 1.9%

1.9% Chinese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.4%

0.4% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Indian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

93.0% English only ◂ +7.7 pts 85.3%

1.8% Mandarin ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

0.0% Italian +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%

0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%

0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

0.0% Tagalog even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.9% No religion +4.0 pts ▸ 52.9%

46.3% Christianity ◂ +10.1 pts 36.2%

2.5% Not stated +6.1 pts ▸ 8.6%

0.9% Buddhism +0.9 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.0% Islam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Hinduism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach

— 15.67 84th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach even

5 73rd pct 5 73rd pct

Avg size in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach even

570 81st pct 570 81st pct

ICSEA in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach even

1,059 81st pct 1,059 81st pct

Highest year of school

74.0% Year 12 ◂ +5.4 pts 68.6%

12.6% Year 10 +0.6 pts ▸ 13.3%

7.4% Year 11 +0.2 pts ▸ 7.6%

3.3% Year 9 or below even 3.4%

Highest qualification level

40.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +9.5 pts 31.4%

19.2% Certificate III / IV even 19.3%

15.9% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.1 pts ▸ 16.9%

10.8% Postgraduate degree +0.1 pts ▸ 10.9%

3.8% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.6 pts 3.2%

0.0% Certificate I / II +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

Field of qualification

22.6% Management & commerce ◂ +3.5 pts 19.1%

15.9% Health ◂ +3.9 pts 12.0%

10.8% Society & culture +1.6 pts ▸ 12.4%

12.0% Education ◂ +3.6 pts 8.4%

9.6% Engineering & related ◂ +1.1 pts 8.5%

8.4% Creative arts ◂ +2.3 pts 6.1%

6.3% Architecture & building +1.6 pts ▸ 7.8%

1.7% Food, hospitality & personal services +5.0 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.1 pts 3.0%

2.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 2.2%

0.7% Information technology +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +$6 higher in Sunshine Beach gap narrowing

$896 72nd pct $902 73rd pct

Household income in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +$348 higher in Castaways Beach gap widening

$2,083 79th pct $1,735 62nd pct

Family income in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +$226 higher in Castaways Beach gap widening

$2,355 76th pct $2,129 65th pct

Household income distribution

27.0% $1,500–$2,999 +0.7 pts ▸ 27.7%

20.2% $650–$1,499 +4.8 pts ▸ 25.0%

23.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +6.7 pts 17.1%

10.9% Under $650 +5.6 pts ▸ 16.5%

10.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.3 pts 7.8%

Personal income distribution

34.3% Under $650 even 34.3%

29.1% $650–$1,499 +3.0 pts ▸ 32.1%

19.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 17.4%

11.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 9.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.8% Arthritis ◂ +1.2 pts 7.6%

6.4% Other condition ◂ +0.5 pts 6.0%

5.7% Asthma +0.5 pts ▸ 6.3%

3.8% Mental health +2.4 pts ▸ 6.2%

4.5% Heart disease ◂ +0.7 pts 3.8%

3.4% Cancer +0.3 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.9% Diabetes ◂ +0.4 pts 1.5%

0.0% Lung condition +1.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.9% Stroke even 0.9%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

73.9% None ◂ +6.7 pts 67.3%

18.0% One condition ◂ +1.4 pts 16.7%

3.5% Two conditions +1.1 pts ▸ 4.6%

1.6% Three or more +0.5 pts ▸ 2.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +21 larger in Sunshine Beach

5 49th pct 26 72nd pct

Median age in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +24 yrs older in Castaways Beach

49 yrs 86th pct 25 yrs 46th pct

Median income in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +$225 higher in Sunshine Beach

$374 13th pct $599 45th pct

Household income in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +$912 higher in Sunshine Beach

$900 14th pct $1,812 55th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +0.4 larger in Castaways Beach gap narrowing

2.6 57th pct 2.2 24th pct

Family composition

55.5% Couples with children ◂ +14.7 pts 40.7%

36.3% Couples without children +9.1 pts ▸ 45.4%

8.1% One-parent families +4.6 pts ▸ 12.7%

1.0% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

49.2% 2 people ◂ +1.7 pts 47.5%

10.5% 1 person +16.4 pts ▸ 26.8%

18.5% 4 people ◂ +9.8 pts 8.7%

18.1% 3 people ◂ +5.5 pts 12.6%

4.0% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

2.0% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 1.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +$255 higher in Castaways Beach gap widening

$750 100th pct $495 92nd pct

Mortgage in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +$17 higher in Castaways Beach gap narrowing

$2,184 80th pct $2,167 80th pct

People / bedroom in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach even gap narrowing

0.70 14th pct 0.70 14th pct

How homes are owned or rented

52.8% Owned outright ◂ +11.3 pts 41.5%

35.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +10.4 pts 25.1%

11.3% Rented +19.5 pts ▸ 30.8%

1.2% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

0.0% Not stated +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

Types of homes

87.5% Separate house ◂ +30.6 pts 56.9%

0.0% Flat or apartment +26.0 pts ▸ 26.0%

14.9% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.1 pts ▸ 17.1%

0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

52.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +30.6 pts 21.8%

30.6% 3 bedrooms +6.1 pts ▸ 36.7%

3.6% 2 bedrooms +28.0 pts ▸ 31.6%

11.3% 5 or more ◂ +4.6 pts 6.7%

1.6% 1 bedroom +0.6 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.0% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

14.3% $350–$549 +31.3 pts ▸ 45.6%

35.7% $750 or more ◂ +19.7 pts 16.0%

21.4% $550–$749 +2.2 pts ▸ 23.6%

0.0% Under $200 +6.3 pts ▸ 6.3%

0.0% $200–$349 +5.7 pts ▸ 5.7%

Monthly mortgage distribution

29.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 29.3%

17.0% $1,800–$2,999 +8.4 pts ▸ 25.5%

19.3% Under $1,000 +0.8 pts ▸ 20.1%

19.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +4.6 pts 14.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +11 more in Sunshine Beach

4 73rd pct 15 85th pct

Stops/1k in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +0.19 more in Sunshine Beach

5.86 81st pct 6.05 82nd pct

Departures/1k in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +25.4 more in Castaways Beach

1,317.7 88th pct 1,292.3 88th pct

PT routes in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +2 more in Sunshine Beach

2 75th pct 4 82nd pct

Stop walk in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +7 longer in Castaways Beach

10 46th pct 3 21st pct

Drive to city in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +57 longer in Castaways Beach

149 90th pct 92 64th pct

How people get to work

52.6% Car (driver) ◂ +4.7 pts 47.9%

32.1% Worked at home ◂ +6.3 pts 25.8%

0.0% Walked +5.0 pts ▸ 5.0%

3.4% Car (passenger) even 3.4%

0.0% Bicycle +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.0% Bus +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

53.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +14.4 pts 39.2%

20.2% 1 vehicle +22.8 pts ▸ 42.9%

16.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +6.0 pts 10.5%

6.9% 4 or more ◂ +3.0 pts 3.8%

2.0% No vehicle +1.3 pts ▸ 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.6% Professional & technical ◂ +6.5 pts 9.1%

15.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.5 pts 12.4%

4.0% Accommodation & food +10.6 pts ▸ 14.6%

9.8% Construction ◂ +0.1 pts 9.7%

9.5% Retail trade +0.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

7.6% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.4% Rental & real estate ◂ +2.4 pts 4.1%

4.3% Manufacturing ◂ +1.2 pts 3.1%

3.7% Administrative & support +0.4 pts ▸ 4.1%

4.0% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.6 pts 3.4%

3.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +2.4 pts 0.9%

2.4% Arts & recreation +0.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

Occupations people work in

30.9% Professionals ◂ +4.8 pts 26.1%

18.3% Managers ◂ +1.2 pts 17.2%

9.8% Community & personal service +3.4 pts ▸ 13.2%

11.6% Technicians & trades +1.2 pts ▸ 12.8%

12.2% Sales workers ◂ +2.7 pts 9.5%

11.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.3 pts 7.7%

2.8% Labourers +5.6 pts ▸ 8.4%

2.8% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.9 pts 1.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +3.0 higher in Sunshine Beach

2.8 71st pct 5.8 87th pct

Types ≤15 min in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +3.0 more in Sunshine Beach

2.0 66th pct 5.0 83rd pct

15-min city in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +76.7 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

0.0% 0th pct 76.7% 87th pct

Walk to shops in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +94.8 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

0.0% 0th pct 94.8% 97th pct

Walk to transit in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +5.3 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

91.1% 84th pct 96.4% 88th pct

Walk to school in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +76.9 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

0.0% 0th pct 76.9% 84th pct

Walk to a park in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach even

100.0% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct

Walk to health in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach even

0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Amenities/1k in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +5.6 more in Castaways Beach

20.5 62nd pct 14.9 53rd pct

Intersections/km² in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +146 higher in Sunshine Beach

17 73rd pct 163 89th pct

Mean slope in Castaways Beach in Sunshine Beach +1.5 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

7.5% 66th pct 9.0% 76th pct

Compare Castaways Beach with nearby areas

Marcus Beach Sunrise Beach Sunshine Beach Noosa Heads Noosaville Peregian Beach Weyba Downs Peregian Springs

Compare Sunshine Beach with nearby areas

Sunrise Beach Noosa Heads Castaways Beach Marcus Beach Noosaville Peregian Beach Weyba Downs Tewantin

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Castaways Beach vs Sunshine Beach [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL30558/castaways-beach/vs/SAL32700/sunshine-beach