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Noosa Heads vs Sunshine Beach

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

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 1.9 km apart · Noosa Heads profile · Sunshine Beach profile

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach

Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach are neighbouring coastal areas with a few distinct differences. Noosa Heads is more likely to have detached houses, with 71.7% compared to 56.9% in Sunshine Beach, and more homes with three or more bedrooms (77.1% versus 65.2%). Noosa Heads also has a noticeably older population, with a typical age of 54 and a higher share of seniors (32.4% compared to 24.4%). Access to services varies widely; for example, 74.1% of homes in Noosa Heads are within a 15-minute walk of health services, while that figure is 0.0% in Sunshine Beach.

These areas share very similar typical weekly personal incomes, both around $900. They also have almost identical shares of children under 15 and people using other languages at home. While Noosa Heads has more public transport routes and health services, Sunshine Beach is more walkable for those heading to schools or public transport stops. Over time, the gap in typical resident age has remained a key difference, with Noosa Heads staying older than its neighbour.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 14.8 pts higher in Noosa Heads Population: 2,640 larger in Noosa Heads 3+ bedrooms: 11.9 pts higher in Noosa Heads Needs assistance: 3.3 pts higher in Noosa Heads Median age: 5 yrs older in Noosa Heads

Demographics & Identity

Population in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +2,640 larger in Noosa Heads gap widening

5,120 86th pct 2,480 81st pct

Median age in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +5 yrs older in Noosa Heads gap narrowing

54 yrs 83rd pct 49 yrs 67th pct

Age structure

32.4% Seniors (65+) ◂ +8.0 pts 24.4%

30.1% Older adults (45–64) +2.1 pts ▸ 32.2%

17.5% Young adults (25–44) +3.6 pts ▸ 21.1%

12.6% Children (0–14) +0.3 pts ▸ 12.9%

7.2% Youth (15–24) +1.7 pts ▸ 9.0%

Marital status

52.3% Married ◂ +5.8 pts 46.5%

27.5% Never married +6.2 pts ▸ 33.6%

11.3% Divorced +2.4 pts ▸ 13.7%

6.1% Widowed ◂ +3.5 pts 2.6%

3.0% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 3.3%

Age & sex structure

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

65.6% Australia +0.6 pts ▸ 66.2%

7.6% England even 7.6%

4.0% New Zealand +1.2 pts ▸ 5.1%

1.8% South Africa ◂ +1.3 pts 0.6%

0.5% Italy even 0.6%

0.4% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.4% India ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% China ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

45.2% English +1.4 pts ▸ 46.5%

25.9% Australian +0.7 pts ▸ 26.5%

14.7% Irish +1.5 pts ▸ 16.2%

15.2% Scottish ◂ +1.2 pts 14.0%

5.8% German +1.3 pts ▸ 7.1%

3.7% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 4.0%

1.9% Dutch even 1.9%

1.1% Chinese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%

0.9% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.3% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.4% Indian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

86.1% English only ◂ +0.8 pts 85.3%

0.6% Italian even 0.6%

0.3% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Cantonese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.0% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

47.1% No religion +5.8 pts ▸ 52.9%

42.7% Christianity ◂ +6.5 pts 36.2%

7.7% Not stated +0.9 pts ▸ 8.6%

1.2% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.6% Judaism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.4% Hinduism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% Other religions even 0.4%

0.2% Islam even 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach

— 15.67 84th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +1 more in Noosa Heads

6 74th pct 5 73rd pct

Avg size in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +92 larger in Noosa Heads

662 88th pct 570 81st pct

ICSEA in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +16 higher in Noosa Heads

1,075 86th pct 1,059 81st pct

Highest year of school

63.7% Year 12 +4.9 pts ▸ 68.6%

15.5% Year 10 ◂ +2.3 pts 13.3%

8.0% Year 11 ◂ +0.4 pts 7.6%

4.3% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.9 pts 3.4%

Highest qualification level

31.0% Bachelor degree +0.4 pts ▸ 31.4%

17.3% Certificate III / IV +1.9 pts ▸ 19.3%

17.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.0 pts 16.9%

8.8% Postgraduate degree +2.1 pts ▸ 10.9%

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

1.3% Certificate I / II +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Field of qualification

21.5% Management & commerce ◂ +2.5 pts 19.1%

11.1% Society & culture +1.2 pts ▸ 12.4%

12.2% Health ◂ +0.2 pts 12.0%

9.3% Engineering & related ◂ +0.7 pts 8.5%

7.9% Education +0.5 pts ▸ 8.4%

6.4% Architecture & building +1.4 pts ▸ 7.8%

5.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.9 pts ▸ 6.6%

4.9% Creative arts +1.1 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.9% Natural & physical sciences +0.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +0.7 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.1% Information technology even 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +$7 higher in Noosa Heads gap narrowing

$909 73rd pct $902 73rd pct

Household income in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +$108 higher in Noosa Heads gap widening

$1,843 68th pct $1,735 62nd pct

Family income in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +$99 higher in Noosa Heads gap widening

$2,228 70th pct $2,129 65th pct

Household income distribution

24.7% $1,500–$2,999 +3.0 pts ▸ 27.7%

25.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 25.0%

18.0% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 17.1%

15.0% Under $650 +1.4 pts ▸ 16.5%

9.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.8 pts 7.8%

Personal income distribution

33.3% Under $650 +0.9 pts ▸ 34.3%

30.6% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 32.1%

17.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.1 pts 17.4%

9.3% $3,000 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 9.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.3% Arthritis ◂ +2.7 pts 7.6%

8.2% Other condition ◂ +2.2 pts 6.0%

5.9% Asthma +0.4 pts ▸ 6.3%

6.3% Mental health even 6.2%

5.4% Heart disease ◂ +1.5 pts 3.8%

5.2% Cancer ◂ +1.5 pts 3.7%

2.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.0 pts 1.5%

1.9% Lung condition ◂ +0.2 pts 1.7%

1.3% Dementia ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.2% None +4.0 pts ▸ 67.3%

20.6% One condition ◂ +4.0 pts 16.7%

5.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 4.6%

2.6% Three or more ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +6 larger in Noosa Heads

32 73rd pct 26 72nd pct

Median age in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +3 yrs older in Noosa Heads

28 yrs 57th pct 25 yrs 46th pct

Median income in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +$526 higher in Noosa Heads

$1,125 86th pct $599 45th pct

Household income in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +$562 higher in Noosa Heads

$2,374 75th pct $1,812 55th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +0.1 larger in Noosa Heads gap widening

2.3 29th pct 2.2 24th pct

Family composition

46.4% Couples without children ◂ +1.0 pts 45.4%

41.9% Couples with children ◂ +1.2 pts 40.7%

11.3% One-parent families +1.4 pts ▸ 12.7%

0.5% Other families +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

47.1% 2 people +0.3 pts ▸ 47.5%

24.5% 1 person +2.3 pts ▸ 26.8%

12.3% 3 people +0.3 pts ▸ 12.6%

11.1% 4 people ◂ +2.4 pts 8.7%

4.0% 5 people ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%

0.8% 6 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +$55 higher in Noosa Heads gap widening

$550 96th pct $495 92nd pct

Mortgage in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach even gap narrowing

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

People / bedroom in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach even gap steady

0.70 14th pct 0.70 14th pct

How homes are owned or rented

49.0% Owned outright ◂ +7.6 pts 41.5%

24.2% Rented +6.6 pts ▸ 30.8%

23.6% Owned with a mortgage +1.5 pts ▸ 25.1%

1.8% Not stated ◂ +1.1 pts 0.7%

1.1% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

Types of homes

71.7% Separate house ◂ +14.8 pts 56.9%

19.2% Flat or apartment +6.8 pts ▸ 26.0%

8.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +8.7 pts ▸ 17.1%

0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

43.6% 3 bedrooms ◂ +6.9 pts 36.7%

18.2% 2 bedrooms +13.4 pts ▸ 31.6%

29.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +7.6 pts 21.8%

4.1% 5 or more +2.6 pts ▸ 6.7%

3.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.7 pts 2.2%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

34.4% $350–$549 +11.2 pts ▸ 45.6%

28.2% $550–$749 ◂ +4.6 pts 23.6%

20.1% $750 or more ◂ +4.0 pts 16.0%

8.5% $200–$349 ◂ +2.8 pts 5.7%

5.8% Under $200 +0.5 pts ▸ 6.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

28.2% $3,000 or more +1.1 pts ▸ 29.3%

28.0% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.5 pts 25.5%

17.2% Under $1,000 +2.9 pts ▸ 20.1%

20.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +5.3 pts 14.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +6 more in Noosa Heads

21 86th pct 15 85th pct

Stops/1k in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +1.95 more in Sunshine Beach

4.10 74th pct 6.05 82nd pct

Departures/1k in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +786.2 more in Noosa Heads

2,078.5 92nd pct 1,292.3 88th pct

PT routes in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +5 more in Noosa Heads

9 86th pct 4 82nd pct

Stop walk in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +2 longer in Noosa Heads

5 32nd pct 3 21st pct

Drive to city in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach even

92 64th pct 92 64th pct

How people get to work

45.2% Car (driver) +2.7 pts ▸ 47.9%

27.5% Worked at home ◂ +1.7 pts 25.8%

5.4% Walked ◂ +0.3 pts 5.0%

4.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.1 pts 3.4%

1.1% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.8% Bus +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.1% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.8% 1 vehicle +3.2 pts ▸ 42.9%

42.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.9 pts 39.2%

11.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.0 pts 10.5%

4.2% 4 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 3.8%

2.8% No vehicle +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.9% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.3 pts 14.6%

12.3% Health care & social assistance +0.2 pts ▸ 12.4%

10.7% Professional & technical ◂ +1.6 pts 9.1%

9.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.1 pts 9.8%

8.6% Construction +1.1 pts ▸ 9.7%

6.3% Education & training +1.5 pts ▸ 7.9%

4.9% Rental & real estate ◂ +0.8 pts 4.1%

4.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.9 pts 3.4%

3.2% Administrative & support +0.9 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.5% Manufacturing ◂ +0.4 pts 3.1%

1.9% Arts & recreation +1.2 pts ▸ 3.1%

3.0% Other services even 2.9%

Occupations people work in

25.2% Professionals +0.9 pts ▸ 26.1%

19.9% Managers ◂ +2.7 pts 17.2%

11.7% Community & personal service +1.5 pts ▸ 13.2%

10.9% Technicians & trades +1.9 pts ▸ 12.8%

11.2% Sales workers ◂ +1.7 pts 9.5%

10.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.3 pts 7.7%

7.1% Labourers +1.3 pts ▸ 8.4%

2.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.3 pts 1.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +0.2 higher in Noosa Heads

6.0 88th pct 5.8 87th pct

Types ≤15 min in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +0.5 more in Noosa Heads

5.4 85th pct 5.0 83rd pct

15-min city in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +0.3 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

76.4% 87th pct 76.7% 87th pct

Walk to shops in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +11.8 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

83.0% 91st pct 94.8% 97th pct

Walk to transit in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +19.7 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

76.6% 80th pct 96.4% 88th pct

Walk to school in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +74.3 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

2.6% 58th pct 76.9% 84th pct

Walk to a park in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +6.0 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

94.0% 82nd pct 100.0% 100th pct

Walk to health in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +74.1 pts higher in Noosa Heads

74.1% 91st pct 0.0% 0th pct

Amenities/1k in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +11.3 more in Noosa Heads

26.2 69th pct 14.9 53rd pct

Intersections/km² in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +99 higher in Sunshine Beach

65 81st pct 163 89th pct

Mean slope in Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach +0.3 pts higher in Sunshine Beach

8.7% 74th pct 9.0% 76th pct

Compare Noosa Heads with nearby areas

Sunshine Beach Sunrise Beach Castaways Beach Noosaville Marcus Beach Weyba Downs Peregian Beach Tewantin

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). Noosa Heads vs Sunshine Beach [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL32160/noosa-heads/vs/SAL32700/sunshine-beach