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Byron Bay vs Sunshine Coast

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 272 km apart · Byron Bay profile · Sunshine Coast profile

Byron Bay Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay are both popular coastal regions, but they differ in scale and social makeup. Byron Bay is more walkable, with 72.7% of homes in a 15-minute-city walkshed compared to 53.7% in Sunshine Coast. Byron Bay also has a more highly educated population, with 33.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, while the figure is 21.5% in Sunshine Coast. In contrast, Sunshine Coast is more residential in nature, with 73.2% of homes being separate houses compared to 61.6% in Byron Bay, and a higher share of full-time workers at 51.9% versus 40.1% in Byron Bay.

Everyday life shares several similarities, as both areas have almost identical rates of outright home ownership at 34.7% and very similar proportions of people who have moved in the last five years. However, some gaps are widening; the difference in people working from home has grown to 10.8 points, and the gap in people with no religion has increased to 12.7 points. While Sunshine Coast is noticeably older, with a typical resident aged 44, this gap has narrowed since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Population: 371,989 larger in Sunshine Coast Recent arrivals: 18.3 pts higher in Byron Bay Housework 15h+: 5.9 pts higher in Sunshine Coast PT commute: 0.7 pts higher in Sunshine Coast Renting: 9.9 pts higher in Byron Bay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +371,989 larger in Sunshine Coast gap widening

10,914 10th pct 382,903 86th pct

Median age in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +5 yrs older in Sunshine Coast gap narrowing

39 yrs 43rd pct 44 yrs 71st pct

Age structure

35.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +12.2 pts 22.9%

25.3% Older adults (45–64) +1.7 pts ▸ 27.0%

17.2% Seniors (65+) +5.0 pts ▸ 22.2%

13.7% Children (0–14) +3.5 pts ▸ 17.2%

8.8% Youth (15–24) +2.0 pts ▸ 10.7%

Marital status

51.6% Never married ◂ +20.2 pts 31.4%

30.5% Married +18.2 pts ▸ 48.7%

11.9% Divorced ◂ +0.8 pts 11.0%

3.6% Widowed +1.9 pts ▸ 5.5%

2.4% Separated +1.0 pts ▸ 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Byron Bay Sunshine Coast

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

63.6% Australia +10.3 pts ▸ 73.9%

5.6% England +0.5 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.6% New Zealand +1.7 pts ▸ 4.3%

1.3% Italy ◂ +1.1 pts 0.2%

0.6% South Africa +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.3% India +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

39.2% English +6.4 pts ▸ 45.6%

27.3% Australian +7.9 pts ▸ 35.2%

14.7% Irish ◂ +2.2 pts 12.6%

11.3% Scottish +1.1 pts ▸ 12.4%

6.0% German +0.5 pts ▸ 6.5%

5.5% Italian ◂ +2.9 pts 2.7%

2.0% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.8% Chinese +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.9% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.6% Indian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

77.6% English only +11.1 pts ▸ 88.7%

1.4% Italian ◂ +1.2 pts 0.3%

0.2% Mandarin +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.0% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

59.7% No religion ◂ +12.7 pts 47.0%

24.9% Christianity +18.5 pts ▸ 43.4%

11.3% Not stated ◂ +4.0 pts 7.2%

2.2% Buddhism ◂ +1.2 pts 1.0%

1.0% Judaism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

0.5% Hinduism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Other religions even 0.5%

0.2% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.8% Year 12 ◂ +10.2 pts 56.5%

14.3% Year 10 +8.2 pts ▸ 22.5%

5.3% Year 11 +2.4 pts ▸ 7.7%

3.7% Year 9 or below +3.2 pts ▸ 6.8%

Highest qualification level

33.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +10.2 pts 23.3%

18.2% Certificate III / IV +13.5 pts ▸ 31.7%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.8 pts ▸ 16.9%

9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.0 pts 6.2%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.7 pts ▸ 3.6%

1.4% Certificate I / II +0.7 pts ▸ 2.0%

Field of qualification

16.5% Management & commerce +0.7 pts ▸ 17.2%

13.8% Society & culture ◂ +2.3 pts 11.5%

6.7% Engineering & related +6.5 pts ▸ 13.2%

10.2% Health +2.4 pts ▸ 12.6%

10.7% Creative arts ◂ +7.1 pts 3.6%

6.8% Education +2.4 pts ▸ 9.2%

6.6% Architecture & building +0.9 pts ▸ 7.5%

6.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.1 pts ▸ 6.2%

2.9% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 2.1%

2.1% Agriculture & environment +0.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.2% Information technology +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +$82 higher in Byron Bay gap narrowing

$837 81st pct $755 57th pct

Household income in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +$158 higher in Byron Bay gap narrowing

$1,748 79th pct $1,590 67th pct

Family income in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +$174 higher in Byron Bay gap narrowing

$2,091 77th pct $1,917 58th pct

Household income distribution

27.8% $1,500–$2,999 +2.1 pts ▸ 29.8%

23.3% $650–$1,499 +5.2 pts ▸ 28.5%

17.1% Under $650 ◂ +1.6 pts 15.5%

13.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 9.3%

9.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.1 pts 9.0%

Personal income distribution

33.5% Under $650 +7.3 pts ▸ 40.8%

35.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.3 pts 33.1%

14.4% $1,500–$2,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 15.5%

5.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 3.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.2% Arthritis +4.2 pts ▸ 10.4%

7.1% Mental health +2.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

6.7% Other condition +1.9 pts ▸ 8.6%

5.8% Asthma +2.2 pts ▸ 8.0%

2.8% Heart disease +1.8 pts ▸ 4.7%

2.7% Cancer +1.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

1.8% Diabetes +1.9 pts ▸ 3.6%

1.5% Lung condition +0.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.8% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.6% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.1% None ◂ +5.2 pts 61.8%

15.9% One condition +4.1 pts ▸ 20.0%

4.1% Two conditions +2.4 pts ▸ 6.5%

1.7% Three or more +1.7 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +0.1 larger in Sunshine Coast gap steady

2.4 43rd pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

50.0% Couples with children +2.9 pts ▸ 52.9%

34.5% Couples without children ◂ +1.9 pts 32.6%

14.5% One-parent families ◂ +0.8 pts 13.7%

0.9% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Household size

33.6% 2 people +4.9 pts ▸ 38.5%

29.1% 1 person ◂ +5.5 pts 23.6%

16.3% 3 people ◂ +1.3 pts 15.0%

13.9% 4 people +0.7 pts ▸ 14.6%

5.1% 5 people +0.7 pts ▸ 5.8%

1.9% 6 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +$175 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$620 100th pct $445 99th pct

Mortgage in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +$412 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$2,340 100th pct $1,928 85th pct

People / bedroom in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +0.10 higher in Byron Bay gap steady

0.90 100th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.8% Rented ◂ +9.9 pts 26.8%

34.7% Owned outright even 34.7%

24.3% Owned with a mortgage +9.9 pts ▸ 34.2%

2.2% Other tenure +0.7 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.1% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

61.6% Separate house +11.6 pts ▸ 73.2%

25.2% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +11.9 pts 13.3%

8.0% Flat or apartment +4.5 pts ▸ 12.6%

4.0% Other dwelling ◂ +3.4 pts 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

40.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.9 pts 37.7%

21.9% 4 bedrooms +10.3 pts ▸ 32.2%

18.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.3 pts 17.7%

9.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +6.0 pts 3.4%

6.0% 5 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 7.3%

1.8% Studio / none ◂ +1.4 pts 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

16.2% $350–$549 +36.8 pts ▸ 53.0%

30.6% $750 or more ◂ +26.6 pts 4.0%

28.6% $550–$749 ◂ +11.8 pts 16.8%

11.8% $200–$349 +3.8 pts ▸ 15.6%

7.6% Under $200 ◂ +0.1 pts 7.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

27.6% $1,800–$2,999 +10.0 pts ▸ 37.6%

32.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +18.8 pts 13.6%

18.3% $1,000–$1,799 +9.8 pts ▸ 28.1%

14.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.5 pts 14.2%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

44.2% Car (driver) +18.0 pts ▸ 62.2%

25.8% Worked at home ◂ +10.8 pts 15.0%

5.2% Walked ◂ +3.2 pts 2.0%

4.0% Bicycle ◂ +3.2 pts 0.8%

2.5% Car (passenger) +1.4 pts ▸ 3.9%

0.2% Bus +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Train +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

36.7% 2 vehicles +3.1 pts ▸ 39.8%

38.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.2 pts 35.3%

12.5% 3 vehicles +0.8 pts ▸ 13.3%

7.0% 4 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 7.6%

5.3% No vehicle ◂ +1.3 pts 3.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

20.1% Accommodation & food ◂ +11.3 pts 8.8%

12.1% Health care & social assistance +5.4 pts ▸ 17.5%

8.0% Construction +4.0 pts ▸ 12.1%

8.6% Retail trade +1.4 pts ▸ 10.0%

9.6% Professional & technical ◂ +3.3 pts 6.3%

7.3% Education & training +1.4 pts ▸ 8.7%

3.3% Manufacturing +1.2 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.5% Administrative & support ◂ +1.0 pts 3.6%

3.3% Other services +0.7 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.2% Public administration & safety +1.7 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.9% Transport & warehousing +1.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.7% Finance & insurance +1.1 pts ▸ 2.9%

Occupations people work in

25.2% Professionals ◂ +4.2 pts 21.0%

17.7% Managers ◂ +5.1 pts 12.6%

13.7% Technicians & trades +1.4 pts ▸ 15.1%

13.8% Community & personal service ◂ +0.3 pts 13.4%

7.3% Clerical & administrative +4.6 pts ▸ 11.9%

9.1% Labourers +0.6 pts ▸ 9.7%

8.3% Sales workers +1.4 pts ▸ 9.7%

2.3% Machinery operators & drivers +2.5 pts ▸ 4.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +1.7 higher in Byron Bay

6.6 96th pct 4.9 48th pct

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

6.3 94th pct 4.6 43rd pct

15-min city in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +19.0 pts higher in Byron Bay

72.7% 87th pct 53.7% 50th pct

Walk to shops in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +21.2 pts higher in Byron Bay

78.7% 95th pct 57.5% 60th pct

Walk to transit in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +21.3 pts higher in Byron Bay

92.5% 87th pct 71.3% 29th pct

Walk to school in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +11.6 pts higher in Byron Bay

61.0% 41st pct 49.4% 23rd pct

Walk to a park in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +7.3 pts higher in Byron Bay

94.8% 82nd pct 87.5% 42nd pct

Walk to health in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +23.8 pts higher in Byron Bay

70.3% 98th pct 46.5% 67th pct

Amenities/1k in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +14.2 more in Byron Bay

26.8 88th pct 12.6 26th pct

Intersections/km² in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +11 higher in Byron Bay

33 72nd pct 21 56th pct

Mean slope in Byron Bay in Sunshine Coast +1.7 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

4.7% 41st pct 6.4% 71st pct

Compare Byron Bay with nearby areas

Ballina Lismore Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Brisbane Grafton Coffs Harbour Warwick Toowoomba Sunshine Coast Kempsey Armidale Gympie

Compare Sunshine Coast with nearby areas

Gympie Maryborough Hervey Bay Kingaroy Brisbane Bundaberg Toowoomba Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Warwick Byron Bay Lismore Ballina

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Byron Bay vs Sunshine Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1008/byron-bay/vs/3015/sunshine-coast