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Brisbane vs Sunshine Coast

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 151 km apart · Brisbane profile · Sunshine Coast profile

Brisbane Sunshine Coast

Brisbane and Sunshine Coast are two distinct Queensland hubs with different demographic profiles. Residents in the Sunshine Coast are far older, with a typical age of 44 compared to 36 in Brisbane. This is seen in the age structure, as seniors aged 65 and over are well higher in the Sunshine Coast by 7.6 percentage points. Brisbane is more multicultural, with a far higher share of people using another language at home (18.2% compared to 6.2%) and more residents born overseas. Brisbane also has a more walkable environment; it is very walkable, while the Sunshine Coast is somewhat walkable, with far more homes in Brisbane within a 15-minute walk of schools, groceries, and public transport.

Everyday life shares many similarities in both places, as they have nearly identical proportions of people living alone, an equal number of people per bedroom, and almost the same share of detached houses. However, some gaps have shifted over time. The typical age gap has flipped since 2011, and the lead in renting has also reversed, with the share of renters now well higher in Brisbane. The number of people born overseas in Brisbane has also grown more quickly, widening the gap between the two areas.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,064,377 larger in Brisbane Limited English: 2.1 pts higher in Brisbane Median age: 8 yrs older in Sunshine Coast Full-time: 8.2 pts higher in Brisbane Renting: 8.8 pts higher in Brisbane

Demographics & Identity

Population in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +2,064,377 larger in Brisbane gap widening

2,447,280 93rd pct 382,903 86th pct

Median age in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +8 yrs older in Sunshine Coast gap widening

36 yrs 14th pct 44 yrs 71st pct

Age structure

29.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.4 pts 22.9%

23.7% Older adults (45–64) +3.3 pts ▸ 27.0%

14.5% Seniors (65+) +7.6 pts ▸ 22.2%

19.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.1 pts 17.2%

13.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.5 pts 10.7%

Marital status

44.9% Married +3.8 pts ▸ 48.7%

38.7% Never married ◂ +7.3 pts 31.4%

8.8% Divorced +2.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

4.2% Widowed +1.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

3.4% Separated even 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Brisbane Sunshine Coast

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.0% Australia +5.9 pts ▸ 73.9%

3.8% England +2.3 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 4.3%

2.1% India ◂ +1.5 pts 0.6%

1.7% China ◂ +1.5 pts 0.2%

1.1% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.3% Italy even 0.2%

0.3% Nepal even 0.2%

Ancestry

36.3% English +9.3 pts ▸ 45.6%

31.3% Australian +3.8 pts ▸ 35.2%

11.1% Irish +1.4 pts ▸ 12.6%

10.1% Scottish +2.3 pts ▸ 12.4%

5.5% German +1.0 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.8% Chinese ◂ +3.8 pts 1.0%

2.8% Indian ◂ +2.0 pts 0.8%

2.8% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%

1.6% Dutch +0.4 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.6% Filipino ◂ +0.9 pts 0.7%

1.2% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

0.8% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Language

Language used at home

77.0% English only +11.8 pts ▸ 88.7%

2.6% Mandarin ◂ +2.3 pts 0.3%

1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.5% Arabic ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.3% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.0% No religion +5.0 pts ▸ 47.0%

44.2% Christianity ◂ +0.8 pts 43.4%

6.6% Not stated +0.6 pts ▸ 7.2%

2.1% Hinduism ◂ +1.4 pts 0.6%

1.9% Buddhism ◂ +0.9 pts 1.0%

1.9% Islam ◂ +1.7 pts 0.2%

1.2% Other religions ◂ +0.7 pts 0.5%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

64.6% Year 12 ◂ +8.1 pts 56.5%

17.1% Year 10 +5.4 pts ▸ 22.5%

5.6% Year 11 +2.1 pts ▸ 7.7%

7.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.2 pts 6.8%

Highest qualification level

26.2% Certificate III / IV +5.5 pts ▸ 31.7%

28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +5.2 pts 23.3%

15.3% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.6 pts ▸ 16.9%

10.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.8 pts 6.2%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.5 pts 3.6%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

20.9% Management & commerce ◂ +3.7 pts 17.2%

13.7% Engineering & related ◂ +0.6 pts 13.2%

12.8% Society & culture ◂ +1.3 pts 11.5%

10.9% Health +1.7 pts ▸ 12.6%

7.5% Education +1.7 pts ▸ 9.2%

5.3% Architecture & building +2.2 pts ▸ 7.5%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.3 pts ▸ 6.2%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +0.5 pts 3.6%

3.5% Information technology ◂ +2.0 pts 1.5%

3.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.9 pts 2.1%

1.4% Agriculture & environment +0.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +$96 higher in Brisbane gap narrowing

$851 84th pct $755 57th pct

Household income in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +$280 higher in Brisbane gap widening

$1,870 86th pct $1,590 67th pct

Family income in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +$278 higher in Brisbane gap narrowing

$2,195 85th pct $1,917 58th pct

Household income distribution

31.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.4 pts 29.8%

25.0% $650–$1,499 +3.6 pts ▸ 28.5%

13.3% Under $650 +2.3 pts ▸ 15.5%

13.1% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.8 pts 9.3%

11.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.0 pts 9.0%

Personal income distribution

37.8% Under $650 +3.0 pts ▸ 40.8%

32.2% $650–$1,499 +0.9 pts ▸ 33.1%

19.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.5 pts 15.5%

4.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 3.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.8% Arthritis +2.5 pts ▸ 10.4%

10.1% Mental health ◂ +0.9 pts 9.2%

8.8% Asthma ◂ +0.8 pts 8.0%

8.8% Other condition ◂ +0.2 pts 8.6%

3.8% Heart disease +0.8 pts ▸ 4.7%

4.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 3.6%

2.9% Cancer +0.9 pts ▸ 3.8%

1.8% Lung condition +0.4 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.9% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.4% None ◂ +2.5 pts 61.8%

19.3% One condition +0.8 pts ▸ 20.0%

6.0% Two conditions +0.5 pts ▸ 6.5%

3.1% Three or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +0.1 larger in Brisbane gap widening

2.6 86th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

58.4% Couples with children ◂ +5.5 pts 52.9%

25.4% Couples without children +7.2 pts ▸ 32.6%

14.9% One-parent families ◂ +1.2 pts 13.7%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.5 pts 0.8%

Household size

33.3% 2 people +5.2 pts ▸ 38.5%

23.6% 1 person even 23.6%

16.8% 3 people ◂ +1.8 pts 15.0%

16.1% 4 people ◂ +1.5 pts 14.6%

6.6% 5 people ◂ +0.8 pts 5.8%

3.6% 6 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +$65 higher in Sunshine Coast gap widening

$380 85th pct $445 99th pct

Mortgage in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +$32 higher in Sunshine Coast gap narrowing

$1,896 83rd pct $1,928 85th pct

People / bedroom in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast even gap steady

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.9 pts 34.2%

35.6% Rented ◂ +8.8 pts 26.8%

25.5% Owned outright +9.2 pts ▸ 34.7%

1.5% Other tenure +1.4 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.3% Not stated +0.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

Types of homes

72.6% Separate house +0.5 pts ▸ 73.2%

15.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.6 pts 12.6%

11.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.7 pts ▸ 13.3%

0.4% Other dwelling +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

36.0% 3 bedrooms +1.6 pts ▸ 37.7%

31.9% 4 bedrooms +0.3 pts ▸ 32.2%

16.1% 2 bedrooms +1.6 pts ▸ 17.7%

9.2% 5 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 7.3%

5.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.6 pts 3.4%

0.4% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

52.2% $350–$549 +0.8 pts ▸ 53.0%

26.0% $200–$349 ◂ +10.4 pts 15.6%

8.5% $550–$749 +8.3 pts ▸ 16.8%

8.2% Under $200 ◂ +0.7 pts 7.4%

2.4% $750 or more +1.7 pts ▸ 4.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

35.3% $1,800–$2,999 +2.3 pts ▸ 37.6%

31.2% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +3.0 pts 28.1%

15.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 13.6%

12.8% Under $1,000 +1.5 pts ▸ 14.2%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

55.0% Car (driver) +7.2 pts ▸ 62.2%

17.6% Worked at home ◂ +2.6 pts 15.0%

4.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

2.5% Bus ◂ +1.8 pts 0.7%

2.2% Walked ◂ +0.2 pts 2.0%

2.1% Train ◂ +1.9 pts 0.2%

0.7% Bicycle even 0.8%

Motor vehicles per home

37.8% 2 vehicles +2.0 pts ▸ 39.8%

36.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.1 pts 35.3%

12.4% 3 vehicles +1.0 pts ▸ 13.3%

6.9% 4 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 7.6%

6.5% No vehicle ◂ +2.6 pts 3.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.4% Health care & social assistance +2.1 pts ▸ 17.5%

8.6% Construction +3.5 pts ▸ 12.1%

9.0% Retail trade +1.0 pts ▸ 10.0%

9.0% Education & training ◂ +0.3 pts 8.7%

6.5% Accommodation & food +2.3 pts ▸ 8.8%

8.6% Professional & technical ◂ +2.4 pts 6.3%

6.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.8 pts 3.9%

6.0% Manufacturing ◂ +1.5 pts 4.5%

5.3% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.3 pts 3.0%

3.8% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.4% Administrative & support +0.2 pts ▸ 3.6%

3.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.5 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

25.0% Professionals ◂ +4.0 pts 21.0%

12.2% Technicians & trades +2.9 pts ▸ 15.1%

13.6% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.6 pts 11.9%

11.6% Community & personal service +1.9 pts ▸ 13.4%

12.6% Managers even 12.6%

8.8% Labourers +1.0 pts ▸ 9.7%

8.2% Sales workers +1.5 pts ▸ 9.7%

6.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.5 pts 4.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +1.4 higher in Brisbane

6.3 90th pct 4.9 48th pct

Types ≤15 min in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +1.3 more in Brisbane

5.9 89th pct 4.6 43rd pct

15-min city in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +20.0 pts higher in Brisbane

73.7% 88th pct 53.7% 50th pct

Walk to shops in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +16.7 pts higher in Brisbane

74.2% 89th pct 57.5% 60th pct

Walk to transit in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +13.7 pts higher in Brisbane

84.9% 57th pct 71.3% 29th pct

Walk to school in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +29.1 pts higher in Brisbane

78.5% 86th pct 49.4% 23rd pct

Walk to a park in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +7.4 pts higher in Brisbane

94.9% 83rd pct 87.5% 42nd pct

Walk to health in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +13.2 pts higher in Brisbane

59.7% 90th pct 46.5% 67th pct

Amenities/1k in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +1.1 more in Brisbane

13.6 39th pct 12.6 26th pct

Intersections/km² in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +19 higher in Brisbane

41 79th pct 21 56th pct

Mean slope in Brisbane in Sunshine Coast +0.4 pts higher in Sunshine Coast

6.0% 65th pct 6.4% 71st pct

Compare Brisbane with nearby areas

Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Lismore Toowoomba Warwick Byron Bay Ballina Sunshine Coast Gympie Kingaroy Grafton Maryborough Coffs Harbour

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). Brisbane vs Sunshine Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3002/brisbane/vs/3015/sunshine-coast