Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Palm Beach
6 km²
Larger than about 81% of similar areas, Palm Beach is a growing coastal community of over 16,000 people. The area is notably walkable and more educated than the state average, with a strong shift toward people identifying as having no religion. It attracts a mobile population, with nearly half of its residents moving here in the last five years. This creates a modern, diverse atmosphere where professional employment and a high number of apartment-style homes are common.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The typical resident is 39, which is a little older than the national figure. About 15.7% of people are in a de facto relationship, a figure well above the Australian average, while 17.7% of the population are seniors.
People born overseas make up 17.6% of the community, which is far below the national figure. Most residents claim English, Australian, or Irish ancestry.
Only 6.2% of people use a language other than English at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few people, just 0.5%, speak little or no English.
Almost half of the population (47.5%) report having no religion, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 25 percentage points since 2011.
The area is well-qualified, with 25.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also well above the state average at 60.7%.
Typical weekly personal income is $873, which is a little above the national figure. Since 2011, the typical family income has risen by $933 to reach $2,219 per week.
Residents are generally healthier than in most areas, with only 25.6% having a long-term health condition. This is well below the Queensland average of 28.8%.
Volunteering has fallen slightly since 2011 to 13.4%, which is about the same as the national figure. Around 11% of people provide unpaid care.
First Nations residents in Palm Beach are noticeably older and earn more than those in the state or national averages. Their unemployment rate is also well below the national figure at 6.9%.
Homes here are smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per household. This is consistent with a higher number of people living alone (29.8%) compared to the state average.
The housing mix is unusual for the region, with 38.4% of homes being flats or apartments. Renting is much more common here than elsewhere, with 37% of households renting at a typical weekly cost of $445.
Most people commute by car, though 15.1% work from home. While public transport use is low at 1.4%, there is a very high number of bus departures per 1,000 people.
The community is very dynamic, as 48.9% of residents moved here in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.4% of the population.
More people here are working or looking for work (65.6%) than in most similar areas. However, full-time employment is well below the national average at 54.2%.
Palm Beach is relatively advantaged, ranking in the top 30% of areas for overall advantage. It is also seeing rapid growth, with the population increasing by 12.5% since 2021.
The area receives very high annual rainfall (1,688mm) compared to the state average. Its maximum temperatures are well below the Queensland average.
This is a very walkable area, with 94.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a 'city walkshed'. Almost every home is within a short walk of a park and public transport.