# Sunshine Beach

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: Queensland › Rest of Qld › Noosa › 4567, QLD

Area: 7 km²

More than half of residents in Sunshine Beach report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This is a mature and affluent community where the typical resident is 46, making it far older than most other areas. With a high proportion of university graduates and a significant number of people working from home, the area is well-off and highly educated. It is a changing place, with nearly half the population having moved here in the last five years.

## Demographics & Identity

The population is notably older, with the typical age being 46 and a little more than 20% of people aged 65 and over. Since 2011, the number of seniors has risen by 7.1 points, while the share of children under 15 has fallen.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 6,851 | +8.0% since 2011 |
| Median age | 46 yrs | +9.5% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 1.0% | +3.6% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 20.0% | +55.2% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 15.9% | -14.6% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 13.6% | +9.3% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 32.6%, Young adults (25–44) 21.4%, Seniors (65+) 20.0%, Children (0–14) 15.9%, Youth (15–24) 10.1%

**Marital status** — Married 49.0%, Never married 33.4%, Divorced 11.7%, Widowed 3.0%, Separated 2.8%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

The community has a strong international presence, with 26.7% of people born overseas, which is well above the Queensland figure. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 26.7% | +15.8% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 68.3%, England 7.5%, New Zealand 4.3%, South Africa 1.1%, Italy 0.4%, Philippines 0.4%, India 0.2%, China 0.1%, Vietnam 0.0%

**Ancestry** — English 45.8%, Australian 29.4%, Irish 14.5%, Scottish 13.7%, German 6.6%, Italian 3.6%, Dutch 2.3%, Greek 0.6%, Chinese 0.6%, Filipino 0.5%, Indian 0.4%, Vietnamese 0.0%

## Language

English is the main language for 86% of the area. While the share of people using another language at home has risen to 9% since 2011, this remains far below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 9.0% | +72.1% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.5% | +63.5% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 86.0%, Italian 0.6%, Mandarin 0.2%, Greek 0.2%, Cantonese 0.1%, Arabic 0.1%, Hindi 0.1%, Tagalog 0.1%

## Religion

Non-religious residents make up 52.8% of the population, which is among the highest for its level and far above the Australian average. This figure has risen by 21 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 52.8% | +66.0% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 52.8%, Christianity 37.8%, Not stated 7.2%, Buddhism 1.2%, Other religions 0.4%, Judaism 0.3%, Hinduism 0.2%, Islam 0.2%

## Education & Qualifications

Residents are highly qualified, with 32.3% holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the state average. Year 12 completion is also much higher than most areas at 69.6%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 69.6% | +20.6% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 32.3% | +62.6% since 2011 |
| Schools | 5 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 4.59 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 5 | — |
| School enrolments | 2,849 | — |
| Average school size | 570 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 1,059 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 69.6%, Year 10 14.1%, Year 11 7.1%, Year 9 or below 3.1%

**Highest qualification level** — Bachelor degree 31.4%, Certificate III / IV 21.3%, Advanced diploma / diploma 16.5%, Postgraduate degree 9.9%, Graduate diploma / certificate 3.9%, Certificate I / II 1.7%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 20.0%, Society & culture 12.1%, Health 12.0%, Education 9.2%, Engineering & related 9.0%, Architecture & building 7.8%, Food, hospitality & personal services 6.6%, Creative arts 6.0%, Natural & physical sciences 3.1%, Agriculture & environment 1.8%, Information technology 1.2%

## Income

The area is wealthy, with a typical personal income of $868 per week and 24.1% of households earning $3,000 or more weekly, which is well above the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $868 | +46.4% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,826 | +70.2% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,177 | +66.8% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 15.7% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 24.1% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 29.5%, $650–$1,499 23.8%, $4,000 or more 15.6%, Under $650 14.4%, $3,000–$3,999 8.5%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 35.9%, $650–$1,499 32.2%, $1,500–$2,999 17.4%, $3,000 or more 8.3%

## Health & Disability

Sunshine Beach is a healthy community; the share of people with long-term health conditions is well below the national figure. Only 3% of residents need help with daily activities.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 22.6% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 5.9% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 3.0% | +30.1% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 7.3%, Asthma 6.5%, Other condition 6.2%, Mental health 5.9%, Heart disease 3.6%, Cancer 3.2%, Diabetes 1.9%, Lung condition 1.6%, Stroke 0.8%, Dementia 0.4%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 69.0%, One condition 16.5%, Two conditions 4.4%, Three or more 1.8%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is common here, with 17.8% of people pitching in, which is well above the national figure. However, the share of people providing unpaid care is much lower than most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 17.8% | -12.4% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 10.5% | +8.8% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 24.0% | -15.5% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.6% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 22.0% | -5.0% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people in the area are noticeably older than those in the state and have a much higher Year 12 completion rate at 63.3%. Unemployment for this group is 0.0%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 66 | — |
| First Nations median age | 30 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 63.3% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 0.0% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $606 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,875 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 6.1% | — |

## Family & Households

Family homes are common, with 51.6% of households consisting of couples with children. About 22.4% of people live alone, which is well below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.4 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 12.2% | -28.3% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 22.4% | -10.8% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 51.6%, Couples without children 35.6%, One-parent families 12.2%, Other families 0.6%

**Household size** — 2 people 42.7%, 1 person 22.4%, 3 people 15.1%, 4 people 13.7%, 5 people 4.7%, 6 or more 1.0%

## Housing & Dwellings

Home ownership is strong, as 38.3% of dwellings are owned outright, well above the state average. Rents and mortgage payments are both much higher than the typical figures for other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $500 | +42.9% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $2,167 | +19.9% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 27.3% | -26.2% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 38.3% | +29.6% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 65.2% | -3.9% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 73.4% | +0.5% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 38.3%, Owned with a mortgage 32.3%, Rented 27.3%, Not stated 1.0%, Other tenure 0.9%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 65.2%, Townhouse / semi-detached 21.4%, Flat or apartment 13.2%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 37.7%, 4 bedrooms 28.5%, 2 bedrooms 24.1%, 5 or more 7.2%, 1 bedroom 1.3%, Studio / none 0.3%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 42.4%, $550–$749 26.3%, $750 or more 14.8%, $200–$349 7.1%, Under $200 6.8%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 33.3%, $3,000 or more 25.1%, $1,000–$1,799 20.0%, Under $1,000 14.6%

## Transport & Vehicles

The area is very car-dependent, with only 1.2% of people using public transport. Conversely, 23.7% of people work from home, which is well above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 2.7% | -45.4% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 23.7% | +141.1% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 1.2% | -33.7% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 32 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 4.67 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 975.8 | — |
| Public transport routes | 4 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 3 | — |
| Drive time to the city (min) | 91 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 52.5%, Worked at home 23.7%, Car (passenger) 3.7%, Walked 2.3%, Bicycle 1.4%, Bus 1.2%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 43.4%, 1 vehicle 36.3%, 3 vehicles 12.7%, 4 or more 4.7%, No vehicle 2.7%

## Migration & Movement

The community is highly mobile, with 46.6% of residents moving in the last five years. This is well above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 46.6% | +5.8% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 14.6% | -21.8% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The workforce is dominated by professionals and managers, though full-time employment is far below the state and national figures at 46.8%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | -43.6% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 61.0% | -5.9% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 46.8% | -11.6% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Accommodation & food 14.0%, Health care & social assistance 12.9%, Construction 10.8%, Professional & technical 9.8%, Retail trade 9.6%, Education & training 8.6%, Administrative & support 4.4%, Rental & real estate 3.9%, Other services 3.1%, Public administration & safety 2.9%, Finance & insurance 2.9%, Manufacturing 2.8%, Arts & recreation 2.4%, Transport & warehousing 2.0%, Wholesale trade 1.8%, Mining 1.1%, Media & telecommunications 1.0%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.8%, Electricity, gas & water 0.6%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 25.4%, Managers 16.8%, Community & personal service 13.4%, Technicians & trades 13.3%, Sales workers 9.9%, Clerical & administrative 9.2%, Labourers 8.3%, Machinery operators & drivers 1.7%

## Economy & Advantage

The area is highly advantaged, ranking in the top 20% for access to money, resources, and job skills. Population growth has been strong, rising 8.6% since 2021.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 8 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 8 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 8 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 8 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 1,055 | — |
| Population estimate | 7,524 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 8.6% | — |
| Businesses | 989 | — |

## Environment & Climate

The area experiences high rainfall compared to the state average and has a mild climate, with a typical maximum temperature of 25.9 degrees.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 1,637 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 25.9 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 16.8 | — |

## Walkability

Everything is within reach for most, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, no homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 5.1 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.3 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 53.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 53.3% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 97.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 63.7% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 100.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 0.0% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 11.8 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 80 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 8.3% | — |

## Schools serving Sunshine Beach

5 schools, 2,849 students, average ICSEA 1,059.

By sector: Government 2, Catholic 2, Independent 1

By type: Primary 3, Secondary 2

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sunshine Beach State High School | Government | Secondary | 1.1 km | 1,405 |
| Noosa Flexible School | Catholic | Secondary | 1.6 km | 102 |
| St Thomas More Primary School | Catholic | Primary | 1.7 km | 578 |
| Montessori Noosa | Independent | Primary | 1.9 km | 58 |
| Sunshine Beach State School | Government | Primary | 1.9 km | 706 |

## Nearby areas

[Noosa Heads](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316051434/noosa-heads) · [Noosaville](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316051435/noosaville) · [Peregian Beach - Marcus Beach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316051543/peregian-beach-marcus-beach) · [Peregian Springs](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316051544/peregian-springs) · [Tewantin](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316051438/tewantin) · [Coolum Beach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316031425/coolum-beach) · [Eumundi - Yandina](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316071547/eumundi-yandina) · [Marcoola - Mudjimba](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316031426/marcoola-mudjimba)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/316051437/sunshine-beach