State Electorate · Area profile
Kawana
47 km²
Noticeably older than the state and national average, Kawana is a community where the typical resident is 43. This Sunshine Coast area has seen a significant shift towards a senior population, with one in five people now aged 65 or over. It is a place of shifting demographics, where a growing number of residents have no religion and a high proportion of people have moved in recently. The community is largely Australian-born and English-speaking, enjoying a high level of walkability to local parks and shops.
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The area is significantly older than most, with the typical age rising by 9 years since 2011 to reach 43. Seniors aged 65 and over now make up 22.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 17.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of people born overseas rose to 19.7% since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while the overall overseas-born population remains well below the national average.
English is the primary language for the vast majority, with only 5.6% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%, and very few residents speak little or no English.
A large proportion of the community identifies as having no religion, at 45.8%. This figure is well above the national average and has risen by 25 points since 2011.
Qualifications have improved over the last decade, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher rising by 11 points to 21.0%. This is about the same as the Queensland average.
Typical weekly household incomes sit at $1,623, which is about the same as the state and national figures. The number of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen significantly since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 30.6% of people. This is reflected in the fact that 6.9% of residents need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most similar areas.
The area has a notably high number of former Defence Force members, at 4.1%. Around 14.9% of residents volunteer, a figure that is about the same as the state and national averages.
Families with children make up 54% of households, and the typical home holds 2.5 people. This is consistent with both the state and national figures.
Rent is much higher than usual, with a typical weekly cost of $460. While 34.4% of homes are owned outright—well above the national average—the typical monthly mortgage payment of $1,963 is higher than in most areas.
Car use is dominant, and very few people (0.9%) commute by public transport. This is much lower than in most areas and is consistent with the low number of public transport stops available.
The community is quite mobile, with 46.8% of people having moved house in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have fallen to 9.5% since 2011.
Full-time employment is much lower than in most similar areas, at 53.5%. The most common industries for local workers are health care and social assistance, followed by construction.
The area is quite walkable, with 80.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 99.7% near a park. This makes it far more walkable than the Queensland average.