Urban Centre · Area profile
Mission Beach
3 km²
Over half of the residents in Mission Beach have moved to the area in the last five years, reflecting a rapidly changing community. The population has grown by 67% since 2011, and while it is far older than the national figure, there has been a sharp rise in de facto relationships. It is a place where people are increasingly drawn to a lifestyle away from the city, as evidenced by the high proportion of residents who do not follow any religion.
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The typical resident is 47, making the area far older than the state and national averages. While the number of children has fallen sharply since 2011, the population of seniors has risen to 19.7%.
People born overseas make up 18.0% of the community, a figure that has risen since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, with 41.4% and 36.5% respectively.
English is the main language for 85.0% of the population. The proportion of people using another language at home has fallen to 5.6%, which is far below the national figure.
About half of the community (49.8%) report no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen by 33 points since 2011.
The area has a higher proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher than most similar areas. Nearly half of residents (48.1%) have completed Year 12, which is a rise of 13 points since 2011.
Typical personal weekly income is $723, which is a little below the national figure of $805. However, the proportion of people earning $2,000 or more a week has risen to 7.6% since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are much less common here than in most similar areas, with only 25.5% of people reporting one. Arthritis is the most frequent condition at 9.7%.
Volunteer rates are a little above the national figure at 16.1%, though this is down from 2011. Far fewer people are providing unpaid care or looking after children compared to most other areas.
Homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.1 people per home. There has been a significant increase in people living alone, who now make up 29.9% of households.
Renting has become much more common, rising to 38.2% since 2011. While typical weekly rents are around the national figure at $350, the number of homes with three or more bedrooms has fallen far below the state average.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 65.1% of workers driving to work and no one using public transport to commute. Working from home is less common here than in the rest of Australia.
The area is seeing significant movement, with 53.5% of people arriving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals have also increased, now making up 16.6% of the population.
The workforce is more active than in similar areas, with 57.3% working or looking for work. Common industries include accommodation and food, as well as construction.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with no homes within a 15-minute walk of a school, health service, or public transport. However, almost every home (97.7%) is within a short walk of a park.