Beerwah
Covering 58.6 sq km at a density of just 132 people per sq km, Beerwah is a semi-rural Sunshine Coast hinterland suburb where 85.9% of housing is detached and university attainment at 19.1% is 11.0 percentage points below the national average. Yet it is growing at 2.03% annually, adding 202 people per year through balanced internal (+66/yr) and overseas (+60/yr) migration, a rare dual-source growth pattern. German ancestry (501) is the 5th largest group, above the national average, reflecting the historical German settlement in the Glasshouse Mountains corridor.
Population
7,734
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,512/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
Median House
$488K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $488,000 median offers Sunshine Coast entry well below the coastal strip's pricing. Mortgage stress at 26.5% of income is comfortable. Detached homes dominate at 85.9%, with 46.8% being 4+ bedrooms and 42.0% being 3-bedroom, a family-oriented stock. Four schools serve the suburb, led by Glasshouse Christian College (Independent, Combined, ICSEA 1039, 1,180 enrolled). Only 1.7% use public transport, and 89.0% drive, so proximity to the Bruce Highway is essential for commuters. The 24.8% residential turnover rate is moderate, indicating reasonable stability for a growth suburb.
For Buyers
The estimated $488,000 median offers Sunshine Coast entry well below the coastal strip's pricing. Mortgage stress at 26.5% of income is comfortable. Detached homes dominate at 85.9%, with 46.8% being 4+ bedrooms and 42.0% being 3-bedroom, a family-oriented stock. Four schools serve the suburb, led by Glasshouse Christian College (Independent, Combined, ICSEA 1039, 1,180 enrolled). Only 1.7% use public transport, and 89.0% drive, so proximity to the Bruce Highway is essential for commuters. The 24.8% residential turnover rate is moderate, indicating reasonable stability for a growth suburb.
For Investors
The 27.2% renting rate and 5.6% vacancy rate are a functional pairing, and $390/week rent on a $488,000 estimated median yields approximately 4.2% gross. Rent growth of 25.8% over the past decade is solid. Population growth of 2.03% annually provides sustained demand. The 33 development applications in 12 months signal active, ongoing construction. Gentrification is at early signs (score 37) with population up 35% since 2011 and internal migration of +66/year, meaning people are choosing to move here rather than being priced out of elsewhere.
Development Activity
Total DAs
91
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Beerwah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Glasshouse Christian College
Prep-12 · 1180 students
My Independent School
7-11 · 69 students
Beerwah State High School
7-12 · 855 students
Beerwah State School
Prep-6 · 220 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure. The suburb is heavily Anglo-heritage: English (3,434), Scottish (882), Irish (841), with German (501) being the distinctive non-British group. Only 16.1% were born overseas, 5.5 percentage points below the national average. University attainment at 19.1% is among the lowest in this dataset. The occupation profile reflects this: labourers (440) nearly match professionals (531), and community/personal services (448) are a major employer. Average household size of 2.7 is above the national 2.5, consistent with the family-oriented demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.9%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
8.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses at 85.9% dominate, with apartments at 8.1% and semi-detached at just 4.6%. The bedroom profile is large: 46.8% have 4+ bedrooms and 42.0% have 3 bedrooms, with only 11.2% having 2 or fewer. Ownership is mortgage-heavy (40.7%), with 32.2% outright and 27.2% renting. Mortgage stress at 26.5% is below the risk threshold. At 58.6 sq km, Beerwah has substantial undeveloped land compared to coastal suburbs, which keeps prices lower but also means longer drives to amenities. The 75.2% residential retention rate is moderate.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$692
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
160
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.0%
Couples, no children
6,178
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (20.0%) and construction (13.9%) together employ 33.9% of workers, a blue-collar and care-economy mix. Education (11.3%) is the 3rd sector. Professionals (531) are the largest occupation but labourers (440) and community/personal services (448) are nearly equal, indicating a broad skills base. Unemployment at 5.8% is above the national average. The participation rate of 52.6% means nearly half of adults are outside the labour force, partly reflecting retirees in the aging-trajectory suburb. SEIFA IRSAD decile 4 places Beerwah below the national midpoint, consistent with the lower income and education profile.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
5,060
Unemployed
232
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
33.1%
Participation
52.6%
Employed
3,085
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.1%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
16.1%
Dwellings
2,703
Transport to Work
Four schools serve Beerwah: Glasshouse Christian College (Independent, Combined, ICSEA 1039, 1,180 enrolled), Beerwah State High School (Government, ICSEA 970, 855 enrolled), Beerwah State School (Government, ICSEA 950, 220 enrolled), and My Independent School (Independent, Secondary, ICSEA 996, 69 enrolled). Public transport at 1.7% is minimal, reflecting the semi-rural character. Walking and cycling at 3.7% suggest some local trips are walkable. Need for assistance at 8.6% is above the national average, consistent with the aging population. The SEIFA IRSAD decile 4 places livability below the national midpoint.
Drive
89.0%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.03%/yr
(+202 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is forecast to grow from 9,938 in 2025 to 11,316 by 2031, adding 202 people annually at 2.03%, above the national average growth rate. Growth comes from balanced migration: internal +66/year and overseas +60/year. The suburb grew 28.5% over the past decade. The aging trajectory is clear: senior share rose 4.4 percentage points and young share fell 2.5 percentage points. Gentrification is at early signs (score 37), with population accelerating from prior periods. Affordability improved from 62.8% to 56.6% mortgage-to-income over the decade, helped by 13.4% real income growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+60
Net Internal / yr
+66
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +35% since 2011, Net internal migration +66/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Beerwah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beerwah a good suburb to live in?
For families wanting affordable Sunshine Coast hinterland living with large homes, Beerwah delivers: 85.9% detached housing, 46.8% with 4+ bedrooms, and an estimated $488,000 median. Four schools serve the suburb. The trade-off is semi-rural car dependency (89.0% drive), SEIFA decile 4, and university attainment 11pp below the national average.
What is the median house price in Beerwah?
The rent-derived estimate is $488,000 (2025). Mortgage repayments of $1,733/month consume 26.5% of household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. This positions Beerwah as one of the more affordable entry points on the Sunshine Coast.
What schools are in Beerwah?
Four schools serve the suburb: Glasshouse Christian College (Independent, Combined, ICSEA 1039, 1,180 enrolled) leads. Beerwah State High School (Government, ICSEA 970, 855 enrolled) and Beerwah State School (Government, ICSEA 950, 220 enrolled) are government options. My Independent School (ICSEA 996, 69 enrolled) is a small secondary.
Is Beerwah safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Beerwah in the current dataset. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 4 places it below the national midpoint, which statistically correlates with moderately higher property crime than decile 6+ suburbs. The semi-rural character typically moderates violent crime compared to urban areas.
Is Beerwah good for property investment?
Gross yield of approximately 4.2% ($390/week on $488,000) is competitive, and the 5.6% vacancy rate is functional. Population growth of 2.03% annually and 33 DAs in 12 months indicate an active market. Rent grew 25.8% over the decade. The risk is that low density (132/sq km) and large land area mean supply can expand, potentially capping price growth.
How is Beerwah's population changing?
Population grew 28.5% over the past decade and is forecast to reach 11,316 by 2031 from 9,938 in 2025. Growth comes from balanced migration: internal +66/year and overseas +60/year. The suburb is aging, with the senior share rising 4.4 percentage points and young share falling 2.5 percentage points over the decade.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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