Birtinya
With 63.7% of residents renting and apartments making up 47.7% of dwellings, Birtinya on the Sunshine Coast reads more like an inner-city precinct than a coastal suburb. Population grew 80.9% over the decade, well above state and national norms, driven by healthcare infrastructure anchoring the local economy at 37.2% of all employment. The estimated median house price sits at $599,000 and the suburb sits in SEIFA decile 6 across all four indexes, placing it in the middle band nationally. Household income ranks at the 65.8th percentile, above average but not at the top tier.
Population
4,378
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,824/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$599K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price for Birtinya is $599,000, supported by weekly rent of $490 and monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,058. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers reasonable serviceability headroom compared to many coastal markets. Stock composition favours apartments (47.7%) over separate houses (42.3%), with semi-detached homes at 10.1%. Four-plus bedroom dwellings account for 36.9% of stock, higher than typical apartment-dominant suburbs, suggesting a sizeable share of larger townhouses and villas. Owner-occupiers are a minority: only 15.6% own outright and 20.6% carry a mortgage, meaning the buyer pool competes against a dominant 63.7% rental market.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price for Birtinya is $599,000, supported by weekly rent of $490 and monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,058. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers reasonable serviceability headroom compared to many coastal markets. Stock composition favours apartments (47.7%) over separate houses (42.3%), with semi-detached homes at 10.1%. Four-plus bedroom dwellings account for 36.9% of stock, higher than typical apartment-dominant suburbs, suggesting a sizeable share of larger townhouses and villas. Owner-occupiers are a minority: only 15.6% own outright and 20.6% carry a mortgage, meaning the buyer pool competes against a dominant 63.7% rental market.
For Investors
Birtinya presents a credible rental case: 63.7% of residents rent, weekly rent averages $490 and the vacancy rate is 10.1%, which is elevated and signals softer demand in the apartment segment. Rent grew 33.3% over the measured period, a strong headline but one that needs to be weighed against the high vacancy. Net internal migration averages 104 people annually and overseas migration contributes another 105, so demand drivers are balanced between both channels rather than relying on one source. Population growth of 3.0% per year projects the suburb from a current level toward 13,908 residents by 2031 under medium forecasts, supporting long-term occupancy. The 10.1% vacancy rate remains the key risk for landlords and warrants stock-level due diligence before purchase.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Birtinya's median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, pointing to a younger working-age population relative to national norms. University qualifications reach 40.9%, which is 10.8 percentage points above the national average, a striking gap for a mid-decile suburb. Overseas-born residents account for 27.0% of the population, 5.4 percentage points above the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,791 residents), Irish (492) and Scottish (443). Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national figure of 2.5, consistent with the apartment-heavy stock and younger couples or singles profile. Couples with children (1,034) slightly outnumber couples without children (1,017) among the 2,865 total families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
42.3%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
47.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by renters at 63.7%, well above state and national averages, while outright owners (15.6%) and mortgage holders (20.6%) together account for just 36.2% of occupied dwellings. Apartments make up 47.7% of stock and separate houses 42.3%, an unusually close split that reflects estate-style development mixing townhouses with attached dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes represent 36.9% of all dwellings, the largest single bedroom category, followed by two-bedroom at 34.2% and three-bedroom at 19.7%. The rent-to-income ratio sits at 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so rental affordability is reasonable relative to household incomes at the 65.8th percentile nationally. Mortgage-to-income at 26.1% is similarly manageable, though the low ownership rate suggests price levels still deter many potential buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$2,058
Rent / wk
$490
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$888
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.1%
Unoccupied
189
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.5%
Couples, no children
2,865
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local economy at 37.2% of all workers (629 people), reflecting the proximity of major health infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast. This is an unusually concentrated sectoral share and explains much of the suburb's population growth trajectory. Education follows at 8.1% (137 workers) and Construction at 7.6% (129), with Professional/Tech at 6.7% and Retail at 6.6%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 733 workers, followed by Community/Personal at 302 and Clerical/Admin at 282. The unemployment rate is 4.2% and the full-time employment rate runs at 63.8%. The SEIFA irsad decile of 6 places the suburb in the middle band nationally, while personal weekly income of $888 compares respectably for a decile 6 area.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
6,579
Unemployed
173
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.8%
Part-time
32.0%
Participation
59.2%
Employed
2,136
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.9%
Postgraduate
9.4%
Born Overseas
27.0%
Dwellings
1,691
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling is a standout at 16.5% of commuters, well above the national average, indicating compact, walkable urban design within the suburb. Public transport use is low at 2.0%, so car access remains important despite the walkability score, with 76.6% of residents driving to work. Crime data is not available for Birtinya, so the SEIFA framework serves as a proxy: the suburb ranks decile 6 on IRSAD, placing it in the moderate advantage band nationally. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families draw on nearby Sunshine Coast schools. The 7.5% of residents needing daily assistance (306 people) is moderate. Volunteering participation sits at 13.8% and the household need-for-assistance rate remains within typical community norms for a decile 6 area.
Drive
76.6%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
16.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.0%/yr
(+349 people/yr)
EstablishedBirtinya recorded 80.9% population growth over the decade, a rate substantially above typical state and national suburb growth, driven by healthcare and coastal amenity attraction. Annual growth currently runs at 3.0% (349 persons per year). Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 population reaching 13,908 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 11,624. Internal migration contributes 104 net residents annually and overseas migration an equal 105, a balanced split that reduces single-source dependency risk. The gentrification score sits at 28 with an early signs stage, with accelerating professional share (32% to 45%) and net internal migration as the primary signals. Affordability improved over the decade from 70.3% to 58.3% of income required, a positive shift compared to many coastal markets where affordability has deteriorated.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+105
Net Internal / yr
+104
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal migration +104/yr, Accelerating: 32% → 45%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Birtinya compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birtinya a good suburb to live in?
Birtinya suits renters, healthcare workers and younger households: 63.7% of residents rent, the median age is 36 (4 years below national), and 40.9% hold university qualifications, which is 10.8 percentage points above the national average. SEIFA decile 6 places it in the middle band nationally. Walking and cycling is high at 16.5% of commuters, reflecting a compact layout.
What is the median house price in Birtinya?
The estimated median house price is $599,000, with weekly rent averaging $490. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,058, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Apartments make up 47.7% of stock, so detached house prices may sit above the median estimate.
What schools are in Birtinya?
No schools are recorded within the Birtinya boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Sunshine Coast suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, 40.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 10.8 points above the national figure, reflecting the suburb's educated workforce profile.
Is Birtinya safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Birtinya in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, a moderate position, and 7.5% of residents (306 people) need daily assistance. Household income ranks at the 65.8th percentile, above average, which generally correlates with lower disadvantage.
Is Birtinya good for property investment?
The 63.7% renter share and $490 weekly rent create a deep tenant pool, but the 10.1% vacancy rate signals oversupply risk, particularly in the apartment segment at 47.7% of stock. Rent grew 33.3% over the measured period. Annual population growth of 3.0% and net migration of around 209 people per year support long-term demand, though the vacancy rate warrants careful due diligence.
How is Birtinya's population changing?
Birtinya grew 80.9% over the decade, far above typical national and state suburb growth rates. Current annual growth runs at 3.0% (349 persons per year). Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 reaching 13,908 residents by 2031. Internal and overseas migration each contribute around 104 to 105 net people annually, a balanced growth driver profile.
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.
Explore Birtinya on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map