Birtinya
A 10.1% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Birtinya, a compact Sunshine Coast suburb with 4,378 residents across 3.2 sq km. Apartments account for 47.7% of homes and renters 61.1%, giving it a more mobile, higher-density profile than a conventional detached-house area. The median age is 36, four years below the national comparison, while university attainment is 40.9%, 10.8 percentage points above national. Household income ranks at the 65.8th percentile. For buyers comparing Birtinya with nearby Mountain Creek or Kawana Waters, the key distinction is its apartment-led, renter-majority profile, which creates more choice but also more exposure to vacancy conditions.
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
7
For homebuyers, Birtinya's housing mix points toward lower-maintenance and apartment options rather than a purely detached-house market. Apartments make up 47.7% of dwellings, separate houses 42.3%, and 4-plus-bedroom homes 36.9%, so households should compare body-corporate costs, storage and outdoor space alongside floor area. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,058, while mortgage commitments equal 26.1% of household income, below the 26.9% rent-to-income figure. Household income sits at the 65.8th percentile, above the midpoint. Compared with the detached-home pattern often sought in nearby Mountain Creek, Birtinya may suit buyers prioritising amenity and lock-up-and-leave convenience, but exact sale prices need current local evidence.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Birtinya's housing mix points toward lower-maintenance and apartment options rather than a purely detached-house market. Apartments make up 47.7% of dwellings, separate houses 42.3%, and 4-plus-bedroom homes 36.9%, so households should compare body-corporate costs, storage and outdoor space alongside floor area. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,058, while mortgage commitments equal 26.1% of household income, below the 26.9% rent-to-income figure. Household income sits at the 65.8th percentile, above the midpoint. Compared with the detached-home pattern often sought in nearby Mountain Creek, Birtinya may suit buyers prioritising amenity and lock-up-and-leave convenience, but exact sale prices need current local evidence.
For Investors
Investors get a renter-heavy market, but the vacancy signal deserves as much attention as rent. Renting accounts for 61.1% of occupied tenure, higher than either outright ownership at 15.0% or mortgage ownership at 19.8%, and weekly rent is $490. Vacancy is 10.1%, which can mean longer leasing periods and more competition between landlords than in a tightly supplied market. Six development matters were recorded over 12 months, including civil works and a commercial fit-out, so amenity may keep evolving. The forecast points to 3.0% annual growth with Balanced migration. This combination suits investors who can tolerate softer short-term occupancy conditions and assess apartment fees, incentives and resale depth rather than relying on rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+250.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Birtinya has a median age of 36, four years below the national comparison, and 40.9% of residents hold university qualifications, 10.8 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 27.0%, 5.4 points above the national comparison, while average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below national. English, Irish and Scottish are the leading reported ancestries at 1,791, 492 and 443 people. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 2,025, ahead of Christianity at 1,820. These patterns fit a relatively educated, mobile population: 49.9% turnover and 50.1% staying suggest substantial movement, while smaller households support apartment demand. Compared with the family-housing pattern often associated with nearby Mountain Creek, Birtinya has a more compact demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
42.3%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
47.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Birtinya's tenure profile is unusual for a suburban market: 61.1% of residents rent, while 15.0% own outright and 19.8% hold a mortgage. Apartments represent 47.7% of dwellings, ahead of separate houses at 42.3%, with semi-detached homes at 10.1%. The bedroom mix is split between 2-bedroom homes at 34.2% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 36.9%, leaving 3-bedroom stock at 19.7%. At 1,368.5 people per sq km across 3.2 sq km, the built form is compact. For buyers comparing Birtinya with nearby Mountain Creek, the key contrast is Birtinya's more apartment-oriented and renter-led market. The 26.9% rent-to-income ratio and 26.1% mortgage ratio provide useful affordability context, although a median sale price is not available.
Mortgage / mo
$2,058
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $490.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $850 · units $700
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
33.8%
Couples with children
48.0%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
1,084
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Birtinya's employment base at 37.2%, or 629 workers, well above Education at 8.1% and Construction at 7.6%. Professional/Tech contributes 6.7% and Retail 6.6%, giving the suburb a service-heavy mix linked to health and community demand. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 733 people, followed by Community/Personal at 302 and Clerical/Admin at 282. Labour-force participation is 64.4%, unemployment 3.9%, and full-time employment 58.4%, indicating a sizeable active workforce. Household income ranks at the 65.8th percentile, above the midpoint, while IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD each sit at SEIFA decile 6. The matching deciles suggest moderate rather than extreme advantage: earnings and professional employment are stronger than a low-income profile, but not in the top decile.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
2,426
Unemployed
94
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.4%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
64.4%
Employed
2,332
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.9%
Postgraduate
9.4%
Born Overseas
27.0%
Dwellings
1,691
Transport to Work
Daily life in Birtinya is compact but car-led. The suburb contains 4,378 residents in 3.2 sq km, a density of 1,368.5 people per sq km. Car driving accounts for 64.1% of travel, higher than public transport at 1.7%, while 13.8% walk or cycle and 16.3% work from home. That mix means households should budget for vehicle access even though the built form is dense. School decisions should be made against the exact address and enrolment zone, with nearby options checked for sector, year levels and travel time rather than assumed from the suburb boundary. Socioeconomic conditions sit around the middle, with IRSAD decile 6 and IRSD decile 6, so Birtinya ranks above lower-decile areas but below the top deciles. Compared with a lower-density coastal suburb, its compact form may make local errands easier, but transport choices remain limited.
Drive
64.1%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
13.8%
Work from Home
16.3%
Population Forecast
+3.0%/yr
(+349 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is a central part of Birtinya's outlook. The forecast trend is 3.0% a year, higher than a flat-growth setting, and the primary migration driver is labelled Balanced rather than dominated by one stream. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 80.9%, while the shift trajectory is Declining young, with the young share down 3.7 percentage points. That suggests expansion can continue even as the age profile matures. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 28, while the shift model records rent growth of 33.3% and real income growth of 30.8%. Affordability is labelled Improving, with measures of 70.3% in 2011 and 58.3% in 2021. Compared with a static suburb, the 3.0% annual trend supports ongoing demand, but investors should monitor whether new supply absorbs it.
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 can suit renters, professionals and buyers seeking apartment-led housing, but it is less conventional than a detached-home suburb. Apartments are 47.7% of dwellings, renters 61.1%, and car travel 64.1%, so assess tenure preferences, parking and daily transport before committing.
What is the median house price in Birtinya?
A current median house price is not available for a dependable comparison. Weekly rent is $490, mortgage payments are $2,058 per month, and 47.7% of dwellings are apartments. Buyers should compare current sales by dwelling type because the housing mix can make a single suburb-wide median less representative.
What schools are in Birtinya?
School access should be confirmed for the exact address and enrolment zone, including sector and year levels. Birtinya has 4,378 residents across 3.2 sq km, but nearby school options can sit outside the suburb boundary. Check the Queensland school directory and travel times before signing a lease or contract.
Is Birtinya safe?
A definitive safety rating cannot be given without a current crime rate. Birtinya's IRSAD is in decile 6 and its population is 4,378, but socioeconomic deciles are not crime measures. Check recent Queensland Police incident information for the exact streets and compare day and night conditions before deciding.
Is Birtinya good for property investment?
Birtinya has investment appeal through 61.1% renting and $490 weekly rent, but the 10.1% vacancy rate is a caution because leasing competition may be higher than in a tighter market. Forecast growth is 3.0% annually and 6 development matters were recorded over 12 months. Check apartment levies, incentives and resale depth before buying.
How is Birtinya's population changing?
Birtinya has 4,378 residents today. Across the wider area, forecast population change is 80.9% over 10 years and annual growth is 3.0%, with migration rated Balanced. The shift trajectory is Declining young, so growth may continue while the age mix gradually matures rather than remaining focused only on younger households.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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