Dicky Beach
A median age of 53 tells much of Dicky Beach's story: 13 years above the national figure, it is one of the Sunshine Coast's most age-skewed suburbs. The 1,921 residents occupy just 1.03 square kilometres at a density of 1,858 per square kilometre, and 45.2% own their homes outright, a rate that far exceeds the national average and points to long-settled, debt-free households.
Local council: Sunshine Coast
Population
1,921
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,322/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,863, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 32.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, so buyers stretching for a beach location should budget carefully. Separate houses account for 65.8% of dwellings, higher than many coastal suburbs, while semi-detached homes sit at 23.2% and apartments at just 3.7%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 37.3%, followed by 4-plus bedroom properties at 33.3%, giving families a reasonable range of stock compared to denser urban suburbs.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,863, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 32.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, so buyers stretching for a beach location should budget carefully. Separate houses account for 65.8% of dwellings, higher than many coastal suburbs, while semi-detached homes sit at 23.2% and apartments at just 3.7%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 37.3%, followed by 4-plus bedroom properties at 33.3%, giving families a reasonable range of stock compared to denser urban suburbs.
For Investors
The 17.4% vacancy rate is the key caution for investors: it is significantly higher than the national average, suggesting a large pool of holiday or short-stay properties competing for long-term tenants. Weekly rent averages $400 and 31.1% of residents rent, a moderate tenant base for a small suburb of 1,921 people. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, well below active growth suburbs, indicating constrained new supply rather than development-driven oversupply. Household income sits at the 33rd percentile nationally, lower than most coastal lifestyle markets, which limits the rent ceiling. The high outright ownership rate of 45.2% reflects a buy-and-hold culture, not rapid turnover.
Development Activity
Total DAs
29
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+280.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dicky Beach
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Currimundi Special School
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, making Dicky Beach one of the oldest demographics on the Sunshine Coast. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, consistent with the dominant profile: 37.6% of families are couples without children, the largest household type. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, with English (905 residents), Irish (275) and Scottish (266) the top groups, and overseas-born residents at 19.0% run 2.6 percentage points below the national rate. University qualifications reach 34.2%, which is 4.1 points above the national average, indicating an educated but largely retired or semi-retired population. Volunteering at 17.8% is above average, common in stable, older communities.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.8%
Houses
23.2%
Townhouse
3.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure composition reflects a suburb of established owners: 45.2% hold their home outright, 23.7% carry a mortgage and 31.1% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders is a strong signal that much of the stock has been held for decades. Separate houses dominate at 65.8%, a higher proportion than most apartments-heavy coastal suburbs in QLD, with semi-detached homes at 23.2% and apartments below 4%. The bedroom mix skews large, with 3-bedroom at 37.3% and 4-plus at 33.3%, compared to smaller apartments elsewhere.
Mortgage / mo
$1,863
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $400.
$745
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $745 · units $650
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$664
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.4%
Unoccupied
159
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.3% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.9%
Couples with children
50.0%
Couples, no children
17.1%
Single parent
504
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employment sector at 26.0% of workers (143 residents), followed by Education at 14.7% (81) and Construction at 10.7% (59). Professional and technical services account for 9.1% (50 workers). By occupation, Professionals lead at 217 workers, ahead of Community and Personal services at 112 and Managers at 102. The unemployment rate is 6.9% and the participation rate sits at 45.0%, both reflecting the older age profile where 743 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment among those working runs at 57.1%, above average, but the base is small. Household income at the 33rd percentile nationally indicates that while residents are comfortable, incomes fall well below coastal premium suburbs.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
823
Unemployed
52
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.9%
Part-time
39.0%
Participation
49.2%
Employed
771
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.2%
Postgraduate
7.6%
Born Overseas
19.0%
Dwellings
749
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 88.0%, compared to the national average, with only 2.1% using public transport, a function of the coastal suburban layout and limited bus frequency. Walking and cycling account for 3.7% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on nearby Caloundra and surrounding Sunshine Coast schools. The need-for-assistance rate is 11.0% (197 residents), above the national average, which reflects the older population. The rent-to-income ratio of 30.3% sits at the stress threshold for renters, meaning housing affordability is a real constraint for the 31.1% who rent, despite the suburb's moderate median price relative to the state.
Drive
72.1%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
18.1%
Growth Outlook
Dicky Beach is a stable, low-turnover suburb: 76.2% of residents stayed at the same address over the census period, above national mobility norms, which points to a deeply settled community with minimal churn. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, far below active growth areas, so supply pressure is limited. The high median age of 53 compared to the national median implies natural demographic transition over the coming decade as the cohort ages, rather than expansion from younger in-migration. The vacancy rate of 17.4% creates a buffer that the market would need to absorb before new demand translates into meaningful price growth.
Population trend: Sunshine Coast council area
Dicky Beach sits in the Sunshine Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Dicky Beach's.
Residents 2025
381,957
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dicky Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dicky Beach a good suburb to live in?
Dicky Beach suits established owner-occupiers and retirees more than young families. Some 45.2% of residents own their home outright, far above national averages, and 76.2% stayed put over the census period.
What is the median house price in Dicky Beach?
Weekly rent averages $400. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,863, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, so buyers should account for income buffers when buying.
What schools are in Dicky Beach?
No schools are recorded within the Dicky Beach suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Caloundra and surrounding Sunshine Coast areas. Despite this, 34.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 4.1 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Dicky Beach safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Dicky Beach in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a highly stable resident base with 76.2% staying at the same address over the census period, and a volunteering rate of 17.8%, both consistent with a settled, low-disadvantage community. The 17.4% vacancy rate reflects holiday use rather than social instability.
Is Dicky Beach good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. However, the 17.4% vacancy rate is significantly above national averages, indicating strong competition from holiday and short-stay stock. Only 4 development applications in 12 months limits new supply, but low population growth and an aging demographic cap rental demand growth.
How is Dicky Beach's population changing?
The suburb has a population of 1,921 across 1.03 square kilometres. With a median age of 53, which is 13 years above the national figure, and 76.2% of residents staying put over the census period, Dicky Beach is demographically stable rather than growing. The dominant profile of couples without children (37.6% of families) and high outright ownership suggest organic, slow demographic transition rather than active population growth.
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).
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