Golden Beach
Golden Beach stands out for its older resident base, compact coastal setting and unusually high 20.1% vacancy rate. The suburb has 5,646 residents across 2.81 square kilometres, creating a density of 2,009.5 people per square kilometre. Its median age of 55 is 15 years above the national comparison, while average household size is 2.1, or 0.4 below the national figure. Nearly half of dwellings are owned outright at 47.3%, supporting a settled population, but the 31.6% rental share and high vacancy point to a meaningful holiday, investor or short-term accommodation presence. Compared with nearby Pelican Waters and Caloundra, Golden Beach has a stronger ageing profile and smaller households, which shapes demand for lower-maintenance homes, apartments and accessible services.
Population
5,646
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,154/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
42
Golden Beach suits buyers prioritising established coastal living, smaller households and lower-maintenance housing, although borrowing capacity needs careful testing. The dwelling mix includes 56.6% separate houses, 29.2% apartments and 12.7% semi-detached homes, while 46.8% of properties have 3 bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,907 equates to 38.2% of household income, above the 34.7% rent-to-income measure, so repayment buffers matter more than simply choosing between renting and buying. Outright ownership is high at 47.3%, compared with 18.9% paying a mortgage, reflecting the suburb's older age profile. A current suburb median house price is unavailable, so buyers should compare like-for-like listings by tenure, dwelling type, water access and renovation condition rather than rely on a single headline figure.
For Buyers
Golden Beach suits buyers prioritising established coastal living, smaller households and lower-maintenance housing, although borrowing capacity needs careful testing. The dwelling mix includes 56.6% separate houses, 29.2% apartments and 12.7% semi-detached homes, while 46.8% of properties have 3 bedrooms. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,907 equates to 38.2% of household income, above the 34.7% rent-to-income measure, so repayment buffers matter more than simply choosing between renting and buying. Outright ownership is high at 47.3%, compared with 18.9% paying a mortgage, reflecting the suburb's older age profile. A current suburb median house price is unavailable, so buyers should compare like-for-like listings by tenure, dwelling type, water access and renovation condition rather than rely on a single headline figure.
For Investors
Golden Beach presents a mixed investment case because rental demand is supported by coastal appeal and internal migration, but vacancy risk is substantial. Rent is $400 per week and 31.6% of occupied dwellings are rented, while the vacancy rate is 20.1%, much higher than a tight long-term rental market. Rent growth of 33.3% may improve gross returns compared with earlier periods, yet a high vacancy rate can reduce income reliability and increase leasing costs. There were 35 development applications in the past 12 months, creating ongoing competition from building work and refreshed stock rather than a clear signal of new dwelling supply. Compared with a low-vacancy strategy, Golden Beach requires investors to model seasonal demand, property management costs, insurance and periods without tenants. Internal migration is the primary growth driver, which may support demand from relocating Queensland households.
Development Activity
Total DAs
94
Last 12 Months
42
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Golden Beach
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Golden Beach State School
Demographics
Golden Beach has a distinctly older demographic profile, with a median age of 55, 15 years above the national comparison. The ageing trajectory is consistent with 56.5% of families being couples without children, compared with 25.6% couples with children, while the average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national figure. English ancestry is recorded for 2,646 residents, followed by Irish at 792, Scottish at 746 and German at 412, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning profile. Christianity is reported by 2,944 people and no religion by 2,160. Overseas-born residents make up 17.4%, 4.2 percentage points below the national comparison, and university attainment is 24.9%, 5.2 points below national levels. These patterns help explain demand for accessible homes, healthcare and services more than large family-oriented housing.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.6%
Houses
12.7%
Townhouse
29.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Golden Beach has a tenure profile shaped by long-term ownership, coastal apartments and a sizeable rental segment. Outright ownership is 47.3%, mortgage ownership is 18.9% and renting accounts for 31.6%, so the outright-owned share is higher than both mortgaged and rented tenure. Separate houses comprise 56.6% of dwellings, while apartments account for 29.2% and semi-detached homes 12.7%. Three-bedroom properties are the largest bedroom category at 46.8%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 26.0%, 4 or more bedrooms at 19.8% and studios or 1-bedroom dwellings at 7.4%. Weekly rent is $400, but rent-to-income pressure reaches 34.7%, while mortgage-to-income pressure is higher at 38.2%. Compared with an all-detached housing market, Golden Beach gives buyers more apartment and smaller-home choices, because its compact coastal form supports varied dwelling types.
Mortgage / mo
$1,907
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
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$658
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.1%
Unoccupied
648
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.2% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.6%
Couples with children
56.5%
Couples, no children
17.2%
Single parent
1,603
Total families
Economy & Employment
Golden Beach's economy is closely linked to essential services, construction, education and visitor-facing activity. Healthcare is the largest industry at 23.2%, representing 333 workers, followed by construction at 13.1% or 188 workers, education at 11.8% or 169, hospitality at 6.9% or 99, and professional or technical work at 6.8% or 97. The leading occupations are professionals at 384, community and personal service workers at 341, trades at 329, managers at 259 and clerical or administrative workers at 233. Unemployment is 4.5%, while participation is 45.6%, a lower workforce engagement pattern consistent with a median age of 55 and 2,430 people outside the labour force. Weekly household income is $1,154, placing the suburb at the 22nd percentile. SEIFA results vary: education and occupation sits at decile 5, economic resources at 7, and both disadvantage and advantage at 6. The higher resources decile than education and occupation reflects financial capacity that is not matched by above-average formal qualifications.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
2,275
Unemployed
102
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.7%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
45.6%
Employed
2,173
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.9%
Postgraduate
5.4%
Born Overseas
17.4%
Dwellings
2,562
Transport to Work
Golden Beach is practical for residents with a car, but less convenient for people relying on public transport. Car driving accounts for 75.6% of commuting, compared with only 0.9% using public transport and 4.0% walking or cycling. Working from home is reported by 15.6%, which can reduce daily travel for some households but does not replace local transport options. The suburb has 1 nearby school, Golden Beach State School, a government state school, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. With 5,646 residents in 2.81 square kilometres, local services are serving a relatively compact area at 2,009.5 people per square kilometre. IRSAD sits in decile 6, while IRSD is also decile 6, placing the area around the middle of the national comparison. For safety decisions, review current police incident information and visit streets at different times, since a current crime-rate comparison is not available.
Drive
75.6%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
15.6%
Population Forecast
+1.9%/yr
(+272 people/yr)
EstablishedGolden Beach is forecast to follow an established, ageing growth path rather than a rapid family-expansion cycle. The annual trend is 1.9%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, suggesting demand is more likely to come from people relocating within Queensland than from a strong young-family influx. Population change across the wider area is 27.5% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is labelled Aging. The senior share has risen by 7.2 percentage points, compared with a 3.5-point decline in the young share and a 4.2-point decline in the working-age share. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 37, and the separate shift score is 27. Rent growth of 33.3% contrasts with stable affordability, which moved only from 66.1 in 2011 to 66.3 in 2021. Compared with a younger growth corridor, this points to demand for apartments, accessible housing and services for older residents.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+128
Net Internal / yr
+236
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +35% since 2011, Net internal migration +236/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Golden Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Golden Beach a good suburb to live in?
Golden Beach suits residents seeking a coastal setting, established housing and a quieter older demographic. The median age is 55, 47.3% of homes are owned outright and average household size is 2.1. Car dependence is high at 75.6%, so daily convenience depends on access to a vehicle.
What is the median house price in Golden Beach?
A current suburb median house price is not available. Buyers should compare individual listings by dwelling type, land size and condition, because 56.6% of homes are separate houses, 29.2% are apartments and 46.8% have 3 bedrooms. Weekly rent is $400, which provides a useful affordability reference.
What schools are in Golden Beach?
Golden Beach State School is the local government school listed for the suburb. Families should confirm the current enrolment zone for any address, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. The suburb has 5,646 residents and a median age of 55, so housing demand is not primarily driven by large families.
Is Golden Beach safe?
A current suburb crime rate is not available, so safety should be assessed using up-to-date Queensland Police information, street conditions and visits at different times. Golden Beach has 2.81 square kilometres of built-up area and 5,646 residents, making it important to assess the exact street, traffic environment and lighting rather than rely only on suburb-wide impressions.
Is Golden Beach good for property investment?
Golden Beach can suit investors who accept vacancy risk and coastal-market variability. Rent is $400 per week, 31.6% of occupied dwellings are rented and rent growth is 33.3%, but the vacancy rate is a high 20.1%. Internal migration supports demand, while 35 development applications in 12 months may increase competition between properties.
How is Golden Beach's population changing?
Golden Beach is following an ageing trajectory. The wider area's population change is 27.5% over 10 years, annual growth is forecast at 1.9% and internal migration is the primary driver. The senior share rose 7.2 percentage points, while the young share fell 3.5 points, supporting demand for accessible and lower-maintenance housing.
What development is happening in Golden Beach?
There were 35 development applications in the past 12 months, including residential and building-work applications. Examples include patio and shade-structure changes, but dwelling counts are not available for the individual applications. Buyers and owners should confirm approvals, flood requirements, construction timing and the effect of any nearby work before committing.
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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