Mission Beach
The 1,014 residents have a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national figure, pointing to a retiree and sea-change population. Household income ranks at the 33.2nd percentile nationally, well below average, while 39.2% own their home outright, consistent with older debt-free residents. Construction, healthcare and hospitality each claim 10-15% of local employment, reflecting a small, services-oriented economy dependent on tourism.
Local council: Cassowary Coast
Population
1,014
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,326/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
36
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,341, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4% is lower than many comparable coastal locations. The stock is strongly detached-house dominant at 84%, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 39.7% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 25.7%. Apartments are scarce at 7%, so buyers generally secure a standalone dwelling. Outright owners at 39.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.8%, suggesting a settled resident base rather than a market driven by new entrants.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,341, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4% is lower than many comparable coastal locations. The stock is strongly detached-house dominant at 84%, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 39.7% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 25.7%. Apartments are scarce at 7%, so buyers generally secure a standalone dwelling. Outright owners at 39.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.8%, suggesting a settled resident base rather than a market driven by new entrants.
For Investors
The 20.8% vacancy rate is the primary caution: it is high compared to most Queensland coastal suburbs and signals rental demand has not kept pace with dwelling supply. The renter share is 37%, and rent-to-income at 26.4% keeps rentals accessible for local wage earners. Development activity is modest at 12 applications in the past 12 months, limiting new supply pressure. The local economy sits at the 33.2nd percentile of household incomes nationally, so rental affordability rather than rising demand drives the tenant pool.
Development Activity
Total DAs
36
Last 12 Months
36
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national average, making Mission Beach one of Queensland's older coastal communities. The overseas-born share is 20%, which is 1.6 percentage points below the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (415 residents), Irish (133) and Scottish (121). University qualifications reach 21.7%, which is 8.4 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a retiree and trades-oriented population. The average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, and 46.6% of families are couples without children, reflecting the older couples profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.0%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
7.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits across three groups: 39.2% own outright, 23.8% carry a mortgage and 37% rent, with outright ownership above many coastal suburbs because of the older resident base. Separate houses dominate at 84% of dwellings, with apartments at just 7%, giving the suburb a low-density character. The bedroom mix skews toward mid-sized homes: 39.7% have 3 bedrooms and 25.7% have 4 or more. The 20.8% vacancy rate stands out as abnormally high, reflecting holiday or investment properties that are not permanently occupied.
Mortgage / mo
$1,341
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$711
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.8%
Unoccupied
110
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.3%
Couples with children
58.2%
Couples, no children
11.0%
Single parent
282
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction leads industry at 15.2% of employed residents (47 workers), followed by healthcare at 11.6% (36), hospitality at 10.6% (33), and agriculture and education each at 10.3% (32). This even spread across five sectors reflects a small economy with no dominant employer. By occupation, labourers lead at 85 workers, followed by professionals (79) and managers (68), a mix aligning with the construction and hospitality base. The unemployment rate is 5.4%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 52.7% is low because 293 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the 49 median age retiree profile.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
498
Unemployed
25
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.4%
Part-time
35.9%
Participation
56.8%
Employed
473
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.7%
Postgraduate
5.4%
Born Overseas
20.0%
Dwellings
412
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 85.2% driving to work, above the national average, while 8.1% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on education services in nearby Cassowary Coast centres. The volunteering rate of 19.1% is strong for a small community of 1,014. Housing stress indicators are manageable: rent-to-income at 26.4% and mortgage-to-income at 23.4% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, lower than many comparable coastal areas. Only 5.6% of residents need daily assistance, in line with the 49 median age.
Drive
75.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
11.2%
Growth Outlook
Mission Beach has a stable population of 1,014 across 9.62 square kilometres, giving a low density of 105 people per square kilometre. The aging resident base limits natural population growth, so the suburb depends on sea-change migration rather than family formation. The resident turnover rate of 31.5% indicates meaningful churn, with new retirees arriving as working-age residents leave for larger centres. At 12 development applications over the past year, construction activity is low and does not signal a supply-driven growth phase. Household income at the 33.2nd percentile nationally constrains local economic expansion.
Population trend: Cassowary Coast council area
Mission Beach sits in the Cassowary Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Mission Beach's.
Residents 2025
30,666
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
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 Mission Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mission Beach a good suburb to live in?
Mission Beach suits retirees and sea-change buyers well. The median age is 49, about 9 years above national, and 46.6% of families are couples without children. Housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 23.4%. The trade-offs are limited local services, no schools within the suburb boundary, and a 20.8% vacancy rate pointing to a part-time or seasonal population.
What is the median house price in Mission Beach?
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,341, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%. Weekly rent averages $350. The stock is 84% separate houses, so most purchases are for detached dwellings.
What schools are in Mission Beach?
No schools are recorded within the Mission Beach boundary in this dataset. The suburb has 1,014 residents with a median age of 49, and family composition is dominated by couples without children at 46.6%. Families rely on schools in nearby Cassowary Coast centres such as Innisfail.
Is Mission Beach safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Mission Beach in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the volunteering rate is 19.1% and only 5.6% of residents (50 people) need daily assistance. The household income sits at the 33.2nd percentile nationally, below average, which is a factor to consider when assessing the local environment.
Is Mission Beach good for property investment?
The 20.8% vacancy rate is the key risk, high relative to most Queensland coastal suburbs. The local economy sits at the 33.2nd percentile of household incomes nationally, limiting rental growth. Development activity is low at 12 applications in 12 months.
How is Mission Beach's population changing?
Mission Beach has a small, stable population of 1,014 with a median age of 49, which is 9 years above national. The aging profile means natural increase is limited and growth depends on sea-change migration. The resident turnover rate of 31.5% shows meaningful churn. The low participation rate of 52.7% reflects a large retiree share not in the labour force.
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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