Nambour
Nambour stands out as an inland Sunshine Coast service centre where 39.8% rent and household income sits at the 26.7th percentile, below many coastal markets such as Maroochydore or Buderim. The population is 12,145 at suburb level, with a median age of 40 and 66.5% separate houses, so it reads more established than resort-led. Lower incomes are partly offset by moderate housing stress, with rent at 27.8% of income because weekly rent is 340. Healthcare is the main employment base, giving the town a practical regional role rather than a beach-premium profile.
Population
12,145
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,224/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
39
Median House
$431K
Estimated from rent (2025)
For homebuyers, Nambour is a lower-stress entry point than many Sunshine Coast names because mortgage costs sit at 1560 per month and mortgage-to-income is 29.4%. The dwelling mix favours space: 66.5% separate houses, 20.4% semi-detached homes and only 13.2% apartments. Three-bedroom homes are the main format at 42.0%, with larger homes at 26.4%, so families get more conventional layouts than in higher-density coastal pockets. A current median house price is not recorded, so buyers should benchmark recent sales carefully.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Nambour is a lower-stress entry point than many Sunshine Coast names because mortgage costs sit at 1560 per month and mortgage-to-income is 29.4%. The dwelling mix favours space: 66.5% separate houses, 20.4% semi-detached homes and only 13.2% apartments. Three-bedroom homes are the main format at 42.0%, with larger homes at 26.4%, so families get more conventional layouts than in higher-density coastal pockets. A current median house price is not recorded, so buyers should benchmark recent sales carefully.
For Investors
Investors get a sizeable tenant pool because 39.8% of households rent, above the 23.5% owned outright share. Weekly rent is 340 and rent-to-income is 27.8%, which helps explain why rent stress is not flagged. The trade-off is vacancy at 6.1%, higher than a very tight rental setting, so tenant selection and presentation matter. Development is active with 35 applications in 12 months, including dual-occupancy activity, adding both renewal potential and some future supply risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
98
Last 12 Months
39
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+39.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Nambour iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St John's College
7-12 · 927 students
St Joseph's Primary School
Prep-6 · 341 students
Nambour State College
Prep-12 · 1469 students
Demographics
Nambour is locally rooted rather than heavily migrant-led: 18.0% were born overseas, which is 3.6 percentage points below the national comparison, and English ancestry leads with 5,399 people. The median age is 40, matching the national age comparison, while university attainment is 20.7%, 9.4 points below national. Household size averages 2.3, slightly lower than the national benchmark, which fits the mix of older households, renters and couples without children at 26.0%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.5%
Houses
20.4%
Townhouse
13.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is ownership-mixed rather than owner-dominated: 23.5% owned outright, 36.7% with a mortgage and 39.8% renting. Separate houses at 66.5% are higher than apartments at 13.2%, while semi-detached dwellings add 20.4%, so the stock suits families and downsizers who do not need a high-rise setting. Bedroom supply centres on 3-bedroom homes at 42.0%, then larger homes at 26.4% and 2-bedroom dwellings at 24.8%. Rent-to-income at 27.8% and mortgage-to-income at 29.4% sit below flagged stress settings.
Mortgage / mo
$1,560
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$641
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
311
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.0%
Couples, no children
8,792
Total families
Economy & Employment
Nambour's economy is anchored by care and population services: healthcare employs 892 people or 26.0%, above construction at 393 and education at 360. Occupations are spread across community and personal work 843, professionals 799 and labourers 792, which matches the hospital, trade and service base. Unemployment is 7.0% with participation at 50.8%, so weaker labour-force attachment helps explain household income at the 26.7th percentile. SEIFA is below average overall: IEO, IRSD and IRSAD are decile 3, while IER is decile 4.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
12,605
Unemployed
780
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
50.8%
Employed
4,681
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.7%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
18.0%
Dwellings
4,789
Transport to Work
Day-to-day life is car-led: 88.8% drive to work, far higher than public transport at 1.3% and walking or cycling at 3.5%. That matters because errands and school runs are easier with a car, even though the town has its own services. Education is a practical strength, with 3 local schools spanning Catholic and Government sectors and an ICSEA range of 977 to 1059. St John's College at 1059 and St Joseph's Primary at 1045 sit above Nambour State College at 977, while the state college provides the largest enrolment base at 1,469.
Drive
88.8%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.72%/yr
(+424 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is moving faster than a static inland-town reading suggests. The trend path adds 424 people a year at 1.72%, with the medium scenario rising from 24,974 in 2026 to 27,094 in 2031. Migration is led by internal arrivals, averaging 251 net people annually compared with 140 from overseas, so Sunshine Coast relocation demand is a clear driver. The gentrification score is 51 and stage is Active, higher than the earlier shift score of 31, while rent growth of 26.3% and population change of 24.1% point to change without a simple luxury reset.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+140
Net Internal / yr
+251
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +32% since 2011, Net internal migration +251/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Nambour compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nambour a good suburb to live in?
Nambour can suit buyers who want inland Sunshine Coast services, 3 local schools and a more practical feel than higher-priced coastal areas. It is car-reliant, with 88.8% driving to work, but housing stress indicators remain moderate.
What is the median house price in Nambour?
A current median house price is not recorded for Nambour. Other cost markers show a median mortgage payment of 1560 per month and weekly rent of 340, so recent comparable sales should be checked before pricing a purchase.
What schools are in Nambour?
Nambour has 3 local schools: St John's College, St Joseph's Primary School and Nambour State College. ICSEA values range from 977 to 1059, and enrolments range from 341 at St Joseph's to 1,469 at Nambour State College.
Is Nambour safe?
A local crime total is not listed for Nambour, so safety should be checked against current police maps and street-level inspections. For day-to-day amenity, 3 schools and 88.8% car commuting point to a busy local-service pattern.
Is Nambour good for property investment?
Nambour has investment appeal because 39.8% of households rent and weekly rent is 340. The caution is vacancy at 6.1%, which is higher than a very tight market, so investors need to focus on location, condition and tenant demand.
How is Nambour's population changing?
Nambour is on a growth path, with the forecast trend adding 424 people a year at 1.72%. The medium scenario rises from 24,974 in 2026 to 27,094 in 2031, driven mainly by internal migration of 251 net people annually.
Is there much development in Nambour?
Yes. Nambour recorded 35 development applications in the past 12 months, including operational works and a dual-occupancy proposal. That level of activity is above a quiet renewal setting and may add both housing choice and supply competition.
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.
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