QLD 4551 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Nirimba

At a median age of 27, Nirimba is 13 years younger than the national median, making it one of the youngest suburbs on the Sunshine Coast. That single fact shapes almost everything: 55.9% of dwellings carry a mortgage, 56.4% have four or more bedrooms, and the household income sits at the 74.7th percentile nationally. The suburb covers just 0.48 km2 yet holds 2,229 residents at a density of 4,693 per km2, a compact footprint dominated by detached housing at 90.8%. High residential turnover, with 63.6% of residents having moved in the previous five years, marks this as a suburb of early-life arrivals rather than long-term settlers.

Nirimba urban fabric map

Population

2,229

Median Age

27.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,997/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

0

Median House

$589K

Estimated from rent (2025)

0.48 km²· 4,692.6 people/km²· Family income $2,066/wk

The median house price of $589,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, placing Nirimba below the broader Sunshine Coast median and making it relatively accessible for first buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers at the median price can service debt without financial strain. Detached houses account for 90.8% of dwellings, so stock is homogeneous. The strong 4-plus bedroom skew at 56.4% of homes signals the suburb is geared toward young families rather than downsizers or couples. At 7.1% outright ownership, most equity is still being built, which is consistent with the 27-year median age.

For Buyers

The median house price of $589,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, placing Nirimba below the broader Sunshine Coast median and making it relatively accessible for first buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers at the median price can service debt without financial strain. Detached houses account for 90.8% of dwellings, so stock is homogeneous. The strong 4-plus bedroom skew at 56.4% of homes signals the suburb is geared toward young families rather than downsizers or couples. At 7.1% outright ownership, most equity is still being built, which is consistent with the 27-year median age.

For Investors

Investors face a mixed picture in Nirimba. Weekly rent of $510 against a $589,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.5%, higher than inner-city alternatives. The vacancy rate of 4.0% is slightly elevated compared to the sub-3% levels typically regarded as landlord-favourable, suggesting demand does not consistently outpace supply. The 37.0% renter share provides a reasonable tenant pool. High residential turnover at 63.6% of residents having moved recently indicates a transient population rather than deep community roots, which can lift short-term rental demand but also increase void risk. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, limiting near-term supply pressure.

Schools in Nirimba iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Nirimba State Primary School

ICSEA 1023 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 665 students

Demographics

The median age of 27 is 13 years below the national figure, giving Nirimba a distinctly young profile compared to Australian averages. English ancestry dominates at 891 residents, followed by Scottish (226) and Irish (207), placing the suburb in the Anglo-Celtic majority characteristic of southeast Queensland. Overseas-born residents reach 24.1%, which is 2.5 percentage points above the national average. Malayalam (21 speakers), Portuguese (14) and Punjabi (13) appear among non-English languages, reflecting modest but growing cultural diversity. University qualifications stand at 30.2%, roughly on par with the national average at 0.1 percentage points above it. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, consistent with the family-formation profile.

Age Distribution

0-14
27.8%
15-24
13.8%
25-44
41.1%
45-64
13.0%
65+
4.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.0%
2 bed
4.8%
3 bed
37.8%
4+ bed
56.4%

Dwelling Structure

90.8%

Houses

9.2%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 7.1% Mortgage 55.9% Rent 37.0%

Tenure in Nirimba is mortgage-heavy: 55.9% of households carry a home loan, 37.0% rent, and only 7.1% own outright. That outright-ownership rate is low compared to national norms, a direct consequence of the young demographic base still in the wealth-accumulation phase. Separate houses make up 90.8% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 9.2%, so the suburb offers minimal apartment stock. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 56.4% of the supply, reflecting demand from young families. The median house price of $589,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, and monthly mortgage repayments of $1,842 produce a 21.3% mortgage-to-income ratio, below the stress threshold and lower than many comparable southeast Queensland suburbs.

Mortgage / mo

$1,842

Rent / wk

$510

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$953

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.0%

Unoccupied

30

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

25.5%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.3%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Malayalam
21
Portuguese
14
Punjabi
13
Nepali
12

Ancestry

English
891
Other
232
Scottish
226
Irish
207
Ancestry NS
118
German
110

Household Composition

22.1%

Couples, no children

1,862

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant industry at 27.8% of employed residents (237 workers), a share substantially higher than typical for a suburb this size. Construction follows at 12.9% (110 workers), Education at 8.1% and Retail at 7.8%. Professionals form the largest occupation group at 237, followed by Community and Personal Service Workers at 188 and Clerical and Administrative roles at 145. The unemployment rate of 4.7% is moderate, and the full-time employment rate of 64.3% indicates most employed residents work standard hours. Labour force participation sits at 70.5%, while 300 residents are not in the labour force, partly explained by the young median age and some residents still in education. Weekly personal income averages $953.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

64.3%

Part-time

31.0%

Participation

70.5%

Employed

1,076

Occupations

Professionals 237
Community/Personal 188
Clerical/Admin 145
Managers 122
Labourers 113
Sales 107
Machinery/Drivers 73

Top Industries

Healthcare 27.8%
Construction 12.9%
Education 8.1%
Retail 7.8%
Professional/Tech 5.8%

University

30.2%

Postgraduate

4.6%

Born Overseas

24.1%

Dwellings

728

Transport to Work

Nirimba is almost entirely car-dependent: 93.1% of residents drive to work, and only 0.9% use public transport, well below national averages for suburban areas. Walking or cycling accounts for 1.6% of commuters. No schools are recorded inside the 0.48 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The rent-to-income ratio of 25.5% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating that housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. Volunteering is at 9.2% of the population. The 3.6% needing daily assistance (77 residents) is modest in absolute terms and reflects the young age profile rather than a high-disadvantage population.

Drive

93.1%

Public Transport

0.9%

Walk / Cycle

1.6%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Nirimba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 20%
Household Income
Top 25%
Rent Level
Top 5%
Renters
Top 19%
Uni Educated
Top 34%
Public Transport
Bottom 13%
Born Overseas
Top 21%
Density
Top 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nirimba a good suburb to live in?

Nirimba suits young families particularly well. It has a median age of 27, a household income at the 74.7th percentile nationally, and 90.8% of dwellings are detached houses with a strong 4-plus bedroom supply at 56.4%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% is manageable, though car dependency is high at 93.1% of commuters.

What is the median house price in Nirimba?

The median house price is $589,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent is $510.

What schools are in Nirimba?

No schools are recorded inside the Nirimba boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.48 km2, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Locally, 30.2% of residents hold a university qualification, marginally above the national average.

Is Nirimba safe?

Specific crime statistics are not available for Nirimba in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a household income at the 74.7th percentile nationally, a low housing-stress mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3%, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%, all suggesting moderate socioeconomic stability.

Is Nirimba good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $510 against a $589,000 median house price implies a gross yield around 4.5%, which is higher than many inner-city benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 4.0% is slightly above tight-market levels, and 37.0% of residents rent. High residential turnover at 63.6% signals transient demand that can sustain rentals but also carries void risk.

How is Nirimba's population changing?

Population data places Nirimba at 2,229 residents across a 0.48 km2 area. The 63.6% five-year residential turnover rate indicates the suburb is attracting a high volume of new arrivals, likely young families given the median age of 27. Only 36.4% of residents have stayed in the same address over that period.

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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