Peregian Beach
A 19.8% vacancy rate is the first number that stands out here, unusual for a Sunshine Coast beach suburb where 80.3% of dwellings are separate houses and detached supply is tight. The high vacancy reflects holiday and second-home stock that sits empty rather than oversupply, since only 6.4% of dwellings are apartments. Household income reaches the 70.8th percentile nationally and the suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD and decile 8 on IRSAD, IEO and IER, a consistently advantaged profile. University qualifications run at 39.4%, which is 9.3 points above the national figure, and the median age of 42 sits 2.0 years above national, fitting an aging, established coastal population of 4,972.
Population
4,972
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,896/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$619K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $619,000 median house price is modest for the Sunshine Coast, and it pairs with a housing stock dominated by detached homes at 80.3% and large floorplans, since 44.1% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and another 35.5% have three. That bias toward family-sized houses means buyers chasing smaller, lower-cost dwellings have little to choose from, with 2-bedroom stock at just 18.2% and apartments at 6.4%. Mortgage holders make up 38.5% of households against 35.5% who own outright, so recent buyers slightly outnumber debt-free owners. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which keeps the market accessible to households earning at the 70.8th income percentile.
For Buyers
The $619,000 median house price is modest for the Sunshine Coast, and it pairs with a housing stock dominated by detached homes at 80.3% and large floorplans, since 44.1% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and another 35.5% have three. That bias toward family-sized houses means buyers chasing smaller, lower-cost dwellings have little to choose from, with 2-bedroom stock at just 18.2% and apartments at 6.4%. Mortgage holders make up 38.5% of households against 35.5% who own outright, so recent buyers slightly outnumber debt-free owners. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which keeps the market accessible to households earning at the 70.8th income percentile.
For Investors
Renters make up 26.0% of households and weekly rent averages $500, giving landlords a tenant base, but the 19.8% vacancy rate is the dominant signal and it reflects holiday-home and seasonal stock rather than long-term rental demand. Against the $619,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.2%, healthier than premium metro markets. Demand support is thin: net overseas migration adds 61 residents a year while internal migration removes 23, and population growth runs at just 0.89% annually. Development activity is very low at 8 applications over 12 months, mostly alterations and lot reconfigurations rather than new dwellings, so supply stays constrained. Rent grew 34.6% over the period, so the investment case leans on rent escalation and capital growth more than turnover, since the high vacancy makes consistent long-term occupancy harder than the headline yield suggests.
Development Activity
Total DAs
17
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+400.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Peregian Beach iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Peregian Beach College
Prep-12 · 347 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits 2.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.0 points while the young-resident share fell 2.5 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 24.1%, which is 2.5 points above national, a modest international mix. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,306), Irish (705) and Scottish (671), and non-English languages are rare, with Italian (18), Portuguese (18) and German (15) the most common. University qualifications at 39.4% run 9.3 points above national, consistent with the professional workforce. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, and family structure tilts toward couples with children (1,914 families) over couples with no children (1,134, or 28.3% of families), a profile typical of an established coastal community raising families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.3%
Houses
13.3%
Townhouse
6.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with 38.5% carrying a mortgage, 35.5% owning outright and 26.0% renting, so mortgage holders narrowly outnumber debt-free owners, pointing to a market still attracting buyers rather than one held entirely by long-term owners. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 80.3%, with semi-detached at 13.3% and apartments only 6.4%, which keeps house values supported by scarcity of land. Larger homes dominate: 44.1% have four or more bedrooms and 35.5% have three, while 2-bedroom dwellings are 18.2%. The $619,000 median is modest by coastal standards, and both mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income sit at 26.4%, below the 30% stress line. That affordability, combined with incomes at the 70.8th percentile, leaves households with more headroom than higher-priced beach markets nearby.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$881
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.8%
Unoccupied
446
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.3%
Couples, no children
4,001
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in service sectors: Healthcare leads at 19.3% (347 workers), Education follows at 12.8% (231) and Construction at 11.9% (214), with Professional/Tech at 10.5% and Retail at 7.1%. By occupation, Professionals (690) and Managers (424) account for the bulk of jobs, aligning with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.4% and the full-time employment rate is 55.2%, below metro norms because the aging profile leaves 1,175 residents not in the labour force. Participation reads 58.5%, lower than the income would suggest, again because of the older resident base. Real incomes grew 22.8% over the decade. SEIFA reads decile 9 on IRSD and decile 8 across IRSAD, IEO and IER, a uniformly advantaged area with no disadvantage anomaly.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
2,382
Unemployed
51
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.2%
Part-time
40.4%
Participation
58.5%
Employed
2,205
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.4%
Postgraduate
8.8%
Born Overseas
24.1%
Dwellings
1,804
Transport to Work
This is a car-dependent suburb: 90.1% of residents drive to work while only 1.0% use public transport and 4.0% walk or cycle, reflecting a low-density coastal layout at 301 residents per km2 across 16.51 km2. The suburb earns decile 9 on IRSD for relative disadvantage and decile 8 on IRSAD, both high tiers, so very few residents face deprivation, and only 3.3% (157 people) need daily assistance despite the older median age of 42. Volunteering runs at 17.2%, a sign of an engaged resident base. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a common trade-off for a small, spread-out beach community where the population skews toward established households.
Drive
90.1%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.89%/yr
(+39 people/yr)
EstablishedPeregian Beach is a slow-growth, established suburb: annual population growth registers 0.89%, about 39 residents a year, and the 10-year change is 7.3%. The current population of 4,374 in 2025 is forecast to rise gradually to 4,572 by 2031 under the medium trend scenario, modest expansion rather than a boom. Overseas migration of 61 a year is the primary driver, offset by net internal outflow of 23, leaving thin natural growth. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying with a score of 18, though the signals note population up 10% since 2011 and accelerating change. Affordability improved from 58.5% in 2011 to 52.1% in 2021, better than a decade ago but still high, while rent grew 34.6% over the period, a faster move than incomes.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+61
Net Internal / yr
-23
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011, Accelerating: -2% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Peregian Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peregian Beach a good suburb to live in?
Peregian Beach scores decile 9 on IRSD and decile 8 on IRSAD, IEO and IER, all high-advantage tiers, with household income in the 70.8th percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 39.4%, which is 9.3 points above national. The main trade-offs are heavy car reliance at 90.1% and a 19.8% vacancy rate driven by holiday homes.
What is the median house price in Peregian Beach?
The median house price is $619,000, modest by Sunshine Coast standards. Weekly rent averages $500 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. That keeps the market accessible to households at the 70.8th income percentile.
What schools are in Peregian Beach?
No schools are recorded inside the Peregian Beach boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 39.4%, which is 9.3 points above the national figure.
Is Peregian Beach safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Peregian Beach in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and only 3.3% of its 4,972 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Peregian Beach good for property investment?
Rent of $500 a week against a $619,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.2%, healthier than metro markets, but the 19.8% vacancy rate signals heavy holiday-home stock. Net overseas migration of 61 a year supports demand, yet 0.89% population growth means returns lean on rent and capital growth over turnover.
How is Peregian Beach's population changing?
Population growth is 0.89% annually, about 39 residents a year, with a 7.3% rise over 10 years. The 2025 population of 4,374 is forecast to reach 4,572 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.0 points and the young-resident share down 2.5 points over the decade.
What jobs do people in Peregian Beach work?
Healthcare is the largest sector at 19.3% (347 workers), followed by Education at 12.8% (231) and Construction at 11.9%. By occupation, Professionals (690) and Managers (424) dominate. Unemployment is low at 4.4%, below typical metro rates.
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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