Peregian Beach
A 19.8% vacancy rate stands out in Peregian Beach, alongside a population of 4,972 and median age of 42. The suburb is detached-house led, with 80.3% separate houses and 44.1% of homes containing four or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 70.8th percentile, while its median age is 2.0 years above the national comparison and university participation is 9.3 percentage points higher. Compared with nearby Coolum Beach and Noosa Heads, buyers should weigh its established profile against limited public transport, with only 0.8% using it.
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
32
Homebuyers are entering a market shaped more by dwelling form than by apartment supply: 80.3% of homes are separate houses, compared with 6.4% apartments and 13.3% semi-detached dwellings. Larger households have room to choose, as 44.1% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 35.5% have three. A mortgage repayment of $2,167 per month equals 26.4% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. A 25.1% work-from-home rate may suit buyers seeking space, but just 0.8% use public transport, so car dependence is higher than in transit-oriented suburbs.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are entering a market shaped more by dwelling form than by apartment supply: 80.3% of homes are separate houses, compared with 6.4% apartments and 13.3% semi-detached dwellings. Larger households have room to choose, as 44.1% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 35.5% have three. A mortgage repayment of $2,167 per month equals 26.4% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. A 25.1% work-from-home rate may suit buyers seeking space, but just 0.8% use public transport, so car dependence is higher than in transit-oriented suburbs.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed rental profile. Weekly rent is $500 and 25.8% of occupied dwellings are rented, but vacancy is a high 19.8%, so leasing speed may be less predictable than in tighter rental markets. Development activity reached 27 applications in 12 months, creating ongoing refurbishment and small-scale building signals rather than proof of a large apartment pipeline. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the annual trend is 0.89%, lower than a high-growth corridor. The combination may suit a patient investor who values detached-house demand, but insurance, maintenance and actual days on market need close checking.
Development Activity
Total DAs
39
Last 12 Months
32
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
Schools in Peregian Beach
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Peregian Beach College (Peregian Beach)
Demographics
Peregian Beach has an older, educated profile: median age is 42, or 2.0 years above the national comparison, and 39.4% of residents hold university qualifications, 9.3 percentage points higher than the national figure. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,306, 705 and 671, while no religion accounts for 2,550 people and Christianity 1,912. Overseas-born residents represent 24.1%, 2.5 points above the national comparison. Couples with children make up 45.4% of families, versus 41.0% couples without children, while average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above national. Compared with nearby Coolum Beach, its age and ancestry profile will matter to buyers seeking a settled coastal setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.3%
Houses
13.3%
Townhouse
6.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached living dominates: 80.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 13.3% semi-detached and 6.4% apartments. The bedroom mix is weighted to larger stock, with 44.1% at four or more bedrooms and 35.5% at three, compared with 18.2% two-bedroom homes and 2.2% studios or one-bedroom dwellings. Tenure is split between 35.1% owned outright, 38.0% mortgaged and 25.8% rented. Weekly rent is $500, and rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income ratios are both 26.4%, suggesting costs are material but stress is not flagged. Compared with apartment-oriented options around Noosa Heads, Peregian Beach gives buyers a more house-led mix, although its 19.8% vacancy rate is high for a rental-focused strategy.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $500.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $850 · units $700
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
45.4%
Couples with children
41.0%
Couples, no children
12.6%
Single parent
1,395
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.3% of local jobs, followed by education at 12.8%, construction at 11.9%, professional and technical services at 10.5%, and retail at 7.1%. The occupation mix is led by 690 professionals and 424 managers, ahead of 332 trades workers, 271 community or personal service workers and 250 sales workers. Labour-force participation is 65.9%, unemployment is 3.9%, and 48.7% of workers are full time. Socioeconomic indicators sit above the midpoint nationally: IEO and IER are both decile 8, IRSAD is decile 8, and IRSD reaches decile 9. The overlap between healthcare, education and professional work helps explain the stronger socioeconomic position, despite 987 part-time workers.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
2,601
Unemployed
102
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.7%
Part-time
39.5%
Participation
65.9%
Employed
2,499
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.4%
Postgraduate
8.8%
Born Overseas
24.1%
Dwellings
1,804
Transport to Work
Daily life is easiest for drivers and hybrid workers. Car driving accounts for 67.5% of travel to work, compared with only 0.8% using public transport, while 25.1% work from home. Local schooling includes 1 independent, Non-State college, so families should check year levels, enrolment zones and transport for the exact address rather than infer access from the suburb name. Volunteering is 17.2%, and 3.3% of residents need assistance, pointing to a meaningful but not dominant support requirement. Socioeconomic standing is above the national midpoint, with IRSAD in decile 8 and IRSD in decile 9. Compared with denser coastal centres, the 16.51 square kilometre area and density of 301.2 people per square kilometre favour space, but may mean fewer walkable services.
Drive
67.5%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
25.1%
Population Forecast
+0.89%/yr
(+39 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, with the annual trend forecast at 0.89% and population change across the wider area at 7.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which can support demand even as the suburb follows an Aging trajectory. Shift indicators show the senior share up 4.0 percentage points and the young share down 2.5 points, so services and housing appeal may change faster than the headline rate. Gentrification signals are mixed: the main reading is score 18, stage Not gentrifying, while shift indicators record 42 and Early signs. Compared with a faster-growth coastal market, Peregian Beach looks more established and demographic-led than redevelopment-led.
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 may suit households wanting detached homes, coastal amenity and space, with 80.3% of dwellings being separate houses and 25.1% of workers working from home. The trade-off is car dependence: 67.5% drive to work while only 0.8% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Peregian Beach?
Buyers should check recent comparable sales and agent appraisals because a reliable current median is not available. The housing mix is still clear: 80.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 44.1% contain four or more bedrooms, and a mortgage repayment is $2,167 per month.
What schools are in Peregian Beach?
Peregian Beach has 1 local school, Peregian Beach College, classified as an independent Non-State school. Check year-level availability, enrolment zones and transport for the exact address, because school access can differ across the 16.51 square kilometre suburb.
Is Peregian Beach safe?
A definitive safety rating needs current local crime information rather than assumptions from suburb character. Peregian Beach has 4,972 residents, so review recent Queensland Police updates, inspect the exact street at different times and ask local residents about lighting, traffic and evening activity before deciding.
Is Peregian Beach good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term strategy, but the rental numbers call for caution. Weekly rent is $500 and renting households are 25.8%, while vacancy is 19.8%, higher than a tight rental market. Development activity reached 27 applications in 12 months and annual growth is 0.89%, so returns depend on purchase price, holding costs and tenant demand.
How is Peregian Beach's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 7.3% over 10 years, with annual growth of 0.89% and overseas migration the primary driver. Peregian Beach is on an Aging trajectory: the senior share is up 4.0 percentage points while the young share is down 2.5 points.
What development is occurring in Peregian Beach?
Development activity totalled 27 applications over 12 months, with recent examples including a carport and additions to dwelling houses. One sample includes 1 dwelling addition, so the pattern looks more like incremental alterations than a confirmed large project pipeline. Check approval conditions, timing and construction impacts before relying on nearby works.
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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