Rainbow Beach
A 41.8% vacancy rate tells the real story of Rainbow Beach: this coastal community of 1,220 residents is heavily shaped by holiday letting and seasonal use rather than permanent occupation. The median age of 56 sits 16.0 years above the national figure, making it one of QLD's most age-skewed suburbs, while household income lands in just the 11.9th percentile nationally. Hospitality employs 20.9% of local workers, the largest single industry, and 46.9% of homes are owned outright, reflecting a retiree and sea-change cohort who arrived debt-free.
Population
1,220
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$972/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$392K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $392,000 is well below most QLD coastal markets, shaped partly by the township's remoteness and limited permanent demand. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,605, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 38.1%, above the 30% stress threshold despite a relatively low price point, because household incomes sit in the 11.9th percentile nationally. Separate houses dominate at 71.5% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 16.1% and apartments at 8.6%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 45.7%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 25.3%. Outright owners at 46.9% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 21.4%, a pattern more typical of retirement and lifestyle destinations than growth corridors.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $392,000 is well below most QLD coastal markets, shaped partly by the township's remoteness and limited permanent demand. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,605, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 38.1%, above the 30% stress threshold despite a relatively low price point, because household incomes sit in the 11.9th percentile nationally. Separate houses dominate at 71.5% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 16.1% and apartments at 8.6%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 45.7%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 25.3%. Outright owners at 46.9% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 21.4%, a pattern more typical of retirement and lifestyle destinations than growth corridors.
For Investors
Rental yields face headwinds from a 41.8% vacancy rate, one of the highest you will find in any QLD suburb, driven by a large short-stay and holiday letting market rather than genuine oversupply. Weekly rent is $280, lower than most comparable coastal towns. Renters represent 31.7% of households. Development activity is very low at 2 applications in the past 12 months, compared to active growth suburbs that see 30 to 100+. The workforce participation rate of 42.7% is below state norms, with 452 residents not in the labour force, consistent with an aging, retired population unlikely to drive sustained rental demand. Investors should weigh the high vacancy and income base carefully before relying on standard rental models.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
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 Rainbow Beach iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rainbow Beach State School
Prep-6 · 47 students
Demographics
The median age of 56 is 16.0 years above the national median, ranking Rainbow Beach among the oldest-skewing suburbs in QLD. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below the national figure, consistent with empty-nester and couples-without-children households: 53.1% of families are couples with no children. Overseas-born residents represent 16.6%, which is 5.0 percentage points below the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (483), Irish (150) and Scottish (140). University qualifications reach 18.7%, which is 11.4 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting a trade and service-oriented workforce rather than a professional one. Volunteering runs at 17.8% of residents, above the community average, a signal of the civic engagement typical in small regional towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.5%
Houses
16.1%
Townhouse
8.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Rainbow Beach strongly favours outright ownership: 46.9% own without a mortgage, compared to just 21.4% with a mortgage and 31.7% renting. This split is consistent with a retiree and sea-change base that arrived having paid down debt elsewhere. Separate houses make up 71.5% of stock, higher than many QLD coastal towns where apartments cluster. The 41.8% vacancy rate is exceptional and points to a significant holiday-letting and second-home market rather than a structural rental shortage. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 45.7% and 4-plus bedroom for 25.3%, meaning the housing stock runs relatively large for a small-population suburb. Mortgage repayments average $1,605 monthly, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.1% signalling financial strain for the minority who do carry debt.
Mortgage / mo
$1,605
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$602
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
41.8%
Unoccupied
363
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.1% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.1%
Couples, no children
748
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hospitality is the dominant industry at 20.9% of employed residents (65 workers), reflecting Rainbow Beach's role as a gateway to Fraser Island and a tourist destination. Education follows at 10.6% (33 workers), Healthcare at 7.4%, Transport at 7.1% and Retail at 6.8%. By occupation, Managers (95) and Professionals (71) are the two largest groups, unusual for a small coastal town and likely reflecting owner-operators of tourism businesses. The unemployment rate is low at 1.7%, though the participation rate of only 42.7% means a large share of working-age residents have withdrawn from the labour force entirely. Weekly personal income of $602 and household income in the 11.9th percentile nationally reflect the town's reliance on seasonal and part-time hospitality work rather than higher-paid professional employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.3%
Part-time
48.0%
Participation
42.7%
Employed
453
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.7%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
16.6%
Dwellings
502
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 73.5% of residents drive to work, above most QLD averages, which reflects the isolated coastal setting with no significant public transport infrastructure. However, 17.1% walk or cycle, surprisingly high for a regional town and consistent with a low-density seaside environment where distances are short. Crime data is not available for this suburb. Of 1,220 residents, 6.5% (70 people) need daily assistance, somewhat above national norms given the older median age of 56. Rent-to-income at 28.8% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, keeping renters relatively stable. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children rely on services in nearby Gympie or Tin Can Bay.
Drive
73.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
17.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rainbow Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rainbow Beach a good suburb to live in?
Rainbow Beach suits retirees, sea-changers and lifestyle buyers more than families or commuters. The median age is 56, which is 16 years above the national median, and 46.9% of homes are owned outright. There are no recorded schools in the suburb, public transport is negligible, and household incomes sit in just the 11.9th percentile nationally. For the right buyer, the quiet coastal setting and relatively affordable $392,000 median house price are the main draws.
What is the median house price in Rainbow Beach?
The estimated median house price is $392,000 (estimated from rent data, 2025). Weekly rent averages $280. Monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,605, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.1%, above the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 11.9th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Rainbow Beach?
No schools are recorded within the Rainbow Beach suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically travel to nearby towns such as Tin Can Bay or Gympie for schooling. The suburb's population of 1,220 is predominantly older residents, with a median age of 56 and 53.1% of families being couples without children.
Is Rainbow Beach safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Rainbow Beach in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb is a small township of 1,220 residents with a stable resident base: 75.5% of residents have not moved in the past 5 years. The low-density setting and community volunteering rate of 17.8% are broadly consistent with a low-crime profile, though no statistical comparison can be made.
Is Rainbow Beach good for property investment?
The investment case is challenging. The 41.8% vacancy rate is exceptionally high compared to most QLD suburbs and reflects a large holiday-letting market rather than permanent rental demand. Weekly rent of $280 against a $392,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 3.7%, which is modest given the vacancy risk. Development activity is very low at just 2 applications in the past 12 months, limiting capital growth catalysts.
How is Rainbow Beach's population changing?
The current population is 1,220. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, pointing to an aging and retiring population base. Residential turnover is 24.5%, but 75.5% of residents have stayed put over 5 years. Development is minimal at 2 applications in 12 months, suggesting limited planned growth in the near term.
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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