Sunrise Beach
The standout feature is a 15.3% vacancy rate across a compact 2.49 sq km coastal suburb, alongside 3,687 residents and a density of 1,482.7 people per sq km. Residents are older than the national profile by 4.0 years, with a median age of 44, while university attainment is 38.6%, 8.5 percentage points above the national comparison. Household income sits at the 67.1st percentile. Buyers comparing Sunrise Beach with nearby Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads should weigh occupancy patterns alongside coastal amenity. Its 24.6% work-from-home rate also supports a lifestyle shaped by local and remote work.
Population
3,687
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,857/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Homebuyers should anchor decisions to current comparable sales and the monthly budget rather than rely on a single headline figure. The indicative mortgage payment is $2,167 a month, while rent is $508 a week, and mortgage commitments equal 27.0% of household income. Ownership includes 37.8% of households with a mortgage and 34.1% owning outright, so mortgaged ownership is higher than outright ownership. The stock is primarily detached houses at 68.0%, with 25.8% semi-detached homes and 6.2% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.0% and four-plus bedrooms 36.0%, making the suburb more suited to space-seeking households than a compact apartment market. Compare exact streets with Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads for access and resale context.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should anchor decisions to current comparable sales and the monthly budget rather than rely on a single headline figure. The indicative mortgage payment is $2,167 a month, while rent is $508 a week, and mortgage commitments equal 27.0% of household income. Ownership includes 37.8% of households with a mortgage and 34.1% owning outright, so mortgaged ownership is higher than outright ownership. The stock is primarily detached houses at 68.0%, with 25.8% semi-detached homes and 6.2% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.0% and four-plus bedrooms 36.0%, making the suburb more suited to space-seeking households than a compact apartment market. Compare exact streets with Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads for access and resale context.
For Investors
An investment case here depends more on occupancy management than rent alone. Weekly rent is $508, but the 15.3% vacancy rate requires conservative cash-flow modelling because empty periods can offset headline rental income. Renters make up 27.7% of households, below the 34.1% owning outright and 37.8% paying a mortgage, so the tenant base is substantial but not dominant. Only 3 development matters were recorded over 12 months, limiting evidence of a near-term supply surge. Test gross and net yields against insurance, maintenance and vacancy assumptions, then compare Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads for tenant demand and achievable rents.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
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
Demographics
Sunrise Beach has an older and more highly educated profile than the national comparison: median age is 44, or 4.0 years above national, and university attainment is 38.6%, 8.5 percentage points higher. Overseas-born residents account for 27.7%, 6.1 points above national, while average household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison. Family households are split between couples with children at 43.2% and couples without children at 41.6%, with one-parent families at 14.7%. English ancestry is recorded for 1,666 people, followed by Irish at 504 and Scottish at 497. No religion counts 1,941 compared with 1,378 identifying with Christianity. A 74.5% five-year staying rate suggests more continuity than the 25.5% turnover rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
68.0%
Houses
25.8%
Townhouse
6.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Sunrise Beach is predominantly a family-home market by dwelling form, with 68.0% separate houses, 25.8% semi-detached dwellings and 6.2% apartments. The bedroom profile is weighted to larger stock: 40.0% have 3 bedrooms and 36.0% have 4 or more, compared with 23.2% in 2-bedroom homes. Tenure is relatively balanced between outright ownership at 34.1%, mortgages at 37.8% and renting at 27.7%; mortgaged ownership is higher than outright ownership. Average household size is 2.5 and mortgage-to-income is 27.0%, so affordability still depends on purchase price, deposit and interest-rate assumptions. Buyers comparing Sunshine Beach or Noosa Heads should inspect dwelling condition and usable floor area, not just advertised bedroom counts.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $508.
$1,150
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $1,150 · units $800
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$841
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.3%
Unoccupied
253
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.2%
Couples with children
41.6%
Couples, no children
14.7%
Single parent
1,041
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by Healthcare at 16.9% of jobs, higher than Construction at 12.4%, Education at 11.8%, Hospitality at 11.2% and Professional/Tech at 10.9%. That mix links local work to care, building, teaching, visitor services and skilled office roles. Professionals number 457 and Managers 302, followed by Community/Personal at 269 and Trades at 263, showing a broader occupational base than a single-industry coastal economy. Labour-force participation is 64.7% and unemployment is 4.2%, with 897 full-time and 776 part-time employed workers. Household income is $1,857 weekly and ranks at the 67.1st percentile, above the national midpoint comparison. The 24.6% work-from-home share may support local spending, although car commuting remains important.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
1,963
Unemployed
83
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
47.7%
Part-time
41.3%
Participation
64.7%
Employed
1,880
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.6%
Postgraduate
8.9%
Born Overseas
27.7%
Dwellings
1,402
Transport to Work
Daily mobility is strongly car-led: 65.6% drive to work, compared with 1.8% using public transport and 3.3% walking or cycling. The 24.6% work-from-home rate reduces commuting frequency for some households, but the low active and public transport shares mean buyers should test access to shops, services and employment nodes at peak times. Sunrise Beach covers 2.49 sq km and has 1,482.7 people per sq km, while the median age of 44 is 4.0 years above national. Families should verify nearby education options and enrolment zones against the exact address rather than assume every facility is within walking distance. A current street-level safety check is sensible, using recent incident information and visits at different times. Compare travel times with Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads before choosing a property.
Drive
65.6%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
24.6%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sunrise Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sunrise Beach a good suburb to live in?
Sunrise Beach can suit households wanting a coastal setting, established housing and an older resident profile. Median age is 44, density is 1,482.7 people per sq km, and 65.6% drive to work, so compare street-level access, commuting needs and daily services before deciding.
What is the median house price in Sunrise Beach?
A current suburb median house price should be checked against recent comparable sales, because results can vary by street, dwelling type and condition. Sunrise Beach has 68.0% separate houses and 40.0% three-bedroom homes, so use like-for-like sales rather than mixing 2-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom properties.
What schools are in Sunrise Beach?
Families should check nearby school options and exact enrolment zones for each address, since boundaries and travel routes can differ around coastal suburbs. Sunrise Beach covers 2.49 sq km and has 3,687 residents, but those figures do not identify a particular campus or guarantee a place. Confirm sector, year-level availability and transport before signing.
Is Sunrise Beach safe?
Safety should be assessed using recent street-level incidents, lighting, traffic and visits at different times rather than a broad assumption. The suburb has 3,687 residents across 2.49 sq km, so conditions can differ between beachfront, residential and through-traffic locations. Ask neighbours and check current local advice before committing.
Is Sunrise Beach good for property investment?
It can suit an investor who can manage vacancy risk, but the numbers call for conservative assumptions. Weekly rent is $508 and vacancy is 15.3%, while renters represent 27.7% of households. Compare achievable rent, insurance, maintenance and empty-period costs with Sunshine Beach and Noosa Heads before relying on a yield estimate.
How is Sunrise Beach's population changing?
The resident profile appears relatively stable rather than highly transient: 74.5% stayed at the same address over five years and turnover was 25.5%. Sunrise Beach currently has 3,687 residents, with a median age of 44. Only 3 development matters were recorded over 12 months, so change appears more likely to be gradual than driven by a large visible construction pipeline.
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.
Explore Sunrise Beach on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map