Tanawha
With 71.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and a household income sitting at the 92.8th percentile nationally, Tanawha reads as a destination for established families who prioritise space over density. The suburb covers 12.38 square kilometres on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, yet holds only 1,312 residents, giving a density of 105.9 people per km2, far below state urban averages. Separate houses make up 93.2% of the stock, the renting share is just 15.8%, and 38.7% own outright, a pattern more common in regional lifestyle corridors than suburban growth belts. Average household size of 3.2 runs 0.7 above the national figure, consistent with the large-lot, family-formation character the data points to throughout.
Population
1,312
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,542/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$583K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $583,000 reflects a Sunshine Coast hinterland suburb where 93.2% of homes are separate houses on larger blocks, so buyers are effectively competing for the same detached product. With 71.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, the typical purchase is a full-size family home rather than an entry-level dwelling. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,450, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, making Tanawha more affordable to service than many comparable coastal markets. The vacancy rate of 7.7% is elevated, which tends to moderate price pressure in the short term. For buyers prioritising land, 38.7% of existing owners hold their properties outright, signalling long-term hold behaviour rather than speculative turnover.
For Buyers
The median house price of $583,000 reflects a Sunshine Coast hinterland suburb where 93.2% of homes are separate houses on larger blocks, so buyers are effectively competing for the same detached product. With 71.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, the typical purchase is a full-size family home rather than an entry-level dwelling. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,450, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, making Tanawha more affordable to service than many comparable coastal markets. The vacancy rate of 7.7% is elevated, which tends to moderate price pressure in the short term. For buyers prioritising land, 38.7% of existing owners hold their properties outright, signalling long-term hold behaviour rather than speculative turnover.
For Investors
At $408 per week rent against a $583,000 median price, the gross yield for Tanawha sits around 3.6%, modest but above low-density coastal hinterland norms. The 15.8% renter share is low, meaning tenant demand is thin relative to the total stock, and the 7.7% vacancy rate is a caution flag compared to tighter suburban markets. Only 6 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating very limited new supply pressure. The suburb's income base is strong, with household income at the 92.8th percentile nationally, so qualified tenants are available. The low turnover rate of 27.2% over five years suggests most owners hold long, which keeps distressed listings rare and supports price floors over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Tanawha's median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, but the household composition tells a more concentrated story. Couples with children account for 530 of 1,108 families (47.8%), while couples without children make up 24.8%, leaving single-parent or alternative arrangements a small share. The average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above the national figure, reflecting the large-home, multi-person family pattern. University qualifications reach 34.1%, 4 percentage points above the national average, consistent with the professional and managerial occupations that dominate. The overseas-born share of 21.2% is 0.4 points below national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (614), Irish (177) and Scottish (174) residents. Volunteering runs at 22.1%, above typical suburban rates, pointing to an engaged, community-oriented resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.2%
Houses
6.1%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is unusually uniform: 93.2% separate houses, 6.1% semi-detached, and just 0.8% apartments, making Tanawha almost entirely a detached-dwelling suburb. Bedroom distribution reinforces this, with 71.1% of homes having four or more bedrooms and only 5.8% having one or fewer. Tenure leans heavily toward ownership: 38.7% own outright and 45.5% carry a mortgage, meaning over 84% of occupied dwellings are owner-occupied, well above the national average. The renting share of 15.8% is low by comparison. Mortgage-to-income at 22.3% and rent-to-income at 16.1% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning neither owners nor tenants face structural affordability pressure at current income levels. The $583,000 median reflects the large-format, low-density nature of the stock.
Mortgage / mo
$2,450
Rent / wk
$408
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$905
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
33
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.8%
Couples, no children
1,108
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 20.9% of the local workforce (90 workers), followed by Construction at 13.9% (60 workers) and Education at 11.1% (48 workers), with Professional/Tech at 10%. This mix is consistent with Sunshine Coast's growing health and education services footprint. By occupation, Professionals (168) and Managers (123) are the two largest groups, which aligns with household income sitting at the 92.8th percentile nationally. The full-time employment rate is 57%, and unemployment at 3.9% is low. The participation rate of 59.4% reflects the mix of full-time workers and residents who have stepped back from the labour force, consistent with the suburb's family and semi-retirement profile. The construction share of 13.9% is notably higher than most coastal hinterland suburbs, driven by the active development corridor in the broader Sunshine Coast region.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
39.1%
Participation
59.4%
Employed
593
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.1%
Postgraduate
8.2%
Born Overseas
21.2%
Dwellings
396
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total, with 91.2% of residents driving to work and only 0.7% using public transport, which is far below the national average for suburbs with comparable income levels. This reflects the hinterland location rather than a service gap. Schools are not recorded within the Tanawha boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring suburbs. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.2% (52 residents), in line with a suburb where the median age of 40 and family-dominant composition keeps disability and aged care demand moderate. Housing stress is low on both measures: rent-to-income at 16.1% and mortgage-to-income at 22.3% are both below the 30% stress threshold, making day-to-day costs manageable for most households. Crime data is not available for Tanawha in this dataset.
Drive
91.2%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tanawha compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanawha a good suburb to live in?
Tanawha suits families seeking space and low density. Household income sits at the 92.8th percentile nationally, 93.2% of homes are separate houses, and the average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above the national figure. The main trade-off is near-total car dependence, with 91.2% of residents driving and only 0.7% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Tanawha?
The median house price is $583,000, reflecting a stock that is 93.2% separate houses and 71.1% four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,450, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $408.
What schools are in Tanawha?
No schools are recorded inside the Tanawha boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident population is well-educated, with university qualifications at 34.1%, which is 4 percentage points above the national average.
Is Tanawha safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Tanawha in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a low 3.9% unemployment rate, household income at the 92.8th percentile nationally, and only 4.2% of residents (52 people) require daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage profile.
Is Tanawha good for property investment?
At $408 weekly rent against a $583,000 median, the gross yield is around 3.6%. The renter share is low at 15.8% and the vacancy rate of 7.7% is elevated, meaning tenant demand is thinner than in higher-density markets. The strong income base at the 92.8th percentile nationally and minimal new supply (6 applications in 12 months) support long-term price stability.
How is Tanawha's population changing?
Tanawha's population is 1,312 across 12.38 square kilometres, giving a density of 105.9 people per km2. The turnover rate of 27.2% over five years is moderate, with 72.8% of residents having stayed, indicating stable rather than rapidly shifting demand. The Sunshine Coast corridor has grown strongly, which frames regional context for this suburb.
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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