Twin Waters
At a median age of 60, Twin Waters runs 20 years older than the national figure, making it one of the most age-skewed coastal suburbs on the Sunshine Coast. That demographic shapes everything: a labour force participation rate of just 38.9%, an outright ownership rate of 57.9%, and 56.5% of families being couples without children. With 2,966 residents across 3.92 square kilometres, the suburb is compact and quiet rather than dense.
Local council: Sunshine Coast
Population
2,966
Median Age
60.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,689/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Four-plus bedroom dwellings account for 50.1% of stock and three-bedroom homes a further 38.7%, so buyers will struggle to find anything smaller. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold and more manageable than comparable coastal markets. Separate houses make up 73.9% of dwellings, well above the national average, while apartments are only 10.6%. The high outright ownership at 57.9% compared to just 29.8% carrying a mortgage signals a long-settled, low-turnover market rather than a buyer churn zone.
For Buyers
Four-plus bedroom dwellings account for 50.1% of stock and three-bedroom homes a further 38.7%, so buyers will struggle to find anything smaller. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold and more manageable than comparable coastal markets. Separate houses make up 73.9% of dwellings, well above the national average, while apartments are only 10.6%. The high outright ownership at 57.9% compared to just 29.8% carrying a mortgage signals a long-settled, low-turnover market rather than a buyer churn zone.
For Investors
Twin Waters presents a mixed investment picture. However, the vacancy rate of 8.7% is elevated and warrants attention, signalling that rental demand does not absorb all available stock. The renter share is only 12.3%, far below the national average, which limits the pool of prospective tenants. The suburb has an 8.7% vacancy rate compared to a healthy market threshold of around 3%, and no development activity was recorded in the past 12 months, indicating supply is not expanding. Rental affordability is strained for existing tenants, with rent-to-income at 38.5%, above the 30% stress threshold.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+600.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 60 is 20 years above the national figure, the dominant characteristic of this suburb. This older profile is reinforced by an extremely low labour force participation rate of 38.9%, with 1,381 residents not in the labour force, the majority of whom are likely retired. Couples without children account for 56.5% of families, consistent with a post-family-raising lifestyle demographic. University qualifications reach 35.1%, which is 5 percentage points above the national average. Overseas-born residents make up 27.7% of the population, 6.1 percentage points above national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,466 residents), Scottish (386) and Irish (360). Household income sits at the 59.3rd percentile nationally, above average but modest given the coastal location.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.9%
Houses
15.5%
Townhouse
10.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership patterns in Twin Waters are distinctly different from national norms. Outright owners at 57.9% far outnumber mortgage holders at 29.8%, with renters at just 12.3%, well below the national renting share. This tenure profile reflects a settled, equity-rich population that arrived decades ago and has paid down debt. Separate houses at 73.9% dominate the mix, while semi-detached dwellings account for 15.5% and apartments 10.6%. The bedroom distribution skews large: 50.1% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 38.7% have three bedrooms. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, consistent with older couples occupying large homes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6% is below the 30% stress line.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $650.
$950
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $950 · units $650
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$780
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
110
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.5% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.4%
Couples with children
68.7%
Couples, no children
7.1%
Single parent
946
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy reflects a predominantly retired population rather than an active workforce hub. Labour force participation at 38.9% is substantially lower than the national average, driven by the large cohort of 1,381 residents not in the labour force. Of those working, Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.5% (147 workers), followed by Education at 14.1% (106) and Professional/Technical services at 10.9% (82). Construction accounts for 9.6% and Retail 8.0%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 283 workers, with Managers at 178 and Clerical/Admin at 157. The unemployment rate of 3.7% is low, though the denominator is limited given the small active workforce. Full-time employment accounts for 59.2% of employed residents, and personal weekly income averages $780.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
1,141
Unemployed
38
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.8%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
42.8%
Employed
1,103
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.1%
Postgraduate
7.9%
Born Overseas
27.7%
Dwellings
1,153
Transport to Work
Twin Waters is strongly car-dependent, with 90.7% of residents commuting by car versus just 1.0% using public transport, lower than comparable coastal suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 3.4% of trips, modest but notable for a coastal setting. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby Marcoola or Maroochydore institutions. Safety data is not available from current reporting for Twin Waters, though as an indirect indicator the suburb has a low rental share of 12.3% and a volunteering rate of 18.4%, consistent with a settled, community-engaged population. Rent stress is a concern for the 12.3% who rent, with rent-to-income at 38.5% above the 30% stress threshold. The 7.6% of residents requiring daily assistance (214 people) reflects the older age profile.
Drive
65.9%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
27.4%
Growth Outlook
Population growth data specific to Twin Waters is limited in available forecasts, but the suburb's demographic profile points to structural constraints on expansion. With a median age of 60, natural increase through births is negligible, and the primary driver of population change would be migration of retirees or sea-changers from other parts of Australia. Household income sits at the 59.3rd percentile nationally, above average, but the labour participation rate of 38.9% reflects a community well past its workforce peak. Turnover of 26.7% over the census period indicates some resident movement, while 73.3% of residents stayed, suggesting the suburb retains people rather than cycling through them. The 8.7% vacancy rate and small renter share of 12.3% compared to the national average suggest limited demand pressure on stock.
Population trend: Sunshine Coast council area
Twin Waters sits in the Sunshine Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Twin Waters's.
Residents 2025
381,957
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Twin Waters compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Twin Waters a good suburb to live in?
Twin Waters suits retirees and empty-nesters well. The median age of 60, outright ownership rate of 57.9% and 56.5% of families being couples without children describe a settled, low-turnover community. Car dependency is high at 90.7%, and renters face rent-to-income stress at 38.5%, but the suburb's 2,966-person scale keeps it quiet. University qualifications reach 35.1%, 5 points above national.
What is the median house price in Twin Waters?
Weekly rent averages $650, implying a gross yield around 4.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Over 50% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Twin Waters?
No schools are recorded inside the Twin Waters boundary in this dataset. The suburb's population of 2,966 and median age of 60 reflect a largely post-family demographic, so school-age children are few. Families typically access schools in nearby Marcoola, Bli Bli or Maroochydore. University qualifications among residents reach 35.1%, 5 points above the national average.
Is Twin Waters safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Twin Waters are not available in current reporting data. Indirectly, the suburb has a low 12.3% renter share compared to the national average, a volunteering rate of 18.4% and 73.3% of residents who stayed in the suburb over the census period, all consistent with a stable, low-disruption community of 2,966 people.
Is Twin Waters good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. However, the vacancy rate of 8.7% is elevated compared to a healthy 3% threshold, and the renter share of only 12.3% limits tenant demand. No new development was recorded in the past 12 months, so capital growth depends on migration of retirees rather than supply-demand tension.
How is Twin Waters's population changing?
Specific forecast data for Twin Waters is not available in current sources. The structural indicators point to slow organic growth: the median age of 60 is 20 years above national, natural increase from births is minimal, and 73.3% of residents stayed through the census period. The suburb attracts sea-changers and retirees, with household income at the 59.3rd percentile nationally, suggesting moderate purchasing capacity among new arrivals.
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).
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