Whitsundays
A 70.7% walk-or-cycle share is the clearest clue to Whitsundays' island lifestyle, while hospitality accounts for 77.0% of jobs. With 2,281 residents, a median age of 29, 63.7% renters and a 14.6% vacancy rate, the market is more visitor-facing and mobile than a settled family suburb. Overseas-born residents make up 38.1%, which is 16.5 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with mainland neighbours Airlie Beach and Cannonvale, the setting is more island-oriented, with compact travel patterns and a smaller 2.0-person average household. Growth is running at 2.14% annually, but the trajectory is Aging, so current youthfulness does not remove longer-term demographic change.
Local council: Whitsunday
Population
2,281
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,902/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
A current median house price is not available, so buyers should compare individual listings with the $1,790 monthly mortgage figure and $356 weekly rent. Mortgage payments equal 21.7% of household income, while rent equals 18.7%, meaning the mortgage share is higher than the rental share but neither is flagged as stressed. The dwelling mix is less family-heavy than a conventional three-bedroom market because 39.7% of homes have 0-1 bedrooms and only 10.3% have 4 or more. Separate houses account for 43.1%, apartments 15.4% and semi-detached dwellings 9.2%. Compared with larger mainland suburbs, compact or visitor-oriented housing may suit buyers prioritising location and low-maintenance use over a traditional family floorplan.
For Buyers
A current median house price is not available, so buyers should compare individual listings with the $1,790 monthly mortgage figure and $356 weekly rent. Mortgage payments equal 21.7% of household income, while rent equals 18.7%, meaning the mortgage share is higher than the rental share but neither is flagged as stressed. The dwelling mix is less family-heavy than a conventional three-bedroom market because 39.7% of homes have 0-1 bedrooms and only 10.3% have 4 or more. Separate houses account for 43.1%, apartments 15.4% and semi-detached dwellings 9.2%. Compared with larger mainland suburbs, compact or visitor-oriented housing may suit buyers prioritising location and low-maintenance use over a traditional family floorplan.
For Investors
Whitsundays has a renter-majority profile, with 63.7% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent at $356. The 14.6% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied rental market, which can limit rent-growth confidence even after the recorded 17.5% rent increase. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while only 1 development application was recorded in the past 12 months, so the immediate pipeline appears limited. Household income sits at the 71st percentile nationally, but investor returns still depend on island operating costs, seasonal demand and property management. Compared with lower-vacancy markets, Whitsundays requires more caution around periods of empty stock and resale liquidity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
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 Whitsundays
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Hamilton Island State School
Hayman Island State School
Demographics
Whitsundays has a young resident base, with a median age of 29, which is 11 years below the national figure. At 38.1%, the overseas-born share is 16.5 percentage points above national levels, while university attainment at 25.6% is 4.5 points below the national comparison. Average household size is 2.0 people, or 0.5 below the national figure, reflecting a high share of smaller households. Population mobility is pronounced: 65.7% of residents changed address or were otherwise mobile, while 34.3% stayed. English ancestry accounts for 675 people, Irish 186 and Scottish 150; no religion is recorded for 974 people, compared with 614 identifying with Christianity. Compared with older mainland communities, the mix is younger, more internationally connected and more transient because hospitality work attracts mobile residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
43.1%
Houses
9.2%
Townhouse
15.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure profile is renter-dominated compared with owner-occupied suburbs: 63.7% rent, 24.2% own outright and 8.1% have a mortgage. A current median house price and price-to-income ratio are not available, so buyers should assess each dwelling against the $356 weekly rent and $1,790 monthly mortgage reference. Housing is weighted toward compact stock, with 39.7% of dwellings containing 0-1 bedrooms, 26.7% containing 2 bedrooms and 23.3% containing 3 bedrooms; only 10.3% have 4 or more. Separate houses make up 43.1%, compared with 15.4% apartments and 9.2% semi-detached homes. This pattern is consistent with a hospitality-led island economy because smaller rentals can serve workers, short-stay demand and households averaging 2.0 people.
Mortgage / mo
$1,790
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $356.
$780
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $780 · units $620
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$942
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.6%
Unoccupied
23
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.8%
Couples with children
72.1%
Couples, no children
6.6%
Single parent
61
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hospitality dominates Whitsundays employment, with 842 workers or 77.0% of the industry base. Transport contributes 49 workers at 4.5%, followed by administration with 33 at 3.0%, healthcare with 23 at 2.1% and retail with 20 at 1.8%. The concentration explains why the local economy is closely tied to visitor activity. The labour force contains 1,547 people, participation is 71.0% and unemployment is 1.1%; among employed residents, 72.2% work full time, including 1,105 people, while 330 work part time. Leading occupations include community and personal services at 401, labourers at 282, trades at 274, managers at 212 and professionals at 120. Household income ranks at the 71st percentile, above the national midpoint, while IEO is in decile 4 below the midpoint and IER, IRSD and IRSAD are all in decile 5. This anomaly suggests relatively strong household earnings alongside more mixed education, occupation and disadvantage conditions.
Unemployment
1.1%
Labour Force
1,547
Unemployed
17
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.2%
Part-time
21.6%
Participation
71.0%
Employed
1,530
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.6%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
38.1%
Dwellings
65
Transport to Work
Whitsundays supports short local trips, with 70.7% of residents walking or cycling, compared with 11.6% using public transport and 11.2% driving a car. Work from home is limited at 3.0%, which fits an economy centred on hospitality and on-site services. Two local schools are listed, both state schools in the government sector, so families should check enrolment zones and travel arrangements against the exact address. The IRSAD score is in decile 5, while 0.9% of residents need assistance and volunteering is 12.1%. Compared with car-oriented areas, the walking and cycling share is a major practical advantage, although island geography can make access to services more address-dependent. Check recent Queensland Police incident information for current safety conditions because no single crime rate is available.
Drive
11.2%
Public Transport
11.6%
Walk / Cycle
70.7%
Work from Home
3.0%
Growth Outlook
Growth runs at 2.14% annually, higher than zero growth, and overseas migration is the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 37.6% over 10 years, but the demographic trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased by 5.1 percentage points, while the young share has fallen by 1.1 points and the working share by 2.8 points. Rent growth is 17.5%, while affordability improved from 43.8% in 2011 to 41.2% in 2021. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 36 and a stage of Early signs, compared with a shift score of 17 labelled Not gentrifying. Compared with a static coastal market, the area has clear momentum, but the aging pattern means future demand may become less youth-led.
Population trend: Whitsunday council area
Whitsundays sits in the Whitsunday council area. These are the council area's residents, not Whitsundays's.
Residents 2025
41,374
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.8%
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 Whitsundays compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Whitsundays a good suburb to live in?
Whitsundays may suit residents who value island living, short local trips and hospitality employment. Walking or cycling accounts for 70.7% of travel, the median age is 29 and 63.7% of households rent. Compared with car-oriented suburbs, daily life can be more compact, but housing choice and services should be checked for the exact island address.
What is the median house price in Whitsundays?
There is no current median house price figure for Whitsundays. Buyers can compare individual properties with the $356 weekly rent, the $1,790 monthly mortgage reference and the 43.1% separate-house share. The housing mix is compact, with 39.7% of dwellings containing 0-1 bedrooms, so property type can materially affect comparisons.
What schools are in Whitsundays?
Two government schools are listed in Whitsundays: Hamilton Island State School and Hayman Island State School. Both are state schools, so families should confirm the relevant catchment, year-level availability and travel arrangements before committing to an address. The area has a population of 2,281 and an average household size of 2.0 people.
Is Whitsundays safe?
A single current crime rate is unavailable for Whitsundays, so safety should be checked through recent Queensland Police incident information and an address-level visit. The area covers 216.76 square kilometres, meaning conditions may vary between locations. Also consider lighting, late-night activity and access to essential services rather than relying on the median age of 29 alone.
Is Whitsundays good for property investment?
Whitsundays has investment potential but also notable vacancy risk. Rent is $356 per week, 63.7% of households rent and the vacancy rate is 14.6%, which is higher than in a tightly supplied market. Overseas migration is the main growth driver and 1 development application was recorded over 12 months. Returns should be tested against seasonal demand and management costs.
How is Whitsundays's population changing?
The current population is 2,281, while growth across the wider area is running at 2.14% annually and population change over 10 years is 37.6%. Overseas migration is the primary driver. At the same time, the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 5.1 percentage points and the young share down 1.1 points, so growth is occurring alongside demographic change.
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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