Fastest growing Sunshine Coast suburbs (2016-2021)

Baringa grew fastest in percentage terms, at +4,798%. It also added the most residents, 4,509. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 88 eligible Sunshine Coast suburbs.

This ranking shows which Sunshine Coast suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.

Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Sunshine Coast's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.

Sunshine Coast suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021

Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.

1

Baringa

QLD 4551 · 4,604 residents

4,509 residents added · +4798% · 4,604 residents in 2021

B 100.0
2

Palmview

QLD 4553 · 5,236 residents

4,343 residents added · +486% · 5,236 residents in 2021

C 98.8
3

Birtinya

QLD 4575 · 4,378 residents

2,445 residents added · +126% · 4,378 residents in 2021

B 97.7
4

Valdora

QLD 4561 · 776 residents

243 residents added · +46% · 776 residents in 2021

B 96.5
5

Bokarina

QLD 4575 · 1,935 residents

584 residents added · +43% · 1,935 residents in 2021

B 95.4
6

Peregian Springs

QLD 4573 · 9,532 residents

2,467 residents added · +35% · 9,532 residents in 2021

C 94.2
7

Peregian Beach

QLD 4573 · 4,972 residents

1,180 residents added · +31% · 4,972 residents in 2021

B 93.1
8

Bli Bli

QLD 4560 · 10,138 residents

2,337 residents added · +30% · 10,138 residents in 2021

B 92.0
9

Yandina

QLD 4561 · 3,073 residents

702 residents added · +30% · 3,073 residents in 2021

C 90.8
10

Burnside

QLD 4560 · 3,104 residents

694 residents added · +29% · 3,104 residents in 2021

B 89.7
11

Cooroy

QLD 4563 · 4,801 residents

1,009 residents added · +27% · 4,801 residents in 2021

C 88.5
12

Yaroomba

QLD 4573 · 2,043 residents

420 residents added · +26% · 2,043 residents in 2021

A 87.4
13

Meridan Plains

QLD 4551 · 4,589 residents

913 residents added · +25% · 4,589 residents in 2021

C 86.2
14

Mons

QLD 4556 · 1,179 residents

232 residents added · +25% · 1,179 residents in 2021

A 85.1
15

Beerburrum

QLD 4517 · 941 residents

178 residents added · +23% · 941 residents in 2021

D 83.9

Ranked from 88 qualifying suburbs.

Sunshine Coast suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021

Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.

1

Baringa

QLD 4551 · 4,604 residents

4,509 residents added · +4798% · 4,604 residents in 2021

B 100.0
2

Palmview

QLD 4553 · 5,236 residents

4,343 residents added · +486% · 5,236 residents in 2021

C 98.8
3

Maroochydore

QLD 4558 · 20,629 residents

3,828 residents added · +23% · 20,629 residents in 2021

C 97.7
4

Peregian Springs

QLD 4573 · 9,532 residents

2,467 residents added · +35% · 9,532 residents in 2021

C 96.5
5

Birtinya

QLD 4575 · 4,378 residents

2,445 residents added · +126% · 4,378 residents in 2021

B 95.4
6

Bli Bli

QLD 4560 · 10,138 residents

2,337 residents added · +30% · 10,138 residents in 2021

B 94.2
7

Buderim

QLD 4556 · 31,430 residents

2,075 residents added · +7% · 31,430 residents in 2021

A 93.1
8

Sippy Downs

QLD 4556 · 11,544 residents

1,246 residents added · +12% · 11,544 residents in 2021

D 92.0
9

Peregian Beach

QLD 4573 · 4,972 residents

1,180 residents added · +31% · 4,972 residents in 2021

B 90.8
10

Pelican Waters

QLD 4551 · 7,393 residents

1,116 residents added · +18% · 7,393 residents in 2021

A 89.7
11

Cooroy

QLD 4563 · 4,801 residents

1,009 residents added · +27% · 4,801 residents in 2021

C 88.5
12

Caloundra West

QLD 4551 · 7,270 residents

972 residents added · +15% · 7,270 residents in 2021

B 87.4
13

Beerwah

QLD 4519 · 7,734 residents

965 residents added · +14% · 7,734 residents in 2021

C 86.2
14

Nambour

QLD 4560 · 12,145 residents

957 residents added · +9% · 12,145 residents in 2021

C 85.1
15

Meridan Plains

QLD 4551 · 4,589 residents

913 residents added · +25% · 4,589 residents in 2021

C 83.9

Ranked from 88 qualifying suburbs.

How we ranked these

100% population growth, ranked within Sunshine Coast's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.

Common questions about this ranking

What are the fastest growing Sunshine Coast suburbs (2016-2021)?

Baringa grew fastest in percentage terms, at +4,798%. It also added the most residents, 4,509. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 88 eligible Sunshine Coast suburbs.

What period does this cover?

The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.

Why are there two different lists?

Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.

Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?

This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.

Which suburbs are eligible?

Suburbs in Sunshine Coast with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.

Same list in other cities

Related

Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.

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