Castaways Beach vs Sunrise Beach

Sunrise Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 51 in Castaways Beach. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Castaways Beach, most households are couple families. In Sunrise Beach, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Castaways Beach tends to suit couples, while Sunrise Beach suits people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Castaways Beach

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 68%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 62%)
  • But Sunrise Beach has more parks and reserves (12 vs 8)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sunrise Beach

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (28% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($508/wk vs $750/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (27% vs 36%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Sunrise Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 18/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sunrise Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 18/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 15%)
  • But Castaways Beach has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 16%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Castaways Beach and Sunrise Beach drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Walkability 18 / 58
Castaways Beach — Walkability: 18/100 Sunrise Beach — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 82 / 75
Castaways Beach — Safety: 82/100 Sunrise Beach — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 15 / 14
Castaways Beach — Low fire risk: 15/100 Sunrise Beach — Low fire risk: 14/100

Demographics

Sunrise Beach has more residents (3,687 vs 683); Castaways Beach rents higher ($750/wk vs $508/wk).

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Population 683 3,687
+440% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.1% +8.0%
Median age 51 44
Median household income $108,316/yr
+11% vs other
 $96,564/yr
Median weekly rent $750/wk
+32% vs other
 $508/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
0-4 3.1% / 4.7%
Castaways Beach — 0-4: 3.1% Sunrise Beach — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 15.1% / 13.0%
Castaways Beach — 5-14: 15.1% Sunrise Beach — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 4.4% / 7.3%
Castaways Beach — 15-19: 4.4% Sunrise Beach — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 4.4% / 3.8%
Castaways Beach — 20-24: 4.4% Sunrise Beach — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 4.1% / 9.2%
Castaways Beach — 25-34: 4.1% Sunrise Beach — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 12.3% / 13.3%
Castaways Beach — 35-44: 12.3% Sunrise Beach — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 12.9% / 18.2%
Castaways Beach — 45-54: 12.9% Sunrise Beach — 45-54: 18.2%
55-64 19.9% / 14.4%
Castaways Beach — 55-64: 19.9% Sunrise Beach — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 16.0% / 10.4%
Castaways Beach — 65-74: 16.0% Sunrise Beach — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 6.9% / 4.5%
Castaways Beach — 75-84: 6.9% Sunrise Beach — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 0.7% / 1.1%
Castaways Beach — 85+: 0.7% Sunrise Beach — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Castaways Beach 63.5% couple families
Castaways Beach — Couple Families: 63.5% Castaways Beach — Lone Person: 19.0% Castaways Beach — One Parent Families: 10.9% Castaways Beach — Group Household: 6.6% Castaways Beach — Other Families: 0.0%
Sunrise Beach 46.0% couple families
Sunrise Beach — Couple Families: 46.0% Sunrise Beach — Lone Person: 30.4% Sunrise Beach — One Parent Families: 15.6% Sunrise Beach — Group Household: 7.7% Sunrise Beach — Other Families: 0.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Castaways Beach 11.3% renting
Castaways Beach — Owned Outright: 53.0% Castaways Beach — Mortgage: 35.6% Castaways Beach — Renting: 11.3%
Sunrise Beach 27.8% renting
Sunrise Beach — Owned Outright: 34.3% Sunrise Beach — Mortgage: 38.0% Sunrise Beach — Renting: 27.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 17.0%
Castaways Beach — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Sunrise Beach — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.7% / 13.2%
Castaways Beach — Certificate III & IV: 11.7% Sunrise Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 9.4%
Castaways Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Sunrise Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 5.0%
Castaways Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Sunrise Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.6%
Castaways Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Sunrise Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
England 8.6% / 7.2%
Castaways Beach — England: 8.6% Sunrise Beach — England: 7.2%
New Zealand 2.8% / 4.1%
Castaways Beach — New Zealand: 2.8% Sunrise Beach — New Zealand: 4.1%
South Africa 2.0% / 1.2%
Castaways Beach — South Africa: 2.0% Sunrise Beach — South Africa: 1.2%
Germany 0.7% / 1.1%
Castaways Beach — Germany: 0.7% Sunrise Beach — Germany: 1.1%
Netherlands 1.5% / —
Castaways Beach — Netherlands: 1.5% Sunrise Beach — Netherlands: not among its largest
China 1.2% / —
Castaways Beach — China: 1.2% Sunrise Beach — China: not among its largest
Brazil — / 1.1%
Castaways Beach — Brazil: not among its largest Sunrise Beach — Brazil: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castaways Beach 87.5% houses
Castaways Beach — Houses: 87.5% Castaways Beach — Townhouses: 14.9% Castaways Beach — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Sunrise Beach 67.9% houses
Sunrise Beach — Houses: 67.9% Sunrise Beach — Townhouses: 25.8% Sunrise Beach — Flats / Apartments: 6.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Median house price $2,053,750 $2,220,000
Median unit price — $1,015,000
Median land price $1,690,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) — 39 days
from 41 sales

Development activity

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
New dwellings approved 239
across Noosa
same for both
Approvals change year on year -9%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Houses — 4.0%
$1,400/wk on $1.84M
Units — 4.4%
$1,000/wk on $1.18M

Ranking within QLD

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 52% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 50% of QLD

Liveability

Sunrise Beach is more walkable (58 vs 18).

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 50/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Bushfire High
85/100
 High
86/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Low
25/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
14/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 8 12
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Walkability score 18/100 58/100
Distance to Brisbane 131.1 km 133 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 107 min 110 min
Public transport score 46/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 8.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 25.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 4567
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 4567
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Car (driver) 59.7% / 65.6%
Castaways Beach — Car (driver): 59.7% Sunrise Beach — Car (driver): 65.6%
Worked from Home 36.5% / 24.6%
Castaways Beach — Worked from Home: 36.5% Sunrise Beach — Worked from Home: 24.6%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 4.7%
Castaways Beach — Car (passenger): 3.8% Sunrise Beach — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bicycle — / 2.0%
Castaways Beach — Bicycle: not among its largest Sunrise Beach — Bicycle: 2.0%
Bus — / 1.8%
Castaways Beach — Bus: not among its largest Sunrise Beach — Bus: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.6%).

Setting

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 35 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.0 km
1.0 km to a named beach
 807 m
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Connectivity score 72/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
310 premises
 39%
1,783 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Average residential rate $1,614/yr
same for both
Council Noosa
same for both

Federal electorate

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Division Wide Bay
same for both
Member Llew O'Brien
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Castaways Beach Sunrise Beach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Castaways Beach

Acreage Beach Coastal Parks Professionals

Sunrise Beach

Coastal Luxury Parks Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Sunrise Beach

Sunrise Beach vs Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach vs Sunshine Beach
Full data on Castaways Beach Full data on Sunrise Beach
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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