Noosa Heads vs Sunrise Beach

Sunrise Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 54 in Noosa Heads. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Sunrise Beach, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Noosa Heads tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Sunrise Beach suits couples.

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

Sunrise Beach

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 76/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 49%)
  • But Noosa Heads has more parks and reserves (16 vs 12)

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

First-home buyers

Sunrise Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,015,000 vs $2,150,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sunrise Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($508/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Noosa Heads is more walkable (78/100 vs 58/100)
  • Sunrise Beach sits closer to the CBD (133 km vs 138.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Noosa Heads

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 58/100)
  • But Sunrise Beach carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Sunrise Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.4% vs 2.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.0%)
  • But Noosa Heads is growing faster (14.2% vs 8.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Noosa Heads 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.

Noosa Heads 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.

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Walkability 78 / 58
Noosa Heads — Walkability: 78/100 Sunrise Beach — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 24 / 75
Noosa Heads — Safety: 24/100 Sunrise Beach — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 27 / 14
Noosa Heads — Low fire risk: 27/100 Sunrise Beach — Low fire risk: 14/100

Demographics

Noosa Heads has more residents (5,120 vs 3,687); Noosa Heads skews older (54 vs 44).

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Population 5,120
+28% vs other
 3,687
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.2% +8.0%
Median age 54 44
Median household income $95,836/yr $96,564/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+8% vs other
 $508/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
0-4 2.8% / 4.7%
Noosa Heads — 0-4: 2.8% Sunrise Beach — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 9.8% / 13.0%
Noosa Heads — 5-14: 9.8% Sunrise Beach — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 4.2% / 7.3%
Noosa Heads — 15-19: 4.2% Sunrise Beach — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 3.0% / 3.8%
Noosa Heads — 20-24: 3.0% Sunrise Beach — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 8.0% / 9.2%
Noosa Heads — 25-34: 8.0% Sunrise Beach — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 9.6% / 13.3%
Noosa Heads — 35-44: 9.6% Sunrise Beach — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 13.6% / 18.2%
Noosa Heads — 45-54: 13.6% Sunrise Beach — 45-54: 18.2%
55-64 16.5% / 14.4%
Noosa Heads — 55-64: 16.5% Sunrise Beach — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 19.4% / 10.4%
Noosa Heads — 65-74: 19.4% Sunrise Beach — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 9.7% / 4.5%
Noosa Heads — 75-84: 9.7% Sunrise Beach — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 3.3% / 1.1%
Noosa Heads — 85+: 3.3% Sunrise Beach — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Noosa Heads 34.0% couple families
Noosa Heads — Couple Families: 34.0% Noosa Heads — Lone Person: 41.7% Noosa Heads — One Parent Families: 15.1% Noosa Heads — Group Household: 8.5% Noosa Heads — Other Families: 0.8%
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.

Noosa Heads 25.0% renting
Noosa Heads — Owned Outright: 50.6% Noosa Heads — Mortgage: 24.4% Noosa Heads — Renting: 25.0%
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.

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 17.0%
Noosa Heads — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Sunrise Beach — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 10.6% / 13.2%
Noosa Heads — Certificate III & IV: 10.6% Sunrise Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.0% / 9.4%
Noosa Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0% Sunrise Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 5.0%
Noosa Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Sunrise Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.6%
Noosa Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Sunrise Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

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.

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
England 7.6% / 7.2%
Noosa Heads — England: 7.6% Sunrise Beach — England: 7.2%
New Zealand 4.0% / 4.1%
Noosa Heads — New Zealand: 4.0% Sunrise Beach — New Zealand: 4.1%
South Africa 1.8% / 1.2%
Noosa Heads — South Africa: 1.8% Sunrise Beach — South Africa: 1.2%
Germany 1.1% / 1.1%
Noosa Heads — Germany: 1.1% Sunrise Beach — Germany: 1.1%
Scotland 1.2% / 0.8%
Noosa Heads — Scotland: 1.2% Sunrise Beach — Scotland: 0.8%
Brazil 0.6% / 1.1%
Noosa Heads — Brazil: 0.6% Sunrise Beach — Brazil: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Noosa Heads 71.7% houses
Noosa Heads — Houses: 71.7% Noosa Heads — Townhouses: 8.4% Noosa Heads — Flats / Apartments: 19.9%
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

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Median house price $2,185,000 $2,220,000
Median unit price $2,150,000 $1,015,000
Median land price $3,525,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 79 sales
 39 days
from 41 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
3 bed $1.82M / $1.88M
Noosa Heads — 3 bed: $1.82M (34 sales) Sunrise Beach — 3 bed: $1.88M (19 sales)

34 vs 19 sales

4 bed $2.2M / $2.23M
Noosa Heads — 4 bed: $2.2M (55 sales) Sunrise Beach — 4 bed: $2.23M (45 sales)

55 vs 45 sales

5 bed $3.38M / $2.75M
Noosa Heads — 5 bed: $3.38M (19 sales) Sunrise Beach — 5 bed: $2.75M (8 sales)

19 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Noosa Heads 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.

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Houses 3.0%
$1,500/wk on $2.6M
 4.0%
$1,400/wk on $1.84M
Units 2.7%
$850/wk on $1.62M
 4.4%
$1,000/wk on $1.18M

Ranking within QLD

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 69% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 96% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 52% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 4% of QLD Higher than 50% of QLD

Liveability

Noosa Heads is more walkable (78 vs 58).

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 50/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Noosa Heads carries more crime risk (76 vs 25); Sunrise Beach carries more bushfire risk (86 vs 73).

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Bushfire High
73/100
 High
86/100
Crime High
76/100
 Low
25/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
82/100
 Low
14/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Noosa Heads 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

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 33 1
Parks & reserves 16 12
Childcare 1 0
GPs 5 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 7 0
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Noosa Heads sits further from the CBD (138.5 km vs 133 km).

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Walkability score 78/100 58/100
Distance to Brisbane 138.5 km
+4% vs other
 133 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 109 min 110 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 112.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 25.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Car (driver) 53.4% / 65.6%
Noosa Heads — Car (driver): 53.4% Sunrise Beach — Car (driver): 65.6%
Worked from Home 32.5% / 24.6%
Noosa Heads — Worked from Home: 32.5% Sunrise Beach — Worked from Home: 24.6%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 4.7%
Noosa Heads — Car (passenger): 5.3% Sunrise Beach — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Walked Only 6.3% / 1.3%
Noosa Heads — Walked Only: 6.3% Sunrise Beach — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bicycle 1.4% / 2.0%
Noosa Heads — Bicycle: 1.4% Sunrise Beach — Bicycle: 2.0%
Bus 0.9% / 1.8%
Noosa Heads — Bus: 0.9% Sunrise Beach — Bus: 1.8%

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

Setting

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 35 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.4 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 807 m
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Noosa Heads Sunrise Beach
Connectivity score 60/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
5,449 premises
 39%
1,783 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Noosa Heads 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

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

Tags

Noosa Heads

Coastal Luxury Retirees

Sunrise Beach

Coastal Luxury Parks Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads vs Noosaville Noosa Heads vs Sunshine Beach Noosa Heads vs Castaways Beach Noosa Heads vs Noosa North Shore

Other comparisons with Sunrise Beach

Sunrise Beach vs Sunshine Beach Sunrise Beach vs Castaways Beach
Full data on Noosa Heads 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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