Noosa Heads vs Sunshine Beach

Sunshine Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 49 against 54 in Noosa Heads. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Sunshine Beach: a median of $2.88 million, against $2.19 million in Noosa Heads, though rent is higher in Noosa Heads. On these figures, Noosa Heads tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Noosa Heads is the larger and more established community with 5120 residents, while Sunshine Beach is quieter with 2480 people. Noosa Heads has stronger walkability (76 versus 52) and higher household incomes ($95,836 versus $90,220), but Sunshine Beach scores notably higher on liveability (72 versus 61) and has a significantly lower crime risk (44 versus 76). Both are affluent areas in the same socio-economic decile, though Noosa Heads commands slightly higher weekly rents at $550 compared to $495. If you value walkable streets and established amenities, Noosa Heads may appeal; if you prefer a smaller, quieter setting with lower crime, Sunshine Beach could be the better fit.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Noosa Heads has more parks and reserves (16 vs 4)
  • Sunshine Beach has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Noosa Heads has cheaper houses ($2,185,000 vs $2,875,000)
  • Sunshine Beach has cheaper units ($1,437,500 vs $2,150,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sunshine Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($495/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 55/100)
  • Sunshine Beach sits closer to the CBD (134.3 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 0)
  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 55/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 25%)
  • But Sunshine Beach carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Noosa Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (14.2% vs 0.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.0% vs 1.9%)
  • But Sunshine Beach returns a higher gross yield on units (3.6% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Noosa Heads and Sunshine 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 Sunshine 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 Sunshine Beach
Walkability 78 / 55
Noosa Heads — Walkability: 78/100 Sunshine Beach — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 24 / 56
Noosa Heads — Safety: 24/100 Sunshine Beach — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 27 / 13
Noosa Heads — Low fire risk: 27/100 Sunshine Beach — Low fire risk: 13/100

Demographics

Noosa Heads has more residents (5,120 vs 2,480); Noosa Heads rents higher ($550/wk vs $495/wk).

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Population 5,120
+52% vs other
 2,480
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.2% +0.8%
Median age 54 49
Median household income $95,836/yr
+6% vs other
 $90,220/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+10% vs other
 $495/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
0-4 2.8% / 3.7%
Noosa Heads — 0-4: 2.8% Sunshine Beach — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 9.8% / 9.1%
Noosa Heads — 5-14: 9.8% Sunshine Beach — 5-14: 9.1%
15-19 4.2% / 5.2%
Noosa Heads — 15-19: 4.2% Sunshine Beach — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 3.0% / 3.7%
Noosa Heads — 20-24: 3.0% Sunshine Beach — 20-24: 3.7%
25-34 8.0% / 10.2%
Noosa Heads — 25-34: 8.0% Sunshine Beach — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 9.6% / 10.6%
Noosa Heads — 35-44: 9.6% Sunshine Beach — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 13.6% / 15.6%
Noosa Heads — 45-54: 13.6% Sunshine Beach — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 16.5% / 17.0%
Noosa Heads — 55-64: 16.5% Sunshine Beach — 55-64: 17.0%
65-74 19.4% / 16.1%
Noosa Heads — 65-74: 19.4% Sunshine Beach — 65-74: 16.1%
75-84 9.7% / 7.1%
Noosa Heads — 75-84: 9.7% Sunshine Beach — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 3.3% / 1.5%
Noosa Heads — 85+: 3.3% Sunshine Beach — 85+: 1.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Noosa Heads 41.7% lone person
Noosa Heads — Lone Person: 41.7% Noosa Heads — Couple Families: 34.0% Noosa Heads — One Parent Families: 15.1% Noosa Heads — Group Household: 8.5% Noosa Heads — Other Families: 0.8%
Sunshine Beach 43.9% lone person
Sunshine Beach — Lone Person: 43.9% Sunshine Beach — Couple Families: 30.7% Sunshine Beach — One Parent Families: 15.7% Sunshine Beach — Group Household: 7.6% Sunshine Beach — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Sunshine Beach 31.6% renting
Sunshine Beach — Owned Outright: 42.6% Sunshine Beach — Mortgage: 25.8% Sunshine Beach — Renting: 31.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 20.0%
Noosa Heads — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Sunshine Beach — Bachelor Degree: 20.0%
Certificate III & IV 10.6% / 12.3%
Noosa Heads — Certificate III & IV: 10.6% Sunshine Beach — Certificate III & IV: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.0% / 10.8%
Noosa Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0% Sunshine Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.8%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 7.0%
Noosa Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Sunshine Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.1%
Noosa Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Sunshine Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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 Sunshine Beach
England 7.6% / 7.6%
Noosa Heads — England: 7.6% Sunshine Beach — England: 7.6%
New Zealand 4.0% / 5.1%
Noosa Heads — New Zealand: 4.0% Sunshine Beach — New Zealand: 5.1%
Germany 1.1% / 1.4%
Noosa Heads — Germany: 1.1% Sunshine Beach — Germany: 1.4%
South Africa 1.8% / 0.6%
Noosa Heads — South Africa: 1.8% Sunshine Beach — South Africa: 0.6%
Brazil 0.6% / 1.7%
Noosa Heads — Brazil: 0.6% Sunshine Beach — Brazil: 1.7%
Scotland 1.2% / —
Noosa Heads — Scotland: 1.2% Sunshine Beach — Scotland: not among its largest
Canada — / 0.8%
Noosa Heads — Canada: not among its largest Sunshine Beach — Canada: 0.8%

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 — Flats / Apartments: 19.9% Noosa Heads — Townhouses: 8.4%
Sunshine Beach 56.9% houses
Sunshine Beach — Houses: 56.9% Sunshine Beach — Flats / Apartments: 26.1% Sunshine Beach — Townhouses: 17.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Median house price $2,185,000 $2,875,000
Median unit price $2,150,000 $1,437,500
Median land price $3,525,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 79 sales
 56 days
from 44 sales

Unit 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 Sunshine Beach
2 bed $1.6M / $1.25M
Noosa Heads — 2 bed: $1.6M (62 sales) Sunshine Beach — 2 bed: $1.25M (38 sales)

62 vs 38 sales

3 bed $3.1M / $2.45M
Noosa Heads — 3 bed: $3.1M (57 sales) Sunshine Beach — 3 bed: $2.45M (13 sales)

57 vs 13 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 Sunshine Beach
3 bed $1.82M / $2.46M
Noosa Heads — 3 bed: $1.82M (34 sales) Sunshine Beach — 3 bed: $2.46M (28 sales)

34 vs 28 sales

4 bed $2.2M / $3.9M
Noosa Heads — 4 bed: $2.2M (55 sales) Sunshine Beach — 4 bed: $3.9M (23 sales)

55 vs 23 sales

5 bed $3.38M / $3.17M
Noosa Heads — 5 bed: $3.38M (19 sales) Sunshine Beach — 5 bed: $3.17M (8 sales)

19 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Noosa Heads Sunshine 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 Sunshine Beach
Houses 3.0%
$1,500/wk on $2.6M
 1.9%
$1,225/wk on $3.3M
Units 2.7%
$850/wk on $1.62M
 3.6%
$895/wk on $1.3M

Ranking within QLD

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 69% of QLD —
Schools — Higher than 81% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 88% 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 73% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 2% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 4% of QLD Higher than 15% of QLD

Liveability

Noosa Heads is more walkable (78 vs 55).

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Noosa Heads carries more crime risk (76 vs 44); Sunshine Beach carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 73).

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Bushfire High
73/100
 High
87/100
Crime High
76/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
82/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Noosa Heads

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Sunshine Beach

  • Montessori Noosa Independent · Primary above peers
  • Sunshine Beach State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Sunshine Beach State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Thomas More Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Noosa Flexible School Catholic · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 33 4
Parks & reserves 16 4
Childcare 1 3
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 7 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Noosa Heads sits further from the CBD (138.5 km vs 134.3 km).

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Walkability score 78/100 55/100
Distance to Brisbane 138.5 km
+3% vs other
 134.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 109 min 111 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 112.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 30.8
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 Sunshine Beach
Car (driver) 53.4% / 55.9%
Noosa Heads — Car (driver): 53.4% Sunshine Beach — Car (driver): 55.9%
Worked from Home 32.5% / 30.1%
Noosa Heads — Worked from Home: 32.5% Sunshine Beach — Worked from Home: 30.1%
Walked Only 6.3% / 5.8%
Noosa Heads — Walked Only: 6.3% Sunshine Beach — Walked Only: 5.8%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 3.9%
Noosa Heads — Car (passenger): 5.3% Sunshine Beach — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Bicycle 1.4% / 1.9%
Noosa Heads — Bicycle: 1.4% Sunshine Beach — Bicycle: 1.9%
Bus 0.9% / 2.2%
Noosa Heads — Bus: 0.9% Sunshine Beach — Bus: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.9%).

Setting

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.4 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 700 m
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Noosa Heads Sunshine Beach
Connectivity score 60/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
5,449 premises
 30%
1,954 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Noosa Heads Sunshine 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 Sunshine 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

Sunshine Beach

Coastal Luxury Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Noosa Heads

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

Other comparisons with Sunshine Beach

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