Sunshine Coast

Queensland · Sunshine Coast · 341,470 people · 124 suburbs · 24 postcodes

Sunshine Coast at a glance

341,470
Population
#5 of 69 in QLD
2,236
km² area
153/km² density
43.6
Median age
+4.3 vs QLD
1001
SEIFA IRSAD
#6 of 69 in QLD
80
Schools
54 gov, 9 Cath, 17 indep
20.7%
Born overseas
28.5%
Renting

Map shows the Sunshine Coast LGA boundary in blue with a marker per suburb. Hover for suburb name, click for details.

Marker colour reflects SEIFA IRSAD decile: ● 1-2 (most disadvantaged), ● 3-4, ● 5-6, ● 7-8, ● 9-10 (most advantaged).

Boundary source: ABS ASGS 2021. Map tiles: OpenStreetMap contributors.

Federal electorate boundaries can be toggled on the map. Boundary source: ABS ASGS 2021 CED boundaries.

Sunshine Coast is a metropolitan Local Government Area in Queensland, in the Brisbane region. It covers 124 suburbs across 24 postcodes and an area of 2,236 km². Sunshine Coast has a population of 341,470 , ranking #5 most populous in QLD. The most populous suburb is Buderim (31,430 residents).About 20.7% of residents were born overseas and 6.1% speak a language other than English at home.

Who lives here

Age structure

0–14 (17.3%) 15–24 (10.9%) 25–44 (23.4%) 45–64 (26.6%) 65+ (21.7%)
Show counts
0–14 years59,160 (17.3%)
15–24 years37,265 (10.9%)
25–44 years79,825 (23.4%)
45–64 years90,913 (26.6%)
65+ years74,256 (21.7%)
20.7%
Born overseas
6.1%
Speak a language other than English at home
2.4%
First Nations
2.5
Avg household size

How they live

Housing tenure

Owned outright (35.5%) Mortgaged (36.0%) Renting (28.5%)

Dwelling type mix

Separate house (80.9%) Semi/townhouse (9.8%) Flat/apartment (9.3%)
$439
Median weekly rent
$1,909
Median monthly mortgage
39.2%
Households with 0-1 cars
60.8%
Households with 2+ cars

Work and learning

4.5%
Unemployment rate
83,691
In full-time work
59,207
In part-time work

Schools in Sunshine Coast

80 schools across Sunshine Coast: 67.5% Government, 11.2% Catholic, 21.2% Independent. The QLD average is 69.8% / 17.1% / 13.1%. Schools here have a median ICSEA of 1040 (range 945 to 1155). QLD median is 985; national mean is 1000.

Sector mix

QLD average for comparison
Government Catholic Independent

Type breakdown

Primary (53.8%) Secondary (16.2%) Combined (26.2%) Special (3.8%)

ICSEA range

700 National mean 1000 1300
LGA median 1040 QLD median 985LGA range 945 to 1155

ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) summarises the socio-economic background of each school's families. Higher values indicate more advantage. Source: ACARA 2025.

All 80 schools in Sunshine Coast, sorted by enrolment:

School Sector Type Suburb Students ICSEA
Chancellor State College Government Combined Sippy Downs 2,609 1042
Kawana Waters State College Government Combined Bokarina 2,495 1034
Mountain Creek State High School Government Secondary Mountain Creek 2,091 1043
Meridan State College Government Combined Meridan Plains 1,795 1013
Coolum State High School Government Secondary Coolum Beach 1,551 1040
Sunshine Coast Grammar School Independent Combined Forest Glen 1,472 1133
Nambour State College Government Combined Nambour 1,469 977
St Andrew's Anglican College Independent Combined Peregian Springs 1,459 1143
Unity College Catholic Combined Caloundra West 1,450 1065
Matthew Flinders Anglican College Independent Combined Buderim 1,426 1155
Caloundra State High School Government Secondary Caloundra 1,316 1004
Nambour Christian College Independent Combined Woombye 1,309 1083
Good Samaritan Catholic College Catholic Combined Bli Bli 1,246 1050
Immanuel Lutheran College Independent Combined Buderim 1,239 1120
Maroochydore State High School Government Secondary Maroochydore 1,205 1011
Pacific Lutheran College Independent Combined Meridan Plains 1,204 1114
Buderim Mountain State School Government Primary Buderim 1,183 1096
Glasshouse Christian College Independent Combined Beerwah 1,180 1039
Suncoast Christian College Independent Combined Woombye 1,136 1084
Peregian Springs State School Government Primary Peregian Springs 1,028 1059
Coolum State School Government Primary Coolum Beach 1,004 1046
Talara Primary College Government Primary Currimundi 974 1035
Baringa State Primary School Government Primary Baringa 930 1032
St John's College Catholic Secondary Nambour 927 1059
Siena Catholic College Catholic Secondary Sippy Downs 889 1073
Beerwah State High School Government Secondary Beerwah 855 970
Burnside State High School Government Secondary Burnside 809 988
Mooloolaba State School Government Primary Mooloolaba 807 1064
Mountain Creek State School Government Primary Mountain Creek 778 1041
Buddina State School Government Primary Buddina 742 1057
Stella Maris School Catholic Primary Maroochydore 737 1081
Brightwater State School Government Primary Mountain Creek 733 1055
Baringa State Secondary College Government Secondary Baringa 677 1007
Nirimba State Primary School Government Primary Nirimba 665 1023
Maleny State High School Government Secondary Maleny 647 1029
Currimundi State School Government Primary Currimundi 619 1041
Siena Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Sippy Downs 616 1081
Bli Bli State School Government Primary Bli Bli 615 1005
Kuluin State School Government Primary Kuluin 612 1018
Palmview State Primary School Government Primary Palmview 596 1037
Eumundi State School Government Primary Eumundi 578 1052
Golden Beach State School Government Primary Golden Beach 548 1015
Coolum Beach Christian College Independent Combined Coolum Beach 491 1081
Palmwoods State School Government Primary Palmwoods 485 1030
Caloundra State School Government Primary Caloundra 481 1027
Pacific Paradise State School Government Primary Pacific Paradise 467 1024
Chevallum State School Government Primary Chevallum 456 1054
Caloundra Christian College Independent Combined Caloundra 438 1058
Woombye State School Government Primary Woombye 423 1014
Maleny State School Government Primary Maleny 409 1050
Palmview State Secondary College Government Secondary Palmview 379 1021
Glass House Mountains State School Government Primary Glass House Mountains 376 998
Burnside State School Government Primary Burnside 368 984
Yandina State School Government Primary Yandina 365 1004
North Arm State School Government Primary North Arm 356 1031
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic Primary Nambour 341 1045
Noosa Pengari Steiner School Independent Combined Doonan 324 1089
Our Lady of the Rosary School Catholic Primary Caloundra 321 1092
Landsborough State School Government Primary Landsborough 316 989
Montessori International College Independent Combined Forest Glen 276 1104
Glenview State School Government Primary Glenview 251 1062
Mooloolah State School Government Primary Mooloolah Valley 230 1012
Caloundra City Private School Independent Combined Pelican Waters 228 1095
The Industry School - Sunshine Coast Independent Secondary Maroochydore 226 1054
Maroochydore State School Government Primary Maroochydore 222 969
Beerwah State School Government Primary Beerwah 220 950
Notre Dame College Catholic Combined Bells Creek 216 1066
Currimundi Special School Government Special Dicky Beach 177 1006
Mapleton State School Government Primary Mapleton 177 1048
Nambour Special School Government Special Burnside 132 1002
Eudlo State School Government Primary Eudlo 110 1007
Blackall Range Independent School Independent Combined Kureelpa 108 1039
Peachester State School Government Primary Peachester 104 1001
Palmview State Special School Government Special Palmview 102 1023
Beerburrum State School Government Primary Beerburrum 101 945
Montville State School Government Primary Montville 91 1072
The River School Independent Primary Maleny 77 1074
My Independent School Independent Secondary Beerwah 69 996
Conondale State School Government Primary Conondale 47 970
Kenilworth State Community College Government Primary Kenilworth 44 983

Source: ACARA School Profiles 2025. ICSEA shown where reported; some schools (notably small primaries) do not publish ICSEA.

SEIFA socio-economic indexes

SEIFA 2021 ranks Australian areas across four dimensions. Scores are population-weighted averages of suburb-level SEIFA scores within Sunshine Coast. Higher scores indicate more advantage; the national mean is 1000.

IRSAD

Relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage

1001
Ranked #6 of 69 QLD LGAs

IRSD

Relative disadvantage only (lower = more disadvantaged)

1022

IER

Economic resources: income, wealth, housing

1023

IEO

Education and occupation: qualifications, skill levels

991

Suburbs in Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast contains 124 suburbs and 24 postcodes. Sorted by population.

SuburbPostcodePopulationMedian incomeMedian age
Buderim 4556 31,430 $1,729/wk 46
Maroochydore 4558 20,629 $1,360/wk 47
Nambour 4560 12,145 $1,224/wk 40
Mountain Creek 4557 11,950 $1,911/wk 37
Sippy Downs 4556 11,544 $1,484/wk 33
Little Mountain 4551 11,068 $1,636/wk 44
Bli Bli 4560 10,138 $1,670/wk 41
Peregian Springs 4573 9,532 $1,836/wk 39
Coolum Beach 4573 9,152 $1,600/wk 45
Mooloolaba 4557 8,202 $1,506/wk 44
Beerwah 4519 7,734 $1,512/wk 40
Pelican Waters 4551 7,393 $1,552/wk 55
Caloundra West 4551 7,270 $1,571/wk 37
Currimundi 4551 6,570 $1,467/wk 45
Palmwoods 4555 6,357 $1,738/wk 43
Wurtulla 4575 6,254 $1,741/wk 41
Golden Beach 4551 5,646 $1,154/wk 55
Glass House Mountains 4518 5,601 $1,740/wk 42
Palmview 4553 5,236 $2,306/wk 29
Parrearra 4575 4,661 $1,467/wk 52
Baringa 4551 4,604 $2,050/wk 29
Meridan Plains 4551 4,589 $1,529/wk 36
Mount Coolum 4573 4,545 $1,690/wk 44
Landsborough 4550 4,446 $1,620/wk 40
Birtinya 4575 4,378 $1,824/wk 36
Buddina 4575 4,236 $1,721/wk 43
Alexandra Headland 4572 4,235 $1,682/wk 47
Maleny 4552 3,959 $1,144/wk 59
Woombye 4559 3,944 $1,763/wk 40
Caloundra 4551 3,932 $980/wk 58
Warana 4575 3,831 $1,511/wk 42
Doonan 4562 3,727 $2,096/wk 46
Mooloolah Valley 4553 3,629 $1,931/wk 40
Aroona 4551 3,466 $1,857/wk 43
Marcoola 4564 3,355 $1,401/wk 45
Burnside 4208 3,104 $1,626/wk 37
Yandina 4561 3,073 $1,616/wk 36
Kings Beach 4551 3,042 $1,266/wk 53
Twin Waters 4564 2,966 $1,689/wk 60
Minyama 4575 2,726 $1,716/wk 53
Kuluin 4558 2,700 $1,696/wk 41
Moffat Beach 4551 2,691 $1,639/wk 47
Pacific Paradise 4564 2,675 $1,340/wk 46
Mudjimba 4564 2,664 $1,763/wk 44
Battery Hill 4551 2,596 $1,382/wk 43
Eumundi 4562 2,504 $1,967/wk 45
Nirimba 4551 2,229 $1,997/wk 27
Yaroomba 4573 2,043 $2,262/wk 42
Bokarina 4575 1,935 $2,429/wk 37
Dicky Beach 4551 1,921 $1,322/wk 53
Rosemount 4560 1,851 $1,490/wk 48
Diddillibah 4559 1,703 $1,424/wk 46
Maroochy River 4561 1,667 $2,152/wk 42
Mapleton 4560 1,661 $1,089/wk 59
Forest Glen 4556 1,657 $1,387/wk 46
Coes Creek 4560 1,515 $1,628/wk 43
Peachester 4519 1,460 $1,721/wk 46
Glenview 4553 1,396 $2,216/wk 42
Tanawha 4556 1,312 $2,542/wk 40
Ninderry 4561 1,301 $1,711/wk 44
Witta 4552 1,296 $1,205/wk 54
Eudlo 4554 1,192 $1,758/wk 45
Mons 4556 1,179 $2,675/wk 41
Montville 4560 1,092 $1,550/wk 56
West Woombye 4559 1,083 $2,115/wk 47
Flaxton 4560 992 $1,431/wk 59
Kureelpa 4560 968 $1,784/wk 50
Beerburrum 4517 941 $1,442/wk 43
Shelly Beach 4551 925 $2,026/wk 48
Conondale 4552 882 $1,194/wk 48
Yandina Creek 4561 872 $2,148/wk 42
Ilkley 4554 812 $2,062/wk 46
Verrierdale 4562 809 $1,831/wk 46
Valdora 4561 776 $2,141/wk 40
North Arm 4561 734 $1,816/wk 44
Belli Park 4562 724 $1,681/wk 48
Kiels Mountain 4559 714 $2,163/wk 43
North Maleny 4552 710 $1,608/wk 61
Dulong 4560 688 $1,767/wk 49
Eerwah Vale 4562 671 $1,573/wk 46
Kenilworth 4574 604 $1,187/wk 51
Hunchy 4555 592 $1,773/wk 48
Reesville 4552 573 $1,478/wk 57
Diamond Valley 4553 489 $1,760/wk 50
Chevallum 4555 467 $2,016/wk 45
Image Flat 4560 457 $1,583/wk 45
Mount Mellum 4550 457 $1,947/wk 52
Kulangoor 4560 455 $1,333/wk 42
Weyba Downs 4562 352 $1,713/wk 47
Highworth 4560 348 $1,674/wk 40
Bells Creek 4551 343 $1,942/wk 31
Cooloolabin 4560 311 $1,199/wk 45
Point Arkwright 4573 309 $1,547/wk 47
Landers Shoot 4555 308 $2,200/wk 45
Towen Mountain 4560 304 $1,728/wk 44
Balmoral Ridge 4552 302 $1,899/wk 57
Bridges 4561 295 $1,875/wk 41
Gheerulla 4574 291 $1,524/wk 44
Bald Knob 4552 280 $1,812/wk 60
Wootha 4552 258 $1,766/wk 52
Crohamhurst 4519 219 $1,514/wk 49
Perwillowen 4560 213 $1,562/wk 54
Cambroon 4552 211 $1,268/wk 47
Obi Obi 4574 208 $1,437/wk 49
Curramore 4552 198 $1,343/wk 54
Parklands 4560 198 $1,520/wk 43
Kiamba 4560 191 $1,666/wk 48
Kidaman Creek 4574 125 $1,025/wk 51
Elaman Creek 4552 92 $1,562/wk 55
Coochin Creek 4519 76 $1,624/wk 41
Coolabine 4574 76 $1,083/wk 53
Kunda Park 4556 22 $1,124/wk 38
Corbould Park 4551 6 $1,324/wk 60
Banya 4551
Bribie Island 4507
Bribie Island North 4507
Cotton Tree 4558
Gagalba 4551
Kawana Waters 4575
Maroochydore South 4558
Mooloolah 4553
Nambour West 4560
Sunshine Plaza 4558
Warana Beach 4575

Postcodes covered

4208, 4507, 4517, 4518, 4519, 4550, 4551, 4552, 4553, 4554, 4555, 4556, 4557, 4558, 4559, 4560, 4561, 4562, 4564, 4572, 4573, 4574, 4575, 4810

Compare Sunshine Coast with neighbouring LGAs

Side-by-side demographic and socio-economic snapshot of Sunshine Coast and its closest neighbouring LGAs.

LGA Population Median age SEIFA IRSAD % renting % overseas-born
Sunshine Coast (QLD) 341,470 43.6 1001 28.5% 20.7%
Moreton Bay 475,623 39.6 970 32.1% 21.0%
Noosa 57,255 50.2 1010 21.9% 23.0%
Gympie 53,250 47.4 896 22.7% 11.6%
Gold Coast 624,630 39.8 1009 34.9% 29.1%
Somerset 24,745 44.4 912 21.5% 13.7%

Services and amenities

NDIS Providers NDIS provider directory for Sunshine Coast Climate & weather Climate data for Buderim

Frequently asked questions about Sunshine Coast

What is the population of Sunshine Coast?

The 2021 Census recorded 341,470 people living in Sunshine Coast, across 124 suburbs.

What suburbs are in Sunshine Coast?

Sunshine Coast contains 124 suburbs. The most populous are Buderim, Maroochydore, Nambour, Mountain Creek, Sippy Downs.See the full list in the Suburbs section above.

What postcodes are in Sunshine Coast?

Sunshine Coast covers 24 postcodes: 4208, 4507, 4517, 4518, 4519, 4550, 4551, 4552, 4553, 4554, 4555, 4556, 4557, 4558, 4559, 4560, 4561, 4562, 4564, 4572, 4573, 4574, 4575, 4810.

How many schools are in Sunshine Coast?

Sunshine Coast has 80 schools, including 54 government, 9 Catholic, and 17 independent schools (ACARA 2025).

What is the SEIFA score for Sunshine Coast?

Sunshine Coast has a population-weighted SEIFA IRSAD score of 1001, where the national average is 1000. Higher scores indicate more relative advantage.

Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 (IRSD, IRSAD, IER, IEO), ACARA School Profiles 2025, ABS ASGS 2021 LGA boundaries. How this data is sourced.