Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Sunshine Coast Council
Pelican Waters, 4551
Est. population · Jun 2025
8,799
Growth (1 yr)
+3.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+14.2%
Median age
55
Median income
$1,552/wk
Employment rate
45.5%
Languages at home
5.5%non-English
Most common: German, Afrikaans, Vietnamese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Sunshine Coast Council, Pelican Waters is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in safety, plus schools and education.
At a glance
Pelican Waters snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$950/wk
Population (ERP)
8,799
+3.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#11
among Metro Brisbane · Mature
Safety
19th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
89th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
83rd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 51.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 29% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 1942nd in Australia
- State rank
- 434th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #11 among Metro Brisbane · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #249 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
- Data confidence
- 74%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $950
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Mar 2026 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
8,799(June 2025)
+3.1% annual · +14.2% over 5 years · 89th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +3.1%
- 5-year growth
- +14.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +264
- Change in 5 years
- +1,093
- Growth rank in QLD
- 89th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~10,050), extrapolated at +2.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 7,393
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $1,552
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 189 of 2,964
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,200
- Employment rate
- 45.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,445 / 179 / 154
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
- 236
- Against the person
- 39
- Against property
- 120
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 26.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 190 residents
- State safety percentile
- 18.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
- -3.3%
Most common offence types
- Drug Offences353
- Good Order Offences171
- Other Property Damage183
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)577
- Traffic And Related Offences225
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,095
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 83th
School list
- Caloundra City Private SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1095 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 228 students · Top SEA quarter 39% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
10 public transport stops in this suburb
- Nelson St near Caldwell St
- Pelican Waters Bvd near Agincourt St
- Pelican Waters Bvd near Kalowendha Ave
- Pelican Waters Bvd near The Corso
- Pelican Waters Shopping Centre
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
123 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 pubs · 2 supermarkets · 3 playgrounds · 3 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 27 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 10 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 44/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.14
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.27
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.65
Food & drink(2)
- Cafe
- Pelican Waters TavernPub
Shopping(2)
- ColesSupermarket
44 Pelican Waters Boulevard
- WoolworthsSupermarket
Community(1)
- Caloundra City Private SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(24)
- Central ParkPark
- Harbourlights Way Linear ParkPark
- Jensen ParkPark
- Lamerough Canal ParkPark
- MacLamond Drive ParkPark
- Marina View Drive Amenity ReservePark
- New Holland Drive ParkPark
- Park (5)
- Pipe ParkPark
- Raptor ParkPark
- Scribbly Gum ParkPark
- Sir Joseph Banks Drive ParkPark
- The Basin ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sunshine Coast CouncilPlayground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (3)
Transport(7)
7 bus stops
Other(15)
- Alcohol
- BWSAlcohol
- Bench (2)
- Disc Golf Course
- Garden (41)
- Pelican Waters ResortHotel
- Parking (7)
- Pelican Waters Golf ClubParking
- Parking Space (20)
- Petrol station
- Public toilets
- Pelican Waters ResortResort
38 Mahogany Drive, Pelican Waters
- Shelter (7)
- St Mary's at Pelican WatersSocial Facility
- Track
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
13 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bevan Henzell ReservePark
- Central ParkPark
- Harbourlights Way Linear ParkPark
- Jensen ParkPark
- Lamerough Canal ParkPark
- MacLamond Drive ParkPark
- Marina View Drive Amenity ReservePark
- New Holland Drive ParkPark
- Pipe ParkPark
- Raptor ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 28
- Parks (OSM)
- 27
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Caloundra Hospital (4.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 238
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.0
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 29° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 498 mm · ~62 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 406 mm · ~51 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 196 mm · ~24 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 256 mm · ~32 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Fisher
- Member of Parliament
- Andrew WALLACE (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 139,064
- Turnout (2025)
- 90.1%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.6 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 56.0%Labor 44.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 6.7 km away).
Coalition 58.5%Labor 41.5%
2.5 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Pelican WatersLabor 39.0% · Coalition 61.0% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- Golden BeachLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- BaringaLabor 49.5% · Coalition 50.5% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- Caloundra WestLabor 50.9% · Coalition 49.1% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
- CaloundraLabor 50.0% · Coalition 50.0% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Sunshine Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.