Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Gympie Council
Rainbow Beach, 4581
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,328
Growth (1 yr)
+1.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+10.5%
Median age
56
Median income
$972/wk
Employment rate
44.7%
Languages at home
3.7%non-English
Most common: Afrikaans, German, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Rainbow Beach is a coastal smaller community a long way from Brisbane, where beach life and a quieter rhythm set the tone. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses serve the suburb. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Versus similar coastal suburbs, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because community and employment, plus schools and education trail behind.
At a glance
Rainbow Beach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$560/wk
Population (ERP)
1,328
+1.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
41.8%
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
#34
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
64th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
56th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
41st
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
- 42.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 47% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 3279th in Australia
- State rank
- 707th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #34 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #79 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 71%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $560
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
1,328(June 2025)
+1.3% annual · +10.5% over 5 years · 56th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.3%
- 5-year growth
- +10.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +17
- Change in 5 years
- +126
- Growth rank in QLD
- 56th 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 (~1,450), extrapolated at +1.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,220
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $972
- Dwelling vacancy
- 41.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 363 of 869
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,605
- Employment rate
- 44.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 359 / 81 / 43 (+ 19 other)
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)
- 67
- Against the person
- 17
- Against property
- 29
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 50.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 72 residents
- State safety percentile
- 64.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
- -29.9%
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage7
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)22
- Traffic And Related Offences12
- Good Order Offences13
- Drug Offences11
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
- 987
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 41th
School list
- Rainbow Beach State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 987 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 47 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 0.6 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
Amenities
78 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 supermarkets · 2 fast food · 1 bakeries · 1 libraries · 1 places of worship · 34 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb
- Strong local sport and recreation — 35 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 34/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 2.46
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 4.1
Food & drink(3)
- Ed's Beach BakeryBakery
36 Rainbow Beach Road
- Rainbow Beach Pizza n GrillFast food
- Soul FoodFast food
Shopping(2)
- ShellConvenience store
36 Rainbow Beach Road
- IGA Rainbow BeachSupermarket
Unit 9 48 Rainbow Beach Road
Community(2)
- Rainbow Beach LibraryLibrary
32 Rainbow Beach Road
- Rainbow Beach State SchoolSchool
Health & services(1)
- Rainbow Beach Medical PracticeMedical clinic
10 Ilmenite Avenue, Rainbow Beach
Sport & outdoors(38)
- Centenary ParkPark
- Laurie Hanson ParkPark
- Parc of the Rainbow Beach State SchoolPark
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (34)
Transport(2)
2 bus stops
Other(28)
- Rainbow Beach BottleshopAlcohol
Unit 3 48 Rainbow Beach Road
- Rainbow BeachBus Station
- Jeep City QLDCar Parts
10 Karoonda Road, Rainbow Beach
- Fraser Island 4x4 HireCar Rental
Unit 1 10 Karoonda Road, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach Auto Care RACQCar repair
24 Goondi Street, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach Recovery Repairs & ServicesCar repair
16 Karoonda Road, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach Rustproofing & MechanicalCar repair
LOT 25 Goondi Street, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach Service CentreCar repair
23 Karoonda Road, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach Tyre & Mechanical ServiceCar repair
9 Karoonda Road, Rainbow Beach
- 4WD Underbody & Complete Car WashCar wash
- 4WD Underbody & Complete Car WashCar wash
Goondi Street, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach Cooloolensis Holiday RentalChalet
4 Coolberry Court, Rainbow Beach
- Drinking water
- RAINBOW BEACH & DISTRICT DRIVING SCHOOLDriving School
6 Hakea Place, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach BarbershopHairdresser
- Rainbow Beach Hardware, Fishing and CampingHardware
Unit 1 38 Rainbow Beach Road
- Rainbow Beach Horse RidesHorse Riding
23 Clarkson Drive, Rainbow Beach
- Freedom Hostels Rainbow BeachHostel
20 Spectrum Street, Rainbow Beach
- Pippies Beachhouse BackpackersHotel
22 Spectrum Street, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach ResortHotel
12 Rainbow Shores Drive, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Sands ResortHotel
42-46 Rainbow Beach Road
- The Laundry TubLaundry
- Parking (3)
- Shell Rainbow Beach StationPetrol station
- The Good ShepardPlace of worship
Carlo Road, Rainbow Beach
- Rainbow Beach QueenslandTravel Agency
56 Carlo Road, Rainbow Beach
- Vacant
- Cooloola Rainbow WholesaleYes
27 Tingira Close, Rainbow Beach
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Centenary ParkPark
- Laurie Hanson ParkPark
- Lawrie Hanson ParkPark
- Parc of the Rainbow Beach State SchoolPark
- Phil Rogers ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- The Good Shepard
Carlo Road, Rainbow Beach
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Hospital (52.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Rainbow Beach Medical PracticeIlmenite AvenueDoctor
- Rainbow Beach PharmacyRainbow Beach RoadPharmacy
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)
- 36
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.1
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° / 21°
- Rainfall
- 508 mm · ~64 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 453 mm · ~57 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 235 mm · ~29 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 250 mm · ~31 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
- Wide Bay
- Member of Parliament
- Llew O'BRIEN (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 123,153
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.3%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 57.6%Labor 42.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 45.2 km away).
Coalition 55.3%Labor 44.7%
2.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Rainbow BeachLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- Tin Can BayLabor 39.0% · Coalition 61.0% TPP (2025)8.3 km away
- Cooloola CoveLabor 43.0% · Coalition 57.0% TPP (2025)11.6 km away
- BoonoorooLabor 44.1% · Coalition 55.9% TPP (2025)32.0 km away
- GoomboorianLabor 31.5% · Coalition 68.5% TPP (2025)35.1 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
More in Gympie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.