Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Palm Cove suburb profile
Palm Cove, QLD · Postcode 4879
This Palm Cove suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Palm Cove, QLD (postcode 4879). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Palm Cove with nearby suburbs.
Palm Cove at a glance
Population
2,450
Median rent
$365/wk
Household income
$1,527/wk
Median age
53
Palm Cove trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+47.8% over 10 years
Population
2,450
was 2,059 in 2016
+391 · +19%
Median rent
$365/wk
was $320/wk in 2016
+$45 · +14.1%
Household income
$1,527/wk
was $1,280/wk in 2016
+$247 · +19.3%
Median age
53
was 49 in 2016
+4 · +8.2%
Dig deeper: Palm Cove population growth · Palm Cove then and now
Palm Cove vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Palm Cove, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-1.4% vs area
- Palm Cove$365/wk
- Nearby$372.5/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
-11.2% vs area
- Palm Cove$1,527/wk
- Nearby$1,580.5/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
+35.9% vs area
- Palm Cove53
- Nearby42.5
- QLD39
Personal income
+0.8% vs area
- Palm Cove$797/wk
- Nearby$812/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Palm Cove compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Palm Cove sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 61,028.8
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 71,014.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 51,015.3
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 71,014.9
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Palm Cove on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Palm Cove, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Palm Cove people
- Population
- 2,450
- Median age
- 53
- Born overseas
- 33.5%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Palm Cove income
- Median household income
- $1,527/wk
- Median personal income
- $797/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Palm Cove housing
- Median rent
- $365/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,733/mo
- Separate houses
- 48.6%
- Flats & apartments
- 15.7%
- Owned outright
- 29.4%
- Mortgaged
- 19.8%
- Rented
- 22.2%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 26.1%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Palm Cove work
- Employment to population
- 53%
- Unemployment rate
- 5.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 56.5%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4879)
Compare Palm Cove with nearby suburbs
Palm Cove in numbers
Palm Cove had 2,450 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 53, 33% above the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 33.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 29.4% own their home outright, 19.8% are paying a mortgage, 22.2% rent. Separate houses make up 48.6% of dwellings, with 15.7% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $365/wk, 4% above the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $1,527/wk, 10% below the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 5.6%. 56.5% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 6 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 19% (from 2,059 to 2,450). Median rent moved from $320/wk to $365/wk (+14.1%).
Palm Cove suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Palm Cove, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Palm Cove was $365/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Palm Cove, QLD?
- Palm Cove had 2,450 residents at the 2021 Census, up 19% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Palm Cove?
- Median household income in Palm Cove was $1,527/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Palm Cove?
- 22.2% of occupied homes in Palm Cove were rented, 29.4% were owned outright and 19.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Palm Cove suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Palm Cove. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology