Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Rainbow Beach suburb profile
Rainbow Beach, QLD · Postcode 4581
This Rainbow Beach suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Rainbow Beach, QLD (postcode 4581). 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 Rainbow Beach with nearby suburbs.
Rainbow Beach at a glance
Population
1,220
Median rent
$280/wk
Household income
$972/wk
Median age
56
Rainbow Beach 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
+13.5% over 10 years
Population
1,220
was 1,249 in 2016
-29 · -2.3%
Median rent
$280/wk
was $260/wk in 2016
+$20 · +7.7%
Household income
$972/wk
was $902/wk in 2016
+$70 · +7.8%
Median age
56
was 50 in 2016
+6 · +12%
Dig deeper: Rainbow Beach population growth · Rainbow Beach then and now
Rainbow Beach vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Rainbow Beach, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-24.3% vs area
- Rainbow Beach$280/wk
- Nearby$452.5/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
-43.5% vs area
- Rainbow Beach$972/wk
- Nearby$1,613.5/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
+43.6% vs area
- Rainbow Beach56
- Nearby47.5
- QLD39
Personal income
-23.9% vs area
- Rainbow Beach$602/wk
- Nearby$777.5/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Rainbow Beach compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Rainbow Beach sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3971.2
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3934.4
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2963.2
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3930.2
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Rainbow Beach on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Rainbow Beach, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Rainbow Beach people
- Population
- 1,220
- Median age
- 56
- Born overseas
- 14.5%
- Average household size
- 2.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Rainbow Beach income
- Median household income
- $972/wk
- Median personal income
- $602/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Rainbow Beach housing
- Median rent
- $280/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,605/mo
- Separate houses
- 41.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 4.9%
- Owned outright
- 26.2%
- Mortgaged
- 12%
- Rented
- 17.7%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 41.8%
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
Rainbow Beach work
- Employment to population
- 44.7%
- Unemployment rate
- 1.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 39.9%
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 4581)
Compare Rainbow Beach with nearby suburbs
Rainbow Beach in numbers
Rainbow Beach had 1,220 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 56, 40% above the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 2 people. 14.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 26.2% own their home outright, 12% are paying a mortgage, 17.7% rent. Separate houses make up 41.3% of dwellings, with 4.9% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $280/wk, 20% below the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $972/wk, 42% below the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 1.6%. 39.9% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 2.3% (from 1,249 to 1,220). Median rent moved from $260/wk to $280/wk (+7.7%).
Rainbow Beach suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Rainbow Beach, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Rainbow Beach was $280/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Rainbow Beach, QLD?
- Rainbow Beach had 1,220 residents at the 2021 Census, down 2.3% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Rainbow Beach?
- Median household income in Rainbow Beach was $972/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Rainbow Beach?
- 17.7% of occupied homes in Rainbow Beach were rented, 26.2% were owned outright and 12% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Rainbow Beach suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Rainbow Beach. 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