Main Beach (Qld)

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According to ABS demographic updates and post-Census residential address verifications by Districts, the suburb of Main Beach has an estimated population of 4,444 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 446 people (11.2%) compared to the 3,998 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The estimation is based on a resident population of 4,418 calculated by Districts using the June 2025 ABS ERP release, supplemented by 298 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population level yields a density of 1,284 persons per square kilometer, outperforming the typical figure across national locations evaluated by Districts. The suburb of Main Beach recorded an 11.2% expansion rate since the 2021 census, surpassing the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national benchmark, establishing it as a regional growth leader. Population expansion was almost entirely powered by overseas migration, which served as the exclusive contributor to demographic growth during recent intervals.

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Main Beach features a highly qualified labor force with strong representation in professional services, an unemployment rate of only 1.5%, and a 3.6% expansion in estimated employment over the last year, according to Districts regional aggregations. There were 2,408 employed residents as of March 2026, with the unemployment rate sitting 2.4% below the 3.9% recorded in Regional Qld, while labor participation is much lower (57.6% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld). Census records show that a high proportion of residents (27.4%) worked from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 containment measures.

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The most recent postcode-level ATO statistics for financial year 2023 demonstrate that incomes in the suburb of Main Beach are exceptionally high on a national scale, with a median of $54,454 and an average of $90,138. In comparison, Regional Qld recorded a median income of $53,146 and an average of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates sit at approximately $60,640 for the median and $100,378 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed individual incomes in the 72nd percentile ($938 weekly) and household incomes in the 46th percentile. The largest income bracket is weekly earnings of $1,500 - 2,999, accounting for 27.9% of the population ( residents), matching the wider region where fall into this category. Housing affordability is highly constrained, with only of income remaining after housing costs, ranking in the th percentile, while the SEIFA index places the area in the th decile for income.

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Residential composition in Main Beach at the time of the last Census consisted of 3.4% standalone houses and 96.6% alternative dwellings like townhouses and apartments, compared to Regional Qld where houses made up 76.4% and other options accounted for 23.6%. Home ownership was high at 47.8%, well above the rate in Regional Qld, with remaining households holding a mortgage (20.6%) or renting (31.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,091 was substantially higher than the Regional Qld average of $1,655, while the median weekly rent was $500 compared to the regional figure of $345. Locally, mortgage costs exceed the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and rent prices are notably higher than the national median of $375.

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Families make up 58.6% of households, comprising couples without children at 40.8%, couples with children at 11.1%, and single parents at 6.1%. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.4%, with single-person households representing 35.5% and group households making up 5.7% of the total. The median household size is 1.9 individuals, which is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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Educational qualifications in Main Beach are exceptionally high, with 35.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 20.6% in the Rest of Qld and 25.4% across the SA4 region. This educational profile positions the community well for professional services and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees (8.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational training is also well represented, with 32.1% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (14.4%) and certificates (17.7%).

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Analysis of local public transport shows 18 active passenger stops in Main Beach, consisting of light rail stations and bus stops. These stops are served by 3 distinct routes, which accommodate 2,712 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is highly convenient, with residents living an average of 117 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, and most workers commute elsewhere, with private vehicles remaining the primary transport mode at 83%, while 5% walk and 2% cycle. Car ownership stands at 1.0 per household, which is below the regional average. A significant 27.4% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 pandemic arrangements.

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Health profiles for Main Beach residents show exceptional outcomes, based on Districts assessments of mortality and chronic illnesses, which reveal very low rates of common health issues across every age group. Additionally, private health insurance uptake is exceptionally high, covering approximately 63% of the population (2,796 people). This exceeds the 52.5% rate in Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

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Main Beach has above-average cultural diversity, with 10.0% of the population speaking a non-English language at home and 29.4% born overseas. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 59.4% of residents. The most notable religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.6% of the population compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

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The median age in Main Beach is 56, which is much older than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national average of 38. Compared to the wider region, the 65 - 74 age group is heavily overrepresented at 19.0%, while children aged 5 - 14 are underrepresented at 2.5%. The local concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is significantly higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the median age has decreased slightly from 57 to 56, indicating a slight rejuvenation. Key demographic shifts include the 85+ cohort increasing from 2.3% to 6.0% of the population, and the 25 to 34 age bracket growing from to . In contrast, the to group declined from to , and the to cohort fell from to . Projections to indicate that the + cohort will experience the highest growth at , adding residents to total . The overall aging of the suburb of Main Beach will continue, with residents aged and older accounting for of the projected growth.

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Main Beach currently has an estimated 93 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 50 children aged 0-2 and 34 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 31% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 31% by 2041 (to approximately 122 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 86. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been low, with approximately 3.5 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.