Sunset Beach (WA)

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Based on demographic evaluations from official statistics bureaus and newly registered locations verified by Districts since the Census, the resident count of Sunset Beach is projected to be approximately 1,874 in May 2026. This represents a rise of 316 people (20.3%) from the 1,558 residents registered during the 2021 Census. This growth is calculated using the baseline population of 1,870 estimated by Districts using the June 2025 ABS ERP publication, combined with an extra 8 validated new addresses since the Census. With this resident count, the suburb has a density of 1,046 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical suburban ratios documented by Districts. Sunset Beach's expansion rate of 20.3% since the 2021 census was higher than the SA4 region (8.2%) and the SA3 area, establishing the community as a leading growth zone. The main driver of this expansion was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly of total population additions, with natural increase and overseas migration also playing supportive roles.

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Sunset Beach features a qualified workforce with a strong presence in essential services, a very low unemployment rate of 1.0%, and a job growth rate of 4.4% over the past year. As of March 2026, there are 982 employed residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 2.5% below the Regional WA level of 3.5%. Participation in the labor force is matching the Regional WA rate of 65.6%. According to Census responses, a minor 3.6% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure reflects conditions during pandemic lockdowns.

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Taxpayer statistics for the financial year 2023 show that income levels in the suburb of Sunset Beach exceed the national average. The median income among local taxpayers is $58,032 and the average income is $71,733, compared to Regional WA figures of $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $64,375 for the median and $79,573 for the average. Census records place personal incomes at the 65th percentile ($888 weekly), while household incomes are at the 49th percentile. Earnings distribution shows that 38.1% of the community (713 individuals) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, similar to the regional proportion of . After meeting housing expenses, households retain of their income, indicating strong financial capacity.

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Housing styles in Sunset Beach at the last Census were composed of 93.0% detached houses and 7.0% other dwelling types like townhouses and apartments, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options across Regional WA. Home ownership rates in Sunset Beach matched Regional WA at 33.2%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (33.7%) or rented (33.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,517 was below the Regional WA average of $1,560, while the median weekly rent of $310 was higher than the Regional WA average of $265. Locally, mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of local households at 72.3%, consisting of couples with children at 25.3%, couples without children at 31.3%, and single parent households at 12.8%. Non-family households represent the remaining 27.7%, with single person homes at 25.2% and group housing at 3.1%. The average household occupancy is 2.4 people, slightly below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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Academic attainment shows some areas for development, with university degree holders making up 18.5% of the population, well below the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Practical and vocational skills are prominent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (31.7%).

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Public transit options in the suburb include 23 operational stops, which are serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 2 distinct routes that provide 99 passenger trips per week. Transit accessibility is strong, with residents living an average of 155 meters from the nearest stop. Because the suburb is mostly residential, many workers commute out of the area, with private cars being the main transport mode for 93% of commuters. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles. Working from home is uncommon, representing only 3.6% of residents during the 2021 Census, which was influenced by COVID-19 rules.

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Health indicators present challenges based on local mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, though chronic issues are distributed across both young and old demographics. The level of private health insurance coverage is high, encompassing roughly 56% of residents (~1,043 people).

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Cultural diversity metrics are below the national average, with citizens making up 85.0% of the population, 81.7% born in Australia, and 90.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 48.6% of the population. The most distinct religious variance is seen in Islam, which represents 2.3% of the community compared to 0.8% across Regional WA.

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The median age of residents is 36 years, which is lower than the Regional WA average of 40 and below the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented locally at 16.1% compared to the region, while the 65 - 74 bracket is underrepresented at 8.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age bracket grew from 11.9% to 13.6% of the population, and the 25 to 34 bracket rose from 14.6% to 16.1%, while the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.5% to 10.5%. Demographic projections for 2041 point to shifts, with the to cohort expected to grow by ( people), rising from to while the cohort aged + will decrease by two residents.

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Sunset Beach currently has an estimated 144 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 77 children aged 0-2 and 51 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 16% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 35% by 2041 (to approximately 195 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 223. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 12.1 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 30% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.