Moving to Airlie Beach QLD 4802
What the official numbers say about living in Airlie Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $380 a week, against a median household income of $1,562 a week.
About 48% of homes are owner-occupied and 49% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the apartment.
Who you'll be living with
Airlie Beach grew 44% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (909 → 1,312 people).
Around 50% of households are families, averaging 1.8 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Chile; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, French, German.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Airlie Beach scores a little above the national average (decile 6 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (57% of workers), while 14% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: "Heart of the Reef" Transit Terminal, 700 m east.
Nearest ferry wharf: Port of Airlie Martime Terminal, 750 m east.
Nearest airport: Whitsunday Airstrip, 4 km east.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 912 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 2 schools · 39 cafes & restaurants · 4 supermarkets · 9 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the Airlie Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Cannonvale State School 1.9 km · Whitsunday Christian College 4.8 km
Groceries: Woolworths 150 m · Coles 1.9 km · Asian Supermarket 1.9 km · IGA 2 km
Parks and reserves: Headland Park 1000 m · Airlie Sports Park 1.2 km · Lions Park 1.6 km · Wildlife Estate Park 1.8 km · Cannonvale Beach Foreshore Reserve 2 km · Bicentennial Park 2.1 km · Catherine Crescent Park 2.3 km · Scrubby Hill 2.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Airlie Beach, most often seen first: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Silver Gull · Common Myna · Rainbow Lorikeet · Australasian Figbird · White-breasted Woodswallow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Airlie Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airlie Beach here | 1,312 | — | 6/10 | 46% |
| Jubilee Pocket | 2,047 | — | 3/10 | 65% |
| Cannonvale | 6,596 | — | 4/10 | 34% |
| Cannon Valley | 1,131 | — | 8/10 | 19% |
| Strathdickie | 1,003 | — | 7/10 | 43% |
| Proserpine | 3,614 | — | 2/10 | 7% |
| Bowen | 11,205 | — | 2/10 | 30% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Whitsunday — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Dawson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4802 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Airlie Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $380 a week, and about 49% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 44% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 909 people to 1,312. It sits about 912 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Whitsunday council, and the federal seat is Dawson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Airlie Beach vs Jubilee Pocket · Airlie Beach vs Cannonvale.
Nearby guides: Jubilee Pocket · Cannonvale · Cannon Valley · Strathdickie · Proserpine · Bowen.
Keep an eye on Airlie Beach
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