Moving to Rainbow Beach QLD 4581
What the official numbers say about living in Rainbow Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $280 a week, against a median household income of $972 a week.
About 67% of homes are owner-occupied and 31% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Rainbow Beach grew 11% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,103 → 1,220 people).
Around 61% of households are families, averaging 2.0 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: German, Italian, Vietnamese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Rainbow Beach scores below the national average (decile 3 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (68% of workers), while 18% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Rainbow Beach, 350 m south-east.
Nearest airport: Maryborough Airport, 57 km north-west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 174 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school · 7 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 5 parks — see them all on the Rainbow Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Rainbow Beach State School 900 m
Groceries: Sea Salt Market @ Rainbow 450 m · IGA Rainbow Beach 600 m
Parks and reserves: Laurie Hanson Park 250 m · Lawrie Hanson Park 450 m · Centenary Park 500 m · Phil Rogers Park 650 m · Parc of the Rainbow Beach State School 850 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Rainbow Beach, most often seen first: Welcome Swallow · Rainbow Bee-eater · Willie Wagtail · Rainbow Lorikeet · Magpie-lark · Crested Pigeon.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Rainbow Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Beach here | 1,220 | — | 3/10 | 47% |
| Tin Can Bay | 2,293 | — | 1/10 | 36% |
| Cooloola Cove | 2,921 | — | 1/10 | 30% |
| Poona | 576 | — | 1/10 | 45% |
| Kin Kin | 844 | — | 3/10 | 61% |
| Cootharaba | 866 | — | 5/10 | 50% |
| Veteran | 959 | — | 3/10 | 25% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Gympie — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Wide Bay — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4581 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Rainbow Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $280 a week, and about 31% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 11% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,103 people to 1,220. It sits about 174 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Gympie council, and the federal seat is Wide Bay.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Rainbow Beach vs Tin Can Bay · Rainbow Beach vs Cooloola Cove.
Nearby guides: Tin Can Bay · Cooloola Cove · Poona · Kin Kin · Cootharaba · Veteran.
Keep an eye on Rainbow Beach
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