Buderim
QLDBuderim is a growing suburb in QLD with 31,430 residents.
- SAL code
- 30408
- SA2
- 316011413
- Population
- 31,430
- LGA
- Sunshine Coast
Buderim, QLD had 31,430 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 11.9% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 45-54 years, and the median age sits at 46. Households are most often couples without children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $2,000 a month. Around 71.8% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being owned outright at 37.3%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 73.4% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 73 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Buderim, QLD at a glance
Buderim is an established hilltop suburb on the Sunshine Coast, ~90 km north of Brisbane and a few kilometres inland from Mooloolaba in the Sunshine Coast Council LGA. Set on a 180 m mountain, it carries a distinct village-on-the-hill character: established homes on big blocks, a recognised private + public school precinct, and a working main-street centre. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle and council pipeline.
For homebuyers
Buderim feels separate from the coastal strip below — established houses on generous lots, a genuine village centre with cafes and shops, and an elevated climate that pulls retirees, families and professionals in roughly equal measure. The school precinct is a major draw: Buderim State School (1875), Matthew Flinders Anglican College and Immanuel Lutheran College all sit inside or beside the suburb, with University of the Sunshine Coast in adjacent Sippy Downs. There's no government secondary school in Buderim itself — Mountain Creek SHS (~5 min) and Maroochydore SHS are the catchment options. Mooloolaba Beach is ~10 min by car; Sunshine Plaza (Maroochydore) ~12 min; Brisbane CBD ~75-90 min via the Bruce Highway. The new Maroochydore CBD and the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line works are reshaping commute proxies through 2032. In short: an established, school-anchored hill suburb with coastal access — quieter than the beach strip, more settled than the master-planned south.
For investors
Buderim is a capital-growth market with moderate yield and a deep, liquid transaction base. Median house sale $1,310,000 against $850/week rent gives a ~3.74% gross house yield; units $760,000 / $690 rent = ~4.45% (Your Investment Property May 2026). 12-month house growth +7.38%; units +13.43%. Vacancy 0.46% — exceptionally tight. Days-on-market 24 (houses) / 16 (units) and 592 house sales in 12 months — easy to enter and exit at scale.
Strengths
- Deep, liquid market — 592 house sales in 12 months (Your Investment Property May 2026) makes entry and exit straightforward.
- Very tight vacancy ~0.46% with median house rent $850/wk underpins reliable cashflow despite the moderate yield.
- Unit segment running double-digit growth (+13.43% YoY) at a ~4.45% gross yield — a more cashflow-friendly entry than houses.
- Sunshine Coast Council's $129M 2025/26 capital works program plus the broader 2032 Olympics infrastructure pipeline support medium-term demand.
Trade-offs
- House yield ~3.74% (Your Investment Property May 2026) is below most QLD growth-corridor suburbs — this is a capital-growth play, not cashflow.
- Median house entry $1.31M is among the higher Sunshine Coast price points — capital outlay limits portfolio scale.
- Older median age (~46) and retiree weighting means tenant pool skews owner-occupier; rental supply can be patchy outside the unit segment.
- House days-on-market 24 (vs 16 for units) signals houses transact more slowly — pricing discipline matters at the upper end.
What's coming
Sunshine Coast Council's 2025/26 budget commits $129M to capital works across roads, cycleways, pathways, libraries and sporting facilities. Active-transport planning is underway connecting Buderim to Mooloolaba, Mountain Creek and Sippy Downs. The Goshawk Boulevard extension (Stringybark Rd to Power Rd) progressed concept-design consultation in late 2025, improving access toward the Sippy Downs town centre and USC.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: an established hill suburb with strong schools and coastal access, at a Sunshine Coast premium price point. For investors: a growth + tight-vacancy play with moderate yield — units carry the better cashflow profile.
Population
?31,430
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+11.9%
3yr: +8.6% · 10yr: +20.2%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,729/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
46
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?8/10
SA2 · least disadvantaged
Unemployment
?2.4%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
3
3 primary, 2 secondary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?14
10 long day, 3 OSHC
Parks & green space
?73
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?33
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?392
Sunshine Coast · Feb 2026
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
state Valuer-General sale price data not yet loaded for QLD
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from QLD police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Buderim - North (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Buderim suburb alone is ~31,430 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 13,994 to 20,127 over 24 years, averaging 1.5% per year.
Schools
3 in suburbSector
1 public · 2 private
Type
1 primary · 2 K-12
Total enrolment
1,071(1 of 3 reporting)
Avg per school
1,071
Government school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for QLD.
Source when available: QLD Department of Education — QSpatial State School Catchment Areas.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 1.2%Predominantly detached houses (73.4%), owner-occupied (71.8%).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
QLD 33%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: QLD QRA Bushfire Prone Area
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
Source: QLD Local Government Flood Planning Areas
As of May 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
14 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE | Low Density Residential ZoneResidential | 28.7% | 8.77 km² |
| LIMITED DEVELOPMENT (LANDSCAPE RESIDENTIAL) ZONE | Limited Development (Landscape Residential) ZoneOther | 17.1% | 5.23 km² |
| ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION ZONE | Environmental Management and Conservation ZoneEnvironmental | 12.9% | 3.94 km² |
| RURAL RESIDENTIAL ZONE | Rural Residential ZoneOther | 6.9% | 2.12 km² |
| COMMUNITY FACILITIES ZONE | Community Facilities ZoneOther | 6.0% | 1.83 km² |
| SPORT AND RECREATION ZONE | Sport and Recreation ZoneRecreation | 4.5% | 1.36 km² |
| EMERGING COMMUNITY ZONE | Emerging Community ZoneOther | 3.8% | 1.16 km² |
| MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE | Medium Density Residential ZoneResidential | 2.7% | 0.82 km² |
| OPEN SPACE ZONE | Open Space ZoneRecreation | 1.8% | 0.55 km² |
| SPECIALISED CENTRE ZONE | Specialised Centre ZoneOther | 0.7% | 0.21 km² |
| RURAL ZONE | Rural ZoneOther | 0.6% | 0.17 km² |
| DISTRICT CENTRE ZONE | District Centre ZoneBusiness | 0.4% | 0.11 km² |
| LOW IMPACT INDUSTRY ZONE | Low Impact Industry ZoneIndustrial | 0.3% | 0.08 km² |
| LOCAL CENTRE ZONE | Local Centre ZoneBusiness | 0.3% | 0.08 km² |
Source: QLD DSDILGP Local Government Planning Scheme Zones (ZONE_QLD/2026-05-12/be11464ce5af1cd4) · As of May 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.