The northern Brisbane area had the highest number of migrants coming in from other states, and Bribie Island and its surrounding suburbs had a surprisingly high percentage of net interstate migrants, nearly 10 per cent.

That growth is being driven by an attractive and relatively unique market, focused on retirees and families looking for a quiet and safe spot while still being close to the city.

Jenny and Glenn Murch have made the move from Canberra for exactly that reason.

"When we got to Bribie we found a lot of like-minded people who were early into their retirement," Ms Murch said. "We wanted to be close to a city, an airport, to a hospital but not right next to any of those."

"We were looking for a place that would protect us from all that hectic tourism," Mr Murch said. "And less of the problems that can come up in dynamic and younger communities.

"We wanted to step off, and step back. When you cross over that bridge, you're entering a defined community."

ABS data shows the Bribie and Beachmere area had 612 people move in from other states last year, which is comparable to Maroochydore and Noosa. Those two bustling seaside suburbs had 684 and 664 people move in, respectively.

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The Murches considered moving to other coastal areas but those places did not offer easy access to the National Park, the Pumistone passage and the ocean.

"Well we looked around Maroochydore and Caloundra. We felt it was too busy and not exactly what we were looking for," Ms Murch said.

"We never looked at the Gold Coast because it was a greater distance from where our family live in the North of Brisbane and the top of the Sunshine Coast and did not offer the lifestyle we were after," Mr Murch added.

Comparatively, Domain Group data showed suburbs like Noosa and Maroochydore had much higher interest from buyers outside Queensland.

Noosa had huge interest from out of area buyers in the past 30 days, with 68 per cent of searches coming from outside the state, compared to 46.7 per cent in Maroochydore and 29.8 per cent for Bribie.

However, the estate the Murches bought their block of land in, Pacific Harbour, has seen strong interest from serious southern buyers, QM Property's marketing manager Annette Mengel said.

"Bribie Island is Queensland's only offshore island connected to the mainland by bridge, and interstate buyers are amazed that a brand new home and luxury island lifestyle is available just 60 minutes' drive to a capital city," she said.