Kingscliff - Fingal Head

Kingscliff - Fingal Head lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Kingscliff - Fingal Head's population is approximately 15,561 as of May 2026. This figure represents a growth of 743 people (5.0%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 14,818. The increase is estimated from ABS data showing an ERP of 15,489 in June 2025 and 408 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is 404 persons per square kilometer. Kingscliff - Fingal Head's growth rate exceeded the SA4 region (3.7%) and the SA3 area between 2021 and 2026, driven primarily by overseas migration contributing around 72.9% of overall population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using 2021 as the base year are applied. Growth rates by age group are projected until 2041. By 2041, an above median population growth is projected for locations outside capital cities, with Kingscliff - Fingal Head expected to expand by 2,935 persons, reflecting an 18.4% increase over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Kingscliff - Fingal Head among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Kingscliff-Fingal Head has seen approximately 97 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 487 homes have been approved, with an additional 80 approved in FY26 so far. On average, about 1.6 people per year moved to the area for each dwelling built during these years.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $699,000, indicating a focus on premium developments. In FY26 alone, commercial approvals totalled $731.1 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Kingscliff-Fingal Head has seen 112.0% more new home approvals per capita.

This abundance should provide buyers with ample choice. The current development composition is approximately 53.0% detached dwellings and 47.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets. The area reflects low density, with around 149 people per approval. Looking ahead, Kingscliff-Fingal Head is projected to grow by 2,863 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Development appears to be keeping pace with this projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 51 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Marine & Pearl, Bells Boulevard Kingscliff - Stage 3, and Kingscliff Crown Lands Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Kingscliff - Fingal Head demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Kingscliff-Fingal Head has an educated workforce with key services well-represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.0%. Employment stability has been maintained over the past year.

There are 7,272 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9% below Regional NSW's 3.9%. Workforce participation is at 57.6%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. A moderate 23.6% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.

Construction has notable concentration with levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.3% and employment declined by 0.2%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Regional NSW saw a 1.2% employment fall, labour force contraction of 0.8%, and unemployment rise of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kingscliff-Fingal Head's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Kingscliff - Fingal Head SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $52,050 and an average of $77,866 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) in Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $57,422 (median) and $85,902 (average). According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Kingscliff - Fingal Head ranked modestly, between the 37th and 41st percentiles. Income distribution data shows that 27.0% of locals (4,201 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe in the area, with only 82.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 36th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Kingscliff - Fingal Head, as per the latest Census, 63.2% of dwellings were houses while 36.8% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kingscliff - Fingal Head stood at 45.0%, with mortgaged properties making up 29.0% and rented ones comprising 26.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,240, surpassing Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in the area averaged $483, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,240 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $483 compared to the national figure of $375.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 69.3 percent of all households, including 28.8 percent couples with children, 30.3 percent couples without children, and 9.7 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.7 percent, with lone person households at 27.5 percent and group households comprising 3.2 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the Regional NSW average.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 28.3% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA3 area rate of 21.5%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.1% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (24.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has 126 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 71 individual routes, collectively providing 996 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 185 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, primarily using cars (91%). Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 23.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 142 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Kingscliff - Fingal Head residents show positive health outcomes, mirroring national benchmarks for mortality rates and common health conditions across age groups. Private health cover is high at 58%, compared to Regional NSW's 51.9%.

The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (9.4%) and mental health issues (7.6%), with 67.9% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Under-65s have better-than-average health outcomes. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 26.7%, higher than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Kingscliff-Fingal Head had a cultural diversity below average, with 84.1% of its population born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 53.1% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (26.7%), and Irish (10.9%).

Notably, Scottish representation was higher at 8.9%, French at 0.6%, and New Zealand at 0.8%.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has a median age of 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 15.4% of the population, while the 25-34 age group comprises only 6.8%. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present day, the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.3% to 11.1%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 7.1% to 8.5%. Conversely, the 35-44 age group has declined from 12.5% to 11.1%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 14.9% to 13.6%. By 2041, Kingscliff - Fingal Head is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 36%, adding 475 people and reaching a total of 1,803 from the current figure of 1,327. The 15-24 age group will display more modest growth of 3%, with an increase of only 50 residents.