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 was around 15,789 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 971 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,818. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,201 in June 2024 and an additional 364 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 410 persons per square kilometer. Kingscliff - Fingal Head's 6.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (4.1%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, an above median population growth is projected outside capital cities, with Kingscliff - Fingal Head expected to expand by 2,976 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.1% over the 17 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. In total, 487 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 62 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 1.6 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built since FY21, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $699,000, suggesting a focus on premium developments. This financial year has seen $731.1 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Kingscliff - Fingal Head has 113.0% more new home approvals per capita. The area's new development consists of 53.0% detached dwellings and 47.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets.

With a population density of around 149 people per approval, Kingscliff - Fingal Head is considered a low-density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the region is projected to grow by 2,388 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 51 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones are Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Marine & Pearl, Bells Boulevard Kingscliff - Stage 3, and Kingscliff Crown Lands Development. The following list details those most 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.

The labour market in Kingscliff - Fingal Head shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.0%. The area's unemployment rate is 1.9% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, but workforce participation is slightly below average at 57.9%.

According to Census data, 23.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with only 1.7% of employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

The area may have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.4%, employment fell by 2.0%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw a 0.5% employment decline, a 0.1% labour force contraction, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project 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 suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

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 was higher than national averages, with Rest of NSW showing a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $56,662 (median) and $84,765 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Kingscliff - Fingal Head ranked modestly, between the 37th and 41st percentiles. Distribution data showed that 27.0% of locals (4,263 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 income category, mirroring the surrounding region where 29.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.1% of income remaining, 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 differs from Non-Metro NSW's dwelling structure which was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kingscliff - Fingal Head stood at 45.0%, with mortgaged properties at 29.0% and rented ones at 26.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,240, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Kingscliff - Fingal Head was recorded at $483, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,240 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above 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% of all households, including 28.8% that are couples with children, 30.3% that are couples without children, and 9.7% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.7%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

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+, surpassing the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. This rate also exceeds that of the SA3 area at 21.5%, indicating a strong emphasis on higher education in the community. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 37.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.6% while certificates make up 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 facilitating 996 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 185 meters from the nearest stop. The area, predominantly residential, sees outward commuting as the norm. Cars remain the dominant transport mode at 91%, while walking accounts for 5%. 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, translating to approximately 7 weekly trips per stop. An accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's 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 have shown relatively positive health outcomes according to AreaSearch's analysis. Mortality rates and health conditions in the area were found to be largely in line with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions were seen across both young and old age cohorts, with arthritis and mental health issues being the most prevalent, affecting 9.4% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Approximately 68% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to around 63% in Rest of NSW. The rate of private health cover was found to be very high at approximately 58% of the total population, which is higher than the 51.9% seen across Rest of NSW. The under-65 population demonstrated better than average health outcomes. As of 2021, the area has around 4,171 residents aged 65 and over, which is approximately 26.4% of the total population, higher than the 23.4% seen in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors were above average, with national rankings broadly in line with 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, surveyed in 2016, had low cultural diversity: 84.1% were Australian-born, 90.5% were citizens, and 95.8% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, at 53.1%, compared to 55.9% in Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (26.7%), and Irish (10.9%).

Notable differences included Scottish (8.9% vs regional 8.0%), French (0.6% vs 0.4%), and New Zealand (0.8% vs 0.4%) groups.

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

Kingscliff - Fingal Head's median age is 47 years, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The age profile shows a prominent group aged 65-74 at 15.3%, compared to the Rest of NSW figure. The 25-34 age group is smaller at 6.8%. Nationally, this age group comprises 9.5%. From 2021 to present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.3% to 10.9%, while the 65-74 cohort increased from 14.0% to 15.3%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 14.9% to 13.6%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 13.4% to 12.2%. By 2041, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ group will grow by 96%, reaching 885 people from 451. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 52% of this growth. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort shows minimal growth of 0%.