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 15,465 as of November 2025. Between the 2021 Census and June 2024, the population increased by 647 people (4.4%) to an estimated resident population of 15,201. This increase is attributed to 198 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is around 402 persons per square kilometer. Kingscliff - Fingal Head's growth rate exceeded both its SA4 region (3.3%) and SA3 area during this period, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate an above median population growth for non-capital city locations, with Kingscliff - Fingal Head expected to expand by 2,976 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 17.5% over the 17-year period.

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. A total of 487 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 59 approvals recorded in FY26 so far. On average, around 1.6 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built annually over these five years.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions. The average expected construction cost 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 113.0% more new home approvals per capita.

This higher level of approvals provides buyers with a wider range of housing options. New developments consist of 53.0% detached dwellings and 47.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density housing types to cater to different price brackets. With an average of around 149 people per approval, Kingscliff-Fingal Head reflects a low density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the region is projected to grow by approximately 2,712 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without significant price pressure.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes to its local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 51 such projects that could potentially impact this particular area. Notable among these are the Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Marine & Pearl project, Bells Boulevard Kingscliff - Stage 3, and Kingscliff Crown Lands Development. The following list provides details on those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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 7,167 residents employed as of September 2025. The unemployment rate is 2.0%, 1.9% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is at 56.4%, matching the regional average. Key employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.7%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data analysis.

Between September 2024 and 2025, labour force decreased by 2.4%, employment declined by 2.0%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5% and unemployment rose by 0.4%. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%, lower than the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts indicate 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 this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Kingscliff - Fingal Head SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $48,434 and an average income of $73,234 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was higher than the national averages of $51,960 (median) and $71,867 (average). By September 2025, these figures are estimated to be approximately $54,542 (median) and $82,469 (average), based on a 12.61% increase since the financial year 2022. The 2021 Census ranked household, family, and personal incomes in Kingscliff - Fingal Head between the 37th and 41st percentiles. Income distribution showed that 27.0% of locals (4,175 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 category. Housing affordability was severe, 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% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments and other types. This differed slightly from Non-Metro NSW's figures of 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kingscliff - Fingal Head stood at 45%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 29% and rented ones making up the remaining 26%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,240, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,872. Weekly rent in Kingscliff - Fingal Head was recorded at $483, compared to $400 in Non-Metro NSW. 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% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 9.7% 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%. 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 university qualification rate is 28.3%, exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. This rate reflects the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 5.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%.

Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 12.6% and certificates at 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 low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has 104 active public transport stops. These are served by buses on 71 different routes, offering a total of 957 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 186 meters to the nearest stop.

On average, there are 136 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 9 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Kingscliff - Fingal Head is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Kingscliff-Fingal Head faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~8,660 people), compared to 49.3% across Rest of NSW.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.4 and 7.6% of residents respectively, while 67.9% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 64.2% across Rest of NSW. As of June 2018, 26.1% of residents are aged 65 and over (4,028 people). Health outcomes among seniors in the area are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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 a population with 84.1% born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 53.1%, compared to 51.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (26.7%), and Irish (10.9%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented at 8.9% compared to the regional average of 8.7%, French at 0.6% versus 0.5%, and New Zealand at 0.8% against a regional average of 0.7%.

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 exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 15.2%, while those aged 25-34 are comparatively smaller at 6.7%. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 9.3% to 10.9%, while the 65 to 74 cohort has risen from 14.0% to 15.2%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.9% to 13.7%, and the 35 to 44 group has dropped from 12.5% to 11.3%. By 2041, Kingscliff - Fingal Head is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 group will grow by 38%, reaching 1,723 people from 1,246. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 51% of projected growth. In contrast, the 5 to 14 cohort shows minimal growth of just 1%, with an increase of 19 people.