Kingscliff - Fingal Head
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of Aug 2025, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's population is approximately 15,448. This figure represents a growth of 630 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 14,818. The increase was inferred from an estimated resident population of 15,201 in June 2024 and the addition of 191 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 401 persons per square kilometer. Kingscliff - Fingal Head's growth rate of 4.3% since the 2021 Census surpassed both its SA4 region (3.2%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver for this population increase.

AreaSearch uses 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 are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations will be applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, locations outside capital cities, including Kingscliff - Fingal Head, are projected to have above median population growth. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by approximately 2,976 persons, reflecting a total increase of about 17.7% over the 17-year period.

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

Between FY21 and FY25, Kingscliff - Fingal Head saw approximately 97 new homes approved annually. In total, 487 homes were approved during these five financial years, with an additional 37 approved in FY26 to date. On average, around 1.6 people moved to the area per dwelling built over this period, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings was $1,037,000, suggesting a focus on premium developments. This financial year has seen $731.1 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Kingscliff - Fingal Head had 113.0% more new home approvals per person as of FY26. The area's new development consists of approximately 53.0% detached dwellings and 47.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head reflects low density with around 149 people per approval. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by approximately 2,729 residents. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Kingscliff - Fingal Head has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 51 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Kingscliff Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrade, Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Marine & Pearl, and Kingscliff Crown Lands Development. Below is a list detailing 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 a well-educated workforce with 1.8% unemployment as of June 2025. There are 6,994 residents employed, which is below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is at 56.4%, matching Rest of NSW's figure. Dominant employment sectors include 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% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 4.8%, employment declined by 4.5%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% employment decline, labour force expansion by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 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 growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Kingscliff - Fingal Head had a median taxpayer income of $48,434 and an average of $73,234 in the financial year 2022. This is higher than the national averages of $49,459 (median) and $62,998 (average). By September 2025, based on a 12.61% increase from the Wage Price Index since 2022, estimated incomes would be approximately $54,542 (median) and $82,469 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Kingscliff - Fingal Head ranked modestly, between the 38th and 42nd percentiles. Income distribution data shows that 27.0% of locals (4,170 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, 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

The dwelling structure in Kingscliff - Fingal Head, as per the latest Census, consisted of 63.2% houses and 36.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Non-Metro NSW's 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kingscliff - Fingal Head was at 45.0%, with the rest being mortgaged (29.0%) or rented (26.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,240, above Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,872. The median weekly rent was $483, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and 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, consisting of 28.8% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute 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 aligns with 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 stands at 28.3% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. This is also higher than the SA3 area's rate of 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 prominent, with 37.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.6% and certificates for 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. Kingscliff - Fingal Head's 5 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,926 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA index of 1010, offering balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 4 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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 71 bus routes that facilitate 957 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 186 meters.

Daily service frequency across all routes is 136 trips, equating to about nine weekly trips per individual 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 younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 56% of its total population (~8,650 people) have private health cover, compared to 49.3% across Rest of NSW.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.4%) and mental health issues (7.6%). About 67.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.2% across Rest of NSW. The area has 26.1% of residents aged 65 and over (4,024 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, outperforming 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 showed lower cultural diversity, with 84.1% born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 53.1%, compared to 51.3% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (26.7%), and Irish (10.9%).

Notably, Scottish representation was higher at 8.9% compared to 8.7% regionally, French at 0.6% vs 0.5%, and New Zealand at 0.8% vs 0.7%.

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

Kingscliff - Fingal Head's median age at 47 years is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and exceeds the national average of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 15.2% of the population, compared to 9.4% nationally. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group is smaller at 6.7%, compared to the Rest of NSW average. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.3% to 10.9%, while the 65-74 cohort increased from 14.0% to 15.2%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 14.9% to 13.7%, and the 35-44 group dropped from 12.5% to 11.3%. By 2041, Kingscliff - Fingal Head is projected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 38%, reaching 1,723 people from 1,245. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 51% of the population growth, while the 5-14 cohort shows minimal growth of just 1%.