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

Kingscliff - Fingal Head's population is around 15,465 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 647 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,818 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,201 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 198 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 402 persons per square kilometer. Kingscliff - Fingal Head's growth rate of 4.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (3.3%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on latest population numbers, an above median growth is projected for locations outside capital cities, with Kingscliff - Fingal Head expected to expand by 2,976 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 17.5% 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. From FY21 to FY25487 homes were approved, with a further 48 approved in FY26 as of the current date. On average, 1.6 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these years.

This suggests balanced supply and demand, maintaining stable market conditions. The average expected construction cost for new dwellings is $699,000, indicating a focus on premium developments. In FY26, commercial approvals totalled $731.1 million, reflecting high 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 comprises 53.0% detached dwellings and 47.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets. With around 149 people per approval, Kingscliff-Fingal Head maintains low density. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 2,712 residents. Current development appears well-suited to meet 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 impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 51 projects that could affect the area. Notable ones include Kingscliff Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrade, Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Marine & Pearl, 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 a low unemployment rate of 1.8% as of June 2025. There are 6,994 residents employed, which is below the Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is on par with the regional average at 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction has a notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 1.7% of residents employed 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 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 comparison, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% employment decline, labour force expansion of 0.3%, and unemployment rise of 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 simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Kingscliff - Fingal Head had a median taxpayer income of $48,434 and an average income of $73,234 in the financial year 2022, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data. This was higher than the national averages for Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 (median) and $62,998 (average). By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $54,542 (median) and $82,469 (average), based on a 12.61% growth in wages since the financial year 2022. The 2021 Census ranked household, family, and personal incomes in Kingscliff - Fingal Head between the 38th and 42nd percentiles. Income distribution showed that 27.0% of locals (4,175 people) earned between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% fell into this bracket. 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

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 compares with Non-Metro NSW's 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kingscliff - Fingal Head stood at 45.0%, with mortgaged dwellings 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 $1,872. The median weekly rent figure was $483, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,240 versus 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 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 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 at 28.3% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA3 area average of 21.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 37.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - 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. The five schools in Kingscliff - Fingal Head have a combined enrollment of 1,926 students as of the latest data available. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA score of 1010, indicating balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with four primary and one 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

Transport analysis shows 104 active transport stops in Kingscliff - Fingal Head. These stops offer a mix of bus services. There are 71 individual routes serving these stops, providing a total of 957 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located 186 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 136 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 9 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 both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 8,660 people), compared to 49.3% across the 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% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.2% across the Rest of NSW. The area has 26.1% of residents aged 65 and over (around 4,028 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing 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 where 84.1% were born in Australia, 90.5% were citizens, and 95.8% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 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% versus 8.7% regionally, French at 0.6% versus 0.5%, and New Zealand at 0.8% versus 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 Rest of NSW's average of 43 and substantially exceeding the national average of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 15.2%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 6.7% compared to Rest of NSW. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. 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 decreased from 12.5% to 11.3%. By 2041, Kingscliff - Fingal Head is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 75-84 group will grow by 38%, reaching 1,723 people from 1,246. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 51% of the population growth. In contrast, the 5-14 cohort shows minimal growth of just 1%, adding only 19 people.