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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's population is around 15,789 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 971 people (6.6%) 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 364 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 410 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Kingscliff - Fingal Head's 6.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.1%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, an above-median population growth for locations outside of capital cities is projected, with the area expected to expand by 2,976 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 15.1% in total 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 around 97 new homes approved per year, with 487 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 67 so far in FY-26. With an average of 1.6 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand appear well-balanced, creating stable market conditions, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $699,000, showing that developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. Additionally, $731.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Kingscliff - Fingal Head has 113.0% more new home approvals (per person), which should provide buyers with ample choice. New development consists of 53.0% detached dwellings and 47.0% attached dwellings, showing an expanding range of medium-density options creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. At around 149 people per approval, Kingscliff - Fingal Head reflects a low density area.

Looking ahead, Kingscliff - Fingal Head is expected to grow by 2,388 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 51 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Uniting Kingscliff Redevelopment, Marine & Pearl, Bells Boulevard Kingscliff - Stage 3, and Kingscliff Crown Lands Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of 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.

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

Kingscliff - Fingal Head possesses a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of just 2.0%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 7,272 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.9% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (58.7% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 23.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in construction, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has a limited presence with 1.7% employment compared to 5.3% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw the labour force decreasing by 0.3% alongside a 0.2% employment decline, leaving unemployment broadly flat. This compares to Regional NSW, where employment fell by 1.2%, the labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Kingscliff - Fingal Head. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific 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 (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Kingscliff - Fingal Head SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $52,050 and an average of $77,866 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is well above average nationally, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $56,662 (median) and $84,765 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Kingscliff - Fingal Head, between the 37th and 41st percentiles. Distribution data shows the predominant cohort spans 27.0% of locals (4,263 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, mirroring the surrounding region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 36th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Kingscliff - Fingal Head, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 63.2% houses and 36.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Kingscliff - Fingal Head was well beyond that of Regional NSW, at 45.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (29.0%) or rented (26.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional NSW average at $2,240, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $483, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 69.3% of all households, comprising 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% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people 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 stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (28.3% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and that of the SA3 area (21.5%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 19.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (24.5%).

Educational participation is notably 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

Public transport analysis reveals 126 active transport stops operating within Kingscliff - Fingal Head, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 71 individual routes, collectively providing 996 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 185 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 91%, with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. Some 23.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 142 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows 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

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Kingscliff - Fingal Head residents, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions showing results broadly in line with national benchmarks. A fairly standard level of common health conditions is seen across both young and old age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~9,157 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional 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 as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 26.4% of residents aged 65 and over (4,171 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are 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 was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 84.1% of its population born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Kingscliff - Fingal Head is Christianity, which makes up 53.1% of the population. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Kingscliff - Fingal Head are English, comprising 32.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 26.7% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 8.9% of Kingscliff - Fingal Head (vs 8.0% regionally), French at 0.6% (vs 0.4%) and New Zealand at 0.8% (vs 0.4%).

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

At 47 years, Kingscliff - Fingal Head's median age is significantly above the Regional NSW average of 43 as well as substantially exceeding the 38-year national average. The age profile shows 65 - 74 year-olds are particularly prominent (15.3%), while the 25 - 34 group is comparatively smaller (6.8%) than in Regional NSW. This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. In the period since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.3% to 10.9% of the population, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 14.0% to 15.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.9% to 13.6% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 13.4% to 12.2%. By 2041, Kingscliff - Fingal Head is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 96% (433 people), reaching 885 from 451. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 52% of projected growth. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 0% (0 people).