Tweed Heads
Statistical Area - sa2

Tweed Heads has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Aug 2025, Tweed Heads' population is approximately 21,586, marking a 5.0% increase since the 2021 Census which recorded 20,563 people. This growth was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 21,283 in June 2024 and an additional 176 validated new addresses post-Census date. The population density is around 214 persons per square kilometer. Tweed Heads' growth exceeded the SA4 region (3.2%) and SA3 area, demonstrating its status as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 50.2% of recent population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for covered SA2 areas, and NSW State Government's projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year for uncovered areas.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Tweed Heads is expected to increase by approximately 2,041 persons, reflecting an 8.1% total gain over the 17-year period, in line with Australia's non-metropolitan median demographic trends.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Tweed Heads when compared nationally

Tweed Heads has granted approximately 54 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 270 homes were approved, with a further 102 approved in FY26 so far. On average, about 3.9 new residents arrive per dwelling constructed each year during this period.

This indicates that supply is not meeting demand, leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost of new properties is around $493,000. In terms of commercial development, Tweed Heads has recorded approximately $28.8 million in approvals for FY26, showing strong development momentum. Comparatively, Tweed Heads records 15.0% less building activity per person when measured against the Rest of NSW. Nationally, it ranks at the 24th percentile among assessed areas, suggesting more limited housing choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes.

This level is also below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent construction in Tweed Heads comprises approximately 42.0% detached dwellings and 58.0% attached dwellings. The skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. As of now, the estimated population per dwelling approval is around 672 people. Future projections indicate that Tweed Heads is expected to add approximately 1,738 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, though heightened competition among buyers can be anticipated as the population grows.

Tweed Heads has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 85 projects that could impact the area. Notable projects include Sceniq Bilambil Heights, Edify Australia Build-To-Rent Development, Enid Street Residential Towers, and Tweed Heads Social Housing 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 employment landscape in Tweed Heads presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.2%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Tweed Heads has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%.

As of June 2025, 9,151 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Tweed Heads is lower at 49.7%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.1% of Tweed Heads's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.8%, accompanied by a 4.1% decrease in employment, leading to a 0.7 percentage point drop in unemployment. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tweed Heads's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 shows median income in Tweed Heads was $44,521 and average income was $57,740. This compares to Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year ended June 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income in Tweed Heads would be approximately $50,135 and average income would be around $65,021 by that date. Census data from 2021 indicates incomes in Tweed Heads fall between the 12th and 20th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution shows 28.2% of locals (6,087 people) earn between $800 and $1,499, differing from broader area trends where the $1,500 to $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Tweed Heads, with only 80.6% of income remaining post-housing costs, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

Tweed Heads displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Tweed Heads dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 48.9% houses and 51.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tweed Heads was at 41.8%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with the rest being mortgaged (28.4%) or rented (29.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Tweed Heads was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,872. Median weekly rent in Tweed Heads was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Tweed Heads' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $390 compared to the national figure of $375.

Tweed Heads features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 61.0% of all households, including 19.3% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.0%, with lone person households at 34.3% and group households comprising 4.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Tweed Heads aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area has lower university qualification rates than NSW average, with 20.7% compared to 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Many residents have vocational credentials, with 41.2% holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 29.6%. Educational participation is high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.2% in primary, 6.5% in secondary, and 4.0% in tertiary education. Tweed Heads has four schools with a combined enrollment of 993 students, offering typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1017) and balanced educational opportunities. These schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available nearby due to limited local capacity (4.6 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 14.3). Some families travel for schooling due to these limitations.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Transport analysis shows 152 active transport stops in Tweed Heads, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 65 unique routes that together facilitate 2,351 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically residing 184 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 335 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Tweed Heads is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Tweed Heads faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% (~10,555 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most common conditions are arthritis (11.0%) and mental health issues (8.4%). About 62.7% report no medical ailments, compared to 64.2% in Rest of NSW. Residents aged 65 and over make up 29.0% (6,253 people), higher than the 26.1% in Rest of NSW.

Tweed Heads ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Tweed Heads had a cultural diversity level below average, with 84.5% of its population being citizens, 79.9% born in Australia, and 92.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Tweed Heads, accounting for 52.5%, compared to 51.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.1%), Australian (25.7%), and Irish (10.3%).

Notable differences included Maori representation at 0.7% in Tweed Heads versus 0.5% regionally, Scottish at 8.5% compared to 8.7%, and New Zealand at 0.8% versus 0.7%.

Tweed Heads hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Tweed Heads' median age is 48 years, which is older than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-olds are particularly prominent at 14.7%, while the 5-14 group is smaller at 8.9% compared to Rest of NSW. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is higher than the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35-44 age group has grown from 11.1% to 12.6%, while the 55-64 cohort has declined from 14.1% to 12.3%. Demographic modeling suggests Tweed Heads' age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 85+ age cohort projected to expand by 483 people (55%) from 872 to 1,356. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts.