Tweed Heads

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

Tweed Heads' population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was approximately 21,738 by February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,175 individuals, a 5.7% growth since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 20,563. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,283 in June 2024 and an additional 222 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 216 persons per square kilometer. Tweed Heads' growth exceeded both its SA4 region (4.1%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 50.2% to the overall population gains recently.

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 from 2022 (base year: 2021) are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the population is expected to increase by approximately 2,041 persons, reflecting a gain of 7.3% over 17 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Tweed Heads averaged approximately 54 new dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years FY21 and FY25270 homes were approved, with an additional 104 approved in FY26 so far. On average, for every home built over the past five financial years, 3.9 new residents were added to the area.

This has led to a significant demand outpacing supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $225,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY26, there have been $28.8 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Tweed Heads shows 15.0% lower construction activity per person and ranks among the 23rd percentile of areas assessed nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. New development consists of 42.0% standalone homes and 58.0% medium and high-density housing.

This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The estimated population density is 672 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Tweed Heads will gain 1,586 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Tweed Heads has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 85 projects that could affect the region. 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.

While Tweed Heads retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.5%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Tweed Heads has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 3.5%. In the same period, 9,324 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.3% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Tweed Heads is at 53.2%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 14.5% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census working population vs resident population comparison. In the year to September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.5% and employment declined by 1.7%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 0.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Tweed Heads. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Tweed Heads' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 2023 shows Tweed Heads SA2 had a median income of $47,699 and an average of $60,293. Both figures are below the national averages. Rest of NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Tweed Heads as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,925 (median) and $65,635 (average). The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Tweed Heads fall between the 12th and 20th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 28.2% of locals (6,130 people) earn between $800 - 1,499, unlike metropolitan regions where the predominant earning category is $1,500 - 2,999 at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Tweed Heads, with only 80.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

Tweed Heads displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Tweed Heads' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 48.9% houses and 51.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tweed Heads was recorded at 41.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.4% and rented ones at 29.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent figure stood at $390, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Tweed Heads' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded 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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 39.0%, with lone person households at 34.3% and group households making up 4.8%. The median household size is 2.2 people, 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's university qualification rate is 20.7%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (29.6%). Educational participation is high at 25.7%, comprising 8.2% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 4.0% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.2% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Tweed Heads has 172 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 65 different routes that facilitate a total of 2,373 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is high, with residents living an average of 184 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outside Tweed Heads, primarily by car (91%), with walking accounting for 4% of journeys. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 14.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Each day, an average of 339 trips are made across all routes, translating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop. The map provided illustrates the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the centrepoint of Tweed Heads.

Health performance in Tweed Heads is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Tweed Heads faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high among both younger and older age cohorts, with common health conditions somewhat prevalent. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~10,695 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (11.0%) and mental health issues (8.4%), while 62.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 28.6% of residents aged 65 and over (6,223 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW and national rankings.

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, surveyed in 2016, showed cultural diversity below average. It had 84.5% citizens, 79.9% born in Australia, and 92.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, at 52.5%, compared to 55.9% regionally.

Top ancestral groups were English (32.1%), Australian (25.7%), and Irish (10.3%). Notably, Maori were overrepresented at 0.7% (vs regional 0.3%), Scottish at 8.5% (vs 8.0%), and New Zealanders at 0.8% (vs 0.4%).

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

Tweed Heads' median age is 48 years, which is higher than Rest of NSW's 43 and Australia's 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are prominent at 14.6%, while the 5-14 group is smaller at 8.9%. This is compared to Rest of NSW where the 65-74 group is at 10.2% and the 5-14 group is at 13.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35-44 age group grew from 11.1% to 12.8%, while the 0-4 cohort increased from 4.6% to 5.7%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 14.1% to 12.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Tweed Heads' age profile. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand by 493 people (57%) from 862 to 1,356. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts.