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 is approximately 21,595 as of November 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 1,032 people, a 5.0% increase since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 20,563. The change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 21,283 in June 2024 and an additional 180 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 215 persons per square kilometer. Tweed Heads' growth rate exceeded both the SA4 region (3.3%) and the SA3 area, positioning it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 50.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and the latest annual ERP population numbers, Tweed Heads is expected to increase by approximately 2,041 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 8.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Tweed Heads granted approximately 54 residential property approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, it approved a total of 270 homes, with an additional 102 approved in FY-26. On average, about 3.9 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

This indicates supply lagging demand, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost for new properties was $225,000, which is lower than regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options. In FY-26, Tweed Heads recorded $28.8 million in commercial development approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Tweed Heads has 15.0% less new development per person and ranks at the 23rd percentile nationally for buyer options, suggesting limited choices while demand for established dwellings strengthens. Recent construction comprises 42.0% detached dwellings and 58.0% attached dwellings, favoring compact living which attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

The area has an estimated 672 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate Tweed Heads will gain 1,729 residents by 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, but buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

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

Infrastructure changes greatly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 85 projects likely impacting the area. Key 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 3.5%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Tweed Heads has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

As of September 2025, there are 9,324 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.3% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Tweed Heads lags at 49.7%, compared to 56.4% in the Rest of NSW. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction is notably concentrated 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 the Rest of NSW. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.5%, and employment decreased by 1.7%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, the Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tweed Heads's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

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

The AreaSearch postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that Tweed Heads SA2 had a median income of $44,521 and an average income of $57,740. This is below the national averages of $49,459 (median) and $62,998 (average) for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $50,135 (median) and $65,021 (average) in Tweed Heads SA2. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family and personal incomes in Tweed Heads fall between the 12th and 20th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 28.2% of locals (6,089 people) earning between $800 and $1,499, differing from broader areas where the $1,500 to $2,999 category predominates at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Tweed Heads, with only 80.6% of income remaining after 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

The dwelling structure in Tweed Heads, as per the latest Census, consisted of 48.9% houses and 51.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 66.3% houses and 33.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tweed Heads was at 41.8%, with the remaining dwellings either 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. The median weekly rent figure in Tweed Heads was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Tweed Heads's 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 account for 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%. 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 university qualification rates of 20.7%, significantly lower than the NSW 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%, with 8.2% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing 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 152 active public transport stops. These are served by buses on 65 different routes. Weekly, these routes provide a total of 2,351 passenger trips.

Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 184 meters. On average, there are 335 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 15 weekly trips per individual 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. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 10,559 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (affecting 11.0% of residents) and mental health concerns (8.4%). However, 62.7% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 64.2%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 29.0% or approximately 6,256 people, compared to Rest of NSW's 26.1%.

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' cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.5% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (79.9%), and speaking English only at home (92.6%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Tweed Heads, practiced by 52.5% of people, compared to 51.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents are English (32.1%), Australian (25.7%), and Irish (10.3%).

Notably, Maori representation is higher in Tweed Heads at 0.7%, compared to the regional average of 0.5%. Similarly, Scottish representation stands at 8.5% in Tweed Heads versus 8.7% regionally, and New Zealand representation is at 0.8% compared to 0.7% regionally.

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

Tweed Heads's median age is 48 years, which is materially older than Rest of NSW's 43 and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 14.7% of the population, while those aged 5-14 are comparatively smaller at 8.9%, compared to Rest of NSW. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is well above 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% of the population, while the 55-64 cohort has declined from 14.1% to 12.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Tweed Heads's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand considerably, increasing by 483 people (55%) from 872 to 1,356. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts.