Bargara - Burnett Heads

Bargara - Burnett Heads lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Bargara-Burnett Heads' population is 21,833 as of November 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 2,825 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,008. The increase was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 21,242 in June 2024 and an additional 1,012 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a density ratio of 151 persons per square kilometer. Bargara-Burnett Heads' growth of 14.9% since the 2021 Census exceeded both its SA3 area (8.7%) and Rest of Qld's growth, marking it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 83.2% 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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings using ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future demographic trends project an above median population growth for national regional areas, with the area expected to expand by 4,085 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 16.0% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Bargara - Burnett Heads was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Bargara-Burnett Heads recorded approximately 283 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1,418 homes. As of FY-26435 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 gained around 2.1 new residents per year. The average construction cost value for new homes was $369,000.

This financial year, $41.5 million in commercial approvals were registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Bargara-Burnett Heads had 126.0% more development activity per person as of FY-25. The area maintained a traditional low-density character with 91.0% standalone homes and 9.0% medium and high-density housing. With around 75 people per dwelling approval, Bargara-Burnett Heads exhibited growth area characteristics. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add 3,494 residents by 2041.

Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially allowing for growth exceeding current forecasts.

Bargara - Burnett Heads has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 38 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include Bargara Emerging Communities Infrastructure Planning, MIRA Living, Club Bargara Resort Development, and Bargara Headlands Estate. The following list details those most likely to be 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 Bargara - Burnett Heads shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Bargara - Burnett Heads has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 was 2.7%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 10.1%.

There were 10,442 residents in work by September 2025, with an unemployment rate 1.4% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 58.7%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, only 8.2% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.

The area showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing had lower representation at 2.5% versus the regional average of 4.3%. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 10.1%, labour force grew by 10.3%, leading to a slight unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.7%, labour force grow by 2.1%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that while overall employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Bargara - Burnett Heads' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch reports that based on its aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023, Bargara - Burnett Heads SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $49,137 and an average income of $61,568. These figures are below the national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively for Rest of Qld. Considering a 9.91% increase in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $54,006 (median) and $67,669 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Bargara - Burnett Heads fall between the 18th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the largest segment comprises 27.9% of residents earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (6,091 residents), similar to the broader area where 31.7% fall within this range. After housing costs, 86.2% of income remains, ranking at the 24th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Bargara - Burnett Heads is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Bargara - Burnett Heads, as per the latest Census evaluation, 87.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.7% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Bargara - Burnett Heads stood at 46.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.3% and rented ones at 23.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in the area was $320, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Bargara - Burnett Heads' mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,500 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bargara - Burnett Heads has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 73.0% of all households, including 22.9% couples with children, 40.2% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.0%, with lone person households at 24.2% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Bargara - Burnett Heads fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications in the Bargara-Burnett Heads region show that 20.5% of residents aged 15 years and over have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 38.5% of residents aged 15 years and over, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 28.2%. A total of 23.9% of the population is currently engaged in formal education, including 8.9% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 2.9% in tertiary education.

A substantial 23.9% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bargara-Burnett Heads has 89 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three routes that collectively offer 137 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 334 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the primarily residential nature of the area. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation, used by 94% of residents. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 19 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Bargara-Burnett 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. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~10,872 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland (Rest of Qld) and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.4% and 8.7% of residents respectively. However, 59.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 31.8% of residents aged 65 and over (6,949 people), which is higher than the 20.0% in Rest of Qld.

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

Bargara-Burnett Heads had low cultural diversity, with 82.9% born in Australia, 90.2% being citizens, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 56.3%, compared to 52.2% regionally. Top ancestry groups were English (32.3%), Australian (27.8%), and Scottish (9.0%).

Notably, German (6.3%) and Dutch (1.5%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.7% and 1.1%, respectively. New Zealand representation was slightly lower at 0.8%.

Bargara - Burnett Heads ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Bargara - Burnett Heads is 51, which is higher than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented at 17.5% locally, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 8.6%. This 65-74 concentration is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.9% to 11.3% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.6% to 9.5%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 12.3% to 11.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Bargara - Burnett Heads's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to more than double, increasing by 921 people (139%) from 663 to 1,585. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 63% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age cohorts.