Benowa
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Benowa's population is approximately 10,665 as of August 2025. From the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,889 people, this reflects an increase of 776 individuals (7.8%). This growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,660 in June 2024 and an additional 210 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 1,628 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Benowa has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%, outperforming non-metro areas. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 71.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for locations outside capital cities, with Benowa expected to increase by 2,289 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, representing a total increase of 21.4% over the 17 years.

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

Benowa has averaged approximately 58 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data from the ABS is reported on a financial year basis, with 294 dwellings approved over the past five financial years, spanning FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 3 approved so far in FY-26. On average, around 3.2 new residents have arrived per dwelling constructed annually during these five financial years. This has led to demand significantly exceeding new supply, typically resulting in price growth and increased buyer competition, with new dwellings developed at an average construction cost value of $626,000.

Furthermore, $53.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating strong local business investment. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Benowa has significantly less development activity, being 72.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction often reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. Recent construction comprises approximately 19.0% standalone homes and 81.0% attached dwellings, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points suitable for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly 61.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing evolving lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Benowa currently has approximately 700 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market.

Looking ahead, Benowa is projected to grow by 2,284 residents through to 2041, with development keeping pace with this growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Benowa has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Pacific Motorway (M1) Upgrades, Benowa Gardens Redevelopment, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Biodiversity Centre, and Cross River Rail - New Gold Coast Stations. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment conditions in Benowa demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Benowa has a well-educated workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 2.2% as of June 2025, and estimated employment growth of 2.0% over the past year. It has 5,480 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.8% below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation on par with Rest of Qld's 59.1%.

Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with notable concentration in professional & technical at 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.3% versus the regional average of 4.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.0% while labour force increased by 2.1%, keeping unemployment relatively stable compared to Rest of Qld's growth rates and unemployment rise.

State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland employment contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but sector-specific projections suggest Benowa's growth could be approximately 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years based on its current employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2022, Benowa had a median income among taxpayers of $45,050 and an average level standing at $74,570. These figures are well above national averages of $50,780 and $64,844 for Rest of Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% from financial year ended June 2022 to March 2025, estimated median income is approximately $50,325 and average income is around $83,302 as of March 2025. From the Census conducted in August 2021, household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,918 weekly) while personal income sits at the 44th percentile. Income analysis shows that 29.4% of Benowa's population (3,135 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 60th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Benowa, as per the latest Census, consisted of 61.2% houses and 38.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's figures of 25.1% houses and 74.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Benowa stood at 40.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.1% and rented dwellings at 22.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, exceeding Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in Benowa was $580, compared to Non-Metro Qld's figure of $437. Nationally, Benowa's median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,167 is higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and its median weekly rent of $580 is significantly above the national figure of $375.

Benowa features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households compose 78.5% of all households, including 37.4% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.5%, with lone person households at 18.5% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.1.

Benowa shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Benowa's educational attainment notably exceeds broader benchmarks, with 33.9% of its residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 32.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas accounting for 13.7% and certificates for 18.6%. Educational participation is high in Benowa, with 32.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.8% in secondary education, 10.6% in primary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education. The area's three schools have a combined enrollment reaching 3,357 students while Benowa demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1075). Educational provision is balanced with two primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. As an education hub, Benowa functions with 31.5 school places per 100 residents – significantly higher than the regional average of 7.7 – attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Benowa has 17 active public transport stops. These are served by buses from six different routes. Together, these routes facilitate 794 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in Benowa is rated as good, with residents typically located 387 meters away from the nearest stop. On average, there are 113 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 46 weekly trips per individual stop.

Benowa's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance throughout Benowa with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

The rate of private health cover is found to be very high at approximately 56% of the total population, which amounts to around 6,025 people. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4 and 5.9% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 74.5%, declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across the rest of Queensland. As of a recent date (exact date not specified), 21.2% of residents are aged 65 and over, totaling approximately 2,260 people. Health outcomes among seniors in Benowa are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Benowa is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Benowa has a high level of cultural diversity, with 26.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 38.8% born overseas. The dominant religion in Benowa is Christianity, accounting for 51.8% of the population. Notably, Judaism is slightly overrepresented in Benowa compared to the rest of Queensland, with 0.5% versus 0.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (27.2%), Australian (18.9%), and Other (11.3%). There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Korean is overrepresented at 2.0%, New Zealand at 1.4%, and Russian at 0.7%.

Benowa hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Benowa's median age is 44 years, which is slightly higher than Queensland's average of 41 and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile reveals that individuals aged 15-24 are particularly prominent at 13.7%, while those aged 25-34 comprise a smaller proportion at 8.2% compared to the rest of Queensland. Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of Benowa's population aged 15-24 has increased from 11.9% to 13.7%. Conversely, the age group 5-14 has decreased from 14.2% to 13.0%, and those aged 45-54 have fallen from 14.7% to 13.7%. Population forecasts for Benowa in the year 2041 anticipate significant demographic changes, with the strongest projected growth occurring among individuals aged 25-34, who are expected to grow by 43%, adding 378 residents to reach a total of 1,258. Meanwhile, the age group 15-24 is projected to grow modestly by 1%, an increase of 16 people.