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 around 10,678 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 789 people, or 8.0%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,889 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,660 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 215 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,630 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Benowa has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%, outpacing the non-metro area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 71.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth of locations outside of capital cities is projected, with the area expected to increase by 2,289 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, representing a total increase of 21.3% over the 17 years.

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

Benowa averaged approximately 58 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 294 homes. By June 2026, 3 approvals have been recorded. This translates to an average of 3.2 new residents per year for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a significant demand-supply gap that typically drives price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost value of new properties was $408,000.

In the current financial year, commercial approvals reached $53.3 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Benowa has notably lower building activity, 72.0% below the regional average per person, which usually strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction consists of 19.0% standalone homes and 81.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 61.0% houses, likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. The area has approximately 700 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. By 2041, Benowa is projected to grow by 2,271 residents. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Looking ahead, Benowa is expected to grow by 2,271 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected 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

AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that could impact the area, with key ones including Benowa Gardens Redevelopment, Pacific Motorway (M1) Upgrades, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Biodiversity Centre, and Cross River Rail - New Gold Coast Stations. The following list details those likely to be 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.

Benowa ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Benowa has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.0%.

As of June 2025, 5480 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8%, below Rest of Qld's 3.9%. Workforce participation is at 59.1%, matching Rest of Qld. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Professional & technical employment is notably high, at 1.9 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over June 2024 to June 2025, employment increased by 2.0% while labour force grew by 2.1%, keeping unemployment stable. In comparison, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.8%, labour force expand by 2.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Benowa's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0%% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Benowa had a median taxpayer income of $45,050 and an average income of $74,570. These figures are higher than national averages of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively across Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $51,352 (median) and $85,002 (average). The 2021 Census data ranks household income at the 60th percentile ($1,918 weekly), with personal income at the 44th percentile. Income analysis indicates 29.4% of Benowa's population (3,139 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring regional trends 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

In Benowa, as per the latest Census, 61.2% of dwellings were houses while 38.7% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Qld's 25.1% houses and 74.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Benowa stood at 40.8%, with mortgaged properties at 37.1% and rented ones 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 $437. Nationally, Benowa's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise 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, 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 is notably high with 33.9% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, surpassing both the Rest of Qld (20.6%) and SA4 region (25.4%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 32.3% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.7%) and certificates (18.6%). Educational participation is high at 32.1%, comprising secondary education (10.8%), primary education (10.6%), and tertiary education (5.6%).

Benowa's three schools have a combined enrollment of 3,357 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1075. Education provision is balanced with two primary schools and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. As an education hub, Benowa offers 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

Analysis of public transport in Benowa shows 17 active transport stops currently operating, all of which are served by buses. These stops are covered by six different routes that together facilitate 794 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically residing just 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 shows strong performance throughout Benowa, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~6,033 people). The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 7.4 and 5.9% of residents respectively. A total of 74.5% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Rest of Qld. As of 2016, 21.2% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,263 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 predominant religion in Benowa is Christianity, accounting for 51.8% of the population. Judaism is overrepresented compared to regional averages, comprising 0.5% of Benowa's population versus 0.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (27.2%), Australian (18.9%), and Other (11.3%). Notable deviations include Korean (2.0%, compared to the regional average of 0.8%), New Zealand (1.4% vs 1.1%), and Russian (0.7% vs 0.6%) populations in Benowa.

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

Benowa's median age is 44 years, which is marginally higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 15-24 are particularly prominent, comprising 13.7% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up a smaller proportion at 8.2%, compared to the Rest of Qld. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 11.9% to 13.7%. Conversely, the percentage of individuals aged 5-14 has decreased from 14.2% to 13.0%, and those aged 45-54 have dropped from 14.7% to 13.7%. Population forecasts for Benowa indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow strongly at a rate of 43%, adding 377 residents to reach a total of 1,258. Meanwhile, the 15-24 age cohort is expected to grow modestly by 1%, with an increase of 15 people.