Benowa

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 10,684 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 795 people 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 1,631 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Benowa has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%, outpacing the Rest of Qld. 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 areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, based on 2021 data released in 2023. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for locations outside of capital cities, with Benowa expected to increase by 2,289 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 21.2% 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. As of FY-26 so far, 3 approvals have been recorded. On average, each home built between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodated around 3.2 new residents per year, indicating significant demand exceeding supply, which typically drives price growth and increased buyer competition. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $408,000.

This financial year has seen $53.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Benowa records notably lower building activity, 72.0% below the regional average per person, which usually strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction comprises 19.0% standalone homes and 81.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 61.0% houses. This trend suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Benowa has approximately 700 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. By 2041, Benowa is projected to grow by 2,265 residents (latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate), with development keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Looking ahead, Benowa is expected to grow by 2,265 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that may affect the region. Notable initiatives include Benowa Gardens Redevelopment, Pacific Motorway (M1) Upgrades, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Biodiversity Centre, and Pindara Private Hospital Stage 3 Expansion. 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.

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

Benowa has a well-educated workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 2.3% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4% over the past year. As of that date, 5,563 residents were in work, and the unemployment rate was 1.8% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was broadly similar to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 19.4% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. The area has a notably high concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels 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 September 2025, employment increased by 2.4%, while labour force increased by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points in Benowa. In comparison, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7%, labour force expand by 2.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Benowa's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

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 2023, Benowa SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $46,017. The average income stood at $72,952. This was above the national average and compared to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Rest of Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $50,577 (median) and $80,182 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household income ranked at the 60th percentile ($1,918 weekly), while personal income sat at the 44th percentile. Income analysis revealed that 29.4% of the population (3,141 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 31.7% occupied this bracket. High housing costs consumed 16.4% of income, though strong earnings still placed disposable income at the 60th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

Benowa's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consists of 61.2% houses and 38.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Benowa stands at 40.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.1% and rented ones at 22.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,167, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Benowa is $580, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Benowa's mortgage repayments are significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are 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 at 3.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

Benowa's educational attainment exceeds broader standards, with 33.9% of its residents aged 15+ possessing university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are 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 them – advanced diplomas account for 13.7% while certificates make up 18.6%. Educational participation is notably 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.

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, all serving buses. These are covered by six routes offering a total of 794 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically living 387 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode at 93%, with an average vehicle ownership of 1.6 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 19.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 113 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 46 weekly trips per individual stop.

Benowa's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Benowa's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of Benowa's total population (around 5,918 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4 and 5.9% of residents respectively. A total of 74.5% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, higher than the 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Benowa has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.5% (2,297 people), compared to 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Benowa was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon 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. Christianity is the main religion in Benowa, making up 51.8% of people in the area. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Benowa compared to the rest of Queensland, comprising 0.5% of the population.

The top three represented ancestry groups are English at 27.2%, Australian at 18.9%, and Other at 11.3%. There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Korean is overrepresented at 2.0%, New Zealand at 1.4%, and Russian at 0.7% compared to regional averages.

Benowa hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Benowa's median age is 44 years, slightly above Rest of Qld's average of 41 and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 15-24 years are particularly prominent at 13.9%, while the 25-34 group is relatively smaller at 8.4% compared to Rest of Qld. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of 15-24 year-olds has increased from 11.9% to 13.9%, while those aged 75-84 have risen from 7.1% to 8.1%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 14.2% to 12.6%, and the 45-54 cohort has dropped from 14.7% to 13.4%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are projected for Benowa. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 40%, adding 361 residents to reach a total of 1,258. Meanwhile, the number of individuals aged 15-24 is anticipated to decrease by 8%.