Booral - River Heads

Booral - River Heads lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Booral - River Heads' population is around 8460 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2685 people, a 46.5% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5775. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7478 in June 2024 and an additional 762 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 53 persons per square kilometer. Booral - River Heads' growth exceeded Rest of Qld's 9.1% and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 92.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, state projections released in 2023 and based on 2021 data are used. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for Booral - River Heads, expected to expand by 2852 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 22.1% over the 17 years.

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

Booral-River Heads has recorded approximately 217 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1085 homes. As of FY26182 approvals have been recorded. On average, around 2.1 people per year moved to the area for each new home constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating robust demand that supports property values. New homes were built at an average expected construction cost value of $317000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

In FY26, $6100000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Booral-River Heads records 176% more building activity per person, providing ample choice for buyers and indicating strong developer confidence. Recent construction comprises 95% detached houses and 5% medium to high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. With around 28 people per dwelling approval, Booral-River Heads shows characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, the area is forecasted to gain 1870 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Booral - River Heads has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly impact local performance. AreaSearch identified 20 projects potentially affecting the area. Notable projects include Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct Basketball Stadium, Astro Aero Aircraft Manufacturing Centre, Wondunna Mixed-Use Development (MCU22/0103), and Pinnacle Hervey Bay Estate. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Booral - River Heads shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Booral River Heads has a balanced workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented in the area. The unemployment rate was 3.2% as of September 2025, which is below the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

There was an estimated employment growth of 10.8% over the past year. As of September 2025, 3,833 residents were in work and the workforce participation rate was 62.0%, slightly lower than Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, only 11.3% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Booral River Heads shows a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with only 2.0% employment compared to the regional average of 4.5%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the comparison between Census working population and resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 10.8%, while labour force grew by 11.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7% and labour force expand by 2.1%, with a similar increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Booral River Heads' employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Booral - River Heads SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $49,827 and an average income of $61,470. Nationally, the median was $53,146 and the average was $66,593. By September 2025, estimates based on 9.91% Wage Price Index growth suggest median incomes will be approximately $54,765 and averages around $67,562. The 2021 Census data ranks household income at the 29th percentile ($1,402 weekly) and personal income at the 12th percentile. The largest earnings segment is 32.4% of residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (2,741 residents). After housing costs, 86.3% of income remains for other expenses.

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

Booral-River Heads dwelling structure, as per the latest Census (2016), consisted of 98.7% houses and 1.3% other dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Booral-River Heads was 45.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.4% and rented at 12.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,560, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent was $330, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Booral-River Heads' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 81.6% of all households, including 28.6% couples with children, 42.1% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.4%, with lone person households at 16.0% and group households at 2.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Booral - River Heads faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 9.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.2%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 45.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 35.8%.

A total of 23.6% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 8.8% in secondary education, 8.5% in primary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates five active public transport stops in Booral - River Heads, all serving buses. These stops are covered by one route, offering a total of 73 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 7403 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with outward commuting being common and cars being the primary mode of transport at 95%. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 10 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 14 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Booral - River Heads is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Booral - River Heads, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~4,213 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 12.3% of residents) and mental health issues (impacting 10.8%). Conversely, 58.8% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Working-age individuals face significant health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.0% (2,026 people), compared to 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Booral - River Heads is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Booral-River Heads showed lower cultural diversity, with 83.1% born in Australia, 90.9% being citizens, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 51.1%, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.2%), Australian (28.2%), and Scottish (7.7%).

Notably, German (5.3%) and Dutch (1.7%) groups were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.7% and 1.1%, respectively. New Zealanders were slightly underrepresented at 0.8%.

Booral - River Heads hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Booral-River Heads has a median age of 48, which is higher than Queensland's figure of 41 and significantly above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 16.3%, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 9.6%. This concentration in the 65-74 bracket is well above the national figure of 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 25 to 34 age group grew from 8.2% to 10.3%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.6% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 12.0% to 9.6%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 14.2% to 12.2%. By 2041, Booral-River Heads is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 65 to 74 group is projected to grow by 26%, reaching 1,733 people from 1,377. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort is anticipated to decline by 32 people.