Broadbeach Waters

Population growth drivers in Broadbeach Waters are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Broadbeach Waters's population is around 8,939 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 775 people (9.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,164 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,916 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 61 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,683 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Broadbeach Waters's 9.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 73.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

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. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Moving forward with demographic trends, an above-median population growth of national regional areas is projected, with the area expected to expand by 1,291 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 14.2% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Broadbeach Waters among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Broadbeach Waters has recorded around 33 residential properties granted approval each year, totalling 166 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 34 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 4.4 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand significantly exceeds new supply, which usually results in price growth and increased buyer competition, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $1,153,000, revealing that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. There have also been $15.1 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

Compared to the rest of Qld, Broadbeach Waters shows substantially reduced construction (70.0% below regional average per person). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. New building activity consists of 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 266 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth.

Population forecasts indicate Broadbeach Waters will gain 1,268 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

Broadbeach Waters has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 41 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include The Landmark, The Lanes, Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 (Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads), and Broadbeach South light rail station, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Employment performance in Broadbeach Waters ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Broadbeach Waters has a well-educated workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of just 2.2%, and 2.5% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 5,053 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.8% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (67.8% compared to Regional Qld's 65.4%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 20.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. The area shows particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.3% of Broadbeach Waters's workforce compared to 4.5% in Regional Qld. While local employment opportunities exist, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the ratio of the Census working population to the local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 2.5% while the labour force increased by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Broadbeach Waters. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Broadbeach Waters's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Broadbeach Waters SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $54,312 with the average level standing at $84,052. This is extremely high nationally and compares to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $59,694 (median) and $92,382 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Broadbeach Waters cluster around the 67th percentile nationally. Looking at income distribution, the predominant cohort spans 29.6% of locals (2,645 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.7% in the same category. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 32.2% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 17.3% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 68th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Broadbeach Waters is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Broadbeach Waters, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 78.4% houses and 21.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Broadbeach Waters was well beyond that of Regional Qld, at 40.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (36.4%) or rented (23.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional Qld average at $2,600, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $600, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Broadbeach Waters's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Broadbeach Waters features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 71.5% of all households, comprising 31.0% couples with children, 30.2% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 6.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people is larger than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Broadbeach Waters exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (30.1% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and that of the SA4 region (25.4%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 21.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 35.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (13.4%) and certificates (22.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.2% in secondary education, 8.1% in primary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 34 active transport stops operating within Broadbeach Waters, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 16 individual routes, collectively providing 2,398 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 225 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 89%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. Some 20.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 342 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 70 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Broadbeach Waters, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (5,506 people). This compares to 52.5% across Regional Qld, while the national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.1% and 5.9% of residents, respectively, while 73.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The area has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,620 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Broadbeach Waters was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Broadbeach Waters is more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 14.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 31.1% born overseas. The main religion in Broadbeach Waters is Christianity, which makes up 53.6% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.7% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Broadbeach Waters are English, comprising 29.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 21.2% of the population (notably lower than the regional average of 26.5%), and Irish, comprising 8.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: New Zealand is overrepresented at 1.6% of Broadbeach Waters (vs 0.9% regionally), Spanish at 0.8% (vs 0.3%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.2%).

Broadbeach Waters's median age exceeds the national pattern

The 42-year median age in Broadbeach Waters is close to Regional Qld's average of 41 and similarly well above the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Regional Qld average, the 35 - 44 cohort is notably over-represented (14.7% locally), while 5 - 14 year-olds are under-represented (10.0%). Since the 2021 Census, the area has become younger, with the median age dropping 1.3 years to 42 from 43. In particular, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 12.1% to 14.2% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.7% to 14.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.4% to 11.9% and the 65 to 74 group dropped from 11.0% to 9.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Broadbeach Waters. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 389 people (31%) from 1,267 to 1,657. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups will see reduced numbers.