Burleigh Heads

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Burleigh Heads's population is around 10,137 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 961 people (10.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,176 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,833 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 642 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,184 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burleigh Heads's 10.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 86.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of national regional areas is expected, with the area expected to grow by 1,052 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 7.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Burleigh Heads among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Burleigh Heads has seen around 129 new homes approved annually, totalling 645 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 46 approvals have been recorded. At an average of just 0.9 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $770,000, revealing that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. There have also been $26.0 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

Relative to the rest of Qld, Burleigh Heads shows comparable new home approvals (per person), supporting market stability in line with regional patterns, though development activity has moderated in recent periods. This is substantially higher than the national average, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New building activity consists of 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns (currently 33.0% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 133 people per dwelling approval, Burleigh Heads shows characteristics of a growth area.

Future projections show Burleigh Heads adding 748 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 45 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Isabel by Mosaic, Morris Property Group Burleigh Development, Bondi Burleigh - Morris Property Group, and GURNER Burleigh Heads, 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.

The employment environment in Burleigh Heads shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Burleigh Heads has a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of only 3.4%, and 3.0% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 5,826 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.6% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (68.7% compared to Regional Qld's 65.4%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 19.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise 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 shows lower representation at 0.3% versus the regional average of 4.5%. With 1.5 workers for every resident as at the Census, the area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 3.0% while the labour force increased by 2.7%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Burleigh Heads. 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 Burleigh Heads's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Burleigh Heads SA2 is very high nationally, with the median assessed at $57,773 while the average income stands at $77,443. This contrasts with Regional Qld's figures of a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $63,498 (median) and $85,118 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 64th percentile ($883 weekly), while household income sits at the 42nd percentile. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.3% of residents (3,071 people), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 40th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Burleigh Heads features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Burleigh Heads, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 33.4% houses and 66.6% 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 Burleigh Heads was higher than that of Regional Qld, at 36.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (27.4%) or rented (36.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional Qld average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $480, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Burleigh Heads's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Burleigh Heads features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 57.9% of all households, comprising 17.9% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 42.1%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 8.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment in Burleigh Heads significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 33.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 20.6% in Rest of Qld and 25.4% in the SA4 region. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 23.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (13.8%) and certificates (23.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.5% in tertiary education, 7.3% in primary education, and 6.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 22 active transport stops operating within Burleigh Heads, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 12 individual routes, collectively providing 2,240 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 204 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 87%, with 6% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. Some 19.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 320 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 101 weekly trips per individual stop.

Burleigh Heads's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Burleigh Heads residents, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions showing results broadly in line with national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~5,879 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.1% and 7.4% of residents, respectively, while 70.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,187 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Burleigh Heads records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Burleigh Heads was found to be roughly in line with the wider region's average in terms of cultural diversity, with 81.4% of its population being citizens, 76.5% born in Australia, and 92.0% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Burleigh Heads is Christianity, which makes up 47.9% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.3% 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 Burleigh Heads are English, comprising 31.2% of the population, Australian, comprising 23.5% of the population, and Irish, comprising 11.0% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: New Zealand is notably overrepresented at 1.3% of Burleigh Heads (vs 0.9% regionally), French at 0.9% (vs 0.5%) and Scottish at 8.9% (vs 7.8%).

Burleigh Heads hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The 42-year median age in Burleigh Heads 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 25 - 34 cohort is notably over-represented (21.6% locally), while 5 - 14 year-olds are under-represented (6.3%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the area has become younger, with the median age dropping 1.7 years to 42 from 44. In particular, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 17.4% to 21.6% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.2% to 11.0%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 13.6% to 10.8% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.6% to 10.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Burleigh Heads. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 457 people (21%) from 2,192 to 2,650. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 age groups will see reduced numbers.