Burleigh Heads

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

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the resident count of Burleigh Heads is close to 10,235 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,059 individuals (11.5%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 9,176 residents. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 10,055 from June 2025 alongside 651 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population count translates to 1,195 persons per square kilometer, a density level that is generally typical of the regions analysed by AreaSearch. The 11.5% expansion rate in Burleigh Heads since the 2021 census was higher than the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national benchmark, placing it among the faster-growing areas in the state. The primary driver of this demographic expansion was overseas migration, representing roughly 79.1% of the total population increase, though positive contributions were also observed from natural increase and interstate moves.

Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 as a starting point, are used by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. In instances where SA2 regions lack this coverage, or for periods beyond 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 with 2021 data are used. Because these state-level figures do not specify age categories, AreaSearch allocates cohort growth proportions based on the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 data) for each age group. Looking ahead, population expansion is projected to track slightly under the median for regional areas across Australia, with the local population expected to increase by 1,094 individuals by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, representing a total rise of 8.9% over the 16 years.

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

An average of approximately 129 new dwelling approvals have been granted each year in Burleigh Heads, representing 645 residences over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 86 approvals have been registered. With an average influx of 1.1 new residents per built home recorded each year over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand appears well balanced by supply, helping maintain stable market conditions, and newly constructed dwellings carry an average build value of $770,000, showing that developers are targeting the high-end market with premium offerings. Furthermore, commercial development approvals valued at $26.0 million have been logged during the current financial year, demonstrating ongoing commercial investment.

When compared to the Rest of Qld, Burleigh Heads shows comparable per capita development activity, keeping the market balanced in line with the broader region, even though construction volumes have decelerated lately. The local level of activity is much higher than the national standard, reflecting high builder confidence in the area. Recent construction approvals consist of 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% semi-detached dwellings or apartments. This preference for higher density provides more affordable buying paths and attracts individuals looking to downsize, investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a clear shift away from the traditional property mix (which currently stands at 33.0% houses), indicating a decline in available land and matching changing lifestyle choices and housing affordability needs. Recording approximately 137 people per approved dwelling, Burleigh Heads displays the hallmarks of an expanding locality.

Demographic projections indicate that Burleigh Heads is set to add 914 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimation). Given existing building trends, the supply of new housing is anticipated to satisfy demand easily, creating favorable purchasing environments and potentially supporting population growth above current forecasts.

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

Very few elements impact local real estate performance as directly as changes in local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning policies. A total of 45 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a likely effect on the local area. Key projects include Isabel by Mosaic, Morris Property Group Burleigh Development, Bondi Burleigh - Morris Property Group, and GURNER Burleigh Heads, with the subsequent list outlining the most significant schemes.

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

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The labour market in Burleigh Heads shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

The workforce in Burleigh Heads is highly educated, with strong representation in critical service industries, an unemployment rate of just 3.1%, and an estimated job growth rate of 3.9% over the past year. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 5,877, while the unemployment rate remained 0.8% below the 3.9% figure seen in Regional Qld, and participation in the labor force was normal (67.3% versus 64.3% in Regional Qld). According to Census statistics, a moderate 19.6% of workers operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. The locality displays a clear concentration in professional & technical services, where its employment proportion is 1.7 times the regional standard. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is minimally represented, employing 0.3% of workers compared to the regional average of 4.5%. With 1.5 jobs situated in the area for every resident worker at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a major employment center, importing labor from neighbouring districts.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, the number of employed persons grew by 3.9% while the total labor force grew by 3.3%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point decrease in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1%, the labor force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment increase by 0.1 percentage points. Long-term employment projections issued in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding prospective labor demand in Burleigh Heads. These projections, spanning five and ten years, have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future trends. Although overall national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary widely by industry. Projecting these industry trends onto the occupational structure of Burleigh Heads indicates local employment could rise by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (this represents a direct weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

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

The most recent postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that incomes in the Burleigh Heads SA2 are exceptionally high by national standards, with a median of $57,773 and an average of $77,443. In comparison, Regional Qld recorded a median income of $53,146 and an average of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current local values are estimated at roughly $64,336 for the median and $86,241 for the average in March 2026. The 2021 Census placed individual incomes at the 64th percentile ($883 per week), whereas household incomes sat at the 42nd percentile. Looking at income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the most common, accounting for 30.3% of residents (3,101 people), mirroring the wider regional trend of 31.7% in this bracket. Housing costs present a major challenge, leaving only 81.5% of income available, which ranks at the 40th percentile, while the SEIFA income rank for the area sits in the 7th decile.

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

The composition of residential properties in Burleigh Heads at the time of the latest Census consisted of 33.4% standalone houses and 66.6% alternative housing types (such as semi-detached residences, flats, and other structures), compared to Regional Qld where standalone houses made up 76.4% and alternative types accounted for 23.6%. Outright home ownership in Burleigh Heads reached 36.5%, higher than the rate in Regional Qld, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (27.4%) or rented (36.0%). The median monthly payment for mortgages in the area was significantly higher than the Regional Qld average at $2,000, and the median weekly rent was $480, compared to regional figures of $1,655 and $345. Locally, mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of local households at 57.9%, consisting of 17.9% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 8.9% single parents. The remaining 42.1% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 33.0% and group households accounting for 8.9% of the total. The typical household size is 2.1 people, which 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

The proportion of residents with tertiary qualifications in Burleigh Heads is notably higher than regional benchmarks, with 33.4% of citizens aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 20.6% in the Rest of Qld and 25.4% in the SA4 area. This high level of education positions the local workforce well for knowledge-intensive roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 23.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 7.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational and technical training is also highly prevalent, with 37.2% of individuals aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (13.8%) and certificates (23.4%).

Participation in study is high, with 27.9% of local residents actively enrolled in some form of structured education. This proportion includes 7.5% attending tertiary institutions, 7.3% in primary schooling, and 6.3% in secondary schools.

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

Analysis of local transport options indicates there are 22 active passenger stops operating within Burleigh Heads, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 12 distinct routes, which provide a total of 2,240 passenger trips per week. Access to public transport is good, with residents living an average of 204 meters from their nearest stop. Because the area is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the district, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 87%, while 6% walk to work. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.2 per household, which is lower than the regional standard. Approximately 19.6% of employed residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Daily services average 320 trips across all active routes, which represents approximately 101 weekly trips for each transport 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

Statistics concerning health show positive trends for the residents of Burleigh Heads, with AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and chronic illnesses showing results that align with national averages. The occurrence of major health issues is relatively low in both younger and older demographics, and the rate of private health insurance coverage is very high at approximately 58% of the population (~5,936 people). This is higher than the 52.5% rate seen across Regional Qld.

The most frequent health conditions reported locally were arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 8.1 and 7.4% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 70.1% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The working-age population exhibits good health with minimal chronic conditions. Residents aged 65 and over make up 21.9% of the population (2,241 people), higher than the Regional Qld average of 20.4%. Health measures for these senior citizens are strong, with national comparisons surpassing those of the younger local 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 is generally consistent with the broader region regarding cultural variety, with 81.4% of the population holding citizenship, 76.5% born within Australia, and 92.0% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 47.9% of residents. The most noticeable deviation from regional averages is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.3% of the population locally compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

Regarding family backgrounds (parents' countries of birth), the three most common ancestry groups in Burleigh Heads are English at 31.2%, Australian at 23.5%, and Irish at 11.0%. There are also differences in the proportions of other groups, with New Zealanders representing 1.3% of the population (compared to 0.9% across the region), French ancestors at 0.9% (compared to 0.5%), and Scottish heritage at 8.9% (compared to 7.8%).

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

The median age of 42 years in Burleigh Heads is very close to the Regional Qld average of 41 and notably higher than the Australian median of 38. In comparison to the Regional Qld average, the 25 - 34 age group is highly represented (21.6% locally), whereas children aged 5 - 14 are under-represented (6.2%). The concentration of 25 - 34 year-olds is higher than the national average of 14.6%. The median age of the area has decreased by 1.6 years from 44 to 42 since the 2021 Census. Specifically, the 25 to 34 age bracket increased from 17.4% to 21.6% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 7.1% to 8.3%. In contrast, the 65 to 74 group fell from 13.6% to 11.1%, and the 45 to 54 group decreased from 12.6% to 10.7%. Long-term population forecasts for 2041 point to shifts in the local makeup, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 497 people (23%) from 2,205 to 2,703, while the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 brackets are expected to shrink.