Burleigh Heads

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

Burleigh Heads' population is approximately 10,133 as of November 2025. This represents an increase of 957 people, a 10.4% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 9,176. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,833 in June 2024 and an additional 638 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1,183 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burleigh Heads' growth exceeded the Rest of Qld's 8.8% and the national average, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 86.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Examining future trends, a population increase just below the median of national regional areas is expected for Burleigh Heads. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is projected to grow by 1,052 persons to reach 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 7.4% over the 17-year period.

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

Burleigh Heads has seen approximately 129 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 645 homes. As of FY-26, 45 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.9 new residents per year arrive for each new home built between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings in Burleigh Heads is $770,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, there have been $26.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Burleigh Heads shows comparable new home approvals per person, suggesting market stability aligned with regional patterns. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. Nationally, new home approvals are substantially lower than in Burleigh Heads, indicating strong developer confidence in the location. New building activity in Burleigh Heads is composed of 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% townhouses or apartments.

This shift towards denser development offers accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns (currently 33.0% houses). This trend may be driven by diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 133 people per dwelling approval, Burleigh Heads exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Burleigh Heads is projected to add 752 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 45 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Isabel by Mosaic, Morris Property Group's Burleigh Development, Bondi Burleigh - Morris Property Group, and GURNER's Burleigh Heads project. 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.

The labour market in Burleigh Heads demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Burleigh Heads has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.3% over the past year as of September 2025. There are 5,752 residents in work, and the unemployment rate is 0.4% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation is at 68.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 19.6% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. The area shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.3% versus the regional average of 4.5%.

There are 1.5 workers for every resident, indicating that Burleigh Heads functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 2.3% while labour force increased by 2.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7%, labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Burleigh Heads' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

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 financial year 2023 shows that Burleigh Heads SA2 has a median income of $57,773 and an average income of $77,443. This is higher than the Rest of Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $63,498 (median) and $85,118 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 64th percentile ($883 weekly), while household income is at the 42nd percentile. Income brackets indicate that 30.3% of residents (3,070 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, consistent with broader regional trends. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 40th percentile. 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

In Burleigh Heads, as per the latest Census evaluation, 33.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 66.6% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burleigh Heads stood at 36.5%, with mortgaged properties at 27.4% and rented ones at 36.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Weekly rent in Burleigh Heads was recorded at $480, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Burleigh Heads' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $480 compared to 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 compose 57.9% of all households, including 17.9% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 42.1%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 8.9%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

Burleigh Heads has a significantly higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 33.4% of its residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. This places the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities, with bachelor degrees being the most common at 23.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Trade and technical skills are also prominent, with 37.2% of residents holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 13.8% and certificates at 23.4%.

Educational participation is notably high in Burleigh Heads, 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

Burleigh Heads has 22 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 12 different routes, collectively facilitating 2,240 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered good with residents, on average, located 204 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 87%, while walking accounts for 6%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.2, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.6% of residents work from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 320 trips daily 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

Burleigh Heads residents show positive health outcomes, as per AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions (released on 15th March 2023). Mortality rates align with national benchmarks, with low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 58% (~5,877 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.1%) and mental health issues (7.4%), while 70.1% report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.7% (2,198 people), compared to 20.0% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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, as per the data, aligns with its broader region's cultural diversity averages. Its population composition is as follows: citizens comprise 81.4%, those born in Australia are 76.5%, and English speakers at home total 92.0%. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 47.9% of Burleigh Heads residents.

Notably, Judaism, while a minority, is more prevalent here than regionally, standing at 0.3% compared to 0.1%. The top three parental ancestry groups are English (31.2%), Australian (23.5%), and Irish (11.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: New Zealanders make up 1.3% in Burleigh Heads versus 0.9% regionally, French residents total 0.9% compared to 0.5%, and Scottish representation is at 8.9% versus 7.8%.

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

Burleigh Heads's median age is 43 years, which is higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 20.9% of Burleigh Heads' population, compared to 17.4% in the Rest of Qld and 14.5% nationally. The 5-14 age group makes up 6.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the median age has decreased by 1.4 years to 43 years due to younger residents. The 25-34 age group grew from 17.4% to 20.9%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 9.2% to 11.0%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group declined from 13.6% to 11.1%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 12.6% to 11.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 25%, adding 536 residents to reach 2,650. Meanwhile, both the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups are expected to decrease in number.