Burleigh Heads
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Burleigh Heads are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Burleigh Heads' population is around 10,234 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,058 people (11.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,176 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,850 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 639 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,195 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Burleigh Heads' 11.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area (8.6%), along with the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 86.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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. 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 population numbers, with an increase of 6.4% 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 approximately 129 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 645 homes. As of FY-26, 37 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.9 new residents arrive per year for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests that new construction is keeping pace with demand, offering buyers more options and facilitating population growth.

The average value of new dwellings being developed is $1,593,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In this financial year, there have been $26.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Burleigh Heads has comparable new home approvals per person, suggesting market stability aligned with regional patterns. However, development activity has moderated recently. Nationally, developer confidence in Burleigh Heads appears strong given its substantially higher development activity. Currently, 13.0% of new building activity involves detached houses, while 87.0% consists of townhouses or apartments.

This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers, marking a significant departure from the existing housing pattern of 33.0% houses. Burleigh Heads has around 133 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a growth area. Future projections suggest that Burleigh Heads will add 651 residents by 2041. Given 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 moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 45 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Isabel by Mosaic, Morris Property Group Burleigh Development, Bondi Burleigh - Morris Property Group, and Mondrian Gold Coast Hotel & Residences. The following list details those most 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 was 3.7% as of June 2021, with an estimated employment growth of 1.8% over the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 5,686 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is on par with Rest of Qld's 59.1%. 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 of 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.3% versus the regional average of 4.5%. As at the Census, there are 1.5 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.8% while labour force increased by 2.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with industry-specific projections suggesting local growth of approximately 6.9%% over five years and 14.0% over ten years in Burleigh Heads.

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 2022 shows median income in Burleigh Heads is $55,042 and average income is $74,966. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's figures: median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Burleigh Heads are approximately $62,742 (median) and $85,454 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 65th percentile ($883 weekly), while household income is at the 42nd percentile. Income brackets indicate that 30.3% of residents fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket (3,100 people). 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

Burleigh Heads' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 33.4% houses and 66.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld had 45.3% houses and 54.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burleigh Heads was 36.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.4% and rented ones at 36.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $2,019. Median weekly rent in Burleigh Heads was $480, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $465. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents 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 constitute 57.9% of all households, consisting of 17.9% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 42.1%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households making up 8.9%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

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. As of 2016, 33.4% of its residents aged 15 and above held university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 23.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials were also prominent, with 37.2% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.8%) and certificates (23.4%).

Educational participation was high, with 27.9% of residents enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This included 7.5% in tertiary education, 7.3% in primary education, and 6.3% pursuing secondary education. Burleigh Heads State School served the local educational needs within Burleigh Heads, with an enrollment of 465 students in 2017. The school had typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1046) and offered balanced educational opportunities. It focused exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School capacity was limited locally, with 4.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 11.5, indicating that many families traveled to nearby areas for schooling.

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 operating within it, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 12 individual routes, together providing 2,244 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 204 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 320 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 102 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 with low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover stands at approximately 57% (~5,843 people), higher than the Rest of Qld's 68.9%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.1%) and mental health issues (7.4%), while 70.1% claim no medical ailments, compared to 72.7% in Rest of Qld. As of 2021, 21.7% (~2,220 people) are aged 65 and over, higher than the Rest of Qld's 18.4%. Seniors' health outcomes are strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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' cultural diversity aligns with the broader region's average, with 81.4% of its population being citizens, 76.5% born in Australia, and 92.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Burleigh Heads, comprising 47.9% of the population. Judaism, however, is slightly overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to 0.4% across the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestral groups are English (31.2%), Australian (23.5%), and Irish (11.0%). Notably, New Zealanders are equally represented at 1.3%, French are slightly overrepresented at 0.9%, and Scottish residents are also overrepresented at 8.9%.

Burleigh Heads hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Burleigh Heads has a median age of 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 makes up 20.9% of Burleigh Heads' population compared to Rest of Qld's percentage, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 6.5%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is higher than the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that younger residents have shifted the median age down to 43 years. Notably, the 25-34 age group grew from 17.4% to 20.9%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 9.2% to 11.0%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort declined from 13.6% to 11.1%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 12.6% to 11.1%. Population forecasts for Burleigh Heads in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 age cohort at 24%, adding 515 residents to reach 2,650. Conversely, both the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.