Burleigh Waters
Statistical Area - sa2

Burleigh Waters is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Burleigh Waters' population was around 15,112 as of August 2025. This reflected an increase of 699 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,413 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,110 in June 2024 and an additional 74 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,248 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 76.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted 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 were used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections did not provide age category splits, so proportional growth weightings were applied using ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends indicated a growth of 1,453 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, with an increase of approximately 9.6% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Burleigh Waters according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Burleigh Waters granted around 35 residential property approvals per year. ABS data shows 179 homes approved between financial years FY21 to FY25, with 8 approved so far in FY26. Each dwelling built attracted an average of 2.5 new residents over the past five financial years, indicating strong demand supporting property values. New homes are constructed at an average cost of $1,024,000, targeting the premium market segment.

Commercial development approvals totalled $21.5 million in FY26. Compared to Rest of Qld, Burleigh Waters has 82.0% lower building activity per person, suggesting scarcity of new homes may strengthen demand for existing properties. The area's activity is also below national average, indicating maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 85.0% detached dwellings and 15.0% medium to high-density housing, preserving Burleigh Waters' suburban character with detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 776 people per dwelling approval, the area reflects a highly mature market.

Future projections estimate Burleigh Waters will add 1,451 residents by 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though increasing population may intensify competition for buyers.

Burleigh Waters has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

The performance of an area can be significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 23 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are the Pacific Motorway M1 Upgrade from Varsity Lakes to Tugun, Burly Residences, Burleigh Waters Master Plan Community, and Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

The labour market strength in Burleigh Waters positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Burleigh Waters has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.0% in the past year and is estimated to have grown by 2.1%.

As of June 2025, 8,011 residents were in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.9%, below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was 62.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction is particularly strong, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.3% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 4.5%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.1%, alongside labour force increasing by 2.0%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 1.9%. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.8%, labour force grow by 2.0%, and unemployment rise to 3.9%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Burleigh Waters's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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 that Burleigh Waters has higher median and average incomes compared to the national average. The median income in Burleigh Waters is $50,056, while the average income stands at $68,174. In contrast, Rest of Qld's figures are a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Burleigh Waters would be approximately $55,918 (median) and $76,157 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Burleigh Waters rank modestly, between the 49th and 50th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 31.3% of locals fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, reflecting patterns seen in metropolitan regions where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Burleigh Waters, with only 83.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

In Burleigh Waters, as per the latest Census evaluation, 71.0% of dwellings were houses while 29.0% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differs from Non-Metro Qld's figures of 45.3% houses and 54.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burleigh Waters stood at 39.7%, with mortgaged properties at 39.8% and rented ones at 20.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,021, surpassing Non-Metro Qld's average of $2,019. The median weekly rent figure for Burleigh Waters was recorded as $500, higher than Non-Metro Qld's $465. Nationally, Burleigh Waters' mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $500 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households compose 73.8% of all households, consisting of 33.4% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.2%, with lone person households at 21.9% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 25.9% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 18.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 38.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.8% while certificates make up 25.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.4% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education. Burleigh Waters has three schools with a combined enrollment of 3,447 students, demonstrating above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1064). Education provision is balanced with two primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. The area functions as an education hub with 22.8 school places per 100 residents – significantly higher than the regional average of 11.5 – attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Burleigh Waters has 55 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that collectively facilitate 1017 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically located 227 metres from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 145 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Burleigh Waters's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows Burleigh Waters residents have relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across both young and old age groups. Around 54% (~8,115 people) have private health cover, compared to 68.9% across Rest of Qld.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.6%) and mental health issues (6.6%). About 71.3% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of Qld's 72.7%. Approximately 19.3% (~2,912 people) are aged 65 and over. Seniors' health outcomes are above average, similar to the general population's profile.

In terms of cultural diversity, Burleigh Waters 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 Waters, when compared to the broader region, showed similar levels of cultural diversity. As of 2016 Census data, 75.8% of its population was born in Australia, with 86.7% being citizens and 91.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was found to be the predominant religion, accounting for 53.0% of Burleigh Waters' population.

However, Judaism was more prevalent in Burleigh Waters than in the rest of Queensland, making up 0.2% compared to 0.4%. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.3%), Australian (26.0%), and Irish (9.3%). Notably, New Zealanders were overrepresented at 1.5%, Hungarians at 0.4%, and Maori at 0.9% compared to regional averages of 1.3%, 0.3%, and 0.8% respectively.

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

The median age in Burleigh Waters is 41 years, which matches Rest of Qld's average but is older than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Burleigh Waters has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (14.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (8.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 grew from 10.2% to 11.8%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 10.7% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group declined from 10.4% to 8.8%, and the 45-54 age group decreased from 14.3% to 13.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Burleigh Waters' age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 33%, reaching 2,432 people from 1,824. Conversely, the 15-24 and 75-84 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.