Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Clifton Beach-Kewarra Beach's population was 12,848 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents a 9.0% increase from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,789. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 341 persons per square kilometer as of August 2025. Clifton Beach-Kewarra Beach's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region and non-metro areas since the 2021 Census. Overseas migration contributed approximately 49.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 based on 2022 data. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts. Demographic trends project an above median population growth for locations outside capital cities by 2041, with Clifton Beach-Kewarra Beach expected to grow by 2,200 persons, a total gain of 15.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach has received approximately 79 dwelling approvals per year on average. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that between FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 395 homes were approved. As of FY-26, there have been 33 approvals. On average, around 2.1 people move to the area annually with each new home constructed over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $457,000, which is below the regional average. This indicates more affordable housing options in the area. In FY-26, there have been commercial approvals totalling $2.7 million, reflecting the primarily residential nature of the area.

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach maintains similar construction rates per person compared to the rest of Queensland, supporting market stability. Recent construction consists of 98.0% standalone homes and 2.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's traditional low density character. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests at Census (81.0%), indicating strong demand for family homes. Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach reflects a developing area with approximately 114 people per approval. Future projections estimate an addition of 1,939 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones are The Palms Collection Masterplan, Reefsedge Resort & Waterpark, The Palms, and Breakwaters - Clifton Beach Erosion Management. For details on most relevant projects, see below list.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.7%.

In comparison to the Rest of Qld's unemployment rate of 3.9%, Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach's rate is 2.2% lower. The workforce participation rate is 61.3%, slightly higher than the Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and retail trade. Notably, the accommodation & food sector has an employment concentration 1.5 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.0% compared to the regional average of 4.5%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, with a lower Census working population compared to resident population. Between Jun-24 and Jun-25, labour force decreased by 1.6%, and employment decreased by 2.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with an unemployment rate increase of only 0.2 percentage points. 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%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, although these extrapolations are illustrative and do not consider localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022. Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach had a median taxpayer income of $54,441 and an average income of $66,314. Nationally, the median was $50,780 and the average was $64,844. By March 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest a median income of approximately $60,816 and an average income of $74,079. The 2021 Census ranked Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach incomes modestly, between the 44th and 52nd percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Most locals (4,368 people, or 34.0%) fell into the $1,500-$2,999 income category. Housing affordability was severe, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 45th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach, evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 81.1% houses and 18.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 80.8% houses and 19.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach stood at 35.6%, with the rest being mortgaged (37.0%) or rented (27.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro Qld's average, while the median weekly rent was $400, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $390. Nationally, Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 73.7% of all households, including 25.3% couples with children, 36.9% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 26.3%, with lone person households at 23.0% and group households making up 3.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notably strong regionally, with university qualification rates at 25.8% among residents aged 15+, surpassing both the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and the SA4 region average of 21.1%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 16.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 13.6% and certificates at 27.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. The area's educational provision includes Northern Beaches Catholic Primary School and Trinity Anglican School - Marlin Coast Campus, collectively serving no students as of the latest available data. Both schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach has no schools within its boundaries, requiring residents to travel to neighboring areas for educational services. Note: where school enrolment figures are not available (marked 'n/a'), please refer to the parent campus for accurate numbers.

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

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach has 44 active public transport stops. These are served by three different bus routes. Together, these routes facilitate 382 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 375 meters. On average, there are 54 daily trips across all routes, which amounts to around eight weekly trips per individual stop.

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach'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

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach residents show positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across all ages.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52%, higher than the average SA2 area's 48%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.0%) and mental health issues (7.6%). 69.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Rest of Qld's 73.1%. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 22.6%, higher than the state average of 16.7%. Seniors in the area demonstrate strong health outcomes, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Clifton Beach-Kewarra Beach, surveyed in 2016, had 11.0% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 31.3% born overseas. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 44.8%. Judaism, at 0.3%, was slightly overrepresented compared to Rest of Qld's 0.2%.

Top three ancestry groups were English (31.9%), Australian (21.4%), and Irish (8.4%). French (0.9%) Welsh (0.8%) and Hungarian (0.4%) were notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.7%, 0.6% and 0.2% respectively.

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach's median age is 47 years, which exceeds Rest of Qld's median age of 41 years. This figure is also considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, the 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach, with 16.2% of the local population falling within this age range. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented, making up just 9.8% of the population. Between 2021 and the present, the proportion of the population aged 15 to 24 has increased from 8.6% to 10.0%. During this same period, the percentage of the population aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 15.7% to 13.5%. Demographic modeling indicates that Clifton Beach - Kewarra Beach's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to expand notably, with an increase of 415 people (33%), from 1,255 to 1,671. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 15-24 age cohorts.