Palm Beach

Palm Beach lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Palm Beach's population is around 18,532 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,183 people (13.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,349 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,151 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 672 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,927 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Palm Beach's 13.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 47.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including natural growth and interstate migration, were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts 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 applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Looking at population projections moving forward, a significant population increase in the top quartile of locations outside of capital cities is forecast, with the area expected to increase by 5,479 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 27.5% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Palm Beach was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Palm Beach has experienced around 269 dwellings receiving development approval annually, totalling 1,347 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26204 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 1.7 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand seem well-matched, fostering stable market dynamics, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $633,000, demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. There have also been $23.8 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

Relative to the Rest of Qld, Palm Beach records 64.0% more new home approvals (per person), creating greater choice for buyers. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. New development consists of 11.0% detached dwellings and 89.0% townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 41.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 65 people per dwelling approval, Palm Beach shows characteristics of a growth area.

Looking ahead, Palm Beach is expected to grow by 5,098 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Palm Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 65 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include La Belle Palm Beach, Palm Beach Oceanway Extension, Sophia by Mosaic - Palm Beach, and Flourish Ovana Palm Beach, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Employment conditions in Palm Beach demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Palm Beach possesses a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of just 2.8%, and 3.1% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 10,701 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.2% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (71.7% compared to Regional Qld's 65.4%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 17.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has a limited presence with 0.4% employment compared to 4.5% regionally. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 3.1% alongside the labour force increasing by 2.7%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. This compares to Regional Qld, where employment grew by 0.7%, the labour force expanded by 1.0%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Palm Beach. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Palm Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Palm Beach SA2's income level is well above the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Palm Beach SA2's median income among taxpayers is $54,879 and the average income stands at $75,401, compared to figures for Regional Qld's of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $60,318 (median) and $82,873 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Palm Beach cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals 31.2% of the population (5,781 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the metropolitan region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 46th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Palm Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Palm Beach, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 41.1% houses and 59.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Palm Beach lagged that of Regional Qld at 29.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (33.0%) or rented (37.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional Qld average at $2,093, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $445, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Palm Beach's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Palm Beach features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 63.2% of all households, comprising 24.7% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.8%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households comprising 7.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (29.5% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and that of the SA4 region (25.4%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 21.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (25.9%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 46 active transport stops operating within Palm Beach, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 11 individual routes, collectively providing 2,319 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 216 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 90%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. Some 17.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 331 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

Palm Beach's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Palm Beach, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~10,489 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.5% and 7.3% of residents, respectively, while 72.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 17.5% of residents aged 65 and over (3,243 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Palm Beach ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Palm Beach was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 86.8% of its population being citizens, 81.3% born in Australia, and 93.4% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Palm Beach is Christianity, which makes up 47.1% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Palm Beach are English, comprising 32.1% of the population, Australian, comprising 25.4% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: New Zealand is notably overrepresented at 1.0% of Palm Beach (vs 0.9% regionally), Scottish at 9.0% (vs 7.8%) and French at 0.6% (vs 0.5%).

Palm Beach's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The 38-year median age in Palm Beach is marginally below Regional Qld's average of 41 while in line with Australia's 38 years. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 19.1% compared to Regional Qld, whereas the 5 - 14 cohort is less prevalent at 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the area has become younger, with the median age dropping 1.1 years to 38 from 39. Specifically, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 16.1% to 19.1% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 14.4% to 15.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.0% to 11.0% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 12.3% to 10.6%. By 2041, Palm Beach is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to experience strong growth, expanding by 1,297 people (37%) from 3,537 to 4,835. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 4% (88 people).