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

Palm Beach's population was around 18,270 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,921 people from the 2021 Census figure of 16,349. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,151 in June 2024 and an additional 640 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,886 persons per square kilometer, placing Palm Beach in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 11.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the non-metro area average (8.8%) and the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 47.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, a significant population increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally is forecast, with Palm Beach expected to increase by 5,479 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 29.3% over the 17-year period.

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 approximately 269 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 1,347 homes were approved, with an additional 193 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, about 1.7 new residents arrived annually for each new home constructed during these years.

This balance suggests stable market dynamics. The average construction cost of new properties is approximately $633,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, there have been around $23.8 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating steady investment activity. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Palm Beach has shown 64.0% higher new home approvals per person, offering greater choice for buyers and reflecting robust developer interest in the area. Recent construction trends show 11.0% standalone homes and 89.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a shift towards compact living options that cater to downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This change represents a notable departure from the current housing mix of 41.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and evolving lifestyle preferences. Palm Beach has approximately 65 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an expanding market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Palm Beach is forecasted to gain around 5,360 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply appears adequate to meet demand, potentially creating favorable conditions for buyers and facilitating population growth that may exceed current forecasts.

Palm Beach has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 65 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include La Belle Palm Beach, Palm Beach Oceanway Extension, Sophia by Mosaic - Palm Beach, and Flourish Ovana Palm Beach. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Palm Beach demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Palm Beach has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%, lower than the Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

The area experienced an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year. As of September 2025, 10,576 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% below the regional average and workforce participation is higher at 65.6%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction stands out with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.4% compared to the regional 4.5%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparisons. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.8% and labour force grew by 2.7%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising to 4.1%. State-level data as of 25-Nov-2025 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Palm Beach's 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

The Palm Beach SA2 had a high national income level according to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for the financial year ending June 30, 2022. The median income among taxpayers was $51,221 and the average income stood at $72,295. For comparison, Rest of Qld's figures were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% from July 2022 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $58,387 (median) and $82,409 (average). Census data shows that household, family and personal incomes in Palm Beach are around the 55th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 31.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, consistent with the metropolitan region's trend of 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile. 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

In Palm Beach, as per the latest Census evaluation, 41.1% of dwellings were houses while 59.0% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 49.8% houses and 50.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Palm Beach stood at 29.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.0% and rented ones at 37.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,093, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Palm Beach was $445, slightly higher than Non-Metro Qld's figure of $450. Nationally, Palm Beach's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,093 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were 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 account for 63.2% of all households, consisting of 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%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 29.5%, which exceeds the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. It also surpasses the SA4 region's rate of 25.4%. This reflects the community's emphasis on higher education.

Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 21.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 12.8% and certificates at 25.9%. Educational participation is 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

Palm Beach has 46 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 11 different routes, together enabling 2,304 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is considered good, with residents on average located 216 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 329 trips per day, which equates to approximately 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Palm Beach is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Palm Beach shows above-average health outcomes for both younger and older age groups, with low prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 55% (~10,103 people) have private health cover, which is very high. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.5%) and mental health issues (7.3%). About 72.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 70.3% in the rest of Queensland. There are 17.5% (3,193 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 19.2% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.8% of its population being citizens, 81.3% born in Australia, and 93.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Palm Beach, accounting for 47.1% of its population. Judaism is overrepresented compared to regional figures, comprising 0.1% of Palm Beach's population versus 0.1% across Rest of Qld.

The top three ancestry groups are English (32.1%), Australian (25.4%), and Irish (9.9%). Notably, New Zealanders are also overrepresented at 1.0%, Scottish at 9.0%, and French at 0.6%.

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

The median age in Palm Beach is 38 years, which is slightly below Rest of Queensland's average of 41 but aligns with Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 18.8%, higher than Rest of Queensland, while the 5-14 cohort represents 9.8%. Post-2021 Census data indicates a decrease in median age from 39 to 38 years. The 25-34 age group grew from 16.1% to 18.8%, while the 45-54 cohort declined from 13.0% to 11.4% and the 55-64 group dropped from 12.3% to 10.8%. By 2041, Palm Beach's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 1,403 people (41%), reaching 4,835, while the 15-24 cohort will see minimal growth of just 6% (110 people).