Southport - North
Statistical Area - sa2

Southport - North lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Southport - North's population is around 20,527 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,636 people (14.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,891 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,057 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 474 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,662 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Southport - North's growth rate exceeded that of the SA3 area (8.5%) and the non-metro area since the 2021 census, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering these projections, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, placing Southport - North in the top 10 percent of non-metropolitan areas nationally. The area is expected to increase by 10,489 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, with an increase of 48.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

Southport - North has recorded approximately 120 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totalling 600 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with one approval so far in FY-26. On average, 4.8 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these years, indicating demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically influences prices and competition among buyers. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $561,000.

This financial year has seen $155.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Southport - North records elevated construction levels, 38.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, balancing buyer choice and supporting property values, although development activity has moderated recently. New building activity comprises 11.0% standalone homes and 89.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 2513 people per approval, Southport - North demonstrates a mature, established area.

By 2041, the population is expected to grow by 10,019 residents. If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Southport - North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 53 projects potentially impacting this area. Notable ones include Southport Supportive Housing Project, Gold Coast University Hospital Sub-Acute Expansion, Marine Quarter Scenic Tower, and Southport-Nerang Street Revitalisation. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Southport - North has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Southport - North has an educated workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 6.2% as of a certain past year.

Employment growth in the area was estimated at 2.3%. As of June 2025, there were 10,988 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3%, higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was lower at 57.0% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

The area had a notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, with only 0.4% of Southport - North's workforce compared to 4.5% in Rest of Qld. There were 1.5 workers for every resident as per the Census, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, labour force increased by 2.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points in Southport - North. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lagged behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Southport - North's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, although these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Southport - North's median income among taxpayers was $44,862 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $56,668 during the same period. In comparison, Rest of Qld had a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. By March 2025, estimates suggest Southport - North's median income would be approximately $50,115 and the average income $63,304, based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Southport - North fall between the 13th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that 30.7% of the population (6,301 individuals) have incomes within the $800 - $1,499 range, while surrounding regions predominantly show incomes in the $1,500 - $2,999 range at 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 72.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

Southport - North features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Southport - North's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 13.5% houses and 86.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's 44.5% houses and 55.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Southport - North was at 16.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 13.2% and rented ones at 70.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,459, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,750. Median weekly rent in Southport - North was $400, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $420. Nationally, Southport - North's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,459 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $400 compared to the national figure of $375.

Southport - North features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 50.6% of all households, including 11.2% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 49.4%, with lone person households at 38.6% and group households at 10.9%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

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

Southport - North's residents aged 15+ have higher university qualification rates (30.9%) compared to Queensland's rest (20.6%) and the SA4 region (25.4%). Bachelor degrees are most common (21.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.8% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.6%) and certificates (21.2%). Educational participation is high at 34.7%, with 15.8% in tertiary education, 4.9% in secondary education, and 4.8% in primary education.

There are 12 schools serving 7,177 students; Southport - North has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1038) with balanced educational opportunities, including 3 primary, 6 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. The area functions as an education hub with 35.0 school places per 100 residents, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Southport-North has 77 active public transport stops. These are served by 18 different routes, offering a total of 3,676 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 154 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 525 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 47 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Southport - North is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Southport North faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across various age groups, but more so among older individuals. Approximately 48% (~9,852 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 10.2% and 7.5% of residents respectively. About 67.7% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 69.4% across the rest of Queensland. The area has 16.1% (3,304 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 17.1% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting challenges.

Southport - North is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Southport - North has a high level of cultural diversity, with 28.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 43.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Southport - North, making up 41.6% of the population. However, the most significant overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, which comprises 1.5% of the population compared to 1.0% across Rest of Qld.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (25.4%), Australian (18.8%), and Other (13.4%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Korean is overrepresented at 2.3% compared to the regional average of 1.6%, New Zealand at 1.3% versus 1.4%, and Maori at 1.5% against a regional average of 1.6%.

Southport - North's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Southport-North is 34 years, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Southport-North has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (25.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.9%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Southport-North's median age decreased from 35 to 34 years. During this period, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 21.4% to 25.7%, while the proportion of those aged 45-54 decreased from 10.7% to 9.4% and the proportion of those aged 5-14 dropped from 6.1% to 4.9%. By 2041, Southport-North's age composition is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 25-34 is expected to grow by 74%, reaching 9,198 from the current figure of 5,279.