Benowa

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

Benowa's population is estimated at around 10,684 as of Feb 2026, reflecting an increase of 795 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,889. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 10,660 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density stands at 1,631 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Benowa has shown a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%, outperforming the Rest of Qld. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data for areas not covered by this data or years post-2032.

These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings are applied in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends project an above median growth of national non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to grow by 2,289 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 21.2% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Benowa when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Benowa has recorded around 58 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 294 homes were approved, with an additional three approved in FY-26 so far. This results in an average of 3.2 people moving to the area per dwelling built over these years.

Supply is substantially lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $626,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $53.3 million, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Benowa shows substantially reduced construction activity, with 72.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. New development consists of 20.0% standalone homes and 80.0% medium and high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Benowa has a highly mature market, with around 659 people per dwelling approval. Future projections show Benowa adding approximately 2,265 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Benowa has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Benowa Gardens Redevelopment, Pacific Motorway (M1) Upgrades, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Biodiversity Centre, and Pindara Private Hospital Stage 3 Expansion. 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 Benowa demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Benowa has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.6%. As of December 2025, 5,617 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7%, below Regional Qld's 4.0%.

Workforce participation is at 65.4%, equal to Regional Qld's rate. 19.4% of residents work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with a share 1.9 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.3% compared to Regional Qld's 4.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6%, labour force grew by 2.7%, with unemployment remaining stable. In contrast, Regional Qld had employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Benowa's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Benowa had a median taxpayer income of $45,050 and an average income of $74,570 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is higher than national averages, contrasting with Regional Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes would be approximately $49,514 (median) and $81,960 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, household income ranks at the 60th percentile ($1,918 weekly), while personal income sits at the 44th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 29.4% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (3,141 residents). High housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 60th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Benowa displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Benowa's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 61.2% houses and 38.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Benowa was at 40.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.1% and rented ones at 22.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Benowa was recorded at $580, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Benowa's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Benowa features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 78.5% of all households, including 37.4% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 21.5%, with lone person households at 18.5% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Benowa shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Benowa's residents aged 15+ have a higher university qualification rate of 33.9%, compared to the broader Queensland average of 20.6% and the SA4 region's 25.4%. This is due to a significant number holding bachelor degrees (22.9%), postgraduate qualifications (8.2%), and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 32.3% of residents having advanced diplomas (13.7%) or certificates (18.6%). Educational participation is high, with 32.1% currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.8% in secondary, 10.6% in primary, and 5.6% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.8% in secondary education, 10.6% in primary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Benowa has 17 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by six different routes, offering a total of 794 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents usually located 387 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Benowa's residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 93%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 113 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 46 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Benowa's health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Approximately 57% (~6,063 people) of Benowa's total population has private health cover, which is higher than the 52.5% figure for Regional Qld. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.4 and 5.9% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 74.5%, report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. Benowa has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.5% (2,297 people) than the 20.4% found in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, aligning closely with national rankings for the general population.

Benowa 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

Benowa has a notable cultural diversity, with 26.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 38.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Benowa, comprising 51.8% of the population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to regional Queensland, making up 0.5% of Benowa's population versus 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (27.2%), Australian (18.9%), and Other (11.3%). There are also notable divergences in certain ethnic groups: Korean is overrepresented at 2.0%, New Zealand at 1.4%, and Russian at 0.7%.

Benowa hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Benowa's median age is 44 years, which is slightly higher than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 15-24 years make up a significant portion (13.9%) of the population, while those aged 25-34 years are relatively smaller at 8.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 24 has increased from 11.9% to 13.9%, while the percentage of those aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 14.2% to 12.6%. Additionally, the proportion of people aged 45 to 54 has dropped from 14.7% to 13.4%. By 2041, Benowa's population is forecasted to undergo substantial demographic changes. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow significantly by 40%, adding 358 residents to reach a total of 1,256. Conversely, the number of individuals aged 15 to 24 is expected to decrease by 7%.