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 10,728 as of May 2026, reflecting an increase of 839 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,889. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 215 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 1,637 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Benowa has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, outpacing the Rest of Qld. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing 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.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied for each age cohort when utilized. Future population trends project an above median growth of national non-metropolitan areas, with Benowa expected to grow by 2,137 persons to 2041 reflecting a total increase of 19.9% over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Benowa has recorded approximately 58 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25, around 294 homes have been approved, with an additional 7 approved so far in FY26. On average, 3.2 people per year move to the area for each dwelling built during this period.

This substantial lag of supply behind demand typically results in heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost value of $626,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, commercial development approvals have reached $53.3 million, suggesting robust local business investment. Comparatively, Benowa shows significantly reduced construction activity when measured against the rest of Queensland, with 71.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. The current development mix consists of 20.0% standalone homes and 80.0% medium to high-density housing.

This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a significant change from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (61.0%). Benowa reflects a highly mature market with around 659 people per dwelling approval. Future projections indicate that Benowa is expected to add approximately 2,137 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population continues to grow.

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

AreaSearch has identified a total of 16 projects that are likely to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance through changes in local infrastructure. Key projects include Benowa Gardens Redevelopment, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Biodiversity Centre, Pacific Motorway (M1) Upgrades, and Pindara Private Hospital Stage 3 Expansion. The following list details those projects expected to be 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 is 2.3%, with estimated employment growth of 2.6% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025, 5,617 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is equal to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, 19.4% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in professional & technical employment, with a share 1.9 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparison of working population to local population. In the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6% and labour force by 2.7%, with unemployment remaining unchanged (AreaSearch analysis). Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Benowa's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years (simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes).

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 above 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 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $50,168 (median) and $83,041 (average). 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 consists of 29.4% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (3,154 residents). High housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but strong earnings 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

Dwelling structure in Benowa, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 61.2% houses and 38.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Benowa was 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, exceeding Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Benowa was $580, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Benowa's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 constitute 78.5% of all households, consisting of 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% of the total. 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 higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 33.9% hold university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in Rest of Qld and 25.4% in SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 32.3% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.7%) and certificates (18.6%).

Educational participation is high, at 32.1%, with 10.8% enrolled 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 of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by six different routes that collectively facilitate 794 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 387 meters from the nearest transport stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound and cars remain the dominant mode of transportation 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 reflective of COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 113 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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 excellent results according to 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.

Private health cover is found to be very high, at approximately 57% of the total population (~6,088 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld. The most common 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% in Regional Qld. Working-age residents have notably low chronic condition prevalence. As of 2021, the area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 22.4% (2,403 people), compared to 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with 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's cultural diversity is notable, with 26.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 38.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Benowa, comprising 51.8% of its population. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Regional Qld, making up 0.5% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (27.2%), Australian (18.9%), and Other (11.3%). There's notable divergence in Korean representation at 2.0%, New Zealand at 1.4%, and Russian at 0.7% compared to regional averages of 0.2%, 0.9%, and 0.2% respectively.

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 and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile indicates that individuals aged 45-54 are particularly prominent, making up 14.1% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise a smaller proportion at 7.8%, compared to Regional Queensland. Between 2021 and the present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.9% to 13.4%, while the 75-84 cohort has risen from 7.1% to 8.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 14.2% to 12.7%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are projected for Benowa. The 75-84 age cohort is expected to grow by 39%, adding 351 residents to reach a total of 1,263. In contrast, the number of individuals in the 15-24 age range is forecasted to decrease by 29%.