Broadbeach

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the estimated population of Broadbeach as of Feb 2026 is around 8,741. This reflects an increase of 1,955 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,786. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 8,581 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 1,578 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 5,906 persons per square kilometer, placing Broadbeach in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 28.8% since the 2021 census exceeded Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.0% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Looking ahead, demographic trends predict exceptional growth for Broadbeach over the period to 2041, with an expected expansion of 6,441 persons, reflecting a total increase of 71.9% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Broadbeach among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Broadbeach recorded around 485 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 2,429 homes. So far in FY-26337 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 18 people per approval, indicating a developing area. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 was 0.5.

New construction has matched or outpaced demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average value of new homes being built is $2,362,000, showing developers' focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, there have been $44.9 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. When measured against the Rest of Qld, Broadbeach shows 417.0% higher construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. New development consists of 2.0% standalone homes and 98.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend toward denser development that provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

Population forecasts indicate Broadbeach will gain 6,281 residents through to 2041, with new housing supply expected to comfortably meet demand at current development rates, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects likely to impact this area. Notable ones include Victoria & Albert Broadbeach, Broadbeach Cultural Precinct, Amaya Broadbeach, and Sea Glass. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Broadbeach ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Broadbeach has an educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.3% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 3.1%. As of December 2025, 4790 residents were employed, below Regional Qld's participation rate (61.9% vs 65.4%), but with a lower unemployment rate (0.7% vs 4.0%).

18.9% worked from home according to Census responses. Key industries include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade, with strong specialization in the latter (1.7 times regional level). Agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 0.5%. There was one worker per resident as of the Census.

Employment levels increased by 3.1% and labour force by 2.8% during the year to December 2025, reducing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Regional Qld saw employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Broadbeach's employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Broadbeach's median income among taxpayers is $51,069 and the average is $123,194. Nationally, this is exceptionally high. In comparison, Regional Qld has a median of $53,146 and an average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Broadbeach's median income would be approximately $56,130 and the average around $135,403 as of September 2025. Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 62nd percentile with a weekly amount of $871, while household income is at the 30th percentile. The largest segment of income distribution comprises 31.8% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 2,779 residents in this range. This pattern mirrors regional levels where 31.7% fall within the same income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Broadbeach, with only 80.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 25th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Broadbeach, as per the latest Census data, 0.3% of dwellings were houses while 99.8% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Regional Queensland's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Broadbeach stood at 30.7%, with mortgaged properties at 18.0% and rented ones at 51.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, lower than Regional Queensland's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Broadbeach was $420, higher than the national average of $375 but lower than Regional Queensland's figure of $345. Nationally, Broadbeach's mortgage repayments were significantly below the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households constitute 51.2% of all households, including 8.7% couples with children, 33.9% couples without children, and 7.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 48.8%, with lone person households at 40.3% and group households comprising 8.5%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment in Broadbeach is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2016 Census data, 34.4% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the South Australian region four (SA4) area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.9%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.4% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 14.3% and certificates at 21.1%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the Census date. This includes 8.3% in tertiary education, 5.2% in primary education, and 3.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Broadbeach has 23 active public transport stops, consisting of both lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 18 different routes, facilitating a total of 5,365 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 164 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 73%, while 13% opt to walk. Vehicle ownership averages 0.6 per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 18.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 766 trips daily, translating to approximately 233 weekly trips per individual stop.

Broadbeach's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Broadbeach. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be exceptionally high at approximately 76% of the total population (6,644 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.2 and 6.6% of residents respectively. A total of 69.7% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The under-65 population demonstrated better than average health outcomes. As of the latest data (2021), the area has 22.9% of residents aged 65 and over (2,001 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Broadbeach 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

Broadbeach's population, as of the 2016 Census, showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 19.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 37.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 48.7%. Notably, Judaism comprised 0.6%, significantly higher than Regional Qld's 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.2%), Australian (19.4%), and Other (10.5%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Hungarian at 0.5% (vs regional 0.2%), Spanish at 0.8% (vs 0.3%), and Russian at 0.6% (vs 0.2%).

Broadbeach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Broadbeach'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 25-34 are particularly prevalent at 24.4%, while those aged 5-14 are relatively smaller at 4.2% compared to Regional Queensland. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and the present, Broadbeach has experienced a decrease in median age from 46 to 44 years, with a notable increase in the 25-34 age group from 19.9% to 24.4% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 age cohort has decreased from 16.2% to 14.0%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 10.9% to 9.4%. Population forecasts for Broadbeach indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041, with the strongest projected growth occurring in the 25-34 age cohort, which is expected to grow by 79%, adding 1,695 residents to reach a total of 3,828.