Buddina

Population growth drivers in Buddina are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of May 2026, Buddina's estimated population is around 4,506. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,236 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,490 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 274 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,310 persons per square kilometer. Buddina's growth rate of 6.4% since census positions it within 2.8 percentage points of the Rest of Qld (9.2%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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. Future population trends project an above median growth for national non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to expand by 852 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 18.6% over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Buddina had approximately 48 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25. This totals an estimated 243 homes. As of FY26, there have been 13 approvals recorded. The average population growth per dwelling built in this period was 0.6 people per year.

New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $1,097,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY26, there have been $4.0 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting Buddina's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of Qld, Buddina records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 79th percentile nationally, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New building activity comprises 27.0% detached dwellings and 73.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles.

With around 141 people per dwelling approval, Buddina exhibits growth area characteristics. Future projections estimate an addition of 836 residents by 2041, with current development patterns suggesting new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified seven projects potentially impacting this region. Key projects include The Point Buddina, Lowanna Beach Resort, Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project, and The Beachfront Buddina.

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The labour market in Buddina shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Buddina has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.4%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data as of December 2025. There are 2,390 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% lower than Regional Qld's 4.0%.

Workforce participation matches Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses indicate 17.2% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. Buddina specializes in construction with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.7% compared to Regional Qld's 4.5%.

The worker-to-resident ratio of 0.6 indicates ample local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Buddina's labour force decreased by 2.8%, with employment down by 3.0%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.7% and labour force by 1.0%, with 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, varying between sectors. Applying these projections to Buddina's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data, released for the financial year 2023, indicates that Buddina's median income among taxpayers is $55,037. The average income in this suburb is $79,166. Nationally, these figures are well above average. In comparison, Regional Queensland has a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Buddina's median income would be approximately $61,289 by March 2026, with the average estimated at around $88,159 during this period. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Buddina cluster around the 54th percentile nationally. Income distribution data reveals that the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band captures 29.8% of the community (1,342 individuals), which is similar to the broader area where this cohort represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Buddina, with only 83.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 48th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Buddina's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 68.7% houses and 31.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Buddina was at 38.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.6% and rented ones at 32.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Buddina was recorded at $440, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Buddina's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Buddina features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.3% of all households, including 28.2% couples with children, 28.5% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.7%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households comprising 6.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Regional Queensland average.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 29.6% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and the SA3 area rate of 23.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.5% and certificates for 26.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.8% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Buddina has two operational public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are served by seven different routes, offering 1376 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents located an average of 763 meters from the nearest stop. Buddina is primarily residential, and most commuters travel outward using cars as the dominant mode at 91%, while 2% cycle. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 17.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 196 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 688 weekly trips per individual stop.

Buddina's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance across Buddina. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low for both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (2639 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld. The most common medical conditions were arthritis, impacting 8.6% of residents, and mental health issues, affecting 7.0%. A total of 71.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.8% of residents aged 65 and over (982 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors were above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Buddina ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Buddina's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.0% of its population being citizens, 80.9% born in Australia, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Buddina, comprising 45.9% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Buddina compared to Regional Qld, with 0.1% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (32.7%), Australian (25.8%), and Scottish (9.8%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: New Zealanders are overrepresented at 1.1% in Buddina compared to the regional average of 0.9%, South Australians at 0.7% versus 0.5%, and Welsh at 0.6% versus 0.5%.

Buddina hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Buddina's median age is 43 years, higher than Regional Queensland's average of 41 and significantly exceeding the national average of 38. The proportion of residents aged 85 and above is strong at 3.1%, compared to Regional Queensland. However, the 5-14 age group is less prevalent in Buddina at 10.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35-44 age group grew from 12.6% to 13.6% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 11.8% to 10.4%, and the 55-64 age group dropped from 13.5% to 12.4%. By 2041, Buddina's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 25-34 cohort is expected to grow by 39%, adding 227 residents to reach a total of 813. In contrast, the number of residents aged 15-24 is expected to fall by 27%.