Buderim

Population growth drivers in Buderim are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Buderim's population is estimated at 33,533 as of Nov 2025, reflecting an increase of 6.7% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 31,430. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 33,256 following examination of ABS's ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 303 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio stands at 1,096 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Buderim has shown a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%, outpacing non-metro areas. Interstate migration contributed approximately 57% of overall population gains during recent periods. For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia's SA2 area projections 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 from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase of just below the median of regional areas nationally is expected, with Buderim's population projected to expand by 4,135 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 12.9% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Buderim averaged around 170 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 851 homes were approved, with another 31 so far in FY-26. Each year, an average of 2.8 new residents was gained per dwelling built over the past five financial years.

New homes are being constructed at an average value of $697,000, targeting the premium market. This fiscal year has seen $35.6 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Rest of Qld, Buderim exhibits comparable construction activity per person, suggesting market stability aligned with regional trends.

Recent construction comprises 72.0% detached houses and 28.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's suburban identity focused on family homes. The location has approximately 213 people per dwelling approval, indicating potential for growth. Future projections estimate Buderim will add 4,327 residents by 2041 based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand, presenting favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

AreaSearch has identified 43 projects that could impact the area significantly. Key projects include Unitywater Infrastructure Program from 2023 to 2027, Power Road Buderim Residential Development, Mooloolaba to University Active Transport Corridor, and Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre. The following list details those most likely to be 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 analysis reveals Buderim significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Buderim has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.9% as of September 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

There were 17,310 residents in work at this time, with an unemployment rate 2.2% lower than the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation was on par with the Rest of Qld's 59.1%. The leading employment industries among residents comprised health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Health care & social assistance showed particularly strong specialization, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence, with only 0.8% employment compared to the regional level of 4.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.7%, combined with employment decreasing by 2.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, broadly in line with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Buderim. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Buderim's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 indicates that Buderim's median income among taxpayers is $49,353, with an average of $69,348. This is slightly above the national average. The Rest of Qld has a median income 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 Buderim would be approximately $54,244 (median) and $76,220 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Buderim rank modestly, between the 48th and 49th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 30.9% of the community earns between $1,500 - 2,999 (10,361 individuals), similar to regional levels where 31.7% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Buderim, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Buderim is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Buderim, as per the latest Census evaluation, 73.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 26.7% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This is comparable to Non-Metro Queensland's figures of 74.1% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Buderim stood at 40.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.3% and rented ones at 22.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with the Non-Metro Queensland average, while the median weekly rent was $450, compared to Non-Metro Queensland's $2,000 and $465 respectively. Nationally, Buderim's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000, compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Buderim has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.0% of all households, including 29.9% couples with children, 32.8% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.0%, with lone person households at 23.9% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Buderim places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

In Buderim, residents aged 15 and above have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 31.2% of residents hold university qualifications compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 24.9% in the SA4 region. This is significant as it positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.5% of residents holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (23.7%). Educational participation is notably high in Buderim, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Buderim shows that there are 77 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 6 individual routes providing service. Collectively, these routes offer 705 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located 347 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 100 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Buderim is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Buderim faces significant health challenges with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 55% of the total population (~18,335 people). The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.8 and 7.3% of residents respectively. A total of 67.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.0% across Rest of Qld. As of 24th June 2016, 24.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (8,282 people), which is higher than the 20.2% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors in Buderim are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Buderim records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Buderim's population, surveyed in June 2016, showed cultural diversity similar to the wider region: 75.2% were born in Australia, 87.6% were citizens, and 93.7% spoke English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion (50.7%). Notably, Judaism was slightly overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 0.2% regionally.

Ancestry-wise, English (33.4%), Australian (23.9%), and Irish (9.5%) were the top groups. Some ethnic groups had notable representation: Scottish (9.5%), New Zealand (1.1%), and South African (0.9%).

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

Buderim's median age is 46 years, which is significantly higher than Rest of Qld's 41 years and also above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Buderim has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (8.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (9.9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 10.7% to 11.6% of Buderim's population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.9% to 13.0%. By 2041, significant shifts in Buderim's age composition are expected. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 81%, reaching 2,490 people from the current 1,374. Conversely, the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.