Burleigh Heads

Population growth drivers in Burleigh Heads are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the suburb of Burleigh Heads' population is estimated at around 11,727 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,155 people (10.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,572 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 11,423, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 751 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,146 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 10.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%), along with the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 85.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. Considering the projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth of regional areas nationally is projected, with the suburb expected to grow by 1,412 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 9.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Burleigh Heads has seen approximately 143 dwelling approvals annually, with 717 homes approved between FY21-FY25 and 52 so far in FY26. The average new resident per year for new homes is one over the past five financial years. This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more buying options and potentially accelerating population growth beyond current projections.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $1,521,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with high-end properties. In FY26, commercial development approvals totalled $32.3 million, indicating strong local business investment. New developments consist of 25% detached houses and 75% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living that offers affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

Burleigh Heads has around 98 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts suggest an increase of 1,108 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current projections.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 49 projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones include Isabel by Mosaic, Morris Property Group's Burleigh Development, Flourish on Sixth Palm Beach, and Bondi Burleigh - Morris Property Group. 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.

Employment performance in Burleigh Heads exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Burleigh Heads has an educated workforce with high representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.3%, with estimated employment growth of 2.9% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025, 6721 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.7% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation stands at 69.2%, slightly above Regional Qld's 65.4%. According to Census responses, 18.7% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.3% of local workers.

There are 1.4 workers per resident, indicating Burleigh Heads serves as an employment hub attracting external workers. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 2.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). In comparison, Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7% and a rise in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest total employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Burleigh Heads' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

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

The suburb of Burleigh Heads has a median taxpayer income of $54,991 and an average income of $74,222 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national average, 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, current estimates would be approximately $60,441 (median) and $81,577 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 65th percentile ($889 weekly), while household income sits at the 47th percentile. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 31.4% of residents (3,682 people), aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 46th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Burleigh Heads features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Burleigh Heads' dwellings, as per the latest Census data, comprised 39.1% houses and 60.9% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This differs from Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burleigh Heads was higher at 35.1%, with mortgaged properties at 30.3% and rented ones at 34.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,058, above Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Burleigh Heads was $480, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Burleigh Heads' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,058 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.8% of all households, including 20.7% couples with children, 30.1% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.2%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 8.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

Burleigh Heads has higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 32.0% have university qualifications compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 38.0% of residents holding them – advanced diplomas at 13.9% and certificates at 24.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 6.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Burleigh Heads has 22 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 12 routes, providing a total of 2,240 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 348 meters to the nearest stop. In this mainly residential area, most commuters travel outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 88%, while 5% walk. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 18.7% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 320 trips daily, equating to about 101 weekly trips per stop.

Burleigh Heads'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 Burleigh Heads. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

Private health cover was found to be very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~6,638 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld. The most common medical conditions in the area were arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.9 and 7.5% of residents respectively. Seventy-point-seven percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. Nineteen-point-seven percent of residents were aged 65 and over (2,310 people). Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Burleigh Heads' cultural diversity was found to align with the wider region's average, with 82.3% of its population being citizens, 76.8% born in Australia, and 92.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in Burleigh Heads, comprising 48.1% of its population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.3% compared to 0.1% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.9%), Australian (24.3%), and Irish (10.6%). Some ethnic groups showed notable divergences: New Zealanders were overrepresented at 1.3% (vs regional 0.9%), French at 0.8% (vs 0.5%), and Spanish at 0.6% (vs 0.3%).

Burleigh Heads's median age exceeds the national pattern

Burleigh Heads has a median age of 40, close to Regional Qld's figure of 41 but slightly exceeding the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 21.0%, compared to Regional Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.3%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national figure of 14.4%. Following the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 1.6 years to 40. Specifically, the 25 to 34 age group grew from 17.0% to 21.0%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.8% to 11.6%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort declined from 12.6% to 10.0%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.5% to 10.6%. By 2041, Burleigh Heads is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 24%, adding 586 residents to reach 3,049. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 65-74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.