Burleigh Heads (Qld)

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Following an examination of ABS demographic revisions for the broader region alongside recent street addresses confirmed by Districts post-Census, the headcount for the suburb of Burleigh Heads is calculated to be approximately 11,844 as of May 2026. This marks a rise of 1,272 individuals (12.0%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a total of 10,572 residents. This shift is deduced from a resident headcount of 11,664, determined by Districts after assessing the June 2025 ABS ERP publication, combined with an extra 776 validated new addresses registered since the Census date. Such a population size represents a density of 1,157 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical statistics recorded across zones analyzed by Districts. The 12.0% expansion rate in the suburb of Burleigh Heads since the 2021 census outpaced the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national benchmark, establishing it as a regional growth frontrunner. Upward population trends were mostly propelled by arrivals from overseas, who accounted for roughly 85.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

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Burleigh Heads has a highly educated population where essential service industries are prominently represented, an unemployment rate of just 3.0%, and an estimated employment growth of 4.0% over the past year, according to Districts aggregation of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 6,846 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.0% below Regional Qld's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (68.6% compared to Regional Qld's 64.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 18.7% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

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Taxpayer statistics for the suburb of Burleigh Heads show a median income of $54,991 and an average of $74,222, based on the most recent postcode-level ATO records compiled by Districts for financial year 2023. These figures exceed national benchmarks, contrasting with a median of $53,146 and an average of $66,593 in Regional Qld. Adjusting for a 11.36% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current projections suggest figures of approximately $61,238 for the median and $82,654 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census records place individual weekly income at the 65th percentile ($889 weekly), whereas household earnings sit at the 47th percentile. The dominant income bracket is the $1,500 - 2,999 range, containing 31.4% of residents ( people), which matches the wider region where this same bracket accounts for of the population. Financial pressure from housing is significant, leaving only of income after housing costs, ranking at the th percentile, while the SEIFA score for income places the area in the th decile.

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Residential structures in the suburb of Burleigh Heads at the time of the latest Census consisted of 39.1% separate houses and 60.9% alternative dwellings (such as semi-detached properties, units, or other types), compared to Regional Qld's breakdown of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. The proportion of residents owning their home outright was higher than the regional average, standing at 35.1%, with the remaining properties occupied under a mortgage (30.3%) or rented (34.6%). Local home loan repayments were notably higher than the Regional Qld median, sitting at $2,058 per month, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $480, compared to regional benchmarks of $1,655 and $345 respectively. On a national scale, mortgage commitments in the suburb of Burleigh Heads are much higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent costs are substantially above the national average of $375.

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Family units make up the majority of local households at 60.8%, consisting of 20.7% couples raising children, 30.1% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent households. The remaining 39.2% are non-family households, with single-person living arrangements representing 30.8% and shared households making up 8.4%. The average household size stands at 2.2 individuals, which is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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Local qualifications in the suburb of Burleigh Heads are notably high compared to regional baselines, with 32.0% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 20.6% in the Rest of Qld and 25.4% across the SA4 territory. This educational profile equips the locality well for knowledge-sector employment. Undergraduate degrees are the most common higher qualification at 22.3%, followed by postgraduate study (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational qualifications are also highly represented, with 38.0% of individuals aged 15+ possessing vocational training, consisting of advanced diplomas (13.9%) and certificates (24.1%).

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Public transport connectivity includes 22 active transit stops in the suburb of Burleigh Heads, offering a combination of rail and bus services. These locations are serviced by 12 distinct routes, which support a total of 2,240 passenger journeys each week. Local access to transport is good, with residents living an average of 348 meters from their nearest stop. Given the area's residential nature, the majority of workers travel outward for employment, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 88%, while 5% of residents walk to work. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.3 cars per dwelling, which sits below the regional average. Around 18.7% of local workers performed their duties from home, based on 2021 Census records, which may reflect pandemic-related working arrangements.

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Health indicators demonstrate favorable trends across the suburb of Burleigh Heads, according to Districts evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic disease incidence, showing minimal rates of widespread conditions across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is highly prevalent, held by roughly 57% of the population (~6,704 people), compared to a coverage rate of 52.5% across Regional Qld.

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Cultural diversity in the suburb of Burleigh Heads aligns closely with regional averages, with citizens accounting for 82.3% of the population, 76.8% of residents born locally in Australia, and 92.0% using only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 48.1% of residents. The most noticeable deviation from regional averages is in Judaism, which represents 0.3% of the local population compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

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The median age of residents in the suburb of Burleigh Heads is 41 years, matching the Regional Qld average of 41 while being slightly older than the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Regional Qld, the area features a larger proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (20.8%) but fewer children aged 5 - 14 (7.2%). The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is notably higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the median age has dropped by 1.4 years from 42 to 41, pointing to a trend toward a younger population. Key shifts include the 25 to 34 age bracket increasing its share from 17.0% to 20.8%. In contrast, the 65 to demographic decreased from to , and the to cohort fell from to . Demographic projections suggest the age distribution in the suburb of Burleigh Heads will change by . The to cohort is expected to grow by people (), rising from to while population decreases are expected for the to and to demographics.

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Burleigh Heads currently has an estimated 592 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 320 children aged 0-2 and 214 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 25% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 19% by 2041 (to approximately 706 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 694. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 9.5 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.