Burleigh Heads, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Burleigh Heads QLD is 10,572 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Burleigh Heads is $889 per week ($46,228 per year). Median rent in Burleigh Heads is $480 per week ($2,080 per month). Burleigh Heads has a median age of 42 years, older than the national median of 38. Burleigh Heads has a population density of 1,033 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Burleigh Heads is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (43.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Portuguese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Burleigh Heads is $2,058.

Population
10,572
Census 2021
Median income
$889/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$480/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
42years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Burleigh Heads vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Burleigh Heads is $889 a week, 19% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 358th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $480 a week, $160 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 28.2% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 42, the same age as in the typical QLD suburb.

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBurleigh HeadsTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$889/wk$747/wk +19%$766/wk
Household income$1,701/wk$1,593/wk +7%$1,637/wk
Rent$480/wk$320/wk +50%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,058/mo$1,625/mo +27%$1,733/mo
Median age4242 0 yrs42
Rent share of household income28.2%20.4% +7.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Burleigh Heads, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Burleigh Heads Population

10,572 residents at the 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$889/wk
$46,228 per year
Ranked 2,257 of 14,663
Median Rent
$480/wk
$2,080 per month
Ranked 769 of 14,663
Median Age
42years
4 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,058/mo
Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Burleigh Heads Rent Prices & Affordability

28% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,701/wk
Median rent $480/wk
Rent to income 28.2%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Burleigh Heads against your income

About $7,371 a month
Median rent $480/wk
Left after rent $1,221/wk
Rent share 28.2%

Burleigh Heads Schools

10
schools nearby
4
government
1063
avg ICSEA score
9,438
total students
St Andrews Lutheran College Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,377 students
1104
ICSEA
Marymount Primary School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 1,020 students
1085
ICSEA
Marymount College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,262 students
1073
ICSEA
Varsity College Government
Combined · Prep-12 · 3,304 students
1065
ICSEA
Burleigh Heads State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 458 students
1048
ICSEA
Caningeraba State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 1,068 students
1042
ICSEA
Elanora State High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 949 students
1023
ICSEA
Arcadia College - Varsity Lakes Temporary Facility Independent
Secondary
Mastery Schools Australia - Varsity Lakes Campus Independent
Combined
Mastery Schools Australia - Varsity Lakes Secondary Temporary Facility Independent
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Burleigh Heads, with a map

Burleigh Heads Map

Burleigh Heads, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Burleigh Heads

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.3% (5,004) Female 52.7% (5,573)

Population Density

1,033
people per km²
10,572 people · 10.2 km²

Households

2.2
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,164
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

New Zealand
5.1%
England
4.2%
Brazil
1.6%
South Africa
0.9%
United States of America
0.9%
Canada
0.5%
Philippines
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Portuguese
1.7%
Spanish
0.8%
Italian
0.5%
German
0.4%
Mandarin
0.4%
Japanese
0.3%
French
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
41.1%
Australian
32.3%
Irish
14.0%
Scottish
11.6%
German
5.0%
Italian
3.8%
New Zealander
1.8%
Australian Aboriginal
1.7%
Dutch
1.5%
Chinese
1.3%
French
1.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
43.8%
Catholic
19.4%
Not stated
10.7%
Anglican
10.6%
Uniting Church
3.1%
Christian (other)
2.6%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.1%
Pentecostal
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
38.5% 3,543
Separated
3.4% 313
Divorced
12.5% 1,147
Widowed
5.7% 524
Never married
39.9% 3,668

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
38.1%
Couple: children under 15
35.9%
Couple: no children under 15
12.4%
One parent: children under 15
7.1%
One parent: no children under 15
6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.8%
2 persons
39.7%
3 persons
14.0%
4 persons
10.6%
5 persons
3.7%
6+ persons
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Burleigh Heads

Housing Tenure

Of the 4,246 occupied private dwellings in Burleigh Heads at the 2021 Census, 33.5% were rented, 33.8% owned outright and 29.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.5% 62 dwellings
Owned outright
33.8% 1,435 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
29.4% 1,250 dwellings
Rented
33.5% 1,424 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.7% 72 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
73.9%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
21.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
4.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
6.5%
2 bedrooms
41.4%
3 bedrooms
29.5%
4 bedrooms
17.5%
5 bedrooms
4.1%
6+ bedrooms
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.2%
$300-$449/mo
1.8%
$450-$599/mo
1.1%
$600-$799/mo
2.5%
$800-$999/mo
3.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
12.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
17.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
27.7%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
13.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
15.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.8%
1 vehicle
41.0%
2 vehicles
37.7%
3 vehicles
10.1%
4+ vehicles
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Burleigh Heads

Employment

Employed full-time
37.2% 2,886 people
Employed part-time
25.0% 1,940 people
Unemployed
3.3% 257 people
Not in labour force
34.5% 2,672 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
33.6%
Managers
16.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
14.3%
Community & Personal Service
13.0%
Clerical & Administrative
10.2%
Sales Workers
6.6%
Labourers
4.2%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.3%
$300-$399/wk
2.7%
$400-$499/wk
5.2%
$500-$649/wk
5.6%
$650-$799/wk
6.2%
$800-$999/wk
6.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.2%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.6%
$4,000+/wk
13.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.5%
$1-$149/wk
3.7%
$150-$299/wk
4.7%
$300-$399/wk
3.9%
$400-$499/wk
3.2%
$500-$649/wk
3.6%
$650-$799/wk
9.9%
$800-$999/wk
10.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
10.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.2%
$3,500+/wk
4.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
74.3%
Did not go to work
12.7%
Walked only
4.3%
Car (passenger)
3.4%
Bicycle
1.5%
Bus
1.1%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.9%
Truck
0.7%
Other
0.6%
Train
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.1%
Tram/Light Rail
0.1%
Ferry
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
68.7%
Year 10 or equivalent
21.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
3.2%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
32.9%
Certificate III/IV
30.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.5%
Postgraduate Degree
9.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.5%
Certificate I/II
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
23.8%
Health
15.4%
Society & Culture
12.5%
Engineering
10.8%
Education
9.6%
Architecture & Building
9.4%
Creative Arts
6.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.1%
Agriculture & Environment
1.7%
Information Technology
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
23.5%
Vocational Education
16.9%
Secondary: Government
14.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
13.2%
Pre-school
10.2%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
8.3%
Primary: Catholic
7.6%
Secondary: Catholic
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.5%
Has need for assistance
4.2%
Need for assistance not stated
9.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
814
Arthritis
341
Asthma
304
Heart disease
244
Lung condition
198
Cancer
180
Diabetes
176
Stroke
105
Kidney disease
85
Dementia
27

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
10.9% 898
Did not provide
89.1% 7,334

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.3% 1,184
Not a volunteer
85.7% 7,072

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.0% 3
Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 12
Previously served
2.8% 236
Never served
97.0% 8,031

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
41.1%
1 child
12.7%
2 children
27.9%
3 children
12.5%
4 children
4.7%
5+ children
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
34
1951: 1960
81
1961: 1970
191
1971: 1980
218
1981: 1990
270
1991: 2000
270
2001: 2010
441
2011: 2015
264
2016
73
2017
79
2018
78
2019
97
2020
60
2021
12

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

20.1%
moved in the last year
50.9%
moved in the last 5 years
4.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
61.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
7,595
Moved from QLD
1,046
Moved from NSW
254
Moved: same area (SA2)
239
Moved from VIC
141
Moved from overseas
119
Moved from WA
18
Moved from ACT
13
Moved from SA
12
Moved from TAS
7
Moved from NT
7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
25.7%
5: 14 hours
31.0%
15: 29 hours
12.0%
30+ hours
6.8%
Did not do domestic work
24.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.8%
Step family: no other children
11.4%
Blended family: no other children
2.2%
Intact family: other children present
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Burleigh Heads

The closest suburb to Burleigh Heads is Burleigh Waters, 1.7 km away.

Burleigh Waters
1.7 km away · income $803/wk · rent $500/wk
Varsity Lakes
2.6 km away · income $789/wk · rent $490/wk
Palm Beach (Qld)
3.5 km away · income $873/wk · rent $445/wk
Miami
3.5 km away · income $919/wk · rent $470/wk
Reedy Creek (Qld)
3.7 km away · income $865/wk · rent $450/wk
Elanora
4.7 km away · income $738/wk · rent $525/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Burleigh Heads

What is the population of Burleigh Heads QLD?

The population of Burleigh Heads QLD is 10,572 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,033 people per km². Burleigh Heads is ranked #584 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Burleigh Heads?

The median personal income in Burleigh Heads QLD is $889 per week, or $46,228 per year. The median household income is $1,701 per week. Family income is $2,164 per week. Burleigh Heads is ranked #2,257 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Burleigh Heads?

Median rent in Burleigh Heads QLD is $480 per week ($2,080 per month). Rent represents 28.2% of household income, which is considered moderate. Burleigh Heads ranks #769 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Burleigh Heads?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Burleigh Heads QLD is $2,058. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Burleigh Heads?

The median age in Burleigh Heads QLD is 42 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Burleigh Heads a good suburb to live in?

Burleigh Heads is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 10,572. The median income is $889/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (28.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30445. All dollar figures in AUD.