Burleigh Waters
by the numbers
The Census gives us a closer look at who lives in Burleigh Waters, the homes here and how the population has changed. These are the figures, with the dates and comparisons that help make sense of them.
Explore the figures- Residents
- 14,413
- Median age
- 42 years
- People per household
- 2.6
- Separate houses
- 71%
2021 Census · Burleigh Waters SA2. Housing share is of occupied private dwellings, excluding visitor-only and unclassifiable households.
Population over time
Burleigh Waters had 544 more residents in 2021 than in 2011, a population increase of 3.9% over the decade.
The three Census counts below have been matched to the same 2021 boundary, making the change over time easier to compare. Our guide to living in Burleigh Waters puts those numbers alongside the streets, shops and places you’ll use day to day.
For more recent annual estimates, see City of Gold Coast’s population profile by .id. Estimated resident population is a different measure from a Census count.
Columns start at zero · people
Source: ABS Time Series Profile, T01 · 2021 Census.
Who lives here
The median age was 42, four years above Queensland’s median of 38. The age breakdown below shows the spread from young children through to older residents.
Residents by age
Residents by age · number of people
Each bar uses the same scale: 0–2,500 people.
Source: ABS General Community Profile, G01 · 2021 Census.
Family types
Share of all families
These percentages describe families, rather than all households. “Children” includes both dependent children and adult children living in the family home.
Where people were born
Leading responses · share of all residents
- Australia
- 72.9%
- New Zealand
- 5.8%
- England
- 5.1%
- South Africa
- 1.0%
- Brazil
- 1.0%
Source: ABS QuickStats · 2021 Census.
Homes & households
Separate houses made up 71% of occupied homes. Townhouses and similar homes accounted for another 26.4%.
Comparing with Queensland.
| Type | Burleigh Waters | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Separate houses | 71.0% | 74.8% |
| Townhouses & similar | 26.4% | 11.7% |
| Flats & apartments | 2.6% | 12.5% |
| Type | Burleigh Waters | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Owned outright | 38.8% | 29.1% |
| Owned with a mortgage | 38.8% | 34.4% |
| Rented | 20.1% | 33.1% |
Shares of occupied private dwellings, excluding visitor-only and unclassifiable households. “Townhouses & similar” includes semi-detached, row and terrace houses. Tenure chart omits other tenure (0.9%) and not stated (1.5%); renting excludes rent-free homes. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding and ABS privacy adjustments.
Source: ABS QuickStats · 2021 Census.
73.7%Family households
21.9%People living alone
4.4%Group households
Household composition · same occupied-dwelling base as above. ABS QuickStats.
Income & working life
At the 2021 Census, the area’s median household income was close to the Australian figure, while its median rent and mortgage repayments were higher than Queensland’s.
The housing costs below are what households reported in 2021. They give historical context; for a move today, current rents, sale prices and your own costs will be more useful.
| Measure | Burleigh Waters | Queensland | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal income / week | $803 | $787 | $805 |
| Family income / week | $2,133 | $2,024 | $2,120 |
| Household income / week | $1,737 | $1,675 | $1,746 |
| Rent / week | $500 | $365 | $375 |
| Mortgage repayments / month | $2,021 | $1,733 | $1,863 |
Personal income covers people aged 15+. Income medians exclude the relevant people, families or households with income not stated; rent excludes rent-free homes. Mortgage repayments cover mortgaged homes. ABS QuickStats; General Community Profile G02.
The work people do
Five largest occupation groups · share of employed residents aged 15+
Source: ABS QuickStats · 2021 Census.
Getting to work
- Travelled by car
- 67.5%
- Worked at home
- 15.3%
- Used public transport
- 1.6%
Share of employed residents aged 15+, on Census day. Car includes driver or passenger; public transport includes any reported train, bus, ferry or tram leg. People could report several travel methods, so these aren’t exclusive categories. The 2021 Census took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: ABS QuickStats · 2021 Census.
Read the getting-around guideMicroburbs ratings
Microburbs gives Burleigh Waters high marks for family life, convenience and tranquillity.
The scores are out of ten and come from Microburbs’ suburb report, which takes a different approach from the Census.
The report doesn’t clearly date these scores or explain how they’re calculated. Treat them as Microburbs’ view of the suburb, separate from the official ABS figures.
See the Microburbs suburb reportWhat the figures tell you
These figures help describe the area. Their value for your own plans depends on the question you’re asking.
Planning a move
The housing mix helps explain why much of Burleigh Waters feels like a neighbourhood of houses and townhouses. Once you’re looking for a home, combine that background with current listings and the property checks in our moving guide.
The chart notes explain who is counted in each percentage. Some describe people, others families or households, so figures from different charts won’t necessarily add together.
Schools and daily trips
For a family move, the school directory and campus map takes you from the suburb-wide picture to individual schools, with enrolment counts and application information.
The commuting figures need particular care because the 2021 Census took place during the pandemic. Our transport guide covers today’s connections and how to plan the journeys you’ll make now.
When comparing another suburb report, look for the same year and area boundary as well as the same measure. The SA2 used here differs from the named suburb, and an annual population estimate measures something different from a Census count.
Where the numbers come from
We use the ABS Burleigh Waters Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), code 309011226, throughout this page. That keeps the charts consistent, although the boundary differs from the named suburb used in some other reports.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
2021 Census QuickStats supplies the comparisons, families, birthplace, housing, income and work figures. The Community Profiles supply the population time series (T01), age counts (G01) and cross-checks for medians (G02).
Population and age use where people usually live. Family and dwelling figures use where people were counted on Census night. Small privacy adjustments mean totals can differ slightly.
Download the ABS time-series spreadsheetMore ways to explore
Gold Coast community profile by .id publishes annual population estimates. The reference year and area boundary will help you see how an estimate relates to the Census figures here.
Microburbs supplies the four independent ratings above. Its area and methods may differ from the ABS statistical area.
Checked 25 October 2026. Found something we should update? Send us a correction.