Burleigh Heads vs Burleigh Waters

In both, most households own their home. In Burleigh Heads, about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Burleigh Waters, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Burleigh Waters: a median of $1.84 million, against $1.68 million in Burleigh Heads. On these figures, Burleigh Heads tends to suit people living alone, while Burleigh Waters suits families with children and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Burleigh Waters

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (71% vs 39%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 43%)
  • But Burleigh Heads has more childcare (8 vs 5)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Burleigh Waters

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($900,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Burleigh Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 21%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Burleigh Waters

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 43/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Burleigh Waters

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 5)
  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 43/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 83/100)
  • But Burleigh Heads has more units and townhouses to downsize into (61% vs 29%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Burleigh Waters

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Burleigh Heads and Burleigh Waters drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Walkability 43 / 60
Burleigh Heads — Walkability: 43/100 Burleigh Waters — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 17 / 27
Burleigh Heads — Safety: 17/100 Burleigh Waters — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 76 / 85
Burleigh Heads — Low fire risk: 76/100 Burleigh Waters — Low fire risk: 85/100

Demographics

Burleigh Waters has more residents (14,556 vs 10,572).

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Population 10,572 14,556
+38% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +1.7%
Median age 42
same for both
Median household income $88,452/yr $90,220/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $480/wk $500/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
0-4 4.5% / 5.4%
Burleigh Heads — 0-4: 4.5% Burleigh Waters — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 8.6% / 13.4%
Burleigh Heads — 5-14: 8.6% Burleigh Waters — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 3.9% / 5.4%
Burleigh Heads — 15-19: 3.9% Burleigh Waters — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.9% / 4.8%
Burleigh Heads — 20-24: 5.9% Burleigh Waters — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 17.0% / 10.8%
Burleigh Heads — 25-34: 17.0% Burleigh Waters — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 13.3% / 14.0%
Burleigh Heads — 35-44: 13.3% Burleigh Waters — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 12.5% / 14.3%
Burleigh Heads — 45-54: 12.5% Burleigh Waters — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 12.4% / 11.0%
Burleigh Heads — 55-64: 12.4% Burleigh Waters — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 12.6% / 10.4%
Burleigh Heads — 65-74: 12.6% Burleigh Waters — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 6.5% / 7.3%
Burleigh Heads — 75-84: 6.5% Burleigh Waters — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 2.7% / 3.2%
Burleigh Heads — 85+: 2.7% Burleigh Waters — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads 29.6% couple families
Burleigh Heads — Couple Families: 29.6% Burleigh Heads — Lone Person: 43.9% Burleigh Heads — One Parent Families: 13.3% Burleigh Heads — Group Household: 11.9% Burleigh Heads — Other Families: 1.3%
Burleigh Waters 45.9% couple families
Burleigh Waters — Couple Families: 45.9% Burleigh Waters — Lone Person: 30.1% Burleigh Waters — One Parent Families: 16.5% Burleigh Waters — Group Household: 6.0% Burleigh Waters — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads 34.7% renting
Burleigh Heads — Owned Outright: 34.9% Burleigh Heads — Mortgage: 30.4% Burleigh Heads — Renting: 34.7%
Burleigh Waters 20.7% renting
Burleigh Waters — Owned Outright: 39.5% Burleigh Waters — Mortgage: 39.9% Burleigh Waters — Renting: 20.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Certificate III & IV 14.9% / 15.5%
Burleigh Heads — Certificate III & IV: 14.9% Burleigh Waters — Certificate III & IV: 15.5%
Bachelor Degree 16.0% / 13.2%
Burleigh Heads — Bachelor Degree: 16.0% Burleigh Waters — Bachelor Degree: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 9.1%
Burleigh Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Burleigh Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 3.3%
Burleigh Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Burleigh Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.8%
Burleigh Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Burleigh Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
New Zealand 5.1% / 5.9%
Burleigh Heads — New Zealand: 5.1% Burleigh Waters — New Zealand: 5.9%
England 4.2% / 5.0%
Burleigh Heads — England: 4.2% Burleigh Waters — England: 5.0%
Brazil 1.6% / 1.0%
Burleigh Heads — Brazil: 1.6% Burleigh Waters — Brazil: 1.0%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.0%
Burleigh Heads — South Africa: 0.9% Burleigh Waters — South Africa: 1.0%
Japan — / 0.7%
Burleigh Heads — Japan: not among its largest Burleigh Waters — Japan: 0.7%
Canada 0.5% / —
Burleigh Heads — Canada: 0.5% Burleigh Waters — Canada: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads 39.0% houses
Burleigh Heads — Houses: 39.0% Burleigh Heads — Flats / Apartments: 47.2% Burleigh Heads — Townhouses: 13.8%
Burleigh Waters 71.1% houses
Burleigh Waters — Houses: 71.1% Burleigh Waters — Flats / Apartments: 2.7% Burleigh Waters — Townhouses: 26.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Median house price $1,677,500 $1,840,000
Median unit price $1,200,000 $900,000
Median land price $1,417,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 108 sales
 29 days
from 202 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
2 bed $1.15M / $845K
Burleigh Heads — 2 bed: $1.15M (155 sales) Burleigh Waters — 2 bed: $845K (30 sales)

155 vs 30 sales

3 bed $2.1M / $1.06M
Burleigh Heads — 3 bed: $2.1M (49 sales) Burleigh Waters — 3 bed: $1.06M (13 sales)

49 vs 13 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
2 bed $1.25M / $1.04M
Burleigh Heads — 2 bed: $1.25M (13 sales) Burleigh Waters — 2 bed: $1.04M (20 sales)

13 vs 20 sales

3 bed $1.7M / $1.48M
Burleigh Heads — 3 bed: $1.7M (54 sales) Burleigh Waters — 3 bed: $1.48M (126 sales)

54 vs 126 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $2M
Burleigh Heads — 4 bed: $1.6M (67 sales) Burleigh Waters — 4 bed: $2M (155 sales)

67 vs 155 sales

5 bed $2.09M / $2.27M
Burleigh Heads — 5 bed: $2.09M (21 sales) Burleigh Waters — 5 bed: $2.27M (32 sales)

21 vs 32 sales

Development activity

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Houses 4.2%
$1,372/wk on $1.7M
 3.9%
$1,200/wk on $1.58M
Units 4.1%
$1,075/wk on $1.35M
 5.1%
$860/wk on $879K

Ranking within QLD

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 63% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 96% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 51% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 36% of QLD Higher than 74% of QLD

Liveability

Burleigh Waters is more walkable (60 vs 43); Burleigh Waters scores higher overall (64 vs 48).

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Grade C B
Score 48/100 64/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Burleigh Heads carries more crime risk (83 vs 73).

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Bushfire Low
24/100
 Low
15/100
Crime High
83/100
 High
73/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 5.4 km
 1
Gold Coast campus, 4.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.6%

Schools in Burleigh Heads

  • Burleigh Heads State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Burleigh Waters

  • Caningeraba State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Marymount College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Marymount Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Supermarkets 1 6
Cafes & restaurants 55 22
Parks & reserves 24 17
Childcare 8 5
GPs 5 7
Pharmacies 2 5
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 37 11

Mobility

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Walkability score 43/100 60/100
Distance to Brisbane 87.8 km 89.3 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 68 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 153.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 94.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4220
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 4220
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Car (driver) 70.1% / 73.0%
Burleigh Heads — Car (driver): 70.1% Burleigh Waters — Car (driver): 73.0%
Worked from Home 19.4% / 17.6%
Burleigh Heads — Worked from Home: 19.4% Burleigh Waters — Worked from Home: 17.6%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 4.1%
Burleigh Heads — Car (passenger): 3.2% Burleigh Waters — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 4.0% / 2.1%
Burleigh Heads — Walked Only: 4.0% Burleigh Waters — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bicycle 1.4% / 1.5%
Burleigh Heads — Bicycle: 1.4% Burleigh Waters — Bicycle: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.0%).

Setting

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 1.9 km
1.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Connectivity score 71/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
9,499 premises
 12%
6,513 premises

Climate

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Annual rainfall 1,637 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Division McPherson
same for both
Member Leon Rebello
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Burleigh Heads

Apartments Coastal Premium Regional Centre

Burleigh Waters

Coastal Parks Premium Regional Centre River Townhouses

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Full data on Burleigh Heads Full data on Burleigh Waters
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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