Burleigh Heads vs Palm Beach

Palm Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Burleigh Heads. In both, most households own their home. In Burleigh Heads, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Palm Beach: a median of $1.91 million, against $1.68 million in Burleigh Heads, though rent is higher in Burleigh Heads.

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

Palm Beach

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 24)
  • carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 83/100)
  • But Burleigh Heads has more childcare (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Burleigh Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,677,500 vs $1,910,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Burleigh Heads sits closer to the CBD (87.8 km vs 93 km)
  • Palm Beach is more walkable (61/100 vs 43/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Palm Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 43/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Burleigh Heads returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.6%)
  • Palm Beach is growing faster (11.6% vs 4.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach
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 Palm Beach
Walkability 43 / 61
Burleigh Heads — Walkability: 43/100 Palm Beach — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 17 / 31
Burleigh Heads — Safety: 17/100 Palm Beach — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 76 / 100
Burleigh Heads — Low fire risk: 76/100 Palm Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Palm Beach has more residents (16,349 vs 10,572); Burleigh Heads skews older (42 vs 39).

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Population 10,572 16,349
+55% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +11.6%
Median age 42 39
Median household income $88,452/yr $89,492/yr
+1% vs other
Median weekly rent $480/wk
+7% vs other
 $445/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
0-4 4.5% / 5.0%
Burleigh Heads — 0-4: 4.5% Palm Beach — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 8.6% / 11.0%
Burleigh Heads — 5-14: 8.6% Palm Beach — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 3.9% / 4.9%
Burleigh Heads — 15-19: 3.9% Palm Beach — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 5.9% / 5.5%
Burleigh Heads — 20-24: 5.9% Palm Beach — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 17.0% / 16.1%
Burleigh Heads — 25-34: 17.0% Palm Beach — 25-34: 16.1%
35-44 13.3% / 14.4%
Burleigh Heads — 35-44: 13.3% Palm Beach — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 12.5% / 13.0%
Burleigh Heads — 45-54: 12.5% Palm Beach — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 12.4% / 12.3%
Burleigh Heads — 55-64: 12.4% Palm Beach — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 12.6% / 10.4%
Burleigh Heads — 65-74: 12.6% Palm Beach — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 6.5% / 5.3%
Burleigh Heads — 75-84: 6.5% Palm Beach — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.7% / 2.0%
Burleigh Heads — 85+: 2.7% Palm Beach — 85+: 2.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads 43.9% lone person
Burleigh Heads — Lone Person: 43.9% Burleigh Heads — Couple Families: 29.6% Burleigh Heads — One Parent Families: 13.3% Burleigh Heads — Group Household: 11.9% Burleigh Heads — Other Families: 1.3%
Palm Beach 40.7% lone person
Palm Beach — Lone Person: 40.7% Palm Beach — Couple Families: 33.9% Palm Beach — One Parent Families: 14.4% Palm Beach — Group Household: 9.6% Palm Beach — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Palm Beach 37.9% renting
Palm Beach — Owned Outright: 29.2% Palm Beach — Mortgage: 32.9% Palm Beach — Renting: 37.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Palm Beach
New Zealand 5.1% / 4.3%
Burleigh Heads — New Zealand: 5.1% Palm Beach — New Zealand: 4.3%
England 4.2% / 3.8%
Burleigh Heads — England: 4.2% Palm Beach — England: 3.8%
Brazil 1.6% / 1.3%
Burleigh Heads — Brazil: 1.6% Palm Beach — Brazil: 1.3%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.8%
Burleigh Heads — South Africa: 0.9% Palm Beach — South Africa: 0.8%
Canada 0.5% / 0.4%
Burleigh Heads — Canada: 0.5% Palm Beach — Canada: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

Qualifications

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

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Bachelor Degree 16.0% / 15.6%
Burleigh Heads — Bachelor Degree: 16.0% Palm Beach — Bachelor Degree: 15.6%
Certificate III & IV 14.9% / 16.4%
Burleigh Heads — Certificate III & IV: 14.9% Palm Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 9.4%
Burleigh Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Palm Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 3.9%
Burleigh Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Palm Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.1%
Burleigh Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Palm Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burleigh Heads 47.2% flats / apartments
Burleigh Heads — Flats / Apartments: 47.2% Burleigh Heads — Houses: 39.0% Burleigh Heads — Townhouses: 13.8%
Palm Beach 39.3% flats / apartments
Palm Beach — Flats / Apartments: 39.3% Palm Beach — Houses: 40.9% Palm Beach — Townhouses: 19.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Median house price $1,677,500 $1,910,000
Median unit price $1,200,000 $1,180,000
Median land price $1,417,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 108 sales
 26 days
from 134 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 Palm Beach
1 bed $750K / $770K
Burleigh Heads — 1 bed: $750K (25 sales) Palm Beach — 1 bed: $770K (20 sales)

25 vs 20 sales

2 bed $1.15M / $1.06M
Burleigh Heads — 2 bed: $1.15M (155 sales) Palm Beach — 2 bed: $1.06M (268 sales)

155 vs 268 sales

3 bed $2.1M / $1.72M
Burleigh Heads — 3 bed: $2.1M (49 sales) Palm Beach — 3 bed: $1.72M (75 sales)

49 vs 75 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 Palm Beach
2 bed $1.25M / $1.26M
Burleigh Heads — 2 bed: $1.25M (13 sales) Palm Beach — 2 bed: $1.26M (23 sales)

13 vs 23 sales

3 bed $1.7M / $1.75M
Burleigh Heads — 3 bed: $1.7M (54 sales) Palm Beach — 3 bed: $1.75M (104 sales)

54 vs 104 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $2.25M
Burleigh Heads — 4 bed: $1.6M (67 sales) Palm Beach — 4 bed: $2.25M (93 sales)

67 vs 93 sales

5 bed $2.09M / $2.95M
Burleigh Heads — 5 bed: $2.09M (21 sales) Palm Beach — 5 bed: $2.95M (30 sales)

21 vs 30 sales

6 bed $2.8M / $3.73M
Burleigh Heads — 6 bed: $2.8M (5 sales) Palm Beach — 6 bed: $3.73M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
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 Palm Beach
Houses 4.2%
$1,372/wk on $1.7M
 3.6%
$1,325/wk on $1.9M
Units 4.1%
$1,075/wk on $1.35M
 4.0%
$895/wk on $1.16M

Ranking within QLD

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 63% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 32% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 36% of QLD Higher than 32% of QLD

Liveability

Palm Beach is more walkable (61 vs 43); Palm Beach scores higher overall (64 vs 48).

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
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 bushfire risk (24 vs 0); Burleigh Heads carries more crime risk (83 vs 69).

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Bushfire Low
24/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
83/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
15/100
 High
71/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 5.4 km
 2
Gold Coast Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 6.6 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 Palm Beach

  • Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Palm Beach State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 55 39
Parks & reserves 24 33
Childcare 8 4
GPs 5 6
Pharmacies 2 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 3 2
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 37 13

Mobility

Palm Beach sits further from the CBD (93 km vs 87.8 km).

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Walkability score 43/100 61/100
Distance to Brisbane 87.8 km 93 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 69 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 153.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 307.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4220
 1.2%
postcode 4221
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 4220
 51
postcode 4221

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 Palm Beach
Car (driver) 70.1% / 73.3%
Burleigh Heads — Car (driver): 70.1% Palm Beach — Car (driver): 73.3%
Worked from Home 19.4% / 17.6%
Burleigh Heads — Worked from Home: 19.4% Palm Beach — Worked from Home: 17.6%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.4%
Burleigh Heads — Car (passenger): 3.2% Palm Beach — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 4.0% / 2.1%
Burleigh Heads — Walked Only: 4.0% Palm Beach — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bicycle 1.4% / 1.4%
Burleigh Heads — Bicycle: 1.4% Palm Beach — Bicycle: 1.4%
Bus 1.3% / 1.5%
Burleigh Heads — Bus: 1.3% Palm Beach — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.3%).

Setting

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 760 m
766 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
Connectivity score 71/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
9,499 premises
 12%
9,048 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Burleigh Heads Palm Beach
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 Palm Beach
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

Palm Beach

Apartments Beach Coastal Parks Premium Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads vs Varsity Lakes Burleigh Heads vs Burleigh Waters Burleigh Heads vs Elanora Burleigh Heads vs Miami Burleigh Heads vs Reedy Creek Burleigh Heads vs Tallebudgera

Other comparisons with Palm Beach

Palm Beach vs Elanora Palm Beach vs Currumbin Waters Palm Beach vs Tallebudgera Palm Beach vs Currumbin
Full data on Burleigh Heads Full data on Palm Beach
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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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