Burnett Heads
With 49.1% of residents owning their home outright, Burnett Heads carries one of the highest debt-free ownership rates you will find in coastal Queensland. The median age of 55 sits 15 years above the national figure, and just 40.9% of residents participate in the labour force, because a large retired cohort has settled here deliberately. Weekly household income of $1,053 places this suburb in the 15th income percentile nationally, yet housing stress is absent because the median house price of $364,000 is among the most affordable coastal markets in the state. The combination of low purchase price, low debt, and low density makes Burnett Heads a distinctive retirement-oriented coastal enclave.
Population
2,908
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,053/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$364K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $364,000 is well below the national median for coastal markets, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 94.1% of dwellings, so buyers have genuine choice across detached stock rather than competing for a narrow apartment tier. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.1% of dwellings, and four-plus bedroom homes reach 27.1%, providing good family sizing despite the older resident profile. The 49.1% outright ownership rate signals that most transactions involve long-held properties rather than forced sales, which tends to support price stability. Renters account for just 23.3% of households, lower than the state average, reinforcing owner-occupier dominance.
For Buyers
The median house price of $364,000 is well below the national median for coastal markets, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 94.1% of dwellings, so buyers have genuine choice across detached stock rather than competing for a narrow apartment tier. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.1% of dwellings, and four-plus bedroom homes reach 27.1%, providing good family sizing despite the older resident profile. The 49.1% outright ownership rate signals that most transactions involve long-held properties rather than forced sales, which tends to support price stability. Renters account for just 23.3% of households, lower than the state average, reinforcing owner-occupier dominance.
For Investors
A weekly rent of $290 against a $364,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, reasonable for a coastal market. However, the 10.4% vacancy rate is elevated and reflects the retirement character of the suburb, where demand is seasonal and the renter pool is thin at only 23.3% of households. Development activity has been modest at 12 applications over 12 months, signalling limited new supply pressure. Population is forecast to grow at 1.99% annually, adding around 431 residents per year, supported by net internal migration of 518 per year as the primary driver. Rent grew 20.8% over the measured period while real incomes rose 13.2%, meaning rental affordability has tightened modestly, which supports further rent growth. The high vacancy rate is the main risk for investors targeting short vacancy periods.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Burnett Heads iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Burnett Heads State School
Prep-6 · 96 students
Demographics
The median age of 55 is 15 years above the national figure, the direct result of a decade-long aging trajectory where the senior share rose 10.8 points while working-age share fell 5.4 points. The 40.9% participation rate is substantially below national because most residents are retired. Overseas-born residents make up 15.2%, which is 6.4 points below the national share, consistent with an Anglo-dominated community: English ancestry leads at 1,344 residents, followed by Scottish (353), Irish (312) and German (237). University qualifications reach only 16.5%, which is 13.6 points below national, reflecting a trade and service worker cohort that predates the degree-credential era. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, consistent with the couples-without-children profile where 45.1% of families have no dependent children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.1%
Houses
0.3%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers without a mortgage make up 49.1% of all households, nearly double the national outright ownership rate, which is the clearest signal that Burnett Heads attracts debt-free retirees rather than leveraged first-home buyers. Mortgage holders account for 27.6% and renters 23.3%. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.1%, with apartments at just 0.8% and semi-detached at 0.3%. Three-bedroom homes are the majority at 50.1%, and four-plus bedroom homes follow at 27.1%. The vacancy rate of 10.4% is high compared to metropolitan norms, pointing to a proportion of properties used as holiday or investment holdings. Rent-to-income sits at 27.5%, just below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters are managing but with limited headroom.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$538
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.4%
Unoccupied
139
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.1%
Couples, no children
2,156
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 26.5% of the local workforce (167 workers), more than twice the share of any other sector, because the aging resident base generates concentrated demand for aged and community care services. Construction follows at 12.2% (77 workers) and Education at 8.6% (54 workers). Unemployment is 6.7%, above national averages, partly because the definition captures part-time workers seeking more hours in a limited local job market. The full-time employment rate among those employed is 62.6%. The IRSD decile of 5 places Burnett Heads at the national median for relative disadvantage, and the IRSAD decile of 4 confirms below-median advantage on education and occupation combined. The IER (economic resources) score sits at decile 6, slightly above median, because high outright homeownership boosts household wealth measures despite lower incomes.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
10,748
Unemployed
270
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.6%
Part-time
30.7%
Participation
40.9%
Employed
964
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.5%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
15.2%
Dwellings
1,198
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 90.3% of residents driving to work, above national norms, because public transport coverage is limited in this coastal setting 16 kilometres from Bundaberg city centre. Walking and cycling account for 3.4% of commutes, a small but meaningful active share given the low-density 16.08 square kilometre area. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children rely on schools in nearby Bundaberg. The suburb sits at IRSAD decile 4, below the national median for relative advantage, and 10.6% of residents (295 people) need daily assistance, higher than the national rate, which reflects the aged demographic profile rather than acute economic hardship. Volunteering at 12.6% is a modest community participation signal. The low-density layout and detached housing stock at 94.1% support the quiet residential character that retirement-focused buyers seek.
Drive
90.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.99%/yr
(+431 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 23.5% over the past decade, well above the national population growth rate, driven primarily by internal migration of 518 net arrivals per year. Overseas migration adds a smaller 128 per year. Forward projections under the medium scenario see the population expanding from roughly 21,728 in 2026 to 23,884 by 2031, an increase of around 2,156 residents over five years. Annual growth of 1.99% is solid for a small coastal suburb. The gentrification score sits at 52 with an Active stage, marked by signals including population up 37% since 2011 and turnover accelerating from 7% to 28%. Affordability improved from 57.1% in 2011 to 49.5% in 2021, showing that housing became more accessible relative to incomes over the decade, which has likely contributed to the migration inflow.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+128
Net Internal / yr
+518
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +37% since 2011, Net internal migration +518/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 28%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burnett Heads compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burnett Heads a good suburb to live in?
Burnett Heads suits retirees and those seeking affordable coastal living. The median house price of $364,000 is well below typical coastal QLD markets, and 49.1% of residents own their home outright without a mortgage. The IRSAD decile of 4 sits below the national median for relative advantage, and there are no schools inside the suburb boundary, which limits appeal for families with children.
What is the median house price in Burnett Heads?
The median house price is $364,000, estimated from rent data as at 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $290. The stock is 94.1% separate houses, so buyers have genuine choice across detached dwellings.
What schools are in Burnett Heads?
No schools are recorded within the Burnett Heads suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Bundaberg region, which is approximately 16 kilometres away. The local population has university qualifications at 16.5%, which is 13.6 points below the national figure, consistent with the older and trade-oriented resident profile.
Is Burnett Heads safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Burnett Heads in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb's IRSD decile of 5 places it at the national median for relative disadvantage, and the retired, low-turnover community with 72% of residents staying put over five years tends to correlate with lower crime rates than transient urban areas.
Is Burnett Heads good for property investment?
Rent of $290 per week against a $364,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, reasonable by coastal standards. The concern is the 10.4% vacancy rate, which is elevated and reflects seasonal and retirement demand rather than a deep rental pool. Internal migration of 518 per year supports long-term demand, and rent grew 20.8% over the measured period, indicating tightening conditions.
How is Burnett Heads's population changing?
Population grew 23.5% over the past decade and is forecast to rise from around 21,728 in 2026 to 23,884 by 2031 at 1.99% per year. The primary driver is internal migration of 518 net arrivals annually. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 10.8 points and the working-age share down 5.4 points over the decade, reinforcing the retirement destination trend.
What is the employment situation in Burnett Heads?
Only 40.9% of residents participate in the labour force because most are retired. Among those employed, 62.6% work full-time and 69 residents are recorded as unemployed, giving an unemployment rate of 6.7%. Healthcare is the dominant industry at 26.5% of workers (167 people), more than double any other sector, driven by demand from the suburb's aged resident base.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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