Burrum Heads
With a median age of 64, Burrum Heads sits 24 years above the national figure, making it one of Queensland's most strikingly age-skewed coastal communities. The 2,538 residents are spread across 44.79 sq km at just 56.7 people per km2, a low density that reflects a predominantly holiday and retirement settlement. Household income sits in the 4.8th percentile nationally, well below average, yet 67.6% of dwellings are owned outright, the highest tenure category, because most residents have paid off mortgages over decades rather than being recent buyers. Separate houses dominate at 90% of stock, and vacancy runs at 15.7%, a signature of a coastal market where many properties are holiday homes.
Population
2,538
Median Age
64.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$815/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$381K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is approximately $381,000, estimated from rental data for 2025, which is considerably lower than the Queensland state median and makes Burrum Heads one of the more affordable coastal options in the Wide Bay region. Separate houses make up 90% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes at 44.3% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 37.9%, giving buyers a generous spread of family-sized stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,348, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.2% sits above the 30% stress threshold because local household incomes are below average at the 4.8th percentile nationally. Only 17.6% of residents carry a mortgage, compared to 67.6% who own outright, signalling that most current residents bought well before today's interest rate environment.
For Buyers
The median house price is approximately $381,000, estimated from rental data for 2025, which is considerably lower than the Queensland state median and makes Burrum Heads one of the more affordable coastal options in the Wide Bay region. Separate houses make up 90% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes at 44.3% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 37.9%, giving buyers a generous spread of family-sized stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,348, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.2% sits above the 30% stress threshold because local household incomes are below average at the 4.8th percentile nationally. Only 17.6% of residents carry a mortgage, compared to 67.6% who own outright, signalling that most current residents bought well before today's interest rate environment.
For Investors
A 15.7% vacancy rate is the clearest signal in Burrum Heads: a substantial portion of the 90%-detached stock sits empty, consistent with holiday-home ownership rather than permanent rental demand. Weekly rent averages $305, and with only 14.8% of dwellings rented, the tenant pool is thin. Rent-to-income at 37.4% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters who do stay are financially stretched. Just 7 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, pointing to minimal new supply. The investment case depends on lifestyle demand from sea-changers and retirees rather than population-driven rental growth, because household income ranks in the bottom 5% nationally and the participation rate is just 25.5%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
44
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+280.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 64 is 24 years above the national average, reflecting an almost entirely retirement-age population. Overseas-born residents account for 14.6%, which is 7.0 points below the national figure, while ancestry is overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,213), Irish (280) and Scottish (271) are the three largest groups. The average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, consistent with the dominant household type where 68.5% of families are couples without children. University qualifications reach just 13.2%, which is 16.9 points below the national figure, a gap linked to the retirement cohort completing education in an era of lower tertiary participation. Volunteering sits at 13.1%, and 10.5% of residents (251 people) need daily assistance, a share above average because of the elderly age structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.0%
Houses
1.0%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership rates in Burrum Heads are unusually high: 67.6% own outright versus only 17.6% on a mortgage and 14.8% renting. That split reflects decades of accumulated equity among a retirement cohort rather than recent market activity. Ninety percent of dwellings are separate houses, well above state norms, with the bedroom mix skewed toward larger homes: 44.3% are 3-bedroom and 37.9% have 4 or more bedrooms. The $381,000 estimated median is comparatively low for a coastal Queensland location, but the 15.7% vacancy rate suppresses pricing because a significant share of stock is held as holiday or investment property rather than primary residence. Mortgage repayments of $1,348 per month look manageable in absolute terms, yet the 38.2% mortgage-to-income ratio is above the stress threshold given below-average incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,348
Rent / wk
$305
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$450
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.7%
Unoccupied
215
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.2% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
68.5%
Couples, no children
1,896
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is small relative to population because the participation rate of 25.5% is far below the national norm, a direct consequence of having a predominantly retired population. Among the 545 workers recorded, Healthcare leads at 24.5% (92 workers), followed by Construction at 12.5% (47) and Education at 12.0% (45). Unemployment is recorded at 9.0%, though this rate applies to a very small working-age base of around 545 people, not the full 2,538 residents. By occupation, Professionals (90), Community/Personal service workers (88) and Clerical/Admin (88) are the top three groups. Household income at the 4.8th percentile nationally means most residents rely on superannuation or pensions rather than wages. SEIFA scores are not available for this suburb.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.0%
Part-time
38.0%
Participation
25.5%
Employed
545
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.2%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
1,141
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme: 90.2% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average where public transport carries a meaningful share, while only 0.8% use public transport, consistent with a regional coastal town with limited transit infrastructure. Walkability and cycling account for 3.8% of trips. No schools are recorded within Burrum Heads itself, so families with children rely on facilities in nearby Burrum Heads or Howard. The 15.7% vacancy rate and low population density of 56.7 per km2 mean the suburb has a quiet, low-footprint character, suited to retirees and holiday visitors more than working families. The 13.1% volunteering rate and the reality that 10.5% of residents need daily assistance points to a community where care networks matter, particularly as the median age of 64 sits well above the Queensland state figure.
Drive
90.2%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burrum Heads compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burrum Heads a good suburb to live in?
Burrum Heads suits retirees and lifestyle seekers well. The median age is 64, which is 24 years above the national figure, and 67.6% of residents own their homes outright. The $381,000 estimated median house price is affordable by Queensland coastal standards. Trade-offs include limited public transport (0.8% usage), no schools within the suburb, and household income at the 4.8th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Burrum Heads?
The median house price is approximately $381,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $305 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,348. The 15.7% vacancy rate reflects a significant proportion of holiday-home ownership in this coastal suburb.
What schools are in Burrum Heads?
No schools are recorded within the Burrum Heads boundary in this dataset. Families with children rely on schools in the broader Fraser Coast region, including facilities in nearby Howard and Childers. The local population skews heavily toward retirees, with a median age of 64 and just 25.5% of residents participating in the labour force.
Is Burrum Heads safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Burrum Heads in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a low population density of 56.7 people per km2, a stable community where 70.2% of residents stayed at the same address over 5 years, and a volunteering rate of 13.1%, all consistent with a quiet, established coastal town rather than a high-turnover urban area.
Is Burrum Heads good for property investment?
The investment outlook is cautious. Weekly rent of $305 against an estimated $381,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, reasonable but offset by a 15.7% vacancy rate that signals meaningful periods of empty stock. Only 14.8% of dwellings are rented, and just 7 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so supply growth is minimal. Returns depend on lifestyle demand from retirees rather than employment-driven tenant growth.
How is Burrum Heads's population changing?
Published population forecasts are not available for Burrum Heads. The suburb has 2,538 residents with a 29.8% residential turnover rate, meaning 70.2% stayed at the same address in the past 5 years. The retirement profile, median age of 64 and small development pipeline of 7 applications in 12 months suggest slow, sea-change-driven growth rather than rapid expansion.
What is the age profile of Burrum Heads residents?
Burrum Heads has a median age of 64, which is 24 years above the national average, making it one of Australia's oldest communities by this measure. About 68.5% of families are couples without children, and the average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national. The participation rate of just 25.5% reflects a largely retired population, with 1,536 residents recorded as not in the labour force.
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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