Urban Centre · Area profile
River Heads
7 km²
A far older population than the national average defines River Heads, where the typical resident is 54. This community has grown rapidly, adding about 941 people since 2011. It is a place of detached houses and high home ownership, with a significant number of seniors and a notable proportion of residents who have moved here in the last five years. The area feels more residential and less urban, with a strong lean toward retirees and established families.
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The population is significantly older than most areas, with 26.7% of residents aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 13.1%, which is well below the national figure. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population rose to 5.5% by 2021.
English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though 17.9% of residents were born overseas. This is much higher than most similar areas, despite being well below the Queensland and national averages.
English is the dominant language, with 93.6% of people using it alone at home. Only 3.4% of residents use another language, and just 0.3% speak little or no English, which is far below the national figure.
A large number of residents report no religion (44.9%), a figure that rose 23 points since 2011 and is well above the national average. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.8%.
Education levels are lower than the state and national averages, with only 11.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. About 39% of residents completed Year 12, and the most common qualification is a Certificate III or IV.
Incomes are generally low, with the typical household earning $1,243 a week, well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 8.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state average.
Health challenges are common here, as 43.2% of people have a long-term health condition—among the highest for similar areas. This is reflected in the 10.4% of residents who need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.
The area has a strong connection to the Defence Force, with 6.7% of people having served. While 15.4% provide unpaid care, the proportion of people caring for children is much lower than most areas at 17.9%.
Most homes are occupied by couples, with 48.8% being couples without children. People living alone make up 19.1% of the community, which is well below the national average.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (97.2%), with 47.1% owned outright—far above the national figure. Renting is uncommon at 16.2%, though typical weekly rents have risen $65 since 2016 to reach $350.
The community is almost entirely dependent on cars, as only 0.6% of homes have no motor vehicle. Just 0.5% of people commute using public transport.
This is a highly mobile population, with 54.5% of people moving in the last five years. This is far above the national average, although recent arrivals from overseas fell to 3.0% since 2011.
Working or looking for work is less common here than in the state, at 48.6%. The unemployment rate is 9.5%, which is well above the national figure, and many residents work in health care or retail.
The area is heavily car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.8. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school or public transport, and only 16.2% are within walking distance of groceries.