🔍

Tweed Heads

NSW 2485 • Rest of NSW

9,176
Population (2021)
$59,176
Median Household Income
3.76 km²
Area
$403/wk
Median Rent
CoastalRetiree-HavenBeachsideRiversidePeaceful

About Tweed Heads

Tweed Heads is a coastal town at the far north-eastern tip of New South Wales, situated at the mouth of the Tweed River directly on the Queensland border, approximately 100 kilometres south of Brisbane's CBD within the Tweed Local Government Area. With a population of around 9,176 and a median age of 55, Tweed Heads is one of the more mature-skewing communities on the east coast, with a large proportion of retirees and older residents drawn by its warm climate, waterfront lifestyle, and relatively affordable housing compared to the adjacent Gold Coast. The suburb sits at near sea level across a compact 3.76 square kilometres.

Tweed Heads is seamlessly connected to Coolangatta, Queensland, forming a twin-town at the state border where residents enjoy the best of both worlds — NSW tax thresholds and QLD proximity to the Gold Coast. The area offers beaches, the scenic Tweed River foreshore, a marina, and easy access to Coolangatta Airport. Local shopping centres, medical facilities, and clubs cater well to the permanent population, and the iconic Twin Towns Services Club is a longstanding community institution. Its sunny climate, relaxed pace, and coastal amenity make Tweed Heads a perennial favourite for sea-changers and retirees seeking a laid-back beachside lifestyle.

Tweed Heads falls under postcode 2485 and is governed by Tweed Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Tweed electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2485
Urban Area
Tweed Heads
LGA / Council
Tweed
Federal Electorate
Richmond
State Electorate
Tweed
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-28.18°, 153.54°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
3.76 km²
Elevation
8m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Tweed Heads for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$1.7M
58 sales · ▲ 28.8% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$839K
296 sales · ▲ 2% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$403
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,733
Avg Household Size
2 people
Median Age
55 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
3.9%

123 state housing + 37 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Gold Coast Light Rail (G:link) - Coolangatta stop
3 km
35 min

Bus Services

  • Route 600, 601, TX3 — Gold Coast CBD (Surfers Paradise) / Coolangatta 20-35 min

Commute to Brisbane CBD

Distance
105 km
By Train
No direct train; bus to Varsity Lakes or Robina then Queensland Rail to Brisbane (approx 120 min total)
By Car (Peak)
90-110 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
75-90 min

🛣️ Border town adjacent to Coolangatta QLD; Pacific Motorway (M1) provides highway access to Brisbane; close to Gold Coast Airport

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Waterfront and town centre areas are walkable with shops and cafes; car useful for wider errands

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    Tweed Heads Mall Shopping CentreCnr Pacific Highway & Frances Street Tweed heads 2485 NSW
  • Woolworths
    Tweed Centro Shopping Centre, Cnr Wharf And Bay Street Tweed Heads 2485 NSW

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Tweed Local Government Area, which contains Tweed Heads. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
182.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Motor vehicle theft
202.4 / 100k
2yr Down 30.1% 10yr Up 2.5%
Non-DV assault
416.9 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 4.7%
Robbery (unarmed)
9 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
359.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
View all 62 offence types for Tweed →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
8,176
Census 2021
9,176
▲ 12.2% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$28,132
Personal Income 2021
$34,320
▲ 22.0% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$34,320 / yr
$660/wk
Household
$59,176 / yr
$1138/wk
Family
$77,324 / yr
$1487/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 6,506
Born Overseas 1,881

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 460
  • 2. New Zealand 340
  • 3. Brazil 209
  • 4. Philippines 88
  • 5. Scotland 63
  • 6. Germany 52
  • 7. India 44
  • 8. Japan 43
  • 9. United States 43
  • 10. China 38

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 3,946
Australian 2,966
Irish 1,323
Scottish 1,024
German 377
Italian 298
Australian Aboriginal 255
Chinese 119
Filipino 117
Dutch 98

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

5,177
Both parents born in Australia
2,175
Both parents born overseas
1,037
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
48.6%
No Religion
38.6%
Buddhism
1.1%
Hinduism
0.4%
Judaism
0.2%
Islam
0.1%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
396 (4.3%)
5-14 years
615 (6.7%)
15-19 years
332 (3.6%)
20-24 years
373 (4.1%)
25-34 years
991 (10.8%)
35-44 years
970 (10.6%)
45-54 years
889 (9.7%)
55-64 years
1,325 (14.4%)
65-74 years
1,592 (17.3%)
75-84 years
1,153 (12.6%)
85+ years
551 (6.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tweed Heads known for? +

Tweed Heads is known for its unique position straddling the NSW-Queensland border, its connection to Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, and its laid-back coastal lifestyle at the mouth of the Tweed River. The Twin Towns Services Club is one of Australia's largest registered clubs.

How far is Tweed Heads from Gold Coast CBD? +

Tweed Heads is directly adjacent to Coolangatta and approximately 30 kilometres south of Surfers Paradise, making it effectively part of the Gold Coast urban area with a 30-40 minute drive to the Broadbeach/Surfers Paradise precinct.

Does Tweed Heads have public transport? +

Tweed Heads is served by bus routes connecting to Coolangatta, the Gold Coast, and other parts of the Tweed Shire. The Gold Coast light rail (G:link) extends to Helensvale, from where connections to Brisbane are available. The nearest major airport is Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta.

What is the population of Tweed Heads? +

According to the 2021 Census, Tweed Heads has a population of approximately 9,176 residents within the Tweed Shire Council local government area.

Is Tweed Heads a good place to live? +

Tweed Heads is highly popular with retirees and those seeking a coastal lifestyle with the benefits of both NSW and Queensland proximity. It offers beach access, river activities, a well-serviced town centre, and a relaxed community atmosphere. NSW residents also benefit from Queensland's lower public transport costs when crossing the border.

What is the postcode for Tweed Heads? +

The postcode for Tweed Heads is 2485.

What is the average income in Tweed Heads? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Tweed Heads is about $660 per week (around $34,300 per year). The median household income is $1,138 per week and the median family income is $1,487 per week.

What is the median house price in Tweed Heads? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $1,697,500, up 28.8% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $838,750, up 2% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Tweed Heads? +

The median age in Tweed Heads is 55. The largest age group is 65–74 (1,592 residents, around 17%). Around 15% of residents are under 20 and about 36% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Tweed Heads a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Tweed Heads is part of the Tweed LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Tweed Heads? +

In Tweed Heads, the median weekly rent is $403, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,733 (2021 Census).