Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Tweed Heads West suburb profile
Tweed Heads West, NSW · Postcode 2485
This Tweed Heads West suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Tweed Heads West, NSW (postcode 2485). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Tweed Heads West with nearby suburbs.
Tweed Heads West at a glance
Population
6,176
Median rent
$350/wk
Household income
$1,029/wk
Median age
47
Tweed Heads West trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+6% over 10 years
Population
6,176
was 6,196 in 2016
-20 · -0.3%
Median rent
$350/wk
was $300/wk in 2016
+$50 · +16.7%
Household income
$1,029/wk
was $842/wk in 2016
+$187 · +22.2%
Median age
47
was 49 in 2016
-2 · -4.1%
Dig deeper: Tweed Heads West population growth · Tweed Heads West then and now
Tweed Heads West vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Tweed Heads West, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-16.7% vs area
- Tweed Heads West$350/wk
- Nearby$396.5/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-44.2% vs area
- Tweed Heads West$1,029/wk
- Nearby$1,207.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+17.5% vs area
- Tweed Heads West47
- Nearby47
- NSW40
Personal income
-24.3% vs area
- Tweed Heads West$612/wk
- Nearby$616.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Tweed Heads West compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Tweed Heads West sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2928.5
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2902.5
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2933.5
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 2902.2
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Tweed Heads West on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Tweed Heads West, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Tweed Heads West people
- Population
- 6,176
- Median age
- 47
- Born overseas
- 18.8%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Tweed Heads West income
- Median household income
- $1,029/wk
- Median personal income
- $612/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Tweed Heads West housing
- Median rent
- $350/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,664/mo
- Separate houses
- 52.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 19.2%
- Owned outright
- 36.4%
- Mortgaged
- 25.1%
- Rented
- 27.5%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 7.5%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Tweed Heads West work
- Employment to population
- 45.8%
- Unemployment rate
- 5.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 39.1%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2485)
Compare Tweed Heads West with nearby suburbs
Tweed Heads West in numbers
Tweed Heads West had 6,176 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 415th most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 47, 15% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 18.8% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 36.4% own their home outright, 25.1% are paying a mortgage, 27.5% rent. Separate houses make up 52.3% of dwellings, with 19.2% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $350/wk, 12% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,029/wk, 43% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 5.8%. 39.1% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 0.3% (from 6,196 to 6,176). Median rent moved from $300/wk to $350/wk (+16.7%).
Tweed Heads West suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Tweed Heads West, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Tweed Heads West was $350/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Tweed Heads West, NSW?
- Tweed Heads West had 6,176 residents at the 2021 Census, down 0.3% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Tweed Heads West?
- Median household income in Tweed Heads West was $1,029/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Tweed Heads West?
- 27.5% of occupied homes in Tweed Heads West were rented, 36.4% were owned outright and 25.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Tweed Heads West suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Tweed Heads West. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology