Evans Head

Population growth drivers in Evans Head are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Evans Head's population is approximately 6,210 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 567 people, a 10.0% rise from the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,643. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,918 in June 2024 and an additional 306 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 11.4 persons per square kilometer. Evans Head's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.3%) and non-metro areas, indicating it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 69.0% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 917 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 10.1% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Evans Head when compared nationally

Evans Head has granted approximately 18 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 90 homes. In FY-26 so far, 10 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.7 people moved to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. This indicates significant demand exceeding new supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition.

The average construction value of new properties is $409,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments. Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $7.6 million, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential. Compared to Rest of NSW, Evans Head shows approximately half the construction activity per person and ranks in the 46th percentile nationally, implying somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties. New development consists of 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (71.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes amid densification trends. The estimated count of 364 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Evans Head will gain 625 residents through to 2041, with construction maintaining a reasonable pace alongside projected growth. However, buyers may encounter growing competition as population increases.

Evans Head has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly impact local performance. Two projects identified by AreaSearch may affect this area: Woodburn Street Mixed-use Precinct at 17 McDonald Place in Evans Head, Iron Gates Residential Release also in Evans Head, Queensland Energy Roadmap Infrastructure, and the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

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While Evans Head retains a healthy unemployment rate of 2.9%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Evans Head has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors and an unemployment rate of 2.9% as of September 2025. The area's employment rate is 0.9% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, but its workforce participation lags behind at 48.7%.

Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Notably, education & training has a concentration 1.3 times the regional average. However, public administration & safety is under-represented with only 5.4% of Evans Head's workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 7.5%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as Census data shows fewer working residents than expected based on population.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.1%, and employment declined by 1.5% in Evans Head, leading to a fall of 0.6 percentage points in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5%, labour force fall by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Statewide, NSW's employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs) as of 25-Nov-25, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25, total employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Evans Head's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming population projections remain constant for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Evans Head SA2's median income among taxpayers was $42,267 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $50,427 during the same period. These figures are lower than those of Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median income would be approximately $47,597 as of September 2025. The estimated average income for the same period is $56,786. Census data from 2021 shows that incomes in Evans Head fall between the 8th and 15th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. In Evans Head, 27.9% of the population earns within the $800 - $1499 income range, contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1500 - $2999 bracket is most prevalent at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Evans Head, with only 83.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Evans Head is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Evans Head's dwellings were 70.7% houses and 29.3% other types at the latest Census. Non-Metro NSW had 75.1% houses and 24.9% others. Home ownership in Evans Head was 43.6%, with mortgages at 26.9% and rentals at 29.5%. Mortgage repayments averaged $1,563 monthly, below Non-Metro NSW's $1,980 and Australia's $1,863. Weekly rents were $320, lower than Non-Metro NSW's $450 and Australia's $375.

Evans Head features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.2% of all households, consisting of 20.7% couples with children, 32.9% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.8%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Evans Head fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 31.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.5% in primary, 8.8% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Transport analysis indicates 172 active transport stops in Evans Head, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 19 individual routes, collectively facilitating 248 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 226 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 35 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Evans Head is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Evans Head faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46%, covering around 2869 people, compared to 52.3% across Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (12.1%) and mental health issues (9.2%).

Conversely, 59.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 68.0% in Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.2%, or 1816 people, than the 23.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

The latest Census data sees Evans Head placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Evans Head's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.5% of its population being citizens, 91.9% born in Australia, and 97.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Evans Head, comprising 53.6% of people, compared to 42.2% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.6%), Australian (31.4%), and Irish (10.0%).

Notably, Scottish representation was higher at 9.4%, Australian Aboriginal at 4.1%, and New Zealand at 0.7%.

Evans Head hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Evans Head's median age is 49, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's average of 38 years. Comparing Evans Head with Rest of NSW, the 65-74 age group is notably over-represented at 16.5% locally, while the 25-34 cohort is under-represented at 8.4%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above Australia's national figure of 9.4%. From 2021 to present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.8% to 9.6% of Evans Head's population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.2% to 10.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Evans Head's age structure. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 201 people (34%), increasing from 594 to 796. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts.