Evans Head

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

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Evans Head stands at approximately 6,070 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 427 individuals (7.6%) from the 5,643 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The evaluation relies on the ABS estimate of 6,062 residents in June 2025 alongside 355 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The density of the area is calculated at 11.2 persons per square kilometer, which indicates a low-density living environment. The growth rate of 7.6% since the 2021 Census outpaced both the SA4 region (3.7%) and the Rest of NSW, positioning Evans Head as a leading growth zone. This demographic expansion was primarily fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 69.5% of the total population increase, though positive contributions were also observed from natural growth and overseas migration.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized for each SA2 region. For locations lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied. Age bracket growth trends derived from these sources are extended to span the years 2032 to 2041. Future expectations point to population gains exceeding the regional national median, with the locality projected to add 860 residents by 2041 when measured against current annual ERP figures, representing a 14.0% total increase over the 16-year timeframe.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Evans Head when compared nationally

Residential approvals in Evans Head average approximately 18 properties annually, representing a total of 90 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In FY-26 to date, 17 approvals have been logged. The ratio of 5.5 additional residents per completed home between FY-21 and FY-25 highlights a market where demand outstrips new supply, a trend that typically drives up property prices and heightens buyer competition. Meanwhile, new builds carry an average construction value of $409,000, which sits slightly above the regional standard and indicates an emphasis on premium builds. Commercial approvals for this financial year stand at $7.6 million, pointing to a quiet commercial development sector.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, the volume of building activity per capita in Evans Head is roughly half, placing the area in the 46th percentile nationwide. This suggests limited purchasing choices for buyers and reinforces demand for existing properties. Construction rates also sit below the national benchmark, reflecting the established status of the suburb and potential planning constraints. Detached houses comprise 86.0% of the new builds, while attached properties make up 14.0%, maintaining the low-density character of the area with an emphasis on stand-alone homes that appeal to buyers seeking space. Developers are building detached dwellings at a higher rate than the baseline profile (71.0% at the Census), showing sustained interest in family residences despite broader densification patterns. The ratio of 372 people per dwelling approval highlights a low-volume building environment.

Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Evans Head is projected to add 852 residents by 2041. If construction volumes remain unchanged, the pace of housing supply is likely to fall behind this population expansion, which could heighten competition among buyers and support price growth.

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

Development performance is closely tied to local planning policies, infrastructure upgrades, and major works. AreaSearch has tracked 2 key developments expected to influence the local area. The main projects identified are the Woodburn Street Mixed-use Precinct, Evans Head (17 McDonald Place), the Iron Gates Residential Release, Evans Head, the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026, and the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026, with details provided on the most significant initiatives.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market in Evans Head demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

The workforce in Evans Head is characterized by skilled individuals with solid representation in critical service sectors, an unemployment rate of just 3.5%, and employment growth estimated at 3.1% over the past year. In March 2026, working residents numbered 2,654, with the unemployment rate tracking 0.6% below the Regional NSW average of 4.1%. Workforce participation is notably lower, standing at 52.6% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that only 13.4% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment fields for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The concentration of jobs in education & training is particularly high, reaching 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety is underrepresented, employing 5.4% of local workers compared to 7.5% in Regional NSW. The relationship between the resident workforce and locally available jobs suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat limited.

An analysis of SALM and ABS figures indicates that during the 12 months ending March 2026, employment expanded by 3.1% while the labor force grew by 4.0%, leading to a 0.9 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment demand can be contextualized using national projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with local industry profiles to project potential employment pathways. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trends vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry distribution suggests that employment among Evans Head residents could rise by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not account for localized population changes.

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

Taxpayer statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year show that income levels in the Evans Head SA2 fall below the national average. The median taxpayer income is $45,021, and the average income is $52,906, compared to Regional NSW benchmarks of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of $49,667 and an average of $58,366 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows that personal, family, and household incomes in Evans Head rank between the 8th and 15th percentiles nationally. The local earnings profile shows that the largest income group is the $800 - 1,499 range, containing 27.9% of the population (1,693 individuals), while the regional leader is the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 29.9%. Housing affordability is highly constrained, with residents retaining only 83.0% of their income, which ranks in the 9th percentile.

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

According to the latest Census, residential structures in Evans Head consisted of 70.7% houses and 29.3% semi-detached, apartment, or other dwelling types, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings in Regional NSW. Outright home ownership in the area was high at 43.6%, with the remaining properties divided between mortgaged homes (26.9%) and rental accommodation (29.5%). The median mortgage repayment of $1,563 per month was lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent of $320 was below the regional figure of $330. When compared nationally, mortgage costs in Evans Head are notably lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent prices are significantly below the national median of $375.

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

Family units represent the majority of households at 65.2%, consisting of couples without children at 32.9%, couples with children at 20.7%, and single parent structures at 10.9%. The remaining 34.8% are non-family households, which are mostly single-person households (31.0%) alongside group households (3.4%). The median household size stands at 2.2 residents, which is smaller than the Regional NSW median of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment levels present specific challenges, with the proportion of residents holding university qualifications (17.6%) sitting well below the state average of 32.2%. Among these, bachelor degrees account for 12.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.9% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational qualifications are common, with 42.1% of the population aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificate-level training at 31.9%.

Engagement in learning is high, with 27.6% of residents enrolled in an educational program. This group includes 10.5% in primary schools, 8.8% in secondary institutions, and 2.6% undertaking tertiary studies.

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

Public transport services in Evans Head include 183 active stops, offering bus connections. These stops are served by 19 routes that provide 259 passenger journeys each week. Local access is good, with residents living an average of 218 meters from their nearest transit stop. Due to the residential character of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area. Cars are the primary mode of travel at 90%, while 6% of commuters walk. Households own an average of 1.4 vehicles. A low proportion of residents (13.4%) worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 factors.

Routes average 37 daily services, which translates to approximately 1 weekly service per stop. The map highlights the 100 transport stops situated closest to the central point of the area.

Evans Head's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health outcomes for residents in Evans Head are generally positive, with mortality rates and medical conditions aligning closely with national averages. The prevalence of standard health problems is low within the general population, though elevated for older, vulnerable age groups. Private health insurance coverage is low at 46% of the population (~2,810 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national benchmark of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the community, affecting 12.1% and 9.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 59.6% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The demographic aged 65 and over represents 31.2% of the population (1,895 people), which exceeds the Regional NSW level of 23.4%. Chronic health challenges are notable among the working-age population, while the health status of older residents displays some challenges but ranks better nationally than the younger cohorts.

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

The cultural mix in Evans Head is lower than the national average, with citizens making up 88.5% of the population, 91.9% born in Australia, and 97.3% speaking only English in a domestic setting. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 53.6% of the community, which is slightly below the Regional NSW average of 55.9%.

In terms of family origins, the most common ancestries in Evans Head are English at 31.6%, Australian at 31.4%, and Irish at 10.0%. Specific differences from regional trends include an overrepresentation of Scottish ancestry at 9.4% (compared to 8.0% regionally) and New Zealand ancestry at 0.7% (compared to 0.4%), while Australian Aboriginal ancestry stands at 4.1% (compared to 4.6% regionally).

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

The median age of 49 years in Evans Head is higher than the Regional NSW median of 43 years and well above the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 17.8% locally, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is underrepresented at 8.2%. The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is significantly higher than the national rate of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 7.8% to 9.9% of the population, and the 65 to 74 group rose from 16.5% to 17.8%. In contrast, the 5 to 14 age bracket fell from 11.2% to 10.0%, and the 55 to 64 group decreased from 16.1% to 15.0%. Projections to 2041 indicate that the 75 to 84 age group will grow by 225 people (38%) from 602 to 828, while the 15 to 24 age bracket is expected to decrease by 27 individuals.