Bundaberg Surrounds - North
Statistical Area - sa2

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Bundaberg Surrounds - North's population is around 9,871 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 595 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,276 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,839 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7.7 persons per square kilometer. Bundaberg Surrounds - North's 6.4% growth since census positions it within 2.0 percentage points of the SA3 area (8.4%). Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 62.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected for Bundaberg Surrounds - North, with the area expected to increase by 850 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 8.3% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Bundaberg Surrounds - North when compared nationally

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has seen approximately 54 new homes approved annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totalling 274 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 8 approvals so far in FY-26. On average, 2.1 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five financial years, indicating solid demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $565,000.

This financial year has seen $2.9 million in commercial approvals registered, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Bundaberg Surrounds - North has similar development levels per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. Recent building activity consists entirely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

Currently, there are around 264 people per approval in Bundaberg Surrounds - North, reflecting a transitioning market. Looking ahead, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is expected to grow by 818 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 41stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 54 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Brookfield Estate, Bundaberg Solar Farm, Port of Bundaberg Expansion, and Branvale Estate. The following details those deemed most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Bundaberg Surrounds - North remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Bundaberg Surrounds North has a balanced workforce with equal representation of white and blue collar jobs across various sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.3% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 7.0% over the previous year.

As of that date, 4,865 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.4% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 50.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. The leading employment industries among residents comprised health care and social assistance, agriculture, forestry and fishing, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry and fishing had notably high concentration with employment levels at 3.9 times the regional average.

In contrast, accommodation and food services employed only 4.3% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 8.3%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 7.0%, while labour force increased by 7.8%, causing a rise in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. State-level data for Sep-25 showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National unemployment was 4.5%, with national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Bundaberg Surrounds North's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Bundaberg Surrounds - North had a median income among taxpayers of $45,332 and an average income of $55,879 in the financial year 2022, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld's of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $50,640 (median) and $62,422 (average) as of March 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Bundaberg Surrounds - North all fall between the 8th and 14th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 28.2% of the community (2,783 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 31.7% in the same category. While housing costs are modest with 87.0% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Bundaberg Surrounds - North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.6% houses and 3.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bundaberg Surrounds - North was at 47.4%, with mortgaged dwellings making up 35.9% and rented ones at 16.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, aligning with Non-Metro Qld's average. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $285. Nationally, Bundaberg Surrounds - North's median monthly mortgage repayment is lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 76.6% of all households, consisting of 26.6% couples with children, 38.9% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.4%, with lone person households at 19.6% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 12.1%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 9.3%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.5% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.3%. Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.6% and certificates at 33.8%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.1% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education. A robust network of 6 schools operates within Bundaberg Surrounds - North, educating approximately 232 students. These 6 schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (2.4 places per 100 residents vs 13.9 regionally) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

Transport analysis shows six active public transport stops operating within Bundaberg Surrounds - North. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with one individual route providing service to all stops collectively offering twelve weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 5394 meters from the nearest stop.

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

Health performance in Bundaberg Surrounds - North is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Bundaberg Surrounds - North faces significant health challenges, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Only approximately 48% (~4,738 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Common medical conditions include arthritis (12.1%) and mental health issues (9.2%). About 61.3% consider themselves free from ailments, compared to 59.1% in Rest of Qld. The area has 24.4% (2,403 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the state average of 26.3%. Health outcomes among seniors show some challenges despite performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Bundaberg Surrounds-North's cultural diversity was below average, with 87.9% of its population being citizens, 86.6% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated Bundaberg Surrounds-North, comprising 51.2%, compared to 54.0% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.2%), Australian (31.7%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, German was overrepresented at 5.9% vs regional 6.4%, Maltese at 0.7% vs 0.4%, and Australian Aboriginal at 2.8% vs 3.4%.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Bundaberg Surrounds - North's median age at 49 years is significantly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and exceeds the national average of 38 by a substantial margin. The age profile shows that individuals aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, comprising 18.6% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up only 8.6%. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 75 to 84 has grown from 6.5% to 7.9%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has increased from 10.1% to 11.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 14.3% to 12.5%, and the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 12.2% to 10.4%. By 2041, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the number of individuals aged 65 to 74 is expected to grow by 18%, reaching 1,741 from a previous count of 1,473. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 53% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age cohorts.