Bundaberg Surrounds - North

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bundaberg Surrounds - North reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Bundaberg Surrounds - North's population is approximately 10,048 as of May 2026. This represents an increase of 772 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,276. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 10,016 in June 2025 and an additional 96 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 7.9 persons per square kilometer. Bundaberg Surrounds - North's growth rate of 8.3% since the census is close to the SA3 area's growth rate of 9.1%. The primary driver for this growth was interstate migration, contributing about 65.1% of overall population gains.

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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are used. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is expected to increase by approximately 771 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of about 7.3% over the 16 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 over the past five financial years, totalling 274 homes. As of FY-26, 27 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has resulted in an increase of 2.1 new residents per year. The average expected construction cost value for these dwellings is $320,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms.

In FY-26, $2.9 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Bundaberg Surrounds - North maintains similar construction rates per person, consistent with broader market balance. All new constructions in the area since FY-21 have been detached houses, maintaining its traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space.

With around 264 people per approval, the population is transitioning. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is projected to gain 739 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 43 projects that could potentially impact the region. Notable projects include Brookfield Estate, Bundaberg Solar Farm, Branvale Estate, and Belle Eden Estate Extensions. The following details projects expected to have the greatest influence.

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

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The labour market in Bundaberg Surrounds - North demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 3.7% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 9.1%.

There were 5,020 residents in work while the unemployment rate was 0.3% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 60.7%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, only 10.2% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents comprised health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade.

The area had a particularly notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels at 3.9 times the regional average. In contrast, accommodation & food employed only 4.3% of local workers, below Regional Qld's 8.3%. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 9.1%, while labour force increased by 9.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Bundaberg Surrounds - North's employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

The Bundaberg Surrounds - North SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $46,606 and an average income of $58,204 in the financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This compares to figures for Regional Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593 respectively during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates project the median income to be approximately $51,900 and the average income to be around $64,816 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census figures indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Bundaberg Surrounds - North fall between the 8th and 14th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 28.2% of the community (2,833 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which aligns with broader trends in the surrounding region where 31.7% fall into the same category. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 87.0% income retention, 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

Bundaberg Surrounds - North's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.6% houses and 3.4% other dwellings. This contrasts with Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bundaberg Surrounds - North stood at 47.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.9% and rented ones at 16.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in the area was $300, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Bundaberg Surrounds - North's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 76.6% of all households, including 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 aligns with the Regional Queensland average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.1%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.5%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (33.8%). Educational participation is high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.1% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows six active stops operating within Bundaberg Surrounds - North. These stops are served by one route collectively providing twelve weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 5394 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential and most residents commute outward, with car being the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.8 per dwelling, above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 10.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

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

Health performance in Bundaberg Surrounds - North is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

North faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~4,843 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.1 and 9.2% of residents respectively, while 61.3% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 25.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,552 people), higher than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 had a cultural diversity index of below average, with 87.9% of its population being citizens born in Australia speaking English only at home (86.6% and 96.5%, respectively). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 51.2% of the population, slightly lower than the regional average of 52.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.2%), Australian (31.7%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 5.9%, compared to the regional average of 4.7%. Maltese ancestry was also higher than the regional average, at 0.7% versus 0.4%. However, Australian Aboriginal ancestry was underrepresented at 2.8%, compared to the regional average of 3.9%.

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

Bundaberg Surrounds - North's median age is 49 years, which is significantly higher than the Regional Queensland average of 41 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 55-64 year-old group is particularly prominent at 18.1%, while the 25-34 year-old group is smaller at 8.6% compared to Regional Queensland. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 6.5% to 8.3%, while the 35-44 age group increased from 10.1% to 11.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 14.3% to 12.0%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 12.2% to 10.1%. By 2041, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 65-74 age group will grow by 15%, reaching 1,793 people from 1,565, with those aged 65 and above comprising 54% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 age groups.