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 9,834 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 558 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 67 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 growth rate of 6.0% since the census positions it within 2.6 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 62.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected. The area is expected to increase by 850 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 8.7% 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 over the past five financial years, totalling 274 homes. In FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded to date. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has resulted in a gain of 2.1 new residents per year. The average construction cost value for these dwellings is $320,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options.

This financial year, $2.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Bundaberg Surrounds - North maintains similar construction rates per person, consistent with broader market balance. All new constructions in the area have been detached houses, preserving its traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space.

With approximately 264 people per approval, Bundaberg Surrounds - North reflects a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate that the area will gain around 855 residents by 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 44 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Brookfield Estate, Bundaberg Solar Farm, Port of Bundaberg Expansion, and Branvale Estate. The following list details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, diverse sectors represented, an unemployment rate of 4.3%, and estimated employment growth of 7.0% in the year ending June 2025. As of that month, 4,865 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation lags at 50.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing stands out with employment levels at 3.9 times the regional average. Conversely, accommodation & food employs only 4.3% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 8.3%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 7.0%, labour force by 7.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld had employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying by industry sector. Applying these projections to Bundaberg Surrounds - North's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Bundaberg Surrounds - North's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $45,332. The average income stood at $55,879 during the same period. For comparison, Rest of Qld's median and average incomes were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,674 (median) and $63,696 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Bundaberg Surrounds - North fell between the 8th and 14th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captured 28.2% of the community (2,773 individuals), which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing costs were modest, with 87.0% of income retained. However, total disposable income ranked 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

Dwelling structure in Bundaberg Surrounds - North, as per the latest Census, comprised 96.6% houses and 3.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bundaberg Surrounds - North was 47.4%, with the rest either mortgaged (35.9%) or rented (16.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, aligning with Non-Metro Qld's average. The median weekly rent was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $285. Nationally, Bundaberg Surrounds - North had significantly lower mortgage repayments ($1,300 vs $1,863) and substantially lower rents ($300 vs $375).

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

Family households compose 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 make up 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, 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%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 9.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.5%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.6% and certificates at 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. Six schools operate within Bundaberg Surrounds - North, educating approximately 232 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited at 2.4 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.9, resulting in many families traveling to nearby areas for schooling. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the 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 transport stops operating within Bundaberg Surrounds - North. These stops offer a mix of bus services. One individual route serves these stops, collectively providing 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 individual 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 common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48%, covering about 4720 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (12.1%) and mental health issues (9.2%). About 61.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Approximately 24.4%, or 2394 people aged 65 and over reside in the area, lower than Rest of Qld's 26.3%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but perform 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, as per the 2016 Census, had a population with 87.9% being citizens, 86.6% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 51.2%. This compares to 54.0% across the Rest of Qld.

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 6.4% regionally. Maltese ancestry was also higher than average, at 0.7% versus 0.4%. However, Australian Aboriginal ancestry was underrepresented at 2.8%, compared to 3.4% regionally.

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

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has a median age of 49 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 55-64 years are particularly prominent, making up 18.6% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years comprise only 8.6%. This concentration of individuals aged 55-64 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 those aged 35 to 44 have increased from 10.1% to 11.2%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 14.3% to 12.5%, and those aged 5 to 14 years have dropped from 12.2% to 10.4%. By 2041, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 65 to 74 age group is projected to grow by 19%, reaching 1,741 individuals from the current figure of 1,468. This growth will be driven primarily by an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 53% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age groups.