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 was around 10,064 as of February 2026. This showed an increase of 788 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,276. The growth was inferred from ABS estimates of 9,839 in June 2024 and 94 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density was 7.9 persons per square kilometer. Between the Census and February 2026, Bundaberg Surrounds - North's growth rate was 8.5%, close to Rest of Qld's 9.1%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 62.6% of this growth.

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 are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is expected to increase by around 850 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of approximately 6.2% 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 home approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 274 homes. As of FY-26, 22 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has attracted around 2.1 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost for these dwellings is $320,000, which is below regional norms, reflecting more affordable housing options.

This financial year, the area has seen $2.9 million in commercial development approvals, demonstrating its primarily residential nature. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Bundaberg Surrounds - North maintains similar construction rates per person, consistent with the broader market balance. All new constructions have been detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

Currently, there are around 264 people per approval in the area, reflecting a transitioning market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is projected to gain 625 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Bundaberg Surrounds - North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 44 projects likely impacting the region. Notable projects include Brookfield Estate, Bundaberg Solar Farm, Branvale Estate, and Belle Eden Estate Extensions. The following details projects most relevant:.

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. Its unemployment rate was 3.8% in September 2025. This is 0.3% lower than the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 10.4%. As of September 2025, 5,005 residents were employed. Workforce participation in Bundaberg Surrounds - North was 61.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses indicated that only 10.2% of residents worked from home.

Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 3.9 times the regional average. In contrast, accommodation & food employed only 4.3% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 8.3%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 10.4%, while labour force increased by 10.3%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In comparison, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. 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 financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are lower than the Rest of Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Bundaberg Surrounds - North SA2 would be approximately $51,225 (median) and $63,972 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Bundaberg Surrounds - North all fall between the 8th and 14th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 28.2% of the community (2,838 individuals), which is 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

In Bundaberg Surrounds - North, as per the latest Census evaluation, 96.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 3.4% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bundaberg Surrounds - North stood at 47.4%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 35.9% and rented ones for 16.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Bundaberg Surrounds - North's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian 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 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, which matches the average for the Rest of Qld.

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 prevalent at 9.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.5%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Vocational credentials are common, 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, including 10.1% in primary, 9.9% in secondary, and 2.2% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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 serve a mix of buses on one route, collectively offering 12 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 5394 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, with car being the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.8 per dwelling, exceeding 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

Bundaberg Surrounds faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~4,850 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.1 and 9.2% of residents respectively. However, 61.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 24.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,494 people), compared to 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. 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 below average cultural diversity, with 87.9% of its population being citizens born in Australia speaking English only at home, which was 86.6% and 96.5% respectively. The majority religion in Bundaberg Surrounds - North was Christianity, comprising 51.2%, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.2%), Australian (31.7%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, German (5.9%) and Maltese (0.7%) were overrepresented, while Australian Aboriginal was underrepresented at 2.8%.

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 Queensland's average of 41 and exceeds the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 18.4% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up a smaller proportion at 8.8%. This concentration of those aged 55-64 is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the age group of 35 to 44 has grown from 10.1% to 11.6%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 6.5% to 8.0%. Conversely, the age groups of 45 to 54 have declined from 14.3% to 12.0%, and those aged 5 to 14 have dropped from 12.2% to 10.0%. By the year 2041, Bundaberg Surrounds - North is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the group aged 65 to 74 is projected to grow by 13%, reaching a total of 1,741 people from the current figure of 1,535. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 54% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the age groups of 5 to 14 and 55 to 64.