Gympie - South
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Gympie - South are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Gympie - South's population was around 8,901 as of August 2025, reflecting a growth of 1,340 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,561. This increase represents a 17.7% rise from the 2021 figure. The change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 8,623 in June 2024 and an additional 552 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio was 332 persons per square kilometer as of August 2025. Gympie - South's growth rate exceeded that of non-metro areas (8.6%) and the national average, marking it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 82.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data were adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Based on projected demographic shifts, a population increase of just below the median of regional areas nationally is expected by 2041, with an expansion of 1,080 persons from the latest population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 9.0% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Gympie - South was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Gympie - South has averaged approximately 169 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data from the ABS is produced on a financial year basis, showing 847 homes over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, with 14 approved so far in FY-26. The area has seen an average of 1.7 people moving to it annually for each dwelling built over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost value of $355,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $1.8 million in commercial approvals, predominantly reflecting residential focus. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Gympie - South displays 140.0% higher building activity per person, offering buyers greater choice and indicating robust developer interest in the area. New building activity comprises approximately 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 40 people per approval, Gympie - South reflects a developing area. Looking ahead, it is projected that Gympie - South will grow by approximately 802 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.

Gympie - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 15 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Gympie Water Resilience and Augmentation Project (GWRAP) - Phase 1, 10 Copp Road Residential Care Facility, Meadow Rise Southside Gympie, and Kensington Drive Estate. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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

Gympie - South has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Gympie South has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

The area specializes in manufacturing, with employment share 1.9 times the regional level. However, accommodation & food services are under-represented at 6.5% compared to Rest of Qld's 8.3%. As of June 2025, 3,879 residents are employed, an unemployment rate of 4.7%, and estimated employment growth of 6.0% over the past year. The unemployment rate is 0.8% higher than Rest of Qld's 3.9%, with workforce participation at 51.1% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%.

From June 2024 to June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.0% and labour force by 7.5%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.4 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. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, losing 8,070 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National unemployment is 4.5% with national employment growth of 0.26%. Job forecasts suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gympie South's employment mix, local growth could be approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.

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

Gympie South shows a median taxpayer income of $44,090 and an average of $53,381 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages; Rest of Qld's median income was $50,780 with an average income of $64,844 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $49,253 (median) and $59,632 (average) as of March 2025. Census data reveals household, family, and personal incomes in Gympie South fall between the 13th and 17th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 28.6% of the population (2,545 individuals) have incomes within $1,500 - $2,999, consistent with surrounding regions at 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe; only 84.7% of income remains, ranking at the 18th percentile nationally.

Gympie - South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Gympie - South, as assessed in the latest Census, 90.0% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 10.0% being semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is comparable to Non-Metro Qld's 91.8% houses and 8.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gympie - South stood at 39.0%, with mortgaged properties at 33.2% and rented dwellings at 27.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,408, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,326. Weekly rent in Gympie - South was $300, slightly above Non-Metro Qld's figure of $290. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower at $1,408 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $300 versus the national figure of $375.

Gympie - South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 71.5% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 32.2% couples without children, and 13.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 25.8% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning with the Rest of Qld average.

Educational outcomes in Gympie - South fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 13.6%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.0%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (30.8%).

Educational participation is high at 26.5%, including primary education (9.2%), secondary education (9.2%), and tertiary education (2.7%). Gympie - South's three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,441 students and demonstrate typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary schools and one K-12 school.

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

Gympie - South has 14 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by a single route, offering a total of 22 weekly passenger trips combined. The area's transport accessibility is rated as limited; residents live an average of 1310 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, services run 3 times daily across all routes, equating to roughly 1 weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Gympie South faces significant health challenges, with high prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Private health cover stands at approximately 47%, or about 4,183 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Arthritis and mental health issues are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 11.0% and 10.2% respectively. However, 60.7% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of Qld at 60.3%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65+, at 24.1% (2,146 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 25.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but better than the general population.

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

Gympie-South, surveyed in the years 2016-2021, had low cultural diversity with 89.5% of its residents born in Australia, 91.9% being citizens, and 96.8% speaking English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion at 54.8%, compared to 50.4% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.4%), Australian (30.2%), and Irish (8.2%).

Notably, German ancestry was higher at 6.2% than the regional average of 5.8%. South African ancestry was also slightly higher at 0.5%, compared to 0.3% regionally. Scottish ancestry was marginally lower at 8.1%, versus 8.3% regionally.

Gympie - South hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Gympie - South's median age is 44 years, which is marginally above Rest of Qld's average of 41 years, and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-olds make up 12.6% of the population, a prominent figure compared to other age groups. Meanwhile, the 35-44 age group constitutes only 10.8%, which is relatively smaller than in Rest of Qld. Between 2021 and the present, the proportion of 25-34 year-olds has increased from 11.0% to 12.6%. Conversely, the proportion of 45-54 year-olds has decreased from 12.1% to 11.0%, and the 65-74 age group has dropped from 13.7% to 12.6%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Gympie - South, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 cohort (22%), adding 245 residents to reach a total of 1,366. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 5-14 age cohorts.