Gympie Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Gympie Surrounds' population was 20,359 as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it is around 22,412, an increase of 2,053 people (10.1%). This growth reflects an estimated resident population of 22,337 in June 2024 and the addition of 372 validated new addresses since Aug 2021. The population density is 8.8 persons per square kilometer as of Aug 2025. Gympie Surrounds' growth rate exceeded the non-metro area (8.6%) and the national average between Aug 2021 and Aug 2025. Interstate migration contributed approximately 79.5% of overall population gains during this period, with other factors also being positive contributors.

Population projections for Gympie Surrounds use ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for SA2 areas covered by the data, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data for areas not covered. By 2041, Gympie Surrounds' population is expected to increase by approximately 2,515 persons to around 25,974, recording a gain of about 10.9% over the 17-year period from Aug 2021 to Aug 2041.

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

Gympie Surrounds averaged approximately 160 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data from the ABS is produced on a financial year basis. Between FY-21 and FY-25804 dwellings were approved, with an additional 18 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling has attracted around 2.9 new residents annually over the past five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $435,000, which is below regional levels, offering more affordable housing options for buyers. This year, there have been $9.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Gympie Surrounds has 14.0% lower construction activity per person but ranks among the 70th percentile nationally.

New development consists mainly of standalone homes (99.0%) with only a minor portion being medium and high-density housing (1.0%), preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 193 people per dwelling approval, Gympie Surrounds exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 2,433 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, presenting good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Gympie Surrounds has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 48 projects likely influencing the region. Notable initiatives include Gympie Water Resilience and Augmentation Project Phase 1, Spotlight Gympie Store, 10 Copp Road Residential Care Facility, and Meadow Rise Southside Gympie. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Gympie Surrounds demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Gympie Surrounds has a diverse workforce with both white and blue-collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 4.0% and estimated employment growth of 6.5% in the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 11,200 residents employed with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 3.9%. Workforce participation is lower at 53.6%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing with a share 2.6 times the regional level but has lower representation in accommodation & food services at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 8.3%.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.5%, labour force grew by 7.6%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.8% and unemployment increase by 0.2 percentage points. By Sep-25, Queensland's employment had contracted by 0.23% with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections based on Gympie Surrounds' employment mix suggest growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years.

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

Gympie Surrounds' median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $42,420, with an average income of $51,561. This is below the national figures for Rest of Qld's median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $47,387 for the median income and $57,599 for the average income as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Gympie Surrounds all fall between the 9th and 19th percentiles nationally. In Gympie Surrounds, 29.6% of the population (6,633 individuals) had incomes within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 31.7%. After housing costs, 86.1% of income remained in Gympie Surrounds, ranking at the 23rd percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Gympie Surrounds, as per the latest Census, comprised 97.6% houses and 2.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 91.8% houses and 8.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gympie Surrounds was 45.8%, similar to Non-Metro Qld's figure, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.0% and rented ones at 12.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,472, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,326. The median weekly rent figure in Gympie Surrounds was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $290. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Gympie Surrounds were significantly lower at $1,472 versus the Australian average of $1,863. Rents in the area were substantially below the national figure of $375 at $300.

Gympie Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.7% of all households, including 28.9% couples with children, 36.3% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 24.3%, with lone person households at 21.3% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.7%, 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 (1.9%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (35.2%).

Educational participation is high at 27.0%, including 10.5% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education. There are 11 schools serving 856 students, with Gympie Surrounds having typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 959) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 9 primary and 2 K-12 schools. Local school capacity is limited at 3.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.8, leading many families to travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Gympie Surrounds has five active public transport stops operating. These are a mix of train and bus services. Nine routes collectively provide 60 weekly passenger trips.

Residents' accessibility to these stops is limited, with an average distance of 10225 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages eight trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately twelve weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Gympie Surrounds, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 46% (around 10,399 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (affecting 11.0%) and mental health problems (9.4%), while 64.0% claim to have no medical ailments, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 60.3%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 23.0% (around 5,163 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 25.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among Gympie Surrounds' seniors are above average and better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Gympie Surrounds, as per the census conducted on 29 June 2016, showed a lower level of cultural diversity compared to the regional average. The population was predominantly Australian citizens, with 89.1% holding citizenship and 86.7% having been born in Australia. In terms of language spoken at home, 97.3% spoke only English.

Christianity was the dominant religion, accounting for 49.0% of the population, compared to 50.4% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.5%), Australian (30.5%), and Irish (8.4%). Notably, German ancestry was slightly overrepresented at 6.0%, while Scottish ancestry was represented at a similar level to the region at 8.1%. New Zealand ancestry also mirrored regional levels at 0.7%.

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

Gympie Surrounds has a median age of 48, which is older than Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 55-64 age group makes up 16.6% of its population, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 8.5%. This concentration in the 55-64 age group is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15-24 age group grew from 9.1% to 10.5%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 6.1% to 7.3%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 18.0% to 16.6%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 14.3% to 13.2%. By 2041, Gympie Surrounds is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 75-84 group will grow by 35%, reaching 2,226 from 1,647. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 51% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 5-14 age cohorts.