Rockhampton Surrounds - North

Population growth drivers in Rockhampton Surrounds - North are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Rockhampton Surrounds - North's population was around 5,132 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 534 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,598 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,054 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 123 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 0.70 persons per square kilometer. Rockhampton Surrounds - North's growth of 11.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (7.0%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 68.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data were adopted. These state projections did not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings were applied in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Looking forward, a population increase just below the median of regional areas nationally was expected, with the area projected to grow by 308 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall gain of 4.5% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Rockhampton Surrounds - North when compared nationally

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has received approximately 18 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 92 homes. In FY-26 so far, 17 approvals have been recorded. On average, around 5.8 new residents per year arrive for each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests demand is outpacing supply, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The average construction cost of new properties in the area is $267,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options for purchasers. Additionally, commercial approvals totalling $1.5 million have been registered this financial year, reflecting the residential nature of the area. Comparing development activity per person with the Rest of Qld shows Rockhampton Surrounds - North has comparable activity, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

However, building activity has slowed in recent years and consists entirely of standalone homes, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 369 people. AreaSearch quarterly estimates project Rockhampton Surrounds - North to gain 230 residents by 2041. If current development patterns continue, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 73 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include bridge safety upgrades on the Bruce Highway (Rockhampton-St Lawrence), development of Yeppoon Over-50s Village at Tanby Road, expansion of Capricorn Coast Homemaker Centre Stage 2, and establishment of The Gateway Business and Industry Park. The following list details projects most relevant to the area.

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

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The labour market in Rockhampton Surrounds - North shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, and an unemployment rate of 2.0% as of December 2025. The area has 2,743 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 2.0% lower than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is fairly standard at 68.3%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%.

According to Census responses, 18.0% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment among residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 3.2 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance is under-represented at 11.2% compared to Regional Qld's 16.1%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

In the 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 3.3% and employment decreased by 2.8%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with an increase in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Rockhampton Surrounds - North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Rockhampton Surrounds - North SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $57,172 and an average level of $72,463. Both figures are higher than national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 for Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $63,667 (median) and $80,695 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Rockhampton Surrounds - North rank modestly, between the 37th and 46th percentiles. Income distribution data shows 28.9% of the population (1,483 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to regional levels where 31.7% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 88.7% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - North's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.9% houses and 2.0% other dwellings (including semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Regional Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Rockhampton Surrounds - North was higher than that of Regional Qld, at 50.7%. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (40.3%) or rented (9.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,755, surpassing Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure stood at $300, lower than Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Rockhampton Surrounds - North's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 79.1% of all households, including 35.0% couples with children, 34.6% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 20.9%, with lone person households at 18.2% and group households comprising 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5 people.

Rockhampton 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 17.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives in the region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 44.0% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 34.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.3% in primary education, 10.8% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Rockhampton Surrounds - North's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance in Rockhampton Surrounds - North, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts exhibited low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover was found to be relatively high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 2,817 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area were arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.3 and 7.2% of residents respectively. 70.1% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population are generally typical. The area has 20.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,053 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

The latest Census data sees Rockhampton Surrounds - North placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rockhampton Surrounds - North had a cultural diversity index below average, with 85.0% of its population being Australian citizens, 90.8% born in Australia, and 97.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 57.5% of people, compared to the regional average of 52.2%. In terms of ancestry, Australians comprised 33.5%, English 31.8%, and Irish 9.3% of the population in Rockhampton Surrounds - North.

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 6.0%, Welsh at 0.6%, and New Zealand at 0.7%.

Rockhampton Surrounds - North hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

At 44 years, Rockhampton Surrounds - North's median age is marginally above Regional Queensland's average of 41 years. This figure is also considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile indicates that individuals aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, comprising 15.5% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up a comparatively smaller portion at 9.2%, compared to Regional Queensland. Between 2021 and the present day, the proportion of individuals aged 75-84 has grown from 4.9% to 6.2%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 55-64 has decreased from 16.8% to 15.5%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Rockhampton Surrounds - North. The 25-34 age group is projected to experience the strongest growth, increasing by 18% and adding 85 residents to reach a total of 557. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 age groups.