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 5,065 as of Feb 2026, showing an increase of 467 people since the 2021 Census. The ABS estimated resident population in Jun 2024 was 4,966, along with 120 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 0.70 persons per square kilometer. The area's growth rate of 10.2% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the SA4 region (6.8%) and SA3 area, indicating strong population growth led by interstate migration contributing approximately 73.5%. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for age cohorts.

Future demographic trends suggest a population increase of just below the median for non-metropolitan Australia by 2041, with an expected gain of 327 persons and a total increase of 4.5% over 17 years.

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has recorded approximately 18 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 92 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 5.8 new residents arrive per year per dwelling constructed during this period.

This indicates that supply is lagging behind demand, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction value of these properties is around $267,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In terms of commercial development, approximately $1.5 million in approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating a primary focus on residential development.

Comparatively, Rockhampton Surrounds - North has similar development levels per capita to the rest of Queensland, which supports market stability and aligns with regional patterns. However, construction activity has recently decreased. The recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. As of now, there are an estimated 369 people in the area per dwelling approval. Future projections suggest that Rockhampton Surrounds - North is expected to add approximately 228 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand adequately, providing favorable 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 has identified 74 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Bruce Highway (Rockhampton-St Lawrence) bridge safety upgrades, Yeppoon Over-50s Village on Tanby Road, Capricorn Coast Homemaker Centre Stage 2, and The Gateway Business and Industry Park. Below is a list of those 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.

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.7% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7% over the past year. There were 2,778 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was fairly standard at 70.7%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 18.0% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area has a particularly notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels at 3.2 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 11.2% of Rockhampton Surrounds - North's workforce compared to 16.1% in Rest of Qld. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 0.7%, while labour force increased by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, 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 rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Rockhampton Surrounds - North. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing 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.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that median income in Rockhampton Surrounds - North SA2 is $57,172 and average income stands at $72,463. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $62,838 (median) and $79,644 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Rockhampton Surrounds - North rank modestly between the 37th and 46th percentiles. Income distribution reveals that 28.9% of locals fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting broader area patterns where 31.7% occupy this range. After housing costs, residents retain 88.7% of income, indicating strong purchasing power and 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 structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.9% houses and 2.0% other dwellings like semi-detached units, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's structure of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockhampton Surrounds - North stood at 50.7%, while the rest were mortgaged (40.3%) or rented (9.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Weekly rent median in the area was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Rockhampton Surrounds - North had lower mortgage repayments ($1,755 vs Australia's $1,863) and rents ($300 vs Australia's $375).

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

Family households constitute 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 account for the remaining 20.9%, with lone person households at 18.2% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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 Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (13.0%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (34.8%). Educational participation is high at 31.4%, with 13.3% in primary education, 10.8% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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 shows strong performance in Rockhampton Surrounds - North based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 55% of the total population, which consists of around 2780 people. This compares to a rate of 52.5% across the rest of Queensland. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.3 and 7.2% of residents respectively. A total of 70.1% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has a population of 5093 people, with 20.1%, or approximately 1019 people, aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors in this area are particularly strong, ranking even higher than those of the general population nationally.

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 score below average, with 85.0% of its population being citizens born in Australia speaking English only at home (90.8%, 97.8% respectively). The predominant religion was Christianity, practiced by 57.5% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. In terms of ancestry, Australian was the top group at 33.5% (regional average: 26.5%), followed by English at 31.8%, and Irish at 9.3%.

Notably, German (6.0% vs regional 4.7%) and Welsh (0.6% vs 0.5%) were overrepresented, while New Zealand showed a slight underrepresentation (0.7% vs regional 0.9%).

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has a median age of 44 years, which is slightly higher than Queensland's average of 41 years and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 55-64 year-old group is particularly prominent at 15.3%, while the 25-34 year-old group is relatively smaller at 9.8% compared to the rest of Queensland. Between 2021 and the present, the 0-4 age group has increased from 4.7% to 6.0% of the population, while the 75-84 age cohort has also grown from 4.9% to 6.0%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 16.8% to 15.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Rockhampton Surrounds - North. The 25-34 year-old cohort is projected to grow strongly by 18%, adding 89 residents to reach a total of 587. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 age cohorts.