Rockhampton Surrounds - North
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - North's population was around 4,984 as of November 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 386 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,598. The change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 4,966 in June 2024 and an additional 90 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 0.70 persons per square kilometer. Rockhampton Surrounds - North's growth rate of 8.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (6.6%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 73.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected. The area is expected to increase by 327 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 6.2% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Rockhampton Surrounds - North when compared nationally

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has granted around 18 residential property approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, 92 homes were approved, with a further 7 approved in FY-26. On average, 5.8 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed during this period.

This suggests supply is lagging behind demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction value of new properties is $267,000, which is under regional levels, offering more affordable housing choices. $1.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded in FY-26, indicating a predominantly residential focus.

Compared to the rest of Queensland, Rockhampton Surrounds - North has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns. However, construction activity has recently eased. All recent building activity consists of standalone homes, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population count is 369 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Future projections suggest Rockhampton Surrounds - North will add 309 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand readily, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Rockhampton Surrounds - North has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 74 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones include Bruce Highway (Rockhampton-St Lawrence) bridge safety upgrades and targeted safety works, Yeppoon Over-50s Village at Tanby Road, The Gateway Business and Industry Park, and Capricorn Coast Homemaker Centre Stage 2. Relevant projects are listed below for further detail.

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. Its unemployment rate was 2.9% as of June 2025, which is 1.1% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%. As of June 2025, there were 2,817 residents in work and workforce participation was on par with Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Leading employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area has a 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 may be limited as indicated by Census data. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 4.4%, while labour force grew by 5.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Rockhampton Surrounds - North's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 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 2022 shows that Rockhampton Surrounds - North has a median income of $55,054 and an average income of $71,163. This is higher than the national average, with Rest of Qld having a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Rockhampton Surrounds - North would be approximately $62,756 (median) and $81,119 (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. The predominant income cohort spans 28.9% of locals (1,440 people) earning $1,500 - 2,999 per week, reflecting patterns seen in the broader area where 31.7% fall within this range. After housing costs, residents retain 88.7% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power and placing the area's SEIFA income ranking in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Rockhampton Surrounds - North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.9% houses and 2.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockhampton Surrounds - North was 50.7%, with the rest either mortgaged (40.3%) or rented (9.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in the area was $300, matching Non-Metro Qld's figure. Nationally, Rockhampton Surrounds - North's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 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 20.9%, with lone person households at 18.2% and group households making up 2.7%. The median household size is 2.7 people, 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 has lower university qualification rates at 17.2% compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 34.8%.

Educational participation is high at 31.4%, including primary education (13.3%), secondary education (10.8%), and tertiary education (2.9%). Rockhampton Surrounds - North's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 390 students, focusing exclusively on primary education with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited at 7.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 17.6, leading many families to travel for schooling.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Rockhampton Surrounds - North's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Rockhampton Surrounds - North residents exhibit relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across both young and old age groups at a fairly standard level.

Approximately 55% (~2,741 people) of the total population has private health cover, which is very high compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.3%) and asthma (7.2%). A significant majority, 70.1%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Rest of Qld's 64.7%. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 19.8% (989 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 18.5%. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, outperforming those of the general population in various health metrics.

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, accounting for 57.5% of people, compared to 56.3% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.5%), English (31.8%), and Irish (9.3%).

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - North hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

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 15.6%, while the 25-34 year-old group is relatively smaller at 9.5% compared to the rest of Queensland. Between 2021 and present, the population of those aged 75 to 84 has increased from 4.9% to 5.9%. Conversely, the percentage of the population aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 16.8% to 15.6%. By 2041, projections indicate significant demographic changes for Rockhampton Surrounds - North. The 25-34 year-old cohort is expected to grow by 24%, adding 112 residents to reach a total of 587. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 age cohorts.