Evans Head

An assessment of population growth drivers in Evans Head reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The suburb of Evans Head's population is estimated at around 3,114 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 207 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,907 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,014 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 176 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 140 persons per square kilometer. Evans Head's growth of 7.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's growth of 4.1%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 69.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for regional areas across the nation. The suburb of Evans Head is expected to increase by 472 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 11.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Evans Head recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Evans Head has averaged approximately 8 new home approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 40 homes. As of FY-26, there have been 5 approvals recorded. Historically, each dwelling constructed has attracted an average of 5.9 new residents per year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand significantly outstripping supply. The average construction value of new properties is $478,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

This financial year, commercial approvals have reached $3.0 million, reflecting limited commercial development activity compared to the rest of NSW (54.0% below regional average per person). Evans Head's lower than average supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes, also below national averages, possibly due to planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 86.0% detached dwellings and 14.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character appealing to families seeking space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (55.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 469 people, reflecting its quiet development environment.

Looking ahead, Evans Head is projected to grow by 372 residents through to 2041, potentially leading to increased competition among buyers and stronger price growth if current development rates continue.

Evans Head has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified one major project likely affecting this region. Notable projects include Woodburn Street Mixed-use Precinct in Evans Head (17 McDonald Place), Queensland Regional Road Network Safety Improvements, Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane, and Queensland New South Wales Interconnector. The following list details 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.

AreaSearch analysis indicates Evans Head maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Evans Head has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.3% as of December 2025, which is 0.6% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Evans Head was 50.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%.

According to Census responses, 13.7% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area had a particular specialization in education & training with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, while public administration & safety showed lower representation at 4.3% versus the regional average of 7.5%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population.

Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 0.1%, while labour force remained stable at 0.0%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Evans Head's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Evans Head's median income among taxpayers is $42,940. The average income in the suburb is $51,229. Both figures are below the national averages. Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Evans Head would be approximately $46,744 (median) and $55,768 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Evans Head fall between the 6th and 17th percentiles nationally. The $800 - 1,499 earnings band captures 28.4% of the community (884 individuals), unlike regional trends where more people fall within higher income bands. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Evans Head, with only 82.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.

Evans Head displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Evans Head's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 54.7% houses and 45.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Evans Head stood at 43.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 18.3% and rented ones at 38.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,642, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Evans Head was $321, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Evans Head's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Evans Head features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 62.4% of all households, including 18.0% couples with children, 32.8% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 37.6%, with lone person households at 35.0% and group households making up 2.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Evans Head fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 19.7%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (29.8%). Educational participation is high, with 26.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (10.1%), secondary education (7.9%), and tertiary education (2.7%).

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

Evans Head has 78 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 15 different routes that together facilitate 224 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 102 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential region, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 89% of residents, while walking and cycling account for 7% and 2% respectively. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per household, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 13.7% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 32 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly two weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Evans Head faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Only 47% of Evans Head's total population (~1,471 people) has private health cover, compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.5%) and mental health issues (9.2%). Conversely, 58.3% of residents report no medical ailments, versus Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to elevated chronic condition rates. Evans Head has a higher proportion of seniors (32.3%, or 1,005 people) than Regional NSW (23.4%). Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, ranking even worse than the general population nationally.

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

Evans Head, surveyed in 2016, had a culturally diverse population that was below average. 90.0% of its residents were citizens, with 92.5% born in Australia and 97.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the primary religion, practiced by 57.1%, compared to 55.9% regionally.

In ancestry, Australian (31.5%), English (30.7%), and Irish (10.5%) were the top groups. Notably, Scottish representation was higher than average at 9.6%, while Hungarian was slightly above regional levels at 0.3%. Australian Aboriginal representation was lower than regional averages at 4.1%.

Evans Head ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Evans Head is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and well above the national norm of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Evans Head at 17.7%, compared to Regional NSW's average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.3%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.4% to 10.2% of Evans Head's population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age cohort has declined from 16.5% to 15.4%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Evans Head. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 37%, adding 117 residents to reach a total of 435. In contrast, numbers in the 15 to 24 age range are expected to fall by 15%.