Nanango

Nanango is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, Nanango's population is estimated at around 3,789, reflecting an increase of 110 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,679. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as 3,746 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 41 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 121 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Nanango has demonstrated a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outpacing its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed around 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data for areas not covered by this data and years post-2032.

Considering projected demographic shifts, Nanango is expected to expand by 341 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of approximately 12.5% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Nanango when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Nanango shows an average of around 11 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 59 homes. In FY26, 7 approvals have been recorded so far. Based on an average of 5.4 new residents per year for every home built between FY21 and FY25, demand is outpacing supply, which can put upward pressure on prices and increase competition among buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $290,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In this financial year, $725,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of Qld, Nanango maintains similar construction rates per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

Recent building activity consists entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 337 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Nanango is expected to grow by 475 residents through to 2041 according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Nanango has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that may impact this region: Nanango Solar Farm, Nanango Town Centre Revitalisation, South Burnett Energy Centre, and Nanango Residential Estate Stage 2. These are the key projects with potential relevance to the area.

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Nanango faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Nanango has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate was 10.3% as of an unspecified past year.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.1%. As of June 2025, 1,291 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 6.4%, higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Nanango was significantly lower at 36.3% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Manufacturing is a particular specialty with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. However, construction is under-represented at 7.7% compared to Rest of Qld's 10.1%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 4.1% while labour force increased by 7.2%, raising unemployment rate by 2.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld had employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a rise in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest Nanango's employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though these projections are simple extrapolations based on industry-specific growth rates.

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

Nanango's median income among taxpayers was $39,172 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $48,812 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld which were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $44,652 (median) and $55,641 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Nanango all fall between the 0th and 2nd percentiles nationally. The largest segment comprises 36.6% earning $400 - $799 weekly with 1,386 residents, contrasting with metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 31.7%. Economic circumstances indicate widespread financial pressure, with 47.0% of households operating within modest weekly budgets below $800. After housing expenses, 85.2% of income remains, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Nanango is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Nanango, as per the latest Census evaluation, 88.7% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 11.2% being other types such as semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 93.4% houses and 6.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nanango was at 43.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.1% and rented ones at 33.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,000, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,083. The median weekly rent figure in Nanango was recorded at $220, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $230. Nationally, Nanango's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 59.7% of all households, including 16.1% couples with children, 29.4% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 40.3%, with lone person households at 36.9% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 10.5%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (29.8%). Educational participation is high at 25.7%, comprising primary education (10.5%), secondary education (10.0%), and tertiary education (1.7%).

Nanango's three schools have a combined enrollment of 932 students, serving distinct age groups with two primary and one secondary school. The area functions as an educational hub with 24.6 school places per 100 residents, attracting students from surrounding communities.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Nanango is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Nanango faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. The rate of private health cover is low at approximately 47%, or about 1,763 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (13.1%) and mental health issues (11.6%). Meanwhile, 52.9% report having no medical ailments, lower than the Rest of Qld's 59.4%. Nanango has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 34%, or about 1,288 people, compared to Rest of Qld's 26.8%. Health outcomes among seniors are challenging but generally align with the overall population's health profile.

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

Nanango had a cultural diversity score below the average, with 86.8% citizens, 87.3% born in Australia, and 97.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 51.8% of Nanango's population. The category 'Other' showed an overrepresentation in Nanango at 1.1%, compared to 0.7% regionally.

For ancestry, the top three groups were English at 33.7%, Australian at 30.9%, and Irish at 8.7%. Notably, German (5.7%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 7.8%, as were Australian Aboriginal (3.9% vs 6.0%) and French (0.5% vs 0.3%).

Nanango ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Nanango's median age in 2021 was 53 years, significantly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, Nanango had an over-representation of the 65-74 cohort at 18.5%, while the 25-34 year-olds were under-represented at 7.7%. The percentage of the 65-74 age group was well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Nanango's population aged 75 to 84 grew from 10.2% to 11.8%, while those aged 15 to 24 increased from 8.9% to 10.3%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 5 to 14 declined from 11.1% to 9.3%. By 2041, Nanango's population aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 107%, reaching 290 people from 140. The demographic shift will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 67% of the projected growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.