Council (LGA) · Area profile
Rockhampton
6,570 km²
A steady rise in population and a growing number of people with no religion have shaped the evolving character of Rockhampton. This regional center is a young community where the typical resident is 37, and families with children are common. It stands out for its high proportion of First Nations people and a workforce heavily focused on health and education. While it remains a traditional Australian hub, a recent increase in overseas arrivals is beginning to shift its cultural makeup.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
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Rockhampton has a young feel, with a typical age of 37 and 20.3% of people under 15. It is home to a significantly larger First Nations population than most areas, at 8.7%.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 82.6% born here and only 10.0% born overseas, which is far below the national figure.
English is the dominant tongue, spoken by 86.1% of residents. Only 6.5% of people use another language at home, well below the Queensland average.
Over half the population identifies as Christian, though the number of people with no religion rose 14 points since 2016 to reach 37.4%.
While 46.6% of residents completed Year 12, this is far below the national figure. About 13.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Typical weekly family income is $1,888, which is a little below the national figure. Higher earners are growing, with the share of households earning $3,000+ a week rising 6.5 points since 2016.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.3% of people reporting a long-term condition and 11.0% experiencing mental health issues.
Caregiving is a priority here, as 27.6% of people provide unpaid childcare. However, volunteering has fallen 5 points since 2016 to 13.6%.
The First Nations community is among the largest in the region and is notably young, with a typical age of 21. Year 12 completion is 43.4%, which is well above the national figure.
Homes are often larger, with 2.5 people per home. There is a much higher rate of one-parent families compared to most areas, at 19.6%.
Separate houses are far more common here than in the rest of the state, making up 88.1% of homes. Typical weekly rent is $280, well below the national figure.
Car use is essential, with 69.5% of people driving to work and almost no one using public transport. Only 4.7% of residents work from home.
The area is attracting new people, with 18.0% of residents being recent overseas arrivals, which is well above the national figure.
Full-time employment is higher than most areas at 62.0%, though the unemployment rate of 5.7% is also slightly higher than the national average.
Rockhampton has a large business presence with 5,721 companies, yet it scores lower than most areas for overall economic advantage and access to resources.
The area is warmer than most, with an average maximum temperature of 30.1°C and annual rainfall of 570mm.
Crime rates are among the highest at this level, particularly for theft, burglary, and drug offences, with recorded offences per 100,000 people reaching 22,200.
The community is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.9. While 71.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, almost no one lives near public transport.