Bundaberg Surrounds - North

Seniors aged 65 and over make up 23.2% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 17.2%. This aging trend is clear, with the typical resident now 11 years older than the national average.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 12.2% born overseas—a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for nearly 89% of the area. Only 3.2% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

About 42% of people report having no religion, a figure that rose by 19 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.4%.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 34.4% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Just 9.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical weekly household income is $1,216, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 34.5% of residents. This is consistent with the older population, as 7.7% of people need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is common, with 13.8% of people providing support, while 26.4% spend 15 or more hours a week on housework. The area also has a higher proportion of Defence Force veterans than most areas.

About 4.2% of the population is First Nations, and this group is generally younger than the wider community, with a typical age of 24.

Most homes are occupied by couples, with 47.5% having children and 37.5% without. People living alone make up 19.5% of households, which is well below the national average.

The area is dominated by separate houses, with 96.4% of dwellings being detached. Home ownership is very high, as 45.1% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.

Car dependence is extremely high; only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. Nearly 40% of households have two vehicles, and only 1.7% have no motor vehicle at all.

Recent migration is low, with only 5.1% of the population arriving from overseas recently, which is well below the national figure of 14.5%.

Working or looking for work is much less common here than in most areas, at 50.6%. The local workforce is largely employed in health care, social assistance, and agriculture.

The area ranks very low for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. However, it has seen a 7% population growth since 2021.

The area receives an average annual rainfall of 871mm, which is far above the Queensland average. Minimum temperatures are among the highest for similar areas.

The region is almost entirely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.8. Only 5.6% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.