Bundaberg

Bundaberg is far older than most areas, with a typical age of 47 and a senior population that has risen to 25.9% since 2011. Children under 15 make up 16.5% of the population, which is a little below the national figure.

The community is largely Australian-born, with 80.4% born here and only 13% born overseas, a figure far below the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Scottish and Irish.

English is the primary language for 88.5% of residents, and the 5.3% who use another language at home is far below the national figure. Only 1.0% of the population speaks little or no English.

About 49.4% of people identify as Christian, while those with no religion make up 40.1%. The proportion of people reporting no religion has risen by 20 points since 2011.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 12% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 39.8%, though this has risen since 2011.

Incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with the typical household earning $1,170 a week, well below the national figure. Only 10.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Health challenges are common here, as 37.2% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 9.5% of residents need help with daily activities.

A higher number of people provide unpaid care compared to most areas, at 13.6%. There is also a strong history of military service, with 4.5% of the population having served in the Defence Force.

First Nations people make up 5% of the population, which is a little above the national figure. Unemployment among this group is 16.1%, which is well above the national average.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 17.4%. Meanwhile, 27.7% of all households consist of a single person living alone.

The area is dominated by separate houses, and 39.6% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rents are also lower than usual, with a typical weekly rent of $285.

Most people rely on cars, as only 0.7% of residents commute by public transport. Working from home is also far less common here than across Australia, at just 5.7%.

The population is relatively mobile, with 40.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.2% of the community.

The unemployment rate is 6.7%, which is a little above the national figure. The biggest employers are in health care and social assistance, followed by retail and agriculture.

The population has grown by 7.2% since 2021, which is a higher growth rate than most similar areas.

The area experiences an average maximum temperature of 28 degrees, which is much higher than most areas. Annual rainfall is 753mm, far above the Queensland average.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8, well below the state average. Only 42.8% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed.