Bargara
Nearly half of Bargara's homeowners (47.7%) hold their property outright with no mortgage, a rate more than double the national average. The median age of 54 runs 14 years above the national figure, and 45.9% of families are couples without children. This retirement-weighted profile explains why only 44.2% of the population participates in the labour force, well below the national benchmark. A 12.0% vacancy rate points to a significant holiday or seasonal housing stock, typical of coastal Queensland towns that swell during winter months.
Population
8,883
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,261/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$426K
Estimated from rent (2025)
With an estimated median of $426,000, Bargara sits well below Brisbane's typical price point, making it accessible for retirees downsizing from capital city markets. Weekly rent at $340 keeps mortgage stress contained at 27.8% of household income. Three-bedroom homes dominate (40.5%), but 34% have 4+ bedrooms and 23.3% have just 2, reflecting the mix of family houses and downsizer stock. The 78.4% detached housing share is lower than many QLD coastal suburbs because 11.4% of dwellings are apartments and 9.2% are semi-detached units.
For Buyers
With an estimated median of $426,000, Bargara sits well below Brisbane's typical price point, making it accessible for retirees downsizing from capital city markets. Weekly rent at $340 keeps mortgage stress contained at 27.8% of household income. Three-bedroom homes dominate (40.5%), but 34% have 4+ bedrooms and 23.3% have just 2, reflecting the mix of family houses and downsizer stock. The 78.4% detached housing share is lower than many QLD coastal suburbs because 11.4% of dwellings are apartments and 9.2% are semi-detached units.
For Investors
The 12.0% vacancy rate is among the highest in the Bundaberg region, driven by holiday rentals and seasonal occupancy rather than weak demand. Rents at $340/week and the growing population (up 23.5% over 10 years, with net internal migration averaging 518 people per year) suggest tightening fundamentals. Affordability has been improving, with mortgage-to-income dropping from 57.1% in 2011 to 49.5% in 2021. However, only 27.5% of residents rent, so the tenant pool is smaller than in metro areas.
Development Activity
Total DAs
17
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
At a median age of 54, Bargara is 14 years older than the national median, and the senior share has grown by 10.8 percentage points over the past decade. English ancestry dominates (3,985 people), followed by Irish (1,160) and Scottish (1,113), with German heritage (740) reflecting the Bundaberg region's historical settlement patterns. Only 20% were born overseas, roughly 2 points below the national average. University attainment at 30.5% barely exceeds the national rate, which is unusual given the suburb's older, asset-rich demographic. The 9.6% needing assistance rate is higher than the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.4%
Houses
9.2%
Townhouse
11.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 47.7% is nearly double the national rate, consistent with a retiree population that has paid off mortgages. Just 24.7% carry a mortgage and 27.5% rent. Three-bedroom dwellings (40.5%) are the most common, though the 23.3% share of two-bedroom homes is higher than in typical family suburbs. Rent-to-income sits at 27%, and mortgage-to-income at 27.8%, both below stress thresholds. The estimated median of $426,000 positions Bargara as affordable compared to capital city coastal suburbs where medians regularly exceed $800,000.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$655
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.0%
Unoccupied
499
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.9%
Couples, no children
6,632
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare alone employs 30.3% of Bargara's workforce (707 people), more than double the national average for the sector, driven by the aged care needs of a population where 9.6% require daily assistance. Education (16.4%) is the second-largest employer. The 5.4% unemployment rate is slightly above the national figure, but the real story is the 44.2% participation rate, which sits far below the national benchmark because of the large retired population (3,693 people not in the labour force). Volunteering at 17.3% is above the national average, typical of retirement communities.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
10,748
Unemployed
270
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.2%
Part-time
29.4%
Participation
44.2%
Employed
3,201
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.5%
Postgraduate
6.5%
Born Overseas
20.0%
Dwellings
3,669
Transport to Work
No schools are located within Bargara's suburb boundaries, so families rely on schools in nearby Bundaberg. Public transport usage is minimal at 0.8%, with 89.6% driving to work, reflecting the regional setting's lack of rail or frequent bus services. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 places Bargara in the lower-middle range nationally. However, the IER decile of 6 indicates moderate economic resources. The 17.3% volunteering rate exceeds the national average, and the coastal lifestyle attracts retirees willing to trade urban amenities for lower density living at 948 people per square kilometre.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.99%/yr
(+431 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew from around 20,481 in 2023 to 21,697 in 2025, and the medium forecast projects roughly 23,884 by 2031, a 2.0% annual growth rate that is above the national average for regional towns. Net internal migration of 518 people per year is the dominant driver, with overseas arrivals adding 128 annually. The gentrification score sits at 52 (Active stage), with acceleration from 7% to 28% growth rates. Despite this growth, the aging trajectory shows the senior share rising by 10.8 points while the working-age share dropped 5.4 points, meaning services demand will shift toward healthcare and aged care.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+128
Net Internal / yr
+518
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +37% since 2011, Net internal migration +518/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 28%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bargara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bargara a good suburb to live in?
Bargara suits retirees and downsizers, with 47.7% owning outright and affordable housing around $426,000. The trade-off is limited public transport (0.8% usage) and no local schools. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 places it below the national midpoint for socioeconomic advantage.
What is the median house price in Bargara?
The estimated median house price is $426,000, derived from 2025 rental data. This is significantly below Queensland capital city medians, making Bargara one of the more affordable coastal options in the state. Rent sits at $340 per week.
What schools are in Bargara?
No schools are located within Bargara's suburb boundaries. Families access primary and secondary schools in neighbouring Bundaberg, approximately 10-15 minutes by car. This is a factor in the suburb's demographic skew toward retirees rather than young families.
Is Bargara safe?
No suburb-level crime data is available for Bargara. The high 47.7% outright ownership rate and 72.6% residential stability suggest a settled community. The SEIFA IER decile of 6 indicates moderate economic resources, which typically correlates with lower property crime rates than disadvantaged areas.
Is Bargara good for property investment?
The 12.0% vacancy rate is a risk factor, driven by seasonal and holiday occupancy. However, population growth of 2.0% annually (518 net internal migrants per year) is tightening the market. Weekly rent of $340 against a $426,000 median gives a gross yield around 4.2%, competitive for regional QLD.
How is Bargara's population changing?
Population grew 23.5% over 10 years, primarily through internal migration (518 net per year). The median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, and the senior share has increased by 10.8 percentage points. The forecast projects roughly 23,884 residents by 2031, up from 21,697 in 2025.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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