Bundaberg East
With household income at the 16.6th percentile nationally and an IRSAD decile of 2, Bundaberg East sits firmly in the lower advantage tier, yet its $351,000 median house price makes entry far more accessible than the Queensland state average. The suburb covers 4.52 square kilometres with a population of 2,839, giving a density of 628 residents per km2. Healthcare employs 27.1% of local workers, more than double the next largest sector, anchoring the local economy to the Bundaberg Base Hospital catchment. Renter households make up 40.8%, above the national norm, reflecting an income profile that limits home purchase rates.
Population
2,839
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,080/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$351K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $351,000 sits well below the Queensland median, making Bundaberg East one of the more affordable entry points in coastal Queensland. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,222, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in the 16th percentile nationally. Separate houses dominate at 77.5% of dwellings, with apartments at 15.3% and semi-detached at 4.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.1% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom homes make up 27.1%, a bedroom mix suited to families. Outright owners at 33.5% slightly outnumber mortgage holders at 25.7%, which typically signals a mature, settled ownership base rather than a market driven by recent first-home buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $351,000 sits well below the Queensland median, making Bundaberg East one of the more affordable entry points in coastal Queensland. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,222, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in the 16th percentile nationally. Separate houses dominate at 77.5% of dwellings, with apartments at 15.3% and semi-detached at 4.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.1% of stock, and 4-plus bedroom homes make up 27.1%, a bedroom mix suited to families. Outright owners at 33.5% slightly outnumber mortgage holders at 25.7%, which typically signals a mature, settled ownership base rather than a market driven by recent first-home buyers.
For Investors
A 40.8% renter share and weekly rent of $285 give landlords a solid tenant base, and the rent-to-income ratio of 26.4% suggests tenants are not under significant stress. Against the $351,000 median, $285 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 4.2%, reasonable by regional Queensland standards. The 6.5% vacancy rate is elevated compared to national benchmarks and warrants monitoring, as it indicates softer rental demand relative to available supply. Population grew 11.4% over 10 years and the forecast adds roughly 63 residents per year, driven primarily by overseas migration averaging 46 net arrivals annually, which offsets net internal outflow of 15 per year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
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
Schools in Bundaberg East iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bundaberg East State School
Prep-6 · 295 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.3 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.3 points. Overseas-born residents reach 13.2%, which is 8.4 points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry leans heavily Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,162 residents), Scottish (261) and Irish (260) the leading ancestries. University qualifications at 17.0% run 13.1 points below the national average, consistent with an occupational profile led by Labourers (209 workers) and Community/Personal roles (184). Average household size is 2.3, marginally below national, and couples with children (669 families) outnumber couples without children (597).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.5%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
15.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Bundaberg East is a detached-house suburb with 77.5% of dwellings being separate houses, well above the national apartment-heavy urban average. Tenure splits into thirds: 33.5% own outright, 25.7% carry a mortgage and 40.8% rent, with the renter share higher than state norms. The $351,000 median house price is estimated from 2025 rent data and sits substantially below the Queensland median, placing the suburb in affordable territory. Three-bedroom homes at 47.1% form the largest stock cohort, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 27.1%. Mortgage-to-income at 26.1% and rent-to-income at 26.4% are both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning neither owners nor renters face significant housing cost pressure despite incomes in the lower national percentile range.
Mortgage / mo
$1,222
Rent / wk
$285
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$613
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
80
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.6%
Couples, no children
2,084
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 27.1% of workers (177 people), reflecting the suburb's proximity to Bundaberg Base Hospital, far above what most comparable regional centres show. Education follows at 13.3% (87 workers), with Retail at 7.8%, Construction at 7.5% and Public Admin at 6.6%. By occupation, Labourers (209) and Community/Personal service roles (184) are the two largest groups, which aligns with the SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 and IEO decile 2 scores, placing the suburb in the bottom quintile nationally on both education/occupation and relative disadvantage measures. The unemployment rate of 7.5% is above the national average, and the participation rate of 50.9% is low, partly because 909 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment runs at 59.8% of those employed.
Unemployment
8.6%
Labour Force
3,545
Unemployed
306
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
50.9%
Employed
1,090
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.0%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
13.2%
Dwellings
1,140
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 84.9% of residents drive to work, compared to national averages where public transport takes a meaningful share, while only 0.4% use public transport and 4.8% walk or cycle. The IRSAD decile of 2 places Bundaberg East in the bottom quintile nationally for relative disadvantage, and the IEO decile of 2 reflects below-average education and occupation levels. Need for assistance reaches 8.6% (229 residents), above the national norm, consistent with the older median age of 42 and lower income profile. The volunteering rate of 15.5% is a positive community indicator. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families draw on nearby Bundaberg institutions. Housing cost stress is moderate, with both mortgage-to-income at 26.1% and rent-to-income at 26.4% sitting below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
84.9%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+63 people/yr)
EstablishedBundaberg East grew 11.4% over 10 years, above the slow-growth pace seen in many established suburbs nationally, and the medium forecast projects the broader SA2 population reaching around 6,460 by 2031 at a 1.05% annual rate. The primary growth driver is overseas migration at a net 46 per year, partially offset by net internal outflow of 15. Rent grew 18.4% over the measured period while real incomes rose 9.2%, meaning rent outpaced wages. The gentrification score of 26 and stage of early signs indicate some early-stage improvement, though the suburb does not show a full gentrification trend. Affordability improved from 49.8% in 2011 to 43.9% in 2021, widening the buyer pool over time.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+46
Net Internal / yr
-15
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bundaberg East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bundaberg East a good suburb to live in?
Bundaberg East offers affordable living with a $351,000 median house price and housing costs below the 30% stress threshold for both owners and renters. The suburb has a median age of 42 and a strong healthcare employment base at 27.1% of workers. The IRSAD decile of 2 signals below-average relative advantage nationally, so it suits buyers prioritising affordability over prestige.
What is the median house price in Bundaberg East?
The median house price is approximately $351,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $285 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,222. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1% sits below the 30% stress threshold, making it more accessible than many Queensland coastal markets.
What schools are in Bundaberg East?
No schools are recorded within the Bundaberg East suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in neighbouring Bundaberg suburbs. The local university qualification rate of 17.0% is 13.1 points below the national average, reflecting the area's trade and service-sector employment base.
Is Bundaberg East safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bundaberg East in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 2 nationally, which places it in the lower advantage tier. The need-for-assistance rate of 8.6% (229 residents) is above average, consistent with an older population and lower incomes rather than a specific safety signal.
Is Bundaberg East good for property investment?
The 40.8% renter share and $285 weekly rent against a $351,000 median imply a gross yield around 4.2%, above what most capital city markets offer. The 6.5% vacancy rate is elevated and should be monitored. Population is growing at 1.05% annually, driven by overseas migration adding 46 net residents per year, which supports steady rental demand.
How is Bundaberg East's population changing?
The suburb grew 11.4% over 10 years and is forecast to continue at around 1.05% annually, adding roughly 63 residents per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 46 per year, while internal migration shows a net outflow of 15. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.3 points over the decade and working-age share down 2.3 points.
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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