Bundaberg South
Among Australia's most affordable addresses, Bundaberg South scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the bottom 10% nationally for advantage. The standout statistic is tenure: 60.9% of residents rent, more than double the national homeownership rate, against a median house price of $310,000 that sits well below the state average. Household income lands at the 12.2nd percentile nationally, and the unemployment rate of 11.1% is roughly double the Australian average. Yet rents rose 25% over the measured period, signalling genuine demand within a constrained, affordable segment of the regional Queensland market.
Population
3,494
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$978/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$310K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a median house price of $310,000, Bundaberg South is one of regional Queensland's most accessible entry points, well below the state median for detached houses. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.6%, below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes sitting at the 12.2nd percentile nationally. Separate houses account for 58.8% of stock and semi-detached dwellings a further 25.7%, while apartments make up 15.2%. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 37.5% and three-bedroom at 36.8%. Outright owners represent only 21.6% and mortgage holders 17.5%, so buyers entering this market step into a predominantly rental suburb where purchase demand has historically been thin, which helps keep prices low.
For Buyers
At a median house price of $310,000, Bundaberg South is one of regional Queensland's most accessible entry points, well below the state median for detached houses. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.6%, below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes sitting at the 12.2nd percentile nationally. Separate houses account for 58.8% of stock and semi-detached dwellings a further 25.7%, while apartments make up 15.2%. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 37.5% and three-bedroom at 36.8%. Outright owners represent only 21.6% and mortgage holders 17.5%, so buyers entering this market step into a predominantly rental suburb where purchase demand has historically been thin, which helps keep prices low.
For Investors
A 60.9% renter majority and weekly rent of $250 are the defining numbers for investors. Against a $310,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield of approximately 4.2%, well above what comparable capital city markets produce. The 8.5% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants monitoring, suggesting some oversupply within the rental pool. Development activity is minimal, with 1 application lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is low. Overseas migration adds a net 188 residents annually, partially offsetting internal outflow of 137 per year. Rent growth of 25% over the measured period indicates that demand has outpaced supply adjustments, supporting the case for yield-focused investors who can absorb higher vacancy risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
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 South iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bundaberg State High School
7-12 · 1593 students
Bundaberg South State School
Prep-6 · 168 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, reflecting a younger workforce profile typical of regional service towns. Overseas-born residents account for 19.6%, which is 2 points below the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,259 residents), Scottish (315) and Irish (292). The small non-English language community includes Korean (20 speakers), Mandarin (16) and Nepali (15). University qualifications reach 19.5%, which is 10.6 points below the national figure, consistent with a labour force concentrated in manual and service occupations. Average household size is 2.1, compared to the national 2.5, reflecting the high proportion of single-person and couple-without-children households in a renter-majority suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
58.8%
Houses
25.7%
Townhouse
15.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is the defining feature: 60.9% of residents rent, compared to around 30% nationally, while only 21.6% own outright and 17.5% hold a mortgage. This tenure imbalance reflects the suburb's low incomes and decile 1 SEIFA scores rather than a temporary condition. The stock leans towards smaller dwellings, with 2-bedroom (37.5%) and 3-bedroom (36.8%) formats dominant, and 4-plus bedroom homes at only 17.2%. Semi-detached dwellings account for 25.7%, above what you would find in most outer-suburban areas. Rent-to-income sits at 25.6%, technically below the 30% stress threshold, though the base income is very low at a household weekly median of $978, which is the 12.2nd percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$596
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
135
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.1%
Couples, no children
2,190
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 27.8% of local workers (218 people), followed by Agriculture at 14.2% (111) and Education at 8.7% (68). This reflects Bundaberg South's role as a services hub within a wider agricultural region. By occupation, Labourers lead at 371 workers, with Community and Personal service workers second at 197 and Professionals third at 179. Unemployment stands at 11.1%, roughly double the national rate, and the participation rate of 49.8% is low, with 1,131 residents not in the labour force. The SEIFA IRSD and IRSAD scores both sit at decile 1, the most disadvantaged decile nationally. Real income growth of 25.4% over the decade shows nominal improvement, but the income base remains at the 12.2nd national percentile.
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
60.3%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
49.8%
Employed
1,298
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.5%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
19.6%
Dwellings
1,456
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 79.1% of residents drive to work and only 0.3% use public transport, consistent with a regional Queensland town with limited transit infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 4.8%, above average for a regional centre. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the lowest advantage tier nationally, reflecting concentrated disadvantage across income, education and employment dimensions. About 10.4% of residents (329 people) require daily assistance with core activities, above the national average, and volunteering sits at 13.3%. Rent-to-income at 25.6% is technically below the stress threshold. No schools are recorded within the 2.26 km2 boundary, so families access educational facilities in surrounding Bundaberg suburbs. The density of 1,546 residents per km2 puts it in the medium-density range for a regional town.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.24%/yr
(+16 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.24% annually, adding roughly 16 people per year, well below the national average growth rate. Over the past decade the total change was just 1.1%. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 188 arrivals per year, while net internal migration runs at negative 137, indicating that departures among longer-term residents offset new arrivals. Medium forecasts project the broader area population to remain near 6,580 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 6,611, essentially flat. Rent growth of 25% and real income growth of 25.4% are early positive signals, but the gentrification stage is classified as not gentrifying because internal outflow remains persistent. Affordability improved from 50.9% of income in 2011 to 41.3% in 2021, the strongest structural shift in the data.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+188
Net Internal / yr
-137
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -137/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bundaberg South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bundaberg South a good suburb to live in?
Bundaberg South scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the most disadvantaged 10% nationally. Unemployment is 11.1% and household income sits at the 12.2nd national percentile. The main appeal is affordability, with a $310,000 median house price and rent-to-income of 25.6%, below the 30% stress level.
What is the median house price in Bundaberg South?
The median house price is estimated at $310,000 based on 2025 rent data. Weekly rent averages $250, and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,083, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Bundaberg South?
No schools are recorded within the Bundaberg South boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in surrounding Bundaberg suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 19.5%, which is 10.6 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the broader workforce profile.
Is Bundaberg South safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Bundaberg South in this dataset. As context, the suburb scores decile 1 on the IRSD disadvantage index, the lowest tier nationally. About 10.4% of residents, or 329 people, require daily assistance, above the national average.
Is Bundaberg South good for property investment?
The 60.9% renter share and $250 weekly rent against a $310,000 median imply a gross yield of around 4.2%, higher than most capital city markets. Rent grew 25% over the measured period. The 8.5% vacancy rate is elevated, and net internal migration is negative 137 per year, so investors should factor in higher vacancy risk alongside the yield.
How is Bundaberg South's population changing?
Population grows at 0.24% annually, adding about 16 residents per year. Overseas migration contributes a net 188 arrivals annually, offset by net internal outflow of 137. The 10-year population change was 1.1%, and medium forecasts show the broader area remaining essentially flat through 2031 at around 6,580 residents.
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.
Explore Bundaberg South on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map