Kawana
At 38 years, Kawana's median age sits 2 years below the national figure, yet the suburb scores in the 3rd SEIFA decile on both IRSAD and IRSD, placing it among Queensland's more disadvantaged areas. Household income lands at the 33rd percentile nationally, well below average, while 85.9% of dwellings are separate houses, making this one of Rockhampton's more detached-dominant pockets. Population grew 15.2% over the decade to reach around 4,434, driven primarily by internal migration of 107 people a year. Healthcare employs 24.2% of the local workforce, a share that anchors the suburb's economy more firmly than most comparable-sized Queensland towns.
Population
4,434
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,327/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$338K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $338,000 makes Kawana significantly more affordable than the national median, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,300. Separate houses dominate at 85.9% of dwellings, so detached-house buyers face reasonable supply. Bedroom stock skews toward 3-bedroom homes at 56.1%, with 4-plus bedrooms accounting for 26.8%, offering genuine family-sized options. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning typical buyers carry manageable repayment loads relative to local incomes. Outright owners make up 27.7% of residents, mortgage holders 33.4% and renters 38.9%, a split that reflects an accessible but not equity-rich market.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $338,000 makes Kawana significantly more affordable than the national median, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,300. Separate houses dominate at 85.9% of dwellings, so detached-house buyers face reasonable supply. Bedroom stock skews toward 3-bedroom homes at 56.1%, with 4-plus bedrooms accounting for 26.8%, offering genuine family-sized options. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning typical buyers carry manageable repayment loads relative to local incomes. Outright owners make up 27.7% of residents, mortgage holders 33.4% and renters 38.9%, a split that reflects an accessible but not equity-rich market.
For Investors
Renters account for 38.9% of residents, providing a broad tenant base, with weekly rent at $255. Against the $338,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield above 3.9%, more competitive than many coastal Queensland markets. The vacancy rate of 8.0% is elevated, signalling some oversupply in the rental pool that investors should weigh against yield. Net internal migration of 107 people a year underpins steady demand, while population is forecast to grow from 8,181 in 2025 toward 8,608 by 2031 under medium projections. Development activity recorded 6 applications in the past 12 months, a modest pipeline that limits near-term oversupply risk from new builds. Rent grew 14.3% over the measured period, ahead of many comparable regional suburbs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
9
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 Kawana iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Glenmore State High School
7-12 · 646 students
Glenmore State School
Prep-6 · 351 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, and the suburb's trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 3.8 points and the working-age share falling 1.0 point over the decade. Overseas-born residents make up 12.2% of the population, which is 9.4 points below national, and English ancestry dominates, led by English (1,605), Scottish (405), Irish (393) and Other (376). University qualifications reach 19.3%, which is 10.8 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce concentrated in healthcare, labouring and community roles rather than knowledge industries. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly. The overseas-born share being well below national is consistent with Kawana's Anglo-leaning identity signals.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.9%
Houses
12.0%
Townhouse
2.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is divided among outright owners at 27.7%, mortgage holders at 33.4% and renters at 38.9%, with the renter share higher than in many comparable regional suburbs. Separate houses make up 85.9% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 12.0% and apartments at just 2.1%, so the market is almost entirely detached product. The 3-bedroom configuration dominates at 56.1%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 26.8% and 2-bedroom at 16.2%. The rent-to-income ratio of 19.2% is below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting renters here carry lighter housing cost burdens compared to many Queensland coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and at an estimated $338,000 median, the price-to-income ratio is moderate for regional QLD.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$255
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$722
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
140
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.6%
Couples, no children
3,147
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is by far the largest industry at 24.2% of employed residents (266 workers), more than double the second-ranked Education sector at 13.9% (153 workers). Construction accounts for 8.5%, Public Admin 8.2% and Retail 6.6%, painting a picture of a public-service and care-heavy local economy. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers lead at 336, followed by Labourers at 269 and Professionals at 242. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 and IRSAD decile of 3 place Kawana in the lower third nationally for both relative disadvantage and advantage, while the IER decile of 4 reflects limited economic resources. The unemployment rate of 6.6% is above average, with the participation rate at 52.6%, partly because 1,188 residents are not in the labour force.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
4,530
Unemployed
177
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.9%
Part-time
27.5%
Participation
52.6%
Employed
1,761
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
12.2%
Dwellings
1,599
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 85.0% of commuters driving, compared to only 1.5% using public transport and 3.2% walking or cycling, typical for regional QLD suburbs at this density of 606 per km2. No schools are recorded inside the Kawana boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions. The IRSAD decile of 3 places Kawana in the lower advantage tier nationally, while the IEO decile of 2 reflects below-average education and occupation outcomes. Housing stress is absent on both counts: mortgage-to-income at 22.6% and rent-to-income at 19.2% both sit comfortably below the 30% threshold. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. The volunteering rate of 13.0% and 12.0% of residents needing some assistance point to a suburb with genuine community care needs.
Drive
85.0%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.19%/yr
(+97 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth runs at 1.19%, adding approximately 97 people per year, and the 10-year change of 15.2% shows consistent expansion. Historical counts show the SA2 population moved from 7,835 in 2023 to 7,998 in 2024 and 8,181 in 2025, with medium forecasts projecting 8,608 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary driver at an average of 107 net arrivals per year, with overseas migration contributing a further 24. The gentrification score of 35 puts the suburb in the early signs stage, with signals including population growth of 21% since 2011 and the acceleration from 4% to 16% growth rates. Real income grew 12.5% over the decade, while affordability improved from 41.0% in 2011 to 33.9% in 2021, meaning housing costs absorbed a smaller share of income than a decade earlier.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+24
Net Internal / yr
+107
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +21% since 2011, Net internal migration +107/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kawana compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kawana a good suburb to live in?
Kawana offers affordable housing at an estimated $338,000 median, with mortgage-to-income at 22.6% and rent-to-income at 19.2%, both well below stress thresholds. The trade-off is a SEIFA IRSD decile of 3, placing it in the lower third nationally for relative disadvantage, with an unemployment rate of 6.6% above average.
What is the median house price in Kawana?
The estimated median house price in Kawana is $338,000 (estimated from 2025 rent data). Weekly rent averages $255, implying a gross yield above 3.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.6%.
What schools are in Kawana?
No schools are recorded within the Kawana boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Rockhampton suburbs. The local population has a university qualification rate of 19.3%, which is 10.8 points below the national average, reflecting a workforce oriented toward trades and care roles.
Is Kawana safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Kawana in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores in the 3rd SEIFA IRSD decile, placing it in the lower third nationally for relative disadvantage, which is generally associated with higher community needs. About 12.0% of residents (488 people) need some form of daily assistance.
Is Kawana good for property investment?
Kawana has a 38.9% renter share and weekly rent of $255 against a $338,000 median, giving a gross yield above 3.9%. However, the vacancy rate is elevated at 8.0%. Rent grew 14.3% over the measured period, and annual population growth of 1.19% is driven by net internal migration of 107 per year.
How is Kawana's population changing?
Kawana grew 15.2% over the decade, reaching 8,181 in 2025 and forecast to reach 8,608 by 2031. Annual growth runs at 1.19%, adding about 97 people per year. Internal migration is the primary driver at 107 net arrivals annually, supplemented by 24 per year from overseas.
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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