Kawungan
A median age of 50, a full 10 years above the national figure, sets the tone for everything else in this Hervey Bay suburb. Household income sits in just the 21.6th percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the most disadvantaged advantage tier, with IEO, IER and IRSD all at decile 2. The two facts connect: 2,288 residents are not in the labour force and the participation rate is only 42.1%, because the population skews heavily toward retirees. Housing is overwhelmingly detached at 84.4% of dwellings, and 46.1% of homes are owned outright, the signature of an established, debt-free retirement base. The $413,000 median house price keeps the area affordable relative to most of coastal Queensland.
Population
5,460
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,148/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$413K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $413,000 median house price is low by Queensland coastal standards, and affordability has been improving, easing from 59.5% of income in 2011 to 56.8% in 2021. The stock suits families and downsizers alike: 84.4% are separate houses, apartments are almost absent at 0.4%, and 47.0% of dwellings carry 4-plus bedrooms with another 40.1% at three bedrooms. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,408 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3%, sitting below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in only the 21.6th percentile, because purchase prices are so modest. Outright owners at 46.1% far outnumber mortgage holders at 29.6%, which signals that most buyers here are established residents rather than highly geared newcomers.
For Buyers
The $413,000 median house price is low by Queensland coastal standards, and affordability has been improving, easing from 59.5% of income in 2011 to 56.8% in 2021. The stock suits families and downsizers alike: 84.4% are separate houses, apartments are almost absent at 0.4%, and 47.0% of dwellings carry 4-plus bedrooms with another 40.1% at three bedrooms. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,408 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3%, sitting below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in only the 21.6th percentile, because purchase prices are so modest. Outright owners at 46.1% far outnumber mortgage holders at 29.6%, which signals that most buyers here are established residents rather than highly geared newcomers.
For Investors
Renters make up 24.2% of households and weekly rent averages $340, giving a tenant pool that is real but smaller than the renter-heavy markets of capital cities. Against the $413,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.3%, well above the sub-2% yields typical of premium suburbs. The vacancy rate of 5.7% is higher than a tight market would show, so landlords compete for tenants rather than the reverse. Demand support is genuine: net internal migration adds 233 residents a year and overseas migration another 101, with internal migration the primary driver. Development is quiet at only 8 applications in 12 months, mostly outbuildings and civil works, so new supply stays thin and rent has already grown 29.8% over the period, favouring income returns over rapid capital gains.
Development Activity
Total DAs
33
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kawungan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kawungan State School
Prep-6 · 877 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 runs 10.0 years above national, and the trajectory is clearly aging: the senior share rose 8.8 points while the working-age share fell 3.4 points and the young-resident share dropped 3.8 points. Overseas-born residents reach only 17.3%, which is 4.3 points below national, so the population is more Australian-born than most suburbs. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,505), Scottish (624), Irish (544) and German (400). University qualifications sit at 17.6%, fully 12.5 points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce weighted toward community and trade roles rather than knowledge work. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national, and couples without children make up 36.9% of families, edging out couples with children at 1,405.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.4%
Houses
13.6%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts firmly toward ownership: 46.1% own outright, 29.6% carry a mortgage and 24.2% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by a wide margin points to long-held, debt-free housing typical of a retirement-weighted area rather than a churn of new buyers. The stock is 84.4% separate houses with apartments almost nonexistent at 0.4% and semi-detached at 13.6%, so detached living defines the market. Larger homes dominate, with 47.0% of dwellings at 4-plus bedrooms and 40.1% at three. The $413,000 median house price, paired with $1,408 monthly mortgage repayments, gives a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3% and a rent-to-income ratio of 29.6%, both below the 30% stress line, a rare combination of affordability for owners and tenants alike.
Mortgage / mo
$1,408
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$550
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
127
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.9%
Couples, no children
4,127
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is concentrated in Healthcare, which leads decisively at 31.6% of local jobs (395 workers), followed by Education at 12.8% (160), Construction at 9.1% (114), Retail at 7.8% and Hospitality at 6.0%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (355) edge out Professionals (303), with Sales (228), Labourers (214) and Clerical staff (208) close behind, a profile that explains the decile 2 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment reads 7.1% against a full-time rate of 57.7%, and participation is low at 42.1% because 2,288 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the median age of 50. The decile 1 IRSAD score, lowest advantage tier nationally, fits these income and occupation patterns, though real incomes still grew 10.5% over the decade.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
7,296
Unemployed
442
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
42.1%
Employed
1,798
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.6%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
2,083
Transport to Work
Daily life here is car-dependent: 89.4% of commuters drive, only 0.5% use public transport and 2.0% walk or cycle, well below the national reliance on active and public transport, a function of the low-density 965 residents per square kilometre layout. No schools are recorded inside the 5.66 square kilometre boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in surrounding Hervey Bay suburbs. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD and decile 2 on IRSD, both toward the disadvantaged end nationally, and 13.6% of residents (704 people) need daily assistance, higher than most areas because of the median age of 50. Volunteering runs at 12.9%, a modest civic engagement rate consistent with the aging, settled resident base.
Drive
89.4%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.87%/yr
(+146 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is expanding steadily rather than booming: annual growth registers 0.87%, adding about 146 people a year, and the area gained 8.8% over the past decade. Medium forecasts lift the wider catchment from 16,754 in 2026 to 17,485 by 2031, a continuation of the established trend rather than a surge. Net internal migration of 233 a year is the primary driver, with overseas migration adding a further 101, so growth comes from Australians relocating, often retirees drawn by affordability. The gentrification stage reads early signs at a score of 29, supported by population up 12% since 2011 and positive internal migration, but the decile 1 IRSAD base leaves substantial room before the area shifts upmarket.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+101
Net Internal / yr
+233
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +12% since 2011, Net internal migration +233/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kawungan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kawungan a good suburb to live in?
Kawungan suits buyers wanting affordable detached housing, with a $413,000 median house price and 84.4% separate houses. It scores decile 1 on IRSAD nationally, the lowest advantage tier, and the median age of 50 is 10 years above national, so it favours retirees and families over young professionals.
What is the median house price in Kawungan?
The median house price is $413,000, affordable by coastal Queensland standards. Weekly rent averages $340 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.3%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite local income in the 21.6th percentile.
What schools are in Kawungan?
No schools are recorded inside the 5.66 square kilometre Kawungan boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding Hervey Bay suburbs. University qualifications among residents sit at 17.6%, which is 12.5 points below the national figure.
Is Kawungan safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Kawungan in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, and 13.6% of its residents (704 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with an aging, settled residential area.
Is Kawungan good for property investment?
Rent of $340 a week against a $413,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.3%, well above the sub-2% yields of premium suburbs. The 5.7% vacancy rate is moderate, and net internal migration of 233 a year supports tenant demand, though returns lean toward income over rapid capital growth.
How is Kawungan's population changing?
Population is growing about 0.87% a year, roughly 146 people, and rose 8.8% over the past decade. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 8.8 points and the working-age share down 3.4 points, driven by net internal migration of 233 residents a year, largely relocating retirees.
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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