QLD 4670 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Sharon

At 48.08 square kilometres with just 1,209 residents, Sharon spreads across a low-density rural fringe near Bundaberg with a population density of 25.1 people per sq km, far below the national average for suburban areas. The median age of 47 is 7 years above national, and nearly half of all households own their home outright at 49.1%, pointing to a long-settled, mortgage-light community. Household income sits at the 36.3rd percentile nationally, and university qualifications at 14.6% run 15.5 points below the national figure, consistent with a working-class and trades-oriented population.

Sharon urban fabric map

Population

1,209

Median Age

47.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,375/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

3

Median House

$373K

Estimated from rent (2025)

48.08 km²· 25.1 people/km²· Family income $1,481/wk

The median house price of $373,000 (estimated from 2025 rent data) sits well below Queensland state medians, making Sharon one of the more affordable entry points in the Bundaberg region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,318, and at 22.1% of household income, the mortgage-to-income ratio stays below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is exclusively detached houses at 100%, with 46.3% having four or more bedrooms and 45.3% three bedrooms, favouring families seeking larger floor plans. With 49.1% of homes owned outright and only 6.9% renting, competition for listings is driven by owner-occupiers rather than investors, which can dampen price volatility compared to higher-rental suburbs.

For Buyers

The median house price of $373,000 (estimated from 2025 rent data) sits well below Queensland state medians, making Sharon one of the more affordable entry points in the Bundaberg region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,318, and at 22.1% of household income, the mortgage-to-income ratio stays below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is exclusively detached houses at 100%, with 46.3% having four or more bedrooms and 45.3% three bedrooms, favouring families seeking larger floor plans. With 49.1% of homes owned outright and only 6.9% renting, competition for listings is driven by owner-occupiers rather than investors, which can dampen price volatility compared to higher-rental suburbs.

For Investors

The rental market in Sharon is thin by design. Only 6.9% of dwellings are rented, far lower than Queensland or national averages, and the vacancy rate of 7.1% indicates supply exceeds current tenant demand. Weekly rent of $300 against an estimated median of $373,000 produces a gross yield around 4.2%, which is reasonable by regional QLD standards. Development activity is minimal at just 1 application in the past 12 months, a pool house, suggesting no near-term supply pressure. The low turnover rate of 24.7% and 75.3% of residents staying long-term signal stability but limited churn-driven demand. Investors seeking capital growth catalysts will find few in the current data.

Development Activity

Total DAs

3

Last 12 Months

3

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

Other
2
Swimming Pool / Spa
1

Schools in Sharon iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Sharon State School

ICSEA 936 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 21 students

Demographics

Sharon's median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, making it one of the older communities in regional QLD. The overseas-born share of 8.1% is 13.5 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (524), Irish (109) and Scottish (98). University qualifications at 14.6% run 15.5 points below national, which aligns with the trades-heavy workforce visible in industry data. Average household size is 2.8, slightly above the national average of 2.5, driven by the prevalence of couples with children (371 families) alongside 328 couples with no children. The volunteering rate is 15%, and 8% of residents require daily assistance, reflecting the older age profile.

Age Distribution

0-14
17.0%
15-24
10.8%
25-44
19.9%
45-64
28.9%
65+
23.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.5%
2 bed
6.9%
3 bed
45.3%
4+ bed
46.3%

Dwelling Structure

100.0%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 49.1% Mortgage 44.0% Rent 6.9%

Every dwelling in Sharon is a separate house, with the stock split almost evenly between three-bedroom homes at 45.3% and four-or-more-bedroom homes at 46.3%. Tenure is heavily owner-dominated: 49.1% own outright and 44.0% carry a mortgage, leaving just 6.9% renting. This near-absence of rental supply is unusual compared to most Queensland suburbs. Rent-to-income sits at 21.8%, well below stress levels. The median house price of $373,000 is affordable relative to state medians, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1% reinforces that current owners are not financially stretched despite household income ranking at the 36.3rd percentile nationally.

Mortgage / mo

$1,318

Rent / wk

$300

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$584

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

7.1%

Unoccupied

31

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.1%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
524
Irish
109
Scottish
98
German
96
Ancestry NS
77
Other
60

Household Composition

32.6%

Couples, no children

1,005

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 22.2% (67 workers), followed by Education at 13.6% (41) and Construction at 12.9% (39), with Manufacturing at 7.9% and Agriculture at 7.3% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Labourers (76) and Clerical/Admin workers (67) are the most common, with Professionals at 64. The unemployment rate of 6.5% is above typical metropolitan benchmarks, and the participation rate of 52.1% is low, partly because 379 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older demographic profile. Full-time employment accounts for 64.5% of employed residents. Household income sits at the 36.3rd percentile nationally, reflecting the blue-collar and part-time workforce composition.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

64.5%

Part-time

29.0%

Participation

52.1%

Employed

490

Occupations

Labourers 76
Clerical/Admin 67
Professionals 64
Community/Personal 63
Managers 61
Machinery/Drivers 53
Sales 47

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.2%
Education 13.6%
Construction 12.9%
Manufacturing 7.9%
Agriculture 7.3%

University

14.6%

Postgraduate

1.3%

Born Overseas

8.1%

Dwellings

401

Transport to Work

Sharon is car-dependent by necessity, with 89.1% of residents commuting by car, well above the national average, and public transport figures are unavailable for the area. There are no schools recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in nearby Bundaberg, which is the nearest major centre for the postcode 4670 catchment. Crime statistics are not available for Sharon specifically. Rental and mortgage stress are both low, with rent-to-income at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 22.1%. The volunteering rate of 15% indicates reasonable civic participation for a community of this size, and housing stress indicators suggest residents are managing costs comfortably relative to their incomes.

Drive

89.1%

Public Transport

N/A

Walk / Cycle

1.4%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Sharon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 26%
Household Income
Bottom 36%
Rent Level
Top 41%
Renters
Bottom 6%
Uni Educated
Bottom 17%
Born Overseas
Bottom 20%
Density
Top 35%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sharon a good suburb to live in?

Sharon suits households that prioritise space and affordability over urban amenity. With a median house price of $373,000, 100% detached housing and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1%, it is financially accessible. The trade-off is car dependency at 89.1% of commuters and no recorded schools in the suburb, requiring travel to Bundaberg for services.

What is the median house price in Sharon?

The median house price is estimated at $373,000 based on 2025 rent data. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments sit around $1,318. At the 36.3rd percentile for household income nationally, this price point makes Sharon relatively affordable compared to most Queensland coastal suburbs.

What schools are in Sharon?

No schools are recorded within the Sharon suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the postcode 4670 area typically access schools in nearby Bundaberg. University qualifications among Sharon residents stand at 14.6%, which is 15.5 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Sharon safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Sharon in the current data. As an indirect indicator, housing and mortgage stress levels are both low, with rent-to-income at 21.8% and the community showing high residential stability, with 75.3% of residents remaining in place over the census period.

Is Sharon good for property investment?

The investment case is mixed. Gross rental yield is around 4.2% with $300 weekly rent against a $373,000 median, reasonable by regional QLD standards. However, the rental pool is very thin at 6.9% of dwellings and the vacancy rate of 7.1% exceeds typical thresholds. Development activity was just 1 application in 12 months, suggesting low growth momentum.

How is Sharon's population changing?

Sharon's population was 1,209 at the last census, spread across 48.08 sq km. Formal growth forecasts are not available for this suburb. The community shows low residential turnover at 24.7% and a median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national average, indicating an aging, settled population rather than rapid in-migration.

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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