Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Bowen suburb profile
Bowen, QLD · Postcode 4805
This Bowen suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Bowen, QLD (postcode 4805). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Bowen with nearby suburbs.
Bowen at a glance
Population
11,205
Median rent
$270/wk
Household income
$1,343/wk
Median age
42
Bowen trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+9.1% over 10 years
Population
11,205
was 10,377 in 2016
+828 · +8%
Median rent
$270/wk
was $250/wk in 2016
+$20 · +8%
Household income
$1,343/wk
was $1,093/wk in 2016
+$250 · +22.9%
Median age
42
was 41 in 2016
+1 · +2.4%
Dig deeper: Bowen population growth · Bowen then and now
Bowen vs nearby & QLD
Median Census 2021 figures for Bowen, nearby suburbs (8), and the QLD state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-27% vs area
- Bowen$270/wk
- Nearby$293/wk
- QLD$370/wk
Household income
-21.9% vs area
- Bowen$1,343/wk
- Nearby$1,489/wk
- QLD$1,719/wk
Median age
+7.7% vs area
- Bowen42
- Nearby42
- QLD39
Personal income
-10.2% vs area
- Bowen$710/wk
- Nearby$807.5/wk
- QLD$791/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD.
Socio-economic profile
How Bowen compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Bowen sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2925.7
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2897.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2945.6
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 1862
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Bowen on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Bowen, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Bowen people
- Population
- 11,205
- Median age
- 42
- Born overseas
- 14.5%
- Average household size
- 2.4
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Bowen income
- Median household income
- $1,343/wk
- Median personal income
- $710/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Bowen housing
- Median rent
- $270/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,500/mo
- Separate houses
- 72.1%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.3%
- Owned outright
- 28.7%
- Mortgaged
- 21.6%
- Rented
- 32.5%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 13.3%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Bowen work
- Employment to population
- 53.4%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 37.3%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4805)
Compare Bowen with nearby suburbs
Bowen in numbers
Bowen had 11,205 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 94th most populous suburb or locality in QLD out of 3,110. The median age is 42, 5% above the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 2.4 people. 14.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 28.7% own their home outright, 21.6% are paying a mortgage, 32.5% rent. Separate houses make up 72.1% of dwellings, with 0.3% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $270/wk, 23% below the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $1,343/wk, 20% below the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.8%. 37.3% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 8% (from 10,377 to 11,205). Median rent moved from $250/wk to $270/wk (+8%).
Bowen suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Bowen, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Bowen was $270/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Bowen, QLD?
- Bowen had 11,205 residents at the 2021 Census, up 8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Bowen?
- Median household income in Bowen was $1,343/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Bowen?
- 32.5% of occupied homes in Bowen were rented, 28.7% were owned outright and 21.6% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Bowen suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Bowen. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology