Suburb report · QLD 4805
Bowen
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
12,611
Bowen suburb profile
Who lives in Bowen
Bowen is a regional centre 961km from the Brisbane CBD. Bowen is one of the most populous suburbs in Queensland, with 12,611 residents, more than 89% of the state's suburbs. Among the 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, it ranks 33 by population. The median age of 41 is older than 61% of Queensland suburbs. Of the 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, 244 have a younger median age.
Income and home ownership
Median household income is $73,900, below the $98,100 of the median Queensland suburb. On household income it ranks 364 of 528 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD. Ownership runs at 60.7%, with 39.3% renting, at the 31st percentile of Queensland suburbs. Among Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD, 137 have a lower share of owner-occupiers than Bowen.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 4,046 occupied private dwellings in Bowen, one of the larger housing stocks in Queensland. Families with children are the largest household type at 35.4%, ahead of couples without children at 31.1% and people living alone at 29.2%. On the share of families with children it ranks 364 of 526 Queensland suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Brisbane CBD. The 35.4% share of families with children sits below most of Queensland, at the 25th percentile. At 31.1%, couples without children are more common here than in 70% of Queensland suburbs.
Housing supply
Approvals have surged: 64 new dwellings were approved across the Bowen statistical area in the year to June 2025, against its 2020 to 2024 average of 22 a year. Supply figures here are for the Bowen statistical area, home to 11,266 residents in 2025, which covers only part of Bowen. At 5.7 per 1,000 residents of that area, approvals run above the 3.2 of the median Queensland area. The busiest year for approvals since 2020 was 2025, with 64, and the quietest was 2020, with 8.
Population trend
The population of the Bowen statistical area surged 14.3% from 2020 to 2025, against 9.7% for Queensland as a whole. Over those 5 years a typical Queensland statistical area added 6.3%, putting this area 8 points ahead. That rate is faster than 85% of Queensland statistical areas. Growth was strongest in the year to 2023 (3.9%) and weakest in the year to 2021 (1.6%).
Against its neighbours
Of the suburbs profiled in the region listed below, Kelso differs most on the share of families with children: 52% there against 35.4% in Bowen. Kirwan is the closest match on the owner-occupied share, at 64.5% against 60.7%. At 155km, Andergrove counts 10,572 residents against 12,611 in Bowen.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Bowen data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Bowen statistical area, whose boundary differs from Bowen's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.