Urban Area · Area profile
Rockhampton
580 km²
Situated in the heart of Queensland, Rockhampton is a large regional centre with a notably young population. The typical resident is only 36, and children under 15 make up more than 20% of the community. This younger profile helps explain why homes are often larger and family-focused. It is a place where traditional Australian roots remain strong, though there has been a significant increase in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population since 2011.
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The community is much younger than most areas, with the typical age falling to 36 years. There is a strong Indigenous presence at 8.7%, which is well above the national figure and has risen sharply since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (10.1%) than the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 85.6% of people, and the number of people using another language at home is well below the state average at 6.6%.
Over half of the population identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 37.4% of the area, which is well below the Queensland figure.
The area has a lower proportion of adults with a university degree (14.4%) compared to the national figure. However, more people have completed Year 12 than in many similar areas.
Typical weekly family incomes are about the same as the national figure at $1,958. High earners are more common here than in many similar areas, with 9.9% of people earning $2,000 or more per week.
More people need help with daily activities here (7.3%) than in most areas. Long-term health conditions are also slightly more common than the state average, with mental health and arthritis being the most reported.
Unpaid childcare is very common, with 28.1% of people caring for children. In contrast, the proportion of volunteers has fallen since 2011 to 13.6%.
Families are typically larger than usual, with 2.5 people per home. There is also a much higher rate of one-parent families (19.2%) compared to the national average.
Detached houses are very dominant at 87.8%, far above the national figure. Rent is much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly rent of $290.
Cars are the primary way to get around, and very few people (4.2%) work from home compared to the national figure. Only 1% of the workforce commutes by public transport.
Recent arrivals from overseas are much more common here than in most other areas, with 18.1% arriving in the last five years.
Full-time employment is well above the national average at 62.3%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, social assistance, and education.
Most residents live within a short walk of a park or school, though almost no one is within a 10-minute walk of public transport.