Urban Centre · Area profile
Proserpine
3 km²
A rapid surge in population defines Proserpine, which grew by 121% since 2011 to reach 3,440 people. The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with seniors making up nearly a quarter of residents. It is a predominantly Australian-born town where many people live alone or in one-parent families. This shift toward a larger and older population is reflected in a higher demand for health services and a rise in those needing daily assistance.
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The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than the national figure. There is a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence at 7.3%, a figure that has risen steadily since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 10% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the primary language for 90.8% of the community. Very few people speak another language at home (3.4%), which is far below the national figure.
Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 39.6% report no religion. This last figure has risen 5.0 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is a significant drop from 2011, when the figure was 14.8%.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,154 a week. Only 9.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen since 2011.
Health needs are high here, as 9.7% of people need help with daily activities, which is well above the national figure. Long-term health conditions are also more common, particularly mental health and arthritis.
Volunteer rates are a little above the national figure at 16.4%, although this is a big drop from 2011. Unpaid housework and childcare levels are generally in line with other areas.
Single-person households are common at 32.5%, well above the national figure. One-parent families are also much more frequent here than in most similar areas, at 21.6%.
Renting is much more common than in similar areas, with 36.6% of households renting. Typical weekly rent is $260, which is well below the national figure.
Most people drive to work, and very few use public transport. Homes without a motor vehicle are much more common here than in most similar areas.
The population is quite mobile, with 41.4% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 8.2% of the community.
Full-time employment is slightly above the national figure at 60.1%. The most common industries for workers are retail trade and health care.
The town is quite walkable, with 73.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities. Almost every home is within a short walk of a park.