Urban Centre · Area profile
Mapleton
1 km²
Most residents in Mapleton enjoy a walkable lifestyle with easy access to shops and parks. It is a notably older community where the typical resident is 58, and over a third are aged 65 or over. While the population shrank by 46% since 2011, the area has seen a significant increase in highly qualified adults and those who own their homes outright. This blend of retirees and professionals creates a quiet, established character in the Sunshine Coast region.
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The population is far older than the national figure, with 37.4% of people aged 65 and over. This is a stark change from 2011, when only 9.6% were seniors. Meanwhile, children under 15 make up only 12.1% of the community, which is well below the state and national figures.
People born overseas make up 22.8% of the population, a figure that is about the same as the Queensland average. English is the most common ancestry at 53.1%, followed by Australian and Scottish heritage.
English is the primary language for 88.6% of residents, and only 3.3% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure. A small number of people, 0.9%, speak little or no English.
Religious affiliation is split, with 45.9% identifying as Christian and 40.0% reporting no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 18 points since 2011.
The area has a highly educated workforce, with 24.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is a significant increase from 2011, when only 6.9% had such a qualification.
Typical weekly household incomes are much lower than most areas at $993, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, and typical personal incomes have fallen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are far more common here than in most areas, affecting 39.9% of residents. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 17.1%, while 11.6% of people have a mental health condition.
Volunteering is very common, with 25.3% of people volunteering, far above the national figure. Unpaid care is also frequent, with 15.1% of people providing unpaid care and 32.1% doing a lot of housework.
Homes tend to be small, with only 2.0 people per home, well below the national average of 2.5. This is consistent with the older population, as 33.6% of people live alone.
A high 52.1% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. While 80.3% of dwellings are separate houses, the proportion of homes with three or more bedrooms fell 20 points since 2011.
Cars are the primary way to get around, and no one uses public transport to commute. Working from home is more common than in most areas, with 13.1% of the workforce doing so.
The community is relatively mobile, with 40.0% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 5.2% of the population, which is well below the state and national averages.
A much smaller proportion of adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 40.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, which is a little above the national figure of 5.1%.
The area is very walkable, with 95.6% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a variety of amenities. Almost every home is within a short walk of a park, health services, and groceries.