Urban Centre · Area profile
Proston
1 km²
A far older population than the national average defines Proston, where the typical resident is 52. This small community has shrunk by 20% since 2011 and is now primarily made up of seniors and people living alone. The area is marked by low typical incomes and a high number of residents needing help with daily activities, reflecting its ageing character. It remains a predominantly Australian-born settlement with a strong tradition of volunteering.
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Seniors make up 32.4% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. The number of people aged 65 and over has risen by 18 points since 2011, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has also grown to 5.7%.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 5.7% born overseas—far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 46.6% and 40.9% respectively.
English is the primary language for 86.8% of residents, and the proportion of people using another language at home has fallen to 2.8%. This is far below the 22.3% seen across Australia.
Nearly half of the residents (46.3%) identify as Christian. Those with no religion make up 38.1% of the community, a figure that has risen by 21 points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than most areas, with only 8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Typical weekly household income is just $762, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. No households in the area earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here, as 43.8% of people have a long-term health condition. This helps explain why 13.9% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national figure of 5.8%.
Community spirit is strong, with 29.1% of people volunteering—far above the national figure of 14.1%. This is consistent with a high rate of people providing unpaid care (20.7%) and doing unpaid housework (31.6%).
Homes are small, with only 2.0 people per home, and 42.9% of residents live alone. This is far above the national figure of 25.6%.
Most people own their homes outright (55.6%), which is far above the national figure of 31%. For those who rent, the typical weekly rent of $180 is far below the national figure of $375.
Car travel is the main way to get to work, as 0% of residents use public transport to commute. About 9.2% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national figure of 7.4%.
The population is relatively stable, with 33.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
Only 32.1% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national figure of 61.1%. The unemployment rate is 7.9%, which is a little above the national figure of 5.1%.
The area is quite walkable for basic needs, with 97.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and 95.6% near groceries. However, no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.