Proserpine
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Proserpine are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Proserpine's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 9,586 people. This figure represents an increase of 728 individuals, equivalent to an 8.2% rise since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,858. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,414 in June 2024 and an additional 213 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4.6 persons per square kilometer. Proserpine's growth rate surpassed that of its SA4 region (7.5%), positioning it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 86.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so proportional growth weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, Proserpine is expected to experience above median population growth among Australia's regional areas. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 1,698 persons, reflecting a total increase of 15.9% over the 17-year period, using the latest population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Proserpine among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Proserpine has seen approximately 44 new homes approved annually. Between the financial years FY21 and FY25, a total of 224 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY26 to date. On average, over these five years, around 3.3 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed each year.

This indicates that supply is lagging behind demand, potentially leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction cost value of new homes in Proserpine is $1,039,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, there have been $39.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

Compared to the rest of Queensland, Proserpine has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 71st percentile nationally. New building activity consists predominantly of standalone homes at 97.0%, with attached dwellings making up the remaining 3.0%. This maintains the area's traditional low-density character, appealing to those seeking space in family homes. With around 184 people per approval, Proserpine reflects a developing area. Future projections indicate that Proserpine will add approximately 1,526 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Proserpine has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

A total of 32 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include the Proserpine Hospital Acute Primary Care Clinic Upgrade, Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road Upgrades (Hamilton Plains Flood Immunity and Cannonvale Capacity), Proserpine Urban Expansion Water and Sewer Infrastructure, and Proserpine Replacement Police Facility and Courthouse. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Proserpine ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Proserpine's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent.

The unemployment rate was 2.2% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.7% over the previous year. As of this date, 4,747 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8%, below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was at par with Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are construction, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.

Proserpine has a specialization in mining, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 10.0% compared to Rest of Qld's 16.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data. In the 12 months prior, employment increased by 1.7%, while labour force decreased by 0.3%, causing a 2.0 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded an employment growth of 1.8% and a rise in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Proserpine's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.4% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Proserpine had a median income among taxpayers of $51,450 and an average level of $65,461. Nationally, the figures are approximately similar at $50,780 and $64,844 respectively for Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $58,648 (median) and $74,619 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Proserpine rank modestly, between the 31st and 33rd percentiles. Income analysis reveals that the predominant cohort spans 31.7% of locals (3,038 people) with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. After housing costs, 86.2% of income remains for other expenses.

Proserpine is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Proserpine's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.1% houses and 10.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 74.7% houses and 25.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Proserpine stood at 39.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.7% and rented ones at 22.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,560, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,700. The median weekly rent in Proserpine was $276, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $350. Nationally, Proserpine's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,560 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Proserpine has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.5% of all households, including 29.1% couples with children, 32.7% couples without children, and 10.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.5%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Proserpine fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 11.8%, substantially below Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (37.0%). Educational participation is high at 28.9%, including 12.2% in primary education, 10.2% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Proserpine's schools have a combined enrollment of 2,461 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 989) and balanced educational opportunities. The area has one primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school, functioning as an education hub with 25.7 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 13.8, attracting students from surrounding communities.

Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Proserpine has 14 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. There is one route serving these stops that provides a total of 89 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system in Proserpine is limited, with residents typically located 6407 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 12 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Proserpine is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Proserpine faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover in Proserpine is approximately 52%, leading that of the average SA2 area. This translates to around 5,023 people. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.6% and 7.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 73.3% across the Rest of Qld. Proserpine has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 21.7%, with around 2,077 people falling into this category, compared to 15.4% in the Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors in Proserpine are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Proserpine is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Proserpine had a cultural diversity score below average, with 87.7% citizens, 88.2% born in Australia, and 97.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 54.8% of Proserpine's population, compared to 45.3% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.5%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (8.4%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 4.8%, while New Zealand and Maltese each had 0.8% and 0.5% respectively, differing from regional percentages of 1.1% and 0.5%.

Proserpine hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Proserpine's median age is 45, which is higher than Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and also above the national average of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 65-74 make up 12.8%, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 9.1%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 6.1% to 7.0% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 15.2% to 14.3%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Proserpine's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 52%, reaching 1,018 people from 668. Conversely, the number of individuals aged 15-24 is expected to decrease by 31%.