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 is approximately 9,576 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 718 people, an 8.1% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 8,858. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,414 in June 2024 and an additional 209 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 4.6 persons per square kilometer. Proserpine's growth of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeds the SA4 region's growth of 7.4%, 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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings using ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is expected in Australia's regional areas. The area is projected to expand by 1,698 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 16.0% over the 17 years.

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

Proserpine has seen approximately 44 new homes approved each year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 224 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. As of now, there have been 6 approvals in FY-26. On average, around 3.3 new residents arrive per dwelling constructed each year over these five financial years.

This indicates that demand is outpacing supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $1,715,000, demonstrating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $39.8 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

Compared to the rest of Queensland, Proserpine has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. Nationally, it places among the 71st percentile of areas assessed for new dwelling approvals. New building activity shows 97.0% standalone homes and 3.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 184 people per approval, Proserpine reflects an area experiencing development growth. Future projections show Proserpine adding approximately 1,536 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects likely to affect the region. Notable 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 most relevant.

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

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

Proserpine has a balanced workforce consisting of white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominently featured. Its unemployment rate was 2.2% in the past year, experiencing an estimated employment growth of 1.7%.

As of June 2025, 4,747 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8%, below Rest of Qld's 3.9%. Workforce participation was on par with Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries employing Proserpine residents are construction, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. The area has a significant employment specialization in mining, with a 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 may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, 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 had employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National unemployment was 4.5%, with national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Proserpine's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.4% over five years and 11.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Proserpine had a median taxpayer income of $51,450 and an average income of $65,461. Nationally, the median was $50,780 and the average was $64,844. By March 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 11.71%, estimated incomes in Proserpine are approximately $57,475 (median) and $73,126 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Proserpine rank modestly, between the 31st and 33rd percentiles. The predominant income cohort spans 31.7% of locals, with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999. 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

In Proserpine, as per the latest Census evaluation, 89.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.9% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's figures of 74.7% houses and 25.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Proserpine stood at 39.7%, with mortgaged properties 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 $350 in Non-Metro Qld. Nationally, Proserpine's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,560 than 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 account for 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 constitute 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, 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%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent 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 three schools have a combined enrollment of 2,461 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 989) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes one primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. As an education hub, the area has 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 operational public transport stops. All these stops serve buses. There is one route providing service to all stops.

This route facilitates 89 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents' access to public transport is limited, with an average distance of 6407 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 12 trips per day across all routes, which translates to roughly 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 is approximately 52% of the total population (~5,017 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.6 and 7.5% of residents respectively. 67.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 73.3% across Rest of Qld. The area has 21.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,075 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors 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, as per the findings, exhibited lower cultural diversity levels compared to averages. Its population composition was predominantly Australian citizens, with 87.7% of residents holding citizenship status and 88.2% having been born in Australia. The majority spoke English at home, standing at 97.1%.

Christianity emerged as the primary religion in Proserpine, accounting for 54.8% of its population, which is higher than the regional average of 45.3%. Examining ancestry based on parental birth countries, the top three groups in Proserpine were English (32.5%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (8.4%). Notably, some ethnic groups showed variations from regional norms: German representation was higher at 4.8% compared to the regional average of 4.3%, New Zealand-born residents were lower at 0.8% versus 1.1%, and Maltese representation remained consistent with regional averages at 0.5%.

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

Proserpine's median age is 45, which is older than Queensland's figure of 41 and above the national average of 38. The age profile shows 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 grown from 6.1% to 7.0% of Proserpine's population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 15.2% to 14.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Proserpine's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is expected to grow by 53%, reaching 1,018 people from its current figure of 667. Meanwhile, numbers in the 15 to 24 age range are projected to fall by 30%.