Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Palm Island

89 km²

Palm Island stands out for one of the youngest populations in the country, with an unusually renter-heavy population.

It also has few over-65s and rents well below most areas.

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📍 Palm Island, Suburb / Locality

Demographics & Identity

Total population2,138▼ -10.2%since 2011 Median age27 yrs▲ +12.5%since 2011 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population89.7%People aged 65 and over5.1%Children under 1530.8%People in a de facto relationship29.1%▲ +7.0%since 2011

Age & sex structure

Age structure

Palm Island splits fairly evenly between Children (0–14) (31%) and Young adults (25–44) (27%), with Older adults (45–64) at 21%.

Children (0–14)30.8%

Young adults (25–44)26.7%

Older adults (45–64)21.0%

Youth (15–24)16.0%

Seniors (65+)5.1%

Marital status

In Palm Island, Never married is the majority at 85%; Married is next at 9%.

Never married85%
Married9%
Widowed2%
Separated2%
Divorced1%

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

In Palm Island, Australia is the majority at 99%; England is next at 0%.

Australia92.5%

England0.4%

New Zealand0.3%

Philippines0.2%

Ancestry

In Palm Island, the largest group is Australian at 44%, followed by English (35%) and Irish (5%).

Australian5.6%

English4.4%

Irish0.7%

Chinese0.5%

Scottish0.4%

Italian0.4%

German0.3%

Indian0.2%

Greek0.2%

Filipino0.2%

Language

People using another language at home40.4%

Language used at home

In Palm Island, English only is the majority at 100%.

English only53.0%

Religion

People with no religion16.8%

Religious affiliation

In Palm Island, Christianity is the majority at 81%; No religion is next at 18%.

Christianity81%
No religion18%
Other religions0%
Islam0%

Education & Qualifications

Completed Year 1227.1%Adults with a bachelor degree or higher4.6%

Highest year of school

Palm Island splits fairly evenly between Year 12 (30%) and Year 10 (29%), with Year 9 or below at 24%.

Year 1227.1%

Year 1026.6%

Year 9 or below22.0%

Year 1115.4%

Highest qualification level

In Palm Island, Certificate III / IV is the majority at 50%; Bachelor degree is next at 17%.

Certificate III / IV31.6%

Bachelor degree10.5%

Advanced diploma / diploma9.8%

Certificate I / II6.1%

Postgraduate degree3.0%

Graduate diploma / certificate2.0%

Field of qualification

Palm Island splits fairly evenly between Society & culture (18%) and Education (18%), with Health at 16%.

Society & culture10.9%

Education10.5%

Health9.8%

Architecture & building7.3%

Management & commerce7.0%

Engineering & related6.8%

Food, hospitality & personal services4.8%

Agriculture & environment1.8%

Natural & physical sciences0.7%

Income

Median personal income (weekly)$384▲ +31.5%since 2011 Median household income (weekly)$973▼ -17.5%since 2011 Median family income (weekly)$898▼ -4.5%since 2011 People earning $2,000+ a week2.5%Households earning $3,000+ a week6.5%

Household income distribution

In Palm Island, the largest group is $650–$1,499 at 38%, followed by Under $650 (29%) and $1,500–$2,999 (26%).

$650–$1,49934.4%

Under $65026.7%

$1,500–$2,99923.7%

$4,000 or more3.6%

$3,000–$3,9992.8%

Personal income distribution

In Palm Island, Under $650 is the majority at 71%; $650–$1,499 is next at 22%.

Under $65064.8%

$650–$1,49919.9%

$1,500–$2,9995.4%

$3,000 or more0.7%

Health & Disability

People with a long-term health condition14.8%People with a mental health condition2.2%People needing help with daily activities3.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

In Palm Island, None is the majority at 84%; One condition is next at 12%.

None76.7%

One condition11.3%

Two conditions2.0%

Three or more1.4%

Long-term health conditions reported

In Palm Island, the largest group is Diabetes at 31%, followed by Heart disease (18%) and Other condition (14%).

Diabetes7.1%

Heart disease4.2%

Other condition3.3%

Asthma2.8%

Mental health2.2%

Arthritis1.8%

Cancer0.5%

Lung condition0.5%

Dementia0.4%

Stroke0.4%

Community Participation

Volunteers5.4%People providing unpaid care10.6%People caring for children unpaid32.5%People who served in the Defence Force1.4%People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework10.3%

Family & Households

Average household size3.7▼ -21.3%since 2011 One-parent families38.7%People living alone21.1%▲ +70.2%since 2011

Family composition

In Palm Island, the largest group is Couples with children at 46%, followed by One-parent families (39%) and Couples without children (10%).

Couples with children46%
One-parent families39%
Couples without children10%
Other families5%

Household size

Palm Island splits fairly evenly between 6 or more (24%) and 1 person (21%), with 2 people at 19%.

6 or more24.3%

1 person21.1%

2 people19.0%

3 people13.0%

4 people12.6%

5 people10.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Median rent (weekly)$125▲ +25.0%since 2011 Median mortgage repayment (monthly)$2,167—since 2011 Average people per bedroom1.20▼ -33.3%since 2011 Households renting91.9%Homes owned outright1.6%Separate (detached) houses86.4%Homes with three or more bedrooms67.6%▼ -2.8%since 2011

How homes are owned or rented

In Palm Island, Rented is the majority at 95%; Other tenure is next at 4%.

Rented95%
Other tenure4%
Owned outright2%

Types of homes

In Palm Island, Separate house is the majority at 88%; Flat or apartment is next at 8%.

Separate house88%
Flat or apartment8%
Other dwelling3%
Townhouse / semi-detached1%

Bedrooms per home

In Palm Island, the largest group is 3 bedrooms at 42%, followed by 2 bedrooms (25%) and 4 bedrooms (23%).

3 bedrooms40.5%

2 bedrooms23.9%

4 bedrooms22.3%

5 or more4.9%

1 bedroom4.3%

Weekly rent distribution

In Palm Island, Under $200 is the majority at 95%; $200–$349 is next at 5%.

Under $20092.1%

$200–$3494.4%

Transport & Vehicles

Homes with no motor vehicle49.4%▼ -17.1%since 2011

Motor vehicles per home

In Palm Island, the largest group is No vehicle at 50%, followed by 1 vehicle (35%) and 2 vehicles (12%).

No vehicle49.4%

1 vehicle35.1%

2 vehicles11.8%

3 vehicles2.3%

4 or more0.6%

How people get to work

Palm Island splits fairly evenly between Walked (41%) and Car (driver) (39%), with Car (passenger) at 14%.

Walked35.6%

Car (driver)33.4%

Car (passenger)11.6%

Bus4.4%

Worked at home0.8%

Migration & Movement

People who moved in the last 5 years14.8%Recent arrivals from overseas36.4%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment rate9.5%Labour-force participation27.3%Employed full-time53.9%

Industries people work in

In Palm Island, the largest group is Health care & social assistance at 33%, followed by Education & training (23%) and Public administration & safety (16%).

Health care & social assistance30.9%

Education & training21.8%

Public administration & safety14.6%

Accommodation & food6.4%

Retail trade5.8%

Administrative & support4.1%

Transport & warehousing2.5%

Professional & technical2.5%

Construction2.2%

Arts & recreation1.4%

Occupations people work in

In Palm Island, the largest group is Community & personal service at 39%, followed by Professionals (19%) and Clerical & administrative (11%).

Community & personal service38.1%

Professionals18.8%

Clerical & administrative10.2%

Labourers8.0%

Technicians & trades7.7%

Managers6.9%

Machinery operators & drivers3.9%

Sales workers3.6%

Nearby areas

Taylors Beach (Qld)Forrest Beach (Qld)Halifax Braemeadows Lucinda Balgal Beach Orient Rollingstone

👥 Demographics & Identity