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North West vs West Coast

Name: North West vs West Coast — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 95 km apart · North West profile · West Coast profile

North West West Coast

West Coast (Tas.) and North West are both sparsely populated areas of Tasmania. They differ sharply in their layout and demographics; West Coast (Tas.) is somewhat walkable, with 76.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, while North West is car-dependent and only 17.2% of homes have such access. West Coast (Tas.) is also older, with a typical resident aged 47, compared to 41 in North West. There is a notable gap in living arrangements, as 42.6% of people in West Coast (Tas.) live alone, which is far higher than the 25.9% seen in North West.

Both areas share similar rates of people born overseas, with around 11% in each. They also both have very low rates of commuting by public transport, mirroring the national trend of relying on cars in rural regions. Over time, some gaps have grown; for instance, the typical monthly home-loan payment is now $497 higher in North West than in West Coast (Tas.), a difference that has widened since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Living alone: 16.6 pts higher in West Coast Unemployment: 5.7 pts higher in West Coast Needs assistance: 4.9 pts higher in West Coast No car: 6.6 pts higher in West Coast Unpaid child care: 7.2 pts higher in North West

Demographics & Identity

Population in North West in West Coast +79 larger in West Coast gap narrowing

4,188 17th pct 4,267 18th pct

Median age in North West in West Coast +6 yrs older in West Coast gap widening

41 yrs 57th pct 47 yrs 84th pct

Age structure

28.8% Older adults (45–64) +2.8 pts ▸ 31.7%

23.9% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.1 pts 22.7%

17.3% Seniors (65+) +3.7 pts ▸ 20.9%

19.7% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.9 pts 15.8%

10.4% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.7 pts 8.7%

Marital status

49.0% Married ◂ +11.3 pts 37.7%

33.9% Never married +5.9 pts ▸ 39.7%

9.6% Divorced +1.7 pts ▸ 11.3%

4.6% Widowed +2.1 pts ▸ 6.7%

2.9% Separated +1.6 pts ▸ 4.5%

Age & sex structure

North West West Coast

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

78.6% Australia ◂ +1.1 pts 77.4%

3.1% New Zealand ◂ +1.5 pts 1.6%

2.7% England ◂ +0.1 pts 2.6%

0.3% South Africa +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Nepal +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% India +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% China even 0.1%

0.0% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.0% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

43.4% Australian ◂ +0.8 pts 42.6%

39.3% English +2.2 pts ▸ 41.4%

10.1% Irish ◂ +0.1 pts 10.0%

8.6% Scottish ◂ +1.4 pts 7.2%

2.8% German +1.7 pts ▸ 4.5%

2.5% Dutch ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

0.4% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.5% Filipino +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Indian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

87.3% English only ◂ +1.5 pts 85.9%

0.1% Mandarin +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.0% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Tagalog even 0.1%

0.0% Arabic even 0.0%

0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

0.0% Italian even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

47.7% No religion ◂ +2.4 pts 45.3%

38.2% Christianity +1.6 pts ▸ 39.7%

11.3% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 11.8%

1.7% Islam ◂ +1.4 pts 0.4%

0.4% Other religions +0.8 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in North West in West Coast +2 more in West Coast

4 57th pct 6 71st pct

Schools/1k kids in North West in West Coast +4.04 more in West Coast

4.86 86th pct 8.90 96th pct

Schools ≤3 km in North West in West Coast +2 more in North West

8 18th pct 6 12th pct

Students in North West in West Coast +250 more in West Coast

208 7th pct 458 15th pct

Avg size in North West in West Coast +24 larger in West Coast

52 1st pct 76 5th pct

ICSEA in North West in West Coast +35 higher in North West

937 14th pct 902 10th pct

Highest year of school

35.1% Year 10 ◂ +0.5 pts 34.6%

32.3% Year 12 ◂ +2.9 pts 29.4%

12.0% Year 9 or below +1.6 pts ▸ 13.7%

9.5% Year 11 +0.5 pts ▸ 10.0%

Highest qualification level

38.9% Certificate III / IV +1.5 pts ▸ 40.3%

15.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.3 pts 11.9%

12.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.8 pts 10.5%

4.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.7 pts 3.2%

3.5% Postgraduate degree +0.2 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.2% Graduate diploma / certificate even 1.3%

Field of qualification

14.7% Engineering & related +7.2 pts ▸ 22.0%

12.7% Management & commerce ◂ +1.4 pts 11.4%

9.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +7.0 pts 2.5%

9.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.4 pts 9.1%

7.8% Education ◂ +2.2 pts 5.6%

6.4% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.1 pts ▸ 7.5%

7.3% Health ◂ +1.3 pts 6.0%

4.3% Architecture & building +0.3 pts ▸ 4.6%

1.6% Creative arts +0.6 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.0% Information technology +0.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

Income

Personal income in North West in West Coast +$142 higher in North West gap widening

$690 27th pct $548 8th pct

Household income in North West in West Coast +$398 higher in North West gap widening

$1,356 25th pct $958 1st pct

Family income in North West in West Coast +$270 higher in North West gap widening

$1,676 24th pct $1,406 10th pct

Household income distribution

32.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.6 pts 29.4%

31.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +9.9 pts 21.4%

19.1% Under $650 +11.2 pts ▸ 30.2%

6.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.1 pts 4.9%

4.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.6%

Personal income distribution

43.1% Under $650 +6.5 pts ▸ 49.7%

32.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +9.7 pts 22.6%

13.2% $1,500–$2,999 +0.2 pts ▸ 13.4%

1.8% $3,000 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 2.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.4% Arthritis +2.7 pts ▸ 13.1%

7.0% Mental health +5.8 pts ▸ 12.8%

8.7% Asthma +1.1 pts ▸ 9.7%

6.3% Other condition +3.4 pts ▸ 9.7%

5.0% Diabetes +2.0 pts ▸ 7.0%

4.0% Heart disease +1.6 pts ▸ 5.6%

3.3% Cancer ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

2.0% Lung condition +1.3 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.7% Stroke +0.7 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.3% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.5% None ◂ +8.0 pts 53.5%

18.4% One condition +2.0 pts ▸ 20.4%

6.3% Two conditions +2.2 pts ▸ 8.4%

3.2% Three or more +2.7 pts ▸ 5.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in North West in West Coast +242 larger in North West

589 84th pct 347 70th pct

Median age in North West in West Coast +6 yrs older in West Coast

25 yrs 57th pct 31 yrs 88th pct

Median income in North West in West Coast +$125 higher in North West

$612 45th pct $487 16th pct

Household income in North West in West Coast +$181 higher in North West

$1,493 37th pct $1,312 24th pct

Family & Households

Household size in North West in West Coast +0.5 larger in North West gap widening

2.5 43rd pct 2.0 7th pct

Family composition

55.1% Couples with children ◂ +11.2 pts 43.9%

32.8% Couples without children +5.2 pts ▸ 38.0%

11.3% One-parent families +6.1 pts ▸ 17.4%

0.7% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Household size

25.9% 1 person +16.6 pts ▸ 42.6%

39.3% 2 people ◂ +4.7 pts 34.6%

12.6% 3 people ◂ +2.9 pts 9.7%

11.3% 4 people ◂ +2.7 pts 8.6%

6.8% 5 people ◂ +3.6 pts 3.2%

3.5% 6 or more ◂ +2.3 pts 1.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in North West in West Coast +$40 higher in North West gap widening

$200 7th pct $160 2nd pct

Mortgage in North West in West Coast +$497 higher in North West gap widening

$1,147 9th pct $650 0th pct

People / bedroom in North West in West Coast +0.10 higher in North West gap widening

0.80 29th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.3% Owned outright +5.9 pts ▸ 45.2%

32.6% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +9.4 pts 23.3%

16.6% Rented +8.7 pts ▸ 25.3%

8.7% Other tenure ◂ +4.8 pts 3.9%

2.5% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 2.2%

Types of homes

97.3% Separate house ◂ +3.8 pts 93.5%

0.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.9 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.4% Flat or apartment +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

53.5% 3 bedrooms +5.4 pts ▸ 58.9%

20.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +7.8 pts 12.6%

15.0% 2 bedrooms +4.4 pts ▸ 19.3%

4.9% 5 or more ◂ +2.7 pts 2.2%

3.1% 1 bedroom +1.3 pts ▸ 4.4%

0.5% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

36.8% Under $200 +30.9 pts ▸ 67.7%

50.8% $200–$349 ◂ +27.4 pts 23.4%

4.0% $350–$549 ◂ +1.7 pts 2.3%

0.0% $750 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.1% Under $1,000 +34.5 pts ▸ 71.6%

39.7% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +20.7 pts 19.0%

12.6% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +8.5 pts 4.1%

5.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.0 pts 2.1%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in North West in West Coast +3 more in North West

20 30th pct 17 26th pct

Stops/1k in North West in West Coast +0.79 more in North West

4.78 57th pct 3.98 45th pct

Departures/1k in North West in West Coast +31.4 more in West Coast

36.8 15th pct 68.2 17th pct

PT routes in North West in West Coast +1 more in West Coast

1 7th pct 2 14th pct

How people get to work

62.2% Car (driver) +1.5 pts ▸ 63.7%

11.4% Worked at home ◂ +7.0 pts 4.4%

5.2% Walked +4.2 pts ▸ 9.4%

3.7% Car (passenger) +2.1 pts ▸ 5.8%

0.0% Bus +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

27.9% 1 vehicle +16.1 pts ▸ 44.1%

41.4% 2 vehicles ◂ +9.8 pts 31.6%

17.6% 3 vehicles ◂ +6.3 pts 11.3%

11.2% 4 or more ◂ +6.6 pts 4.6%

1.6% No vehicle +6.6 pts ▸ 8.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

32.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +27.5 pts 5.1%

2.4% Mining +19.6 pts ▸ 22.0%

6.8% Accommodation & food +7.6 pts ▸ 14.4%

12.0% Manufacturing ◂ +11.0 pts 1.0%

6.7% Education & training +1.9 pts ▸ 8.6%

6.1% Retail trade +2.0 pts ▸ 8.1%

6.5% Health care & social assistance +0.7 pts ▸ 7.1%

3.1% Transport & warehousing +2.9 pts ▸ 6.0%

5.8% Construction ◂ +1.6 pts 4.2%

2.2% Public administration & safety +2.9 pts ▸ 5.1%

1.8% Administrative & support +3.2 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.7% Other services +1.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

26.0% Managers ◂ +15.6 pts 10.5%

21.0% Labourers ◂ +3.6 pts 17.4%

10.5% Technicians & trades +5.6 pts ▸ 16.1%

8.5% Machinery operators & drivers +7.2 pts ▸ 15.7%

9.1% Community & personal service +4.3 pts ▸ 13.5%

10.0% Professionals ◂ +0.2 pts 9.8%

7.2% Clerical & administrative +0.9 pts ▸ 8.1%

5.9% Sales workers +0.9 pts ▸ 6.8%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in North West in West Coast +2 higher in North West

3 29th pct 1 0th pct

IRSD decile in North West in West Coast +2 higher in North West

3 29th pct 1 0th pct

IER decile in North West in West Coast +4 higher in North West

5 43rd pct 1 0th pct

IEO decile in North West in West Coast +1 higher in North West

2 14th pct 1 0th pct

IRSAD score in North West in West Coast +89 higher in North West

933 23rd pct 844 3rd pct

ERP in North West in West Coast +80 higher in North West

4,400 17th pct 4,320 16th pct

Growth in North West in West Coast +3.7 pts higher in North West

2.7% 33rd pct -1.1% 7th pct

Businesses in North West in West Coast +369 higher in North West

551 28th pct 182 8th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in North West in West Coast +2,041 higher in West Coast

1,306 81st pct 3,347 100th pct

Max temp in North West in West Coast +4.0 higher in North West

16.2 0th pct 12.2 0th pct

Min temp in North West in West Coast +3.4 higher in North West

9.2 17th pct 5.8 0th pct

Walkability

Walk score in North West in West Coast +3.8 higher in West Coast

1.4 7th pct 5.2 46th pct

Types ≤15 min in North West in West Coast +4.3 more in West Coast

1.4 7th pct 5.7 57th pct

15-min city in North West in West Coast +52.1 pts higher in West Coast

14.4% 9th pct 66.5% 51st pct

Walk to shops in North West in West Coast +59.1 pts higher in West Coast

17.2% 11th pct 76.4% 62nd pct

Walk to transit in North West in West Coast +40.6 pts higher in West Coast

20.7% 15th pct 61.3% 28th pct

Walk to school in North West in West Coast +47.4 pts higher in West Coast

18.6% 10th pct 66.0% 43rd pct

Walk to a park in North West in West Coast +52.4 pts higher in West Coast

31.1% 7th pct 83.5% 30th pct

Walk to health in North West in West Coast +65.4 pts higher in West Coast

0.0% 0th pct 65.4% 66th pct

Amenities/1k in North West in West Coast +3.9 more in North West

35.8 86th pct 31.9 86th pct

Intersections/km² in North West in West Coast even

0 3rd pct 0 4th pct

Mean slope in North West in West Coast +1.4 pts higher in West Coast

6.3% 65th pct 7.8% 80th pct

Compare North West with nearby areas

Smithton Waratah Wynyard Somerset Parklands - Camdale Romaine - Havenview Acton - Upper Burnie Burnie - Wivenhoe

Compare West Coast with nearby areas

Waratah Wilderness - West Deloraine Burnie - Ulverstone Surrounds Romaine - Havenview North West Somerset Acton - Upper Burnie

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). North West vs West Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/604031094/north-west/vs/604031097/west-coast