# St Helens vs St Marys — 2021 Census comparison

Urban Centre comparison · about 27 km apart

St Helens and St Marys (L) are two nearby Tasmanian areas with distinct layouts and housing patterns. St Marys (L) is more walkable, with far more homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and public transport. St Helens has a higher share of renters at 30.7% and a higher proportion of people aged 65 and over, who make up 38.7% of its population. In contrast, St Marys (L) has a higher share of separate houses at 93.3% and a larger proportion of people with no religion at 51.0%.

Since 2011, the two areas have tracked in opposite directions across several measures. The gap in the proportion of seniors and renters has narrowed, while the difference in the share of people with no religion has grown. Despite these shifts, they remain very similar in other ways; they share almost identical typical weekly household incomes and a similar proportion of people born overseas.

## Where they differ most

- Population: 1,079 larger in St Helens
- Renting: 11.1 pts higher in St Helens
- People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in St Marys
- Separate houses: 10.1 pts higher in St Marys
- No religion: 10.0 pts higher in St Marys

## Demographics & Identity

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 1,573 | 494 | 1,079 larger in St Helens | gap steady |
| Median age | 59 yrs | 55 yrs | 4 yrs older in St Helens | gap narrowing |
| First Nations | 4.6% | 2.4% | 2.2 pts higher in St Helens | gap steady |
| Aged 65+ | 38.7% | 30.4% | 8.3 pts higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |
| Under 15 | 11.1% | 13.2% | 2.0 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |
| De facto | 12.8% | 12.8% |  | gap narrowing |

### Age structure

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Seniors (65+) | 38.7% | 30.4% | +8.3 |
| Older adults (45–64) | 27.1% | 37.0% | -9.9 |
| Young adults (25–44) | 16.5% | 12.3% | +4.1 |
| Children (0–14) | 11.1% | 13.2% | -2.0 |
| Youth (15–24) | 6.3% | 7.5% | -1.2 |

### Marital status

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Married | 41.5% | 46.0% | -4.5 |
| Never married | 27.0% | 32.8% | -5.7 |
| Divorced | 17.4% | 13.3% | +4.2 |
| Widowed | 10.3% | 7.2% | +3.1 |
| Separated | 3.9% | 2.3% | +1.6 |

### Age profile

Share of each region's population by age band and sex.

| Age band | St Helens male | St Helens female | St Marys male | St Marys female |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0–4 | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.0% |
| 5–9 | 1.4% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| 10–14 | 1.8% | 1.9% | 3.6% | 2.2% |
| 15–19 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| 20–24 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| 25–29 | 2.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| 30–34 | 1.6% | 2.3% | 0.0% | 2.0% |
| 35–39 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.4% |
| 40–44 | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| 45–49 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 3.0% |
| 50–54 | 2.1% | 3.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| 55–59 | 3.8% | 4.0% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| 60–64 | 4.4% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 4.8% |
| 65–69 | 4.6% | 5.0% | 6.3% | 3.4% |
| 70–74 | 6.0% | 5.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| 75–79 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| 80–84 | 3.0% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.0% |
| 85+ | 1.7% | 2.8% | 1.4% | 1.8% |

## Ancestry & Birthplace

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Born overseas | 15.1% | 14.4% | 0.8 pts higher in St Helens | gap steady |

### Country of birth

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australia | 76.5% | 79.6% | -3.0 |
| England | 5.8% | 6.3% | -0.5 |
| New Zealand | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.0 |
| Nepal | 1.1% | 0.0% | +1.1 |
| Philippines | 1.0% | 1.0% | -0.1 |
| China | 0.2% | 0.8% | -0.6 |
| South Africa | 0.5% | 0.0% | +0.5 |
| India | 0.4% | 0.0% | +0.4 |
| Italy | 0.2% | 0.0% | +0.2 |
| Vietnam | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Ancestry

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English | 47.4% | 48.4% | -1.0 |
| Australian | 38.5% | 40.9% | -2.4 |
| Irish | 11.1% | 11.7% | -0.6 |
| Scottish | 10.4% | 11.1% | -0.7 |
| German | 3.8% | 5.5% | -1.7 |
| Italian | 1.2% | 1.8% | -0.6 |
| Dutch | 1.4% | 0.8% | +0.6 |
| Filipino | 1.0% | 0.0% | +1.0 |
| Chinese | 0.7% | 0.8% | -0.1 |
| Indian | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4 |
| Greek | 0.5% | 0.0% | +0.5 |
| Vietnamese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Language

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other language | 4.1% | 3.6% | 0.5 pts higher in St Helens | gap steady |
| Limited English | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.4 pts higher in St Marys | gap steady |

### Language used at home

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English only | 88.6% | 91.1% | -2.5 |
| Tagalog | 0.4% | 0.0% | +0.4 |
| Mandarin | 0.2% | 0.0% | +0.2 |
| Arabic | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Vietnamese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Cantonese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Punjabi | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Greek | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Italian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Hindi | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Religion

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 41.0% | 51.0% | 10.0 pts higher in St Marys | gap widening |

### Religious affiliation

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 41.0% | 51.0% | -10.0 |
| Christianity | 45.6% | 38.7% | +7.0 |
| Not stated | 9.7% | 8.9% | +0.8 |
| Other religions | 0.7% | 2.2% | -1.5 |
| Buddhism | 1.8% | 0.8% | +1.0 |
| Hinduism | 1.5% | 0.0% | +1.5 |
| Islam | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Judaism | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Education & Qualifications

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 31.0% | 31.9% | 0.9 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |
| Bachelor+ | 11.5% | 12.6% | 1.0 pts higher in St Marys | gap steady |

### Highest year of school

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 10 | 30.8% | 35.0% | -4.2 |
| Year 12 | 31.0% | 31.9% | -0.9 |
| Year 9 or below | 18.9% | 14.8% | +4.1 |
| Year 11 | 9.8% | 8.7% | +1.1 |

### Highest qualification level

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Certificate III / IV | 37.2% | 39.2% | -2.0 |
| Bachelor degree | 16.5% | 17.1% | -0.5 |
| Advanced diploma / diploma | 12.3% | 12.5% | -0.2 |
| Postgraduate degree | 4.5% | 2.1% | +2.4 |
| Certificate I / II | 3.4% | 2.9% | +0.5 |
| Graduate diploma / certificate | 1.7% | 3.3% | -1.6 |

### Field of qualification

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Engineering & related | 14.3% | 17.1% | -2.8 |
| Society & culture | 11.0% | 15.4% | -4.4 |
| Management & commerce | 14.0% | 6.7% | +7.3 |
| Health | 10.2% | 12.1% | -1.9 |
| Education | 8.1% | 8.3% | -0.3 |
| Food, hospitality & personal services | 7.6% | 5.4% | +2.2 |
| Architecture & building | 6.4% | 4.2% | +2.2 |
| Creative arts | 0.8% | 4.6% | -3.7 |
| Agriculture & environment | 2.5% | 3.8% | -1.2 |
| Information technology | 1.0% | 1.7% | -0.7 |
| Natural & physical sciences | 1.0% | 1.3% | -0.3 |

## Income

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Personal income | $487 | $451 | $36 higher in St Helens | gap widening |
| Household income | $779 | $755 | $24 higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |
| Family income | $1,090 | $1,052 | $38 higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |
| High earners | 2.7% | 4.0% | 1.2 pts higher in St Marys | gap steady |
| High-income homes | 3.6% | 4.2% | 0.6 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |

### Household income distribution

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $650–$1,499 | 39.3% | 37.2% | +2.0 |
| Under $650 | 37.3% | 36.8% | +0.5 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 12.7% | 12.6% | +0.1 |
| $3,000–$3,999 | 1.9% | 2.9% | -1.0 |
| $4,000 or more | 1.7% | 1.3% | +0.4 |

### Personal income distribution

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $650 | 59.2% | 65.8% | -6.6 |
| $650–$1,499 | 26.3% | 18.1% | +8.2 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 5.4% | 6.7% | -1.4 |
| $3,000 or more | 1.1% | 0.9% | +0.2 |

## Health & Disability

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health condition | 42.7% | 42.1% | 0.6 pts higher in St Helens |  |
| Mental health | 13.2% | 12.1% | 1.1 pts higher in St Helens |  |
| Needs assistance | 13.8% | 9.7% | 4.1 pts higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |

### Long-term health conditions reported

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arthritis | 20.9% | 18.8% | +2.0 |
| Mental health | 13.2% | 12.1% | +1.1 |
| Other condition | 12.3% | 10.5% | +1.7 |
| Asthma | 9.3% | 10.3% | -1.0 |
| Diabetes | 8.5% | 7.3% | +1.2 |
| Heart disease | 7.6% | 7.5% | +0.1 |
| Cancer | 6.3% | 7.5% | -1.2 |
| Lung condition | 4.6% | 6.9% | -2.2 |
| Stroke | 2.2% | 0.8% | +1.4 |
| Dementia | 1.5% | 0.0% | +1.5 |

### Number of long-term health conditions

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| None | 48.0% | 49.2% | -1.2 |
| One condition | 23.5% | 24.7% | -1.2 |
| Two conditions | 10.4% | 10.1% | +0.2 |
| Three or more | 8.8% | 7.3% | +1.5 |

## Community Participation

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteering | 19.7% | 21.9% | 2.1 pts higher in St Marys | gap steady |
| Unpaid carers | 15.6% | 16.0% | 0.5 pts higher in St Marys | gap steady |
| Unpaid child care | 15.5% | 17.2% | 1.7 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |
| Defence service | 5.9% | 3.7% | 2.2 pts higher in St Helens |  |
| Housework 15h+ | 24.6% | 26.7% | 2.1 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |

## Family & Households

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Household size | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.1 larger in St Marys | gap steady |
| One-parent | 18.2% | 15.4% | 2.8 pts higher in St Helens | gap steady |
| Living alone | 42.6% | 37.2% | 5.3 pts higher in St Helens | gap widening |

### Family composition

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Couples without children | 47.9% | 46.1% | +1.8 |
| Couples with children | 33.2% | 38.0% | -4.8 |
| One-parent families | 18.2% | 15.4% | +2.8 |
| Other families | 0.9% | 0.0% | +0.9 |

### Household size

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 person | 42.6% | 37.2% | +5.3 |
| 2 people | 39.1% | 40.2% | -1.0 |
| 3 people | 9.4% | 9.2% | +0.2 |
| 4 people | 4.8% | 8.4% | -3.5 |
| 5 people | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.0 |
| 6 or more | 1.1% | 0.0% | +1.1 |

## Housing & Dwellings

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent | $230 | $200 | $30 higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |
| Mortgage | $1,000 | $867 | $133 higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |
| People / bedroom | 0.70 | 0.80 | 0.10 higher in St Marys | gap widening |
| Renting | 30.7% | 19.7% | 11.1 pts higher in St Helens | gap widening |
| Owned outright | 48.1% | 55.6% | 7.6 pts higher in St Marys | gap widening |
| Separate houses | 83.2% | 93.3% | 10.1 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |
| 3+ bedrooms | 60.5% | 66.5% | 6.1 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |

### How homes are owned or rented

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Owned outright | 48.1% | 55.6% | -7.6 |
| Rented | 30.7% | 19.7% | +11.1 |
| Owned with a mortgage | 18.0% | 22.2% | -4.1 |
| Other tenure | 1.8% | 0.0% | +1.8 |
| Not stated | 0.8% | 0.0% | +0.8 |

### Types of homes

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Separate house | 83.2% | 93.3% | -10.1 |
| Flat or apartment | 9.5% | 4.2% | +5.3 |
| Townhouse / semi-detached | 5.0% | 0.0% | +5.0 |
| Other dwelling | 1.7% | 0.0% | +1.7 |

### Bedrooms per home

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 bedrooms | 50.3% | 53.1% | -2.9 |
| 2 bedrooms | 31.1% | 20.1% | +11.0 |
| 4 bedrooms | 8.7% | 12.1% | -3.5 |
| 1 bedroom | 5.8% | 10.5% | -4.7 |
| 5 or more | 1.5% | 1.3% | +0.3 |
| Studio / none | 1.2% | 0.0% | +1.2 |

### Weekly rent distribution

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $200–$349 | 66.8% | 46.8% | +20.0 |
| Under $200 | 29.6% | 46.8% | -17.2 |
| $350–$549 | 1.8% | 0.0% | +1.8 |
| $550–$749 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $750 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Monthly mortgage distribution

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $1,000 | 48.1% | 52.8% | -4.7 |
| $1,000–$1,799 | 44.3% | 24.5% | +19.7 |
| $1,800–$2,999 | 5.3% | 0.0% | +5.3 |
| $3,000 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Transport & Vehicles

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No car | 8.8% | 6.1% | 2.7 pts higher in St Helens | gap widening |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 7.2% | 0.3 pts higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |
| PT commute | 0.0% | 0.0% |  | gap steady |

### How people get to work

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Car (driver) | 55.2% | 58.4% | -3.2 |
| Walked | 9.4% | 11.4% | -2.1 |
| Worked at home | 7.5% | 7.2% | +0.3 |
| Car (passenger) | 6.5% | 3.0% | +3.4 |
| Bicycle | 1.0% | 0.0% | +1.0 |
| Train | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Bus | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Motor vehicles per home

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 vehicle | 46.5% | 41.9% | +4.6 |
| 2 vehicles | 29.0% | 29.3% | -0.3 |
| 3 vehicles | 11.0% | 13.5% | -2.5 |
| 4 or more | 4.4% | 10.0% | -5.6 |
| No vehicle | 8.8% | 6.1% | +2.7 |

## Migration & Movement

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Recent movers | 40.7% | 34.0% | 6.7 pts higher in St Helens | gap steady |
| Recent arrivals | 6.7% | 4.2% | 2.5 pts higher in St Helens | gap narrowing |

## Jobs & Industry

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment | 7.3% | 9.3% | 2.0 pts higher in St Marys | gap steady |
| Participation | 37.2% | 42.3% | 5.1 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |
| Full-time | 40.6% | 42.2% | 1.5 pts higher in St Marys | gap narrowing |

### Industries people work in

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accommodation & food | 17.9% | 12.7% | +5.3 |
| Health care & social assistance | 16.9% | 17.5% | -0.6 |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | 15.7% | -3.8 |
| Education & training | 5.8% | 9.6% | -3.8 |
| Construction | 9.2% | 5.4% | +3.7 |
| Manufacturing | 2.5% | 8.4% | -5.9 |
| Public administration & safety | 6.7% | 2.4% | +4.3 |
| Administrative & support | 4.0% | 6.0% | -2.1 |
| Mining | 0.0% | 5.4% | -5.4 |
| Agriculture, forestry & fishing | 5.4% | 4.8% | +0.6 |
| Professional & technical | 3.1% | 4.8% | -1.7 |
| Transport & warehousing | 3.3% | 3.0% | +0.3 |

### Occupations people work in

| Category | St Helens % | St Marys % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Community & personal service | 18.3% | 21.1% | -2.8 |
| Labourers | 17.1% | 12.7% | +4.4 |
| Technicians & trades | 14.4% | 15.1% | -0.7 |
| Sales workers | 10.6% | 13.3% | -2.6 |
| Managers | 12.5% | 5.4% | +7.1 |
| Professionals | 11.3% | 6.6% | +4.6 |
| Clerical & administrative | 10.2% | 7.8% | +2.4 |
| Machinery operators & drivers | 4.2% | 9.6% | -5.5 |

## Walkability

| Statistic | St Helens | St Marys | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 4.8 | 5.6 | 0.8 higher in St Marys |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 5.0 | 6.3 | 1.3 more in St Marys |  |
| 15-min city | 57.4% | 85.2% | 27.8 pts higher in St Marys |  |
| Walk to shops | 58.5% | 88.4% | 29.9 pts higher in St Marys |  |
| Walk to transit | 34.6% | 71.7% | 37.1 pts higher in St Marys |  |
| Walk to school | 50.9% | 57.7% | 6.8 pts higher in St Marys |  |
| Walk to a park | 93.3% | 63.3% | 30.0 pts higher in St Helens |  |
| Walk to health | 57.0% | 86.4% | 29.4 pts higher in St Marys |  |
| Amenities/1k | 25.4 | 28.3 | 2.9 more in St Marys |  |
| Intersections/km² | 49 | 11 | 38 higher in St Helens |  |
| Mean slope | 6.3% | 6.8% | 0.5 pts higher in St Marys |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL615026/st-helens/vs/UCL622023/st-marys