# Swansea vs Fingal — 2021 Census comparison

Urban Centre comparison · about 55 km apart

Swansea (L) and Fingal (L) are two small Tasmanian towns with very different layouts. Swansea (L) is a more developed hub with a typical resident age of 63 and 46.0% of people aged 65 and over. It is far more walkable, rated as somewhat walkable, with many homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and schools. In contrast, Fingal (L) is mostly car-dependent and more rural, with 73.9% of homes having three or more bedrooms and a much younger typical age of 55. Fingal (L) also has a higher share of people with no religion, at 48.6%.

Both areas share a similar typical weekly family income of around $1,200 to $1,300. They also have almost identical proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, at about 3%. While they share these basics, the gaps between them are shifting; for example, the age gap has widened since 2011, with Swansea (L) now far older than Fingal (L).

## Where they differ most

- Recent arrivals: 12.1 pts higher in Swansea
- Aged 65+: 14.3 pts higher in Swansea
- De facto: 6.1 pts higher in Fingal
- Bachelor+: 10.1 pts higher in Swansea
- No religion: 14.1 pts higher in Fingal

## Demographics & Identity

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 711 | 350 | 361 larger in Swansea | gap narrowing |
| Median age | 63 yrs | 55 yrs | 8 yrs older in Swansea | gap widening |
| First Nations | 3.2% | 3.1% | 0.1 pts higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |
| Aged 65+ | 46.0% | 31.7% | 14.3 pts higher in Swansea | gap widening |
| Under 15 | 7.2% | 11.7% | 4.5 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |
| De facto | 10.5% | 16.7% | 6.1 pts higher in Fingal | gap steady |

### Age structure

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Seniors (65+) | 46.0% | 31.7% | +14.3 |
| Older adults (45–64) | 29.0% | 31.1% | -2.2 |
| Young adults (25–44) | 14.3% | 15.7% | -1.4 |
| Children (0–14) | 7.2% | 11.7% | -4.5 |
| Youth (15–24) | 4.6% | 7.4% | -2.8 |

### Marital status

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Married | 53.0% | 38.8% | +14.2 |
| Never married | 18.8% | 30.7% | -11.9 |
| Divorced | 13.8% | 16.5% | -2.7 |
| Widowed | 12.5% | 9.1% | +3.4 |
| Separated | 2.4% | 4.5% | -2.1 |

### Age profile

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

| Age band | Swansea male | Swansea female | Fingal male | Fingal female |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0–4 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| 5–9 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| 10–14 | 0.7% | 1.1% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| 15–19 | 0.7% | 1.9% | 2.7% | 3.2% |
| 20–24 | 1.2% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 1.2% |
| 25–29 | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 0.9% |
| 30–34 | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2.4% | 0.0% |
| 35–39 | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| 40–44 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 3.5% |
| 45–49 | 1.6% | 0.8% | 2.7% | 4.1% |
| 50–54 | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 4.4% |
| 55–59 | 3.4% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 2.9% |
| 60–64 | 6.5% | 6.3% | 5.9% | 6.2% |
| 65–69 | 5.4% | 7.4% | 3.5% | 6.2% |
| 70–74 | 5.6% | 4.6% | 7.1% | 4.4% |
| 75–79 | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.2% | 0.9% |
| 80–84 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 0.9% | 2.7% |
| 85+ | 3.0% | 5.3% | 1.5% | 1.8% |

## Ancestry & Birthplace

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Born overseas | 15.0% | 8.3% | 6.8 pts higher in Swansea | gap widening |

### Country of birth

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australia | 77.4% | 84.0% | -6.6 |
| England | 4.8% | 2.6% | +2.2 |
| Philippines | 1.8% | 0.0% | +1.8 |
| New Zealand | 0.7% | 1.4% | -0.7 |
| Nepal | 1.3% | 0.0% | +1.3 |
| India | 1.0% | 0.0% | +1.0 |
| China | 0.7% | 0.0% | +0.7 |
| Italy | 0.7% | 0.0% | +0.7 |
| Vietnam | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| South Africa | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Ancestry

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English | 49.1% | 54.3% | -5.2 |
| Australian | 37.3% | 38.3% | -1.0 |
| Scottish | 13.1% | 10.0% | +3.1 |
| Irish | 11.3% | 8.6% | +2.7 |
| German | 2.8% | 5.1% | -2.3 |
| Filipino | 2.1% | 0.0% | +2.1 |
| Italian | 1.7% | 1.1% | +0.5 |
| Dutch | 0.4% | 0.9% | -0.4 |
| Chinese | 0.6% | 0.0% | +0.6 |
| Indian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Greek | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Vietnamese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Language

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other language | 4.8% | 3.4% | 1.4 pts higher in Swansea | gap steady |
| Limited English | 0.0% | 0.0% |  |  |

### Language used at home

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English only | 89.3% | 90.3% | -1.0 |
| Tagalog | 0.6% | 0.0% | +0.6 |
| Mandarin | 0.4% | 0.0% | +0.4 |
| 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 | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 34.5% | 48.6% | 14.1 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |

### Religious affiliation

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Christianity | 53.6% | 42.3% | +11.3 |
| No religion | 34.5% | 48.6% | -14.1 |
| Not stated | 9.4% | 8.9% | +0.6 |
| Hinduism | 2.0% | 0.0% | +2.0 |
| Buddhism | 0.4% | 1.7% | -1.3 |
| Islam | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Judaism | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Other religions | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Education & Qualifications

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 29.2% | 27.6% | 1.6 pts higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |
| Bachelor+ | 13.4% | 3.2% | 10.1 pts higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |

### Highest year of school

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 10 | 37.4% | 36.5% | +0.8 |
| Year 12 | 29.2% | 27.6% | +1.6 |
| Year 9 or below | 19.1% | 19.6% | -0.5 |
| Year 11 | 6.8% | 6.0% | +0.9 |

### Highest qualification level

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Certificate III / IV | 34.3% | 38.2% | -3.9 |
| Advanced diploma / diploma | 18.6% | 18.8% | -0.2 |
| Bachelor degree | 14.3% | 6.9% | +7.3 |
| Postgraduate degree | 6.0% | 0.0% | +6.0 |
| Graduate diploma / certificate | 4.9% | 0.0% | +4.9 |
| Certificate I / II | 2.9% | 0.0% | +2.9 |

### Field of qualification

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Engineering & related | 14.0% | 20.1% | -6.1 |
| Management & commerce | 16.3% | 7.6% | +8.6 |
| Society & culture | 8.9% | 13.2% | -4.3 |
| Health | 11.4% | 4.2% | +7.3 |
| Architecture & building | 10.3% | 4.2% | +6.1 |
| Education | 8.9% | 6.9% | +1.9 |
| Food, hospitality & personal services | 8.0% | 6.9% | +1.1 |
| Agriculture & environment | 3.1% | 3.5% | -0.3 |
| Creative arts | 3.1% | 0.0% | +3.1 |
| Information technology | 1.1% | 2.8% | -1.6 |
| Natural & physical sciences | 1.1% | 0.0% | +1.1 |

## Income

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Personal income | $556 | $464 | $92 higher in Swansea | gap steady |
| Household income | $913 | $783 | $130 higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |
| Family income | $1,307 | $1,218 | $89 higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |
| High earners | 1.5% | 2.6% | 1.1 pts higher in Fingal | gap narrowing |
| High-income homes | 1.9% | 3.9% | 2.0 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |

### Household income distribution

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $650–$1,499 | 39.8% | 34.6% | +5.2 |
| Under $650 | 29.6% | 30.7% | -1.1 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 25.5% | 17.0% | +8.5 |
| $3,000–$3,999 | 1.0% | 3.9% | -3.0 |
| $4,000 or more | 1.0% | 0.0% | +1.0 |

### Personal income distribution

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $650 | 50.9% | 61.5% | -10.6 |
| $650–$1,499 | 32.1% | 21.0% | +11.0 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 6.4% | 8.1% | -1.7 |
| $3,000 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Health & Disability

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health condition | 47.7% | 41.7% | 6.0 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Mental health | 12.8% | 12.6% | 0.2 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Needs assistance | 12.7% | 10.9% | 1.8 pts higher in Swansea | gap widening |

### Long-term health conditions reported

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arthritis | 24.8% | 17.1% | +7.6 |
| Mental health | 12.8% | 12.6% | +0.2 |
| Other condition | 10.7% | 11.1% | -0.5 |
| Heart disease | 6.9% | 9.7% | -2.8 |
| Asthma | 8.0% | 9.4% | -1.4 |
| Diabetes | 9.4% | 7.7% | +1.7 |
| Cancer | 6.3% | 4.3% | +2.0 |
| Lung condition | 3.7% | 5.4% | -1.8 |
| Dementia | 4.4% | 0.0% | +4.4 |
| Stroke | 1.4% | 2.9% | -1.5 |

### Number of long-term health conditions

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| None | 45.0% | 48.9% | -3.9 |
| One condition | 26.3% | 24.0% | +2.3 |
| Two conditions | 12.5% | 11.1% | +1.4 |
| Three or more | 7.5% | 7.4% | +0.0 |

## Community Participation

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteering | 22.3% | 17.2% | 5.2 pts higher in Swansea | gap widening |
| Unpaid carers | 12.0% | 16.5% | 4.5 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |
| Unpaid child care | 14.0% | 17.2% | 3.2 pts higher in Fingal | gap narrowing |
| Defence service | 6.5% | 5.5% | 1.1 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Housework 15h+ | 25.1% | 26.5% | 1.5 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |

## Family & Households

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Household size | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.2 larger in Fingal | gap narrowing |
| One-parent | 11.0% | 15.1% | 4.1 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |
| Living alone | 34.7% | 36.6% | 1.9 pts higher in Fingal | gap narrowing |

### Family composition

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Couples without children | 63.4% | 35.9% | +27.5 |
| Couples with children | 25.8% | 45.4% | -19.6 |
| One-parent families | 11.0% | 15.1% | -4.1 |
| Other families | 0.9% | 1.2% | -0.3 |

### Household size

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 people | 52.2% | 35.9% | +16.3 |
| 1 person | 34.7% | 36.6% | -1.9 |
| 3 people | 6.4% | 12.4% | -6.0 |
| 4 people | 5.4% | 9.8% | -4.4 |
| 5 people | 2.9% | 0.0% | +2.9 |
| 6 or more | 1.0% | 0.0% | +1.0 |

## Housing & Dwellings

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent | $240 | $194 | $46 higher in Swansea |  |
| Mortgage | $1,079 | $650 | $429 higher in Swansea | gap steady |
| People / bedroom | 0.70 | 0.70 |  | gap steady |
| Renting | 22.6% | 13.1% | 9.5 pts higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |
| Owned outright | 54.8% | 57.5% | 2.7 pts higher in Fingal | gap narrowing |
| Separate houses | 93.6% | 96.1% | 2.4 pts higher in Fingal | gap narrowing |
| 3+ bedrooms | 62.7% | 73.9% | 11.1 pts higher in Fingal | gap steady |

### How homes are owned or rented

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Owned outright | 54.8% | 57.5% | -2.7 |
| Owned with a mortgage | 17.2% | 22.9% | -5.7 |
| Rented | 22.6% | 13.1% | +9.5 |
| Other tenure | 3.8% | 3.9% | -0.1 |
| Not stated | 2.5% | 3.3% | -0.7 |

### Types of homes

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Separate house | 93.6% | 96.1% | -2.4 |
| Townhouse / semi-detached | 5.4% | 2.0% | +3.5 |
| Other dwelling | 2.2% | 2.6% | -0.4 |
| Flat or apartment | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Bedrooms per home

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 bedrooms | 46.2% | 60.1% | -14.0 |
| 2 bedrooms | 28.7% | 16.3% | +12.3 |
| 4 bedrooms | 12.4% | 13.7% | -1.3 |
| 1 bedroom | 5.7% | 2.6% | +3.1 |
| Studio / none | 0.0% | 5.2% | -5.2 |
| 5 or more | 4.1% | 0.0% | +4.1 |

### Weekly rent distribution

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $200 | 21.1% | 70.0% | -48.9 |
| $200–$349 | 60.6% | 30.0% | +30.6 |
| $350–$549 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $550–$749 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $750 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Monthly mortgage distribution

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $1,000 | 35.2% | 45.7% | -10.5 |
| $1,000–$1,799 | 37.0% | 28.6% | +8.5 |
| $1,800–$2,999 | 9.3% | 0.0% | +9.3 |
| $3,000 or more | 9.3% | 0.0% | +9.3 |

## Transport & Vehicles

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No car | 4.2% | 5.5% | 1.2 pts higher in Fingal | gap narrowing |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 4.0% | 4.9 pts higher in Swansea | gap widening |
| PT commute | 0.0% | 0.0% |  | gap narrowing |

### How people get to work

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Car (driver) | 53.6% | 75.2% | -21.6 |
| Walked | 12.6% | 4.0% | +8.7 |
| Worked at home | 8.8% | 4.0% | +4.9 |
| Car (passenger) | 5.4% | 0.0% | +5.4 |
| Train | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Bus | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Bicycle | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Motor vehicles per home

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 vehicles | 45.0% | 39.0% | +5.9 |
| 1 vehicle | 39.1% | 27.4% | +11.7 |
| 3 vehicles | 6.8% | 21.2% | -14.4 |
| 4 or more | 6.8% | 11.6% | -4.8 |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.5% | -1.2 |

## Migration & Movement

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Recent movers | 37.7% | 35.0% | 2.7 pts higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |
| Recent arrivals | 12.1% | 0.0% | 12.1 pts higher in Swansea | gap narrowing |

## Jobs & Industry

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 11.5% | 6.8 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |
| Participation | 41.6% | 36.6% | 5.1 pts higher in Swansea | gap widening |
| Full-time | 41.4% | 50.5% | 9.1 pts higher in Fingal | gap widening |

### Industries people work in

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accommodation & food | 26.4% | 5.0% | +21.5 |
| Health care & social assistance | 15.7% | 16.8% | -1.1 |
| Agriculture, forestry & fishing | 7.3% | 11.9% | -4.6 |
| Retail trade | 9.2% | 9.9% | -0.7 |
| Education & training | 4.6% | 9.9% | -5.3 |
| Construction | 8.4% | 0.0% | +8.4 |
| Manufacturing | 5.4% | 6.9% | -1.6 |
| Transport & warehousing | 5.0% | 5.9% | -1.0 |
| Other services | 0.0% | 5.9% | -5.9 |
| Public administration & safety | 4.2% | 5.0% | -0.7 |
| Electricity, gas & water | 1.1% | 4.0% | -2.8 |
| Administrative & support | 3.1% | 0.0% | +3.1 |

### Occupations people work in

| Category | Swansea % | Fingal % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Machinery operators & drivers | 8.8% | 22.8% | -14.0 |
| Labourers | 22.6% | 19.8% | +2.8 |
| Community & personal service | 13.0% | 20.8% | -7.8 |
| Managers | 18.8% | 8.9% | +9.9 |
| Technicians & trades | 13.4% | 7.9% | +5.5 |
| Sales workers | 7.7% | 5.0% | +2.7 |
| Clerical & administrative | 7.3% | 4.0% | +3.3 |
| Professionals | 4.6% | 4.0% | +0.6 |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Swansea | Fingal | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 5.8 | 2.8 | 3.0 higher in Swansea |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 6.0 | 3.2 | 2.7 more in Swansea |  |
| 15-min city | 72.7% | 0.0% | 72.7 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Walk to shops | 72.3% | 0.0% | 72.3 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Walk to transit | 66.4% | 65.5% | 1.0 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Walk to school | 65.8% | 0.0% | 65.8 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Walk to a park | 100.0% | 80.5% | 19.5 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Walk to health | 62.4% | 0.0% | 62.4 pts higher in Swansea |  |
| Amenities/1k | 39.4 | 20.0 | 19.4 more in Swansea |  |
| Intersections/km² | 48 | 7 | 41 higher in Swansea |  |
| Mean slope | 5.0% | 5.9% | 1.0 pts higher in Fingal |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL621030/swansea/vs/UCL622008/fingal