Federal Electorate · Area profile
Bass
7,985 km²
A significantly older population than the national average defines Bass, where the typical resident is 41. This community has grown by 11% since 2011 and is now home to nearly 110,000 people. It is a place where many adults live alone and a large number of people report long-term health conditions. While the area is more walkable than most of Tasmania, it is marked by lower typical incomes compared to the rest of the country.
Bass is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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Bass is an older community where 20.9% of people are seniors, a figure well above the national average. The population has aged since 2011, and there are fewer children under 15 than in most other similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of overseas-born people has risen to 15.2%. This is about the same as the state average but far below the national figure.
English is the main language for 86.3% of the community. While the use of other languages at home has risen to 8.5% since 2011, this is still far below the national level.
A huge shift has occurred since 2011, with the number of people reporting no religion rising by 22 points to 49.2%. This is far above the national figure.
Educational attainment has risen, with 44.8% of residents completing Year 12 and 20.1% holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, both figures remain well below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,290, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. This gap is also seen in personal incomes and the number of high-earning households.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.1% of people living with a long-term health condition and 7.1% needing help with daily activities.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most similar areas, with 17.2% of people giving their time. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care.
This area has a high number of people living alone (30.2%) and a higher proportion of one-parent families compared to most other areas.
Detached houses are very common, and 35.6% of homes are owned outright. Rent is much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly cost of $270.
Most people rely on cars to get to work, and those who commute to the city face some of the longest drive times. Very few people work from home compared to the rest of Australia.
The area has seen a significant influx of people, with recent arrivals from overseas making up 19% of the population, which is well above the national average.
The unemployment rate is 6.2%, which is a little above the national figure. Most people work in health care, social assistance, or retail.
Bass is more walkable than most of Tasmania, with over 60% of homes within a 15-minute walk of essential services and a walkability score of 5.1.