Council (LGA) · Area profile
Central Coast
933 km²
Daily life in Central Coast (Tas.) revolves around a car-dependent landscape where most people live in detached houses. It is a notably older community, with a typical resident aged 48 and a significant proportion of seniors. The area is also distinctive for its strong First Nations presence, which is well above the national figure. Together, these features describe a quiet, spacious region with a population that has grown steadily since 2011.
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The population is far older than the national average, with 24.8% of residents aged 65 or over. This senior presence has grown by 6.3 points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 3.2 points.
Most residents were born in Australia (84.1%), and the area is far less diverse than the rest of the country, with only 9.5% born overseas.
English is the dominant tongue, with 92.4% of people using it at home. Only 2.4% use another language, which is far below the national figure.
A majority of residents (50.6%) now report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 22 points since 2011 and is far above the national average.
Education levels are lower than in most other areas, with only 34.2% of people completing Year 12. However, there has been a steady increase in adults with a bachelor degree or higher since 2011.
Typical incomes are well below the national average, with a typical household earning $1,209 per week. This is consistent with the lower levels of higher education in the area.
Health needs are high here, as 35.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 7.5% require help with daily activities, both of which are much higher than in most areas.
Unpaid care is common, with 14.1% of people providing care, which is much higher than most areas. Around 18.4% of the community also spends time volunteering.
The First Nations community is a significant part of the region, with 1,875 people. The unemployment rate for this group is 6.7%, which is well below the national figure.
Homes are typically small, with 2.3 people per dwelling. About 29.5% of people live alone, which is well above the national average.
The area is dominated by separate houses (90.3%), and many residents have security in their housing, with 43.0% owning their home outright.
Car use is essential, as only 0.5% of people commute by public transport and most homes have at least one vehicle. Drive times to the city are among the highest in the state.
The population is relatively stable, with 33.6% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are low at 8.3%.
Full-time employment is lower than most areas at 53.8%. The most common industries for local workers are healthcare, social assistance, and retail trade.
The region faces more challenges than most, with an overall advantage score that is smaller than about 72% of similar areas.
The area is very wet, with an average annual rainfall of 1,225mm, which is well above the Tasmanian average.
The region is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8. Only 39% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities.