Council (LGA) · Area profile
George Town
653 km²
Most people rely on their cars to get around George Town, where the typical resident is 49 and homes are often owned outright. This is a notably older community, with over a quarter of the population aged 65 or more. Low typical incomes and a higher rate of long-term health conditions mark the area's character. Despite these challenges, the population has grown by 6% since 2011, remaining a predominantly residential hub in Tasmania.
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The community is aging rapidly, as the typical resident is now 49 and the proportion of seniors has risen by 9.1 points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 16% of the population, which is a little below the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 11.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with only 2.5% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%. Very few people speak little or no English.
Over half the population (50.8%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This is a significant shift, as the number of people with no religion rose 22 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 9.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 32.5%.
Incomes are among the lowest in the region; the typical household earns $996 a week, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 7.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health challenges are common here, with 39.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure, and 9.6% of residents need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is common, as 14.5% of people provide unpaid care, which is a little above the national figure. However, the number of people caring for children unpaid has fallen since 2011.
First Nations people make up a small part of the community, with a typical personal income of $450, which is a little below the national figure. The unemployment rate for this group is 15.9%, well above the national rate.
Homes tend to be smaller, with only 2.2 people per home. One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 19.2% of households.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, and 41.6% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $220, far below the national figure of $375.
The area is heavily car-dependent, with only 0.5% of people commuting by public transport. Public transport stops are far fewer than the state average.
The population is relatively stable, as only 32.5% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also much lower than in most areas.
Job opportunities are limited; only 46.7% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 10.0%, well above the national average.
The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the country, scoring 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. It also ranks very low for education and job skills.
The area experiences higher annual rainfall than most of Tasmania. Minimum temperatures are far above the state average, while maximum temperatures are among the lowest at this level.
Walking is difficult here, with a score of 3.0 indicating a mostly car-dependent area. Only 34.2% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed, far below the state average.