Council (LGA) · Area profile
Huon Valley
5,507 km²
Weekly household incomes in Huon Valley are typically $1,227, which is well below the national figure. This is a mature community where the typical resident is 46, and nearly a quarter of the population are seniors. The area has grown by 21% since 2011 and is distinctive for its high First Nations population. It is a place of detached houses and open space, though it faces challenges with lower-than-average incomes and higher rates of long-term health conditions.
Explore Huon Valley by topic
The population is noticeably older than the state and national averages, with seniors making up 22% of residents. There is a strong First Nations presence at 10.2%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.9% were born overseas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, making up 45.1% and 39.7% respectively.
English is the dominant language, and only 4.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
A majority of the community has no religion, at 54.9%. This is far above the national average of 38.9% and has risen by 21 points since 2011.
The area has seen a rise in higher education, with 20.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. About 46.4% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure.
Typical personal weekly income is $609, which is much lower than most areas. Only 10.4% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, a figure that is far below the national level.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 34.2% of people. Mental health conditions are also reported at a rate of 12.2%, which is well above the national figure.
Unpaid work is common here, with 26.8% of people doing 15 or more hours of housework weekly. Volunteering is also high at 19%, which is well above the national average.
The First Nations community is relatively large, with an unemployment rate of 6.1% that is well below the national figure. However, Year 12 completion is lower than most areas at 30.1%.
Families with children make up 50.8% of households. The typical home has 2.4 people, which is about the same as the state and national figures.
Detached houses are the norm here at 96.6%, and 43.8% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national average. Renting is uncommon, with only 15.6% of households renting.
Most people rely on cars, with 62.6% driving to work and only 0.7% using public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, at only 3%.
About 35.5% of people have moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much less common here than in most other areas, at 5.2%.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers, making up 13.7% of jobs. Only 53.5% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure.
The area has seen population growth of 5.8% since 2021, which is well above the state average. Its overall advantage score of 946 is lower than the national average.
The region is very wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,205mm, which is much higher than most areas. Temperatures are relatively low, with an average minimum of 7.1 degrees.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.4. Only 28.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, which is far below the state figure.