Council (LGA) · Area profile
Launceston
1,414 km²
A diverse and growing population defines Launceston, where the typical resident is 39 and many arrive from overseas. The community has seen a significant shift towards those with no religion and a rise in university qualifications over the last decade. With over 70,000 people, it is a major regional hub that combines a young, professional workforce with a high number of single-person households. This mix creates a distinctive urban character within the Tasmanian landscape.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
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The area is noticeably younger than the state average, though the proportion of seniors has risen to 19% since 2011. About 4.1% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure that has grown slightly over the last decade.
People born overseas make up 16.1% of the population, which is higher than in most similar areas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though there has been a significant increase in overseas-born residents since 2011.
Language diversity is increasing, with 10.8% of people using a language other than English at home. This is higher than the state average, and the number of people who speak little or no English is also much higher than in most similar areas.
A striking 49.2% of residents now report no religion, a huge increase of 21 percentage points since 2011. This figure is far above the national average.
Education levels have risen sharply, with 21.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The number of people who completed Year 12 has also grown by nearly 10 percentage points since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,310, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen by 8.7 percentage points since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 33.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are among the highest at this level, affecting 11.8% of the population.
Volunteering is slightly lower than the state average at 16.2%. About 12.3% of the community provide unpaid care, and 3.4% of residents have served in the Defence Force.
There are 2,873 First Nations people in the area, and the unemployment rate for this group is 14%, which is well above the state figure of 10.1%.
Single-person households are common, with 31.4% of people living alone. There is also a much higher proportion of one-parent families compared to most other areas.
Renters make up 33.8% of the market, a figure well above both the state and national averages. While separate houses are common, they are less frequent here than in most other Tasmanian areas.
The area has a very high number of public transport stops and routes, though only 1.5% of people use it to commute. About 7.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
The population is quite mobile, with 40.1% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much more common here than in most other areas.
Health care and social assistance are the biggest employers, though full-time work is less common here than nationally. The unemployment rate is 6.5%, which is higher than in most similar areas.
The area has a high number of businesses, totaling 6,104, but it ranks lower than most areas for overall economic advantage and access to money and resources.
Launceston is much wetter than the rest of the state, with average annual rainfall of 1,066mm. It also records higher minimum and maximum temperatures than the Tasmanian average.
The area is very walkable, with 74.7% of homes located in a '15-minute-city' walkshed. Residents have far better access to parks, schools, and groceries within a short walk than most people in Tasmania.