West Tamar

The community is aging, with 23.1% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. Since 2011, the typical age has risen by 3 years to 45, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 2.7 points.

English and Australian ancestries are most common, with 45% and 41.8% respectively. While 15.4% of residents were born overseas, this is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the main language for 89.9% of the population. Only 5.7% of people use another language at home, which is a little below the state average, though this has risen by 2 points since 2011.

About half of the population (49.1%) reports having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This represents a significant shift, as the number of people with no religion rose 21 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is high, with 20.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has also improved, rising 8.7 points since 2011 to reach 45.8%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,402, which is about the same as the state average. While the typical personal income of $700 is a little below the national figure, it has risen by $183 since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 34.4% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This includes a mental health rate of 10.8%, which is a little above the national figure.

Volunteering is more common here than across Australia, with 18.6% of residents contributing their time. There is also a notably high proportion of former Defence Force members at 4.4%.

First Nations residents are more prosperous than those in most similar areas, with a typical personal income of $656 and an unemployment rate of 7.3%, which is well below the national average.

Family life is typical for the region, with 53% of households consisting of couples with children. Only 12.4% are one-parent families, which is well below the state average.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 96% of all dwellings. Many residents have high security in their housing, with 42.2% owning their home outright, far above the national figure of 31%.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.6% of people commuting by public transport. This is reflected in the fact that very few homes (3%) have no motor vehicle.

The population is fairly mobile, with 36.5% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 9.7% of the community, which is well below the national figure.

Health care and social assistance are the biggest employers, accounting for 17.8% of jobs. The unemployment rate is 4.8%, which is a little below the state average.

The region ranks well in terms of prosperity, with an overall advantage score that is higher than about 65% of similar areas. It currently hosts 1,770 businesses.

The area receives more rain than the state average, with 912mm annually. It also experiences warmer average maximum and minimum temperatures compared to the rest of Tasmania.

Most of the area is car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.5, which is well below the state figure. Only 21.3% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, far below the state average of 53.3%.