7305, TAS

The area has a much higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population than most, at 8.9%, a figure that has risen since 2011. Residents are noticeably older than the national average, and there is a higher proportion of people in de facto relationships than usual.

Most residents were born in Australia, with only 7.7% born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while the proportion of people born abroad has barely changed since 2011.

English is the dominant language here, with only 1.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national average, and there are virtually no residents who speak little or no English.

More than half of the community (52.9%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This shift is significant, with the number of non-religious people rising by 23 percentage points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 7.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While the number of people completing Year 12 rose nearly 10 points since 2011, it remains far below the state and national averages.

Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the usual family earning $1,382 a week. Very few households earn $3,000 or more weekly, although typical personal and household incomes have all risen since 2011.

Long-term health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.6% of people reporting a health condition. This includes a higher-than-average rate of mental health conditions and a greater need for help with daily activities.

Unpaid housework is more common here than in most areas, though the number of people caring for children has fallen slightly. A higher-than-average proportion of the population has served in the Defence Force.

Families tend to be larger than usual, with 2.5 people per home. There is also a much higher proportion of one-parent families compared to most areas, though the number of people living alone has risen since 2011.

The community is almost entirely made up of separate houses (98.3%), and more people own their homes outright than in most other areas. Typical weekly rents and mortgage payments are well below the national figures.

Car dependence is very high, with 98.9% of homes owning at least one vehicle. Public transport use is very low, and the drive time to the city is among the highest for similar areas.

The population is quite stable, as far fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to the rest of the country. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work than in most areas, and the unemployment rate is a little above the national average. Many residents work in agriculture, manufacturing, or health care.

The area ranks very low for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. This is consistent with the lower levels of higher education and typical incomes seen across the community.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score well below the state average. While some people can walk to groceries, there are no schools or health services within a 15-minute walk.