Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Riverside
48 km²
A high proportion of detached houses and a strong connection to nature define Riverside. This growing community has seen its population rise 20% since 2011, attracting many new residents and overseas arrivals. It is a place of contrast, where a significant number of seniors and highly qualified professionals live in spacious homes. The area feels suburban and family-oriented, with a high rate of unpaid childcare and a strong culture of volunteering.
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The typical resident is 40, making the area a little younger than the Tasmanian average. However, the senior population is growing and now makes up 21.5% of the community, which is well above the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 17.1% were born overseas. This is a little above the state average, with English, Scottish and Irish being the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 87.1% of people. About 9.4% of residents use another language at home, a figure that has risen 3.8 points since 2011.
People with no religion make up 46.7% of the population, which is well above the national average. This figure has risen sharply by 20 points since 2011.
Riverside is well-qualified, with 26.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the state average and consistent with the national figure.
Typical weekly family income is $1,947, which is a little above the state average. Those earning $3,000 or more a week make up 18.1% of households, a figure that rose nearly 10 points since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most similar areas, affecting 32.8% of people. Mental health conditions are also reported at a rate of 10.9%, which is a little above the national average.
Volunteering is very common here, with 19.7% of people helping out, which is well above the national figure. A higher than usual 29.0% of residents also provide unpaid childcare.
There are 178 First Nations people in the area. While their typical personal income is well above the national figure, the unemployment rate is higher than most similar areas at 13.9%.
Most homes are occupied by couples with children (55.3%) or couples without children (30.0%). A higher than usual 27.4% of people live alone.
The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 94.9% of all dwellings. Rent is much lower than the national figure, with the typical weekly rent being $300.
Cars are essential here, as 70.6% of workers drive to work and only 0.8% use public transport. Despite many bus stops, it is among the highest areas for drive time to the city.
The community is quite mobile, with 41.1% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 15.6% of the population.
The workforce is strongly linked to the community, with the largest industries being health care and social assistance (19.3%) and education (12.3%).
The area sits in the middle for overall advantage, with an overall score of 991, which is slightly below the national average of 1,000.
The area is slightly drier than the rest of the state, with an average annual rainfall of 758mm. Both average maximum and minimum temperatures are far above the state figures.
Most residents can easily walk to a park (97.7%) or grocery store (69.0%), though very few live within a 15-minute walk of health services.