Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
West Launceston
4 km²
Highly educated and professional workers make West Launceston a standout community compared to similar areas. The typical resident is 42, and the area has seen a notable increase in seniors since 2011. It is a well-qualified place where over 31% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which helps explain the strong presence of professionals in the local workforce. Most residents live in separate houses and many have moved here in the last five years.
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The community is older than the national figure, with a typical age of 42 and a growing number of seniors. Children under 15 make up 15.1% of the population, which is well below the Australian average.
About 80.9% of residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of people born overseas has risen to 16.2% since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for nearly 90% of residents. Only 7.6% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
A majority of residents—54.3%—now report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen 23 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is very high here, with 31.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above the state and national figures.
Typical family income is $2,035 per week, which is a little above the Tasmanian average. Weekly household income is $1,469, though 17.4% of homes earn over $3,000 a week.
A high proportion of residents—32.9%—live with a long-term health condition, which is well above the national average. Mental health conditions are also much more common than in most similar areas.
Volunteering is very common here, with 20.2% of people giving their time, a figure well above the national average.
First Nations residents in the area have a higher Year 12 completion rate at 46.8% and lower unemployment at 8.3% compared to national figures.
Living arrangements vary, with 31.8% of people living alone—much higher than in most similar areas—while 51.5% of households are couples with children.
Separate houses make up 84.5% of homes, and 36.3% are owned outright. Typical weekly rent is $300, which is well below the national figure.
Most people drive to work, with 64.4% using a car. Only 0.8% use public transport, and the area has far fewer public transport stops per person than the state average.
The area is quite mobile, with 39.1% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 16.2% of the population.
Working or looking for work is more common here than in most similar areas. Health care, social assistance, and education are the most common industries for local workers.
The area ranks well for education and job skills but has a relatively low score for overall access to money and resources.
The area receives 668mm of annual rainfall, which is a little below the state average, and has minimum temperatures far above the state figure.
Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, though only 15.8% are within the same distance of health services, far below the state average.