Northern Midlands

The population is much older than most similar areas, with the typical age rising to 47 since 2011. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 22.9% of the community, which is well above the national figure of 17.2%.

People born overseas make up only 8.6% of the population, which is far below the national average of 27.7%. Most residents have Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language here, with only 2.1% of people using another language at home. This is among the lowest rates in the country, and very few residents speak little or no English.

A large number of people report having no religion, at 45.8%, which is well above the national figure. This has seen a significant rise of 24 percentage points since 2011.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 11.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 33.7%.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with typical weekly household income at $1,046. Only 7.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is among the lowest for similar areas.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.8% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition, and 6.9% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is more common here than across Australia, with 17.7% of people participating. A higher than usual 24.7% of residents spend 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.8% of the population. This group has a very low unemployment rate of 0.0%, though typical personal incomes are much lower than most areas.

Homes are smaller than usual, with just 2.2 people per household. This is consistent with a high proportion of people living alone, which is well above the national figure at 32.2%.

The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 94.2% of all dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 42.3% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%.

Most people rely on cars, and it takes 90 minutes to drive to the city. Public transport use is low at 1.6%, and a walk to the nearest stop can take 68 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with 31.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national rate of 40.7%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 32.3% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is a little below the national figure.

The area ranks low for overall advantage, with a score of 2 out of 10. This is linked to lower levels of education and job skills compared to other regions.

The area is much drier than the rest of the state, with an average annual rainfall of 503mm. It is also warmer, with minimum temperatures far above the Tasmanian average.

The community is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 3.2. Many homes are far from essential services, with only 15.8% within a 15-minute walk of health services.