Waratah

The typical resident is 46, making the area noticeably older than the state average. This trend is clear in the senior population, which rose by 8.3 points since 2011 to reach 20.2%, well above the national figure.

The area is far less diverse than the rest of the country, with 80.4% of people born in Australia. Only 11.4% were born overseas, a figure that has barely changed over the last decade.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 90.4% of the community. Only 2.4% use another language at home, which is far below the national average.

A majority of residents (54.7%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and rose by 21 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are lower than most areas, with only 37.2% of residents finishing Year 12. This is far below the national figure, though the share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has risen to 15.5%.

Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the usual family earning $1,595 a week. This is well below the national figure of $2,120, though weekly incomes have risen across the board since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.2% of people. Arthritis and asthma are the most reported conditions.

Residents are more likely to volunteer than those in most other areas, with 18.2% doing so. Unpaid care is also common, with 13.7% of people providing such support.

First Nations people make up 8.3% of the community, which is well above the national average. Typical personal income for First Nations residents is $491 per week, which is a little below the national figure.

Most homes are headed by couples, with 52.9% having children. About 24.4% of people live alone, and the typical household contains 2.5 people.

Housing is overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses (99.4%), with 44.5% of homes owned outright. Renting is far less common here than in the rest of Australia, at just 13.3%.

The area is highly dependent on cars, with only 0.4% of people using public transport to get to work. Almost every home has a motor vehicle, and 39.2% of households own two.

The community is relatively stable, as only 30.4% of people have moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are very rare, at only 2.7%.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is a major industry, employing 14.5% of the workforce. However, fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average.

The area ranks lower than most for overall advantage and job skills. It is home to 377 businesses and has seen modest population growth of 1.3% since 2021.

Waratah is very wet, with an average annual rainfall of 2,017mm, which is far above the Tasmanian average. Temperatures are among the lowest in the region.

The area is very car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.2. Only 13.4% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, and no homes are within that distance of health services.