Meander Valley - West Tamar

The population is far older than the national figure, with a typical age of 49 and a high proportion of seniors at 24.8%. This is consistent with a lower number of children under 15, who make up 16.0% of the community.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 12.8% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 91.5% of the community, and the proportion of people using another language at home is among the lowest at this level.

Nearly half of residents (48.3%) report no religion, a figure that has risen by 21 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.

Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 14.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also much lower than most areas at 38.5%, although this has risen since 2011.

Incomes are significantly lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly household earning $1,211. Only 10.2% 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 elsewhere, affecting 35.7% of people. This is consistent with the older population, as 6.5% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteerism is much higher than most areas at 19.2%, and 26.0% of people do a high amount of unpaid housework. There is also a strong presence of former Defence Force members at 4.6%.

The First Nations community is younger than the state average, with a typical age of 22. Only 0.8% of the population speaks a First Nations language, which is among the lowest for similar areas.

Household sizes are average, with 2.4 people per home. About 27% of people live alone, and one-parent families are less common than in most areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 95.5% of dwellings. A high 45.7% of homes are owned outright, and rent is much lower than the national figure at a typical $250 per week.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 66.3% of workers driving and only 1.3% using public transport. Public transport stops and departures are far below the state average.

The community is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is much lower than most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas are also well below the national figure.

Working or looking for work is less common here than in other areas, with only 54.6% of adults in the workforce. Major industries include health care, social assistance, and agriculture.

The population has grown slightly since 2021 by 3.3%, which is a little above the state growth rate.

The area experiences average annual rainfall of 838mm. Maximum and minimum temperatures are among the lowest for similar areas, though they remain well above the state average.

This is a mostly car-dependent area with a low walkability score of 2.7. Many homes are far from basic services, with only 33.3% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.