Central Highlands

The population is older than most areas, with 19.6% being seniors. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.7% of the community, which is well above the national figure and has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia (83.2%) and have English or Australian ancestry. Only 7.7% were born overseas, a figure far below the national average.

English is the primary language here, with 90.3% of people using it exclusively. Only 1.9% use another language at home, which is among the lowest rates in the country.

About 44.6% of people report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 22 points since 2011. This is well above the national figure, though it remains below the state average.

Education levels are among the lowest at this level, with only 9.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national average at 33.3%.

Typical incomes are much lower than most areas, with the typical household earning $1,267 a week. Only 10.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the national figure.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities also make up 7.3% of the population.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 13.9% of people providing unpaid care. The area also has a higher proportion of Defence Force veterans than most other areas.

First Nations people in the region have a typical personal income of $523, which is much lower than most areas. About 29.6% have completed Year 12, well below the national average.

Family sizes are typical for the state, with 2.4 people per home. About 53.5% of households are couples with children, while 27.4% of people live alone.

Almost all homes are separate houses (97.6%), and 41.7% are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rental rates are very low at 13%, with a typical weekly rent of $240.

The region is highly car-dependent, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and the typical drive time to the city is 81 minutes.

The population is very stable, with only 29.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very rare at 5.3%.

Working or looking for work is less common here than in most areas, with 55.8% of adults active. The workforce is concentrated in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, as well as healthcare.

The population reached 12,963 by 2021, and it has since grown by a further 1.7%.

The area is cooler than much of the state, though it receives slightly less rainfall than the Tasmanian average with 711mm annually.

This is a car-dependent area with a very low walkability score of 1.2. Most homes are far from essential services, with only 14.9% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.