Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Somerset
27 km²
A typical resident in Somerset is 48, making the community far older than the national figure. This Tasmanian town is larger than most similar areas and is marked by a significant population of seniors and First Nations people. The area feels distinctly local, with very few overseas-born residents and a workforce that often lacks higher qualifications. These factors combine to create a community where incomes are generally lower than across the state.
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Somerset has a strong First Nations presence at 8.0%, which is well above the national figure. It is an older community, with 25.1% of people aged 65 and over, a figure much higher than most similar areas.
The population is overwhelmingly Australian or English in ancestry, and only 8.0% were born overseas, which is far below the national average.
English is the primary language for nearly everyone, with only 2.3% of residents using another language at home, far below the national figure of 22.3%.
More than half of the community (51.4%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 29.0% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,100, which is well below the national figure of $1,746, and much lower than most similar areas.
Health challenges are common here; 37.9% of people have a long-term health condition, and 10.0% need help with daily activities, both of which are much higher than in most areas.
While 14.1% of people volunteer—about the same as the national figure—the area has a slightly higher rate of former Defence Force members than most similar areas.
The First Nations community is among the largest for this level, though it faces higher unemployment (14.3%) and lower Year 12 completion rates (25.4%) compared to the state.
Single-person households are very common at 32.8%, and one-parent families (18.8%) are much more frequent than in most similar areas.
Most people live in separate houses, and while 39.9% own their home outright, 27.3% rent, which is much higher than most similar areas.
The town is very car-dependent, with 73.6% of workers driving to work and very few (4.5%) working from home, far below the national figure.
About 33.5% of residents have moved in the last five years, and recent arrivals from overseas (6.5%) are well below the national average.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (52.6%) compared to the state, with the highest number of jobs found in health care and social assistance.
The area is somewhat walkable, with many homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and health services, which is far above the state average.