Suburb / Locality · Area profile
South Arm
11 km²
Older residents and a strong sense of independence mark the character of South Arm. The typical person here is 48, which is far older than the national figure, and over a quarter of the population are seniors. This is a residential area of 963 people where homes are almost exclusively detached houses. A high number of people have a university degree, and many own their homes outright, creating a settled and well-qualified community in the Greater Hobart region.
South Arm's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
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The community is noticeably older than the rest of Tasmania, with 25.3% of people aged 65 and over. There is also a higher proportion of people in de facto relationships than in most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 10.2% of the population, which is well below the Tasmanian and national figures. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 92.2% of the community. Very few people use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average.
More than half of the residents (55.5%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure and higher than most similar areas.
This is a well-qualified area where 23.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also well above the state average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,383, which is about the same as the state figure. However, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week is far below the national average.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most similar areas, with 34.7% of people affected. Mental health conditions are also reported at a rate well above the national figure.
Volunteerism is high, with 21.2% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. Unpaid care for children and other people is also more common than in most areas.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.6% of the population. For this group, Year 12 completion is much lower than in most similar areas.
The area has a high number of people living alone (27.2%), though over half of households are couples with children. The typical home holds 2.4 people.
Every single home in South Arm is a separate house. Home ownership is strong, with 44.9% of houses owned outright, far above the national figure.
Cars are essential here, as every single home has at least one motor vehicle. While there are many bus stops per person, only 0.7% of people use public transport to get to work.
The population is relatively stable, with 30.4% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
About 57.1% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure. The most common industries for locals are construction, education, and health.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services, which is far below the state average.