State Electorate · Area profile
Bass (Windermere)
2,033 km²
A diverse mix of families and single residents defines Bass (Windermere), where the population has grown by 19% since 2011. This is a relatively young community with a typical resident aged 38, though it also has a higher proportion of seniors than the national figure. The area is marked by a significant number of one-parent families and a strong presence of people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. These social dynamics, combined with a high rate of renting, shape the character of this growing Tasmanian region.
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The typical resident is 38, making the area noticeably younger than the state average. It is home to a higher proportion of seniors (18.6%) than the national figure, while the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 5.4% since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia (76.9%), with English and Australian being the most common ancestries. While the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure, it has risen by 4.1 percentage points over the last decade.
English is the main language for 82.5% of residents, though the use of other languages at home has risen to 11.1%. This is slightly above the state average, and the area has a higher rate of people who speak little or no English than most similar areas.
The community has seen a sharp shift toward secularism, with the proportion of people reporting no religion rising by 21 percentage points since 2011. At 48.9%, this is well above the national figure.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 39.9% of residents completing Year 12, which is far below the national average. However, the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has risen to 15.8% since 2011.
Typical incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with the usual household earning $1,146 a week, well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 9.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.6% of people living with a long-term health condition. This includes a mental health rate of 12.5%, which is well above the national figure.
Unpaid care is a common feature of local life, as the rate of people providing unpaid care is higher than in most areas. Conversely, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid has fallen to 23.6%.
The area has a very high proportion of one-parent families (21.6%) and people living alone (30.3%), both of which are well above the national figures. Typical homes are smaller, with 2.4 people per household.
Renting is much more common here than in most areas, with 35.1% of households renting. While typical weekly rents of $250 are well below the national figure, they have risen by $65 since 2011.
The community relies heavily on cars, with 68.5% of workers driving to their jobs. A significant 8.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
The area has seen a high volume of movement, with recent arrivals from overseas reaching 25.9%. This is far above the national figure, although it has fallen by 7.3 percentage points since 2011.
Job numbers are lower than usual, with only 54.7% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate is 8.7%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 60.3% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Residents have good access to local services, with far more homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and schools than the state average.