Urban Area · Area profile
Ulverstone
130 km²
Noticeably older than most of the country, Ulverstone is a quiet community where the typical resident is 48. It is a place of stability, with a high proportion of homeowners and very few recent overseas arrivals. The population has grown slightly to 15,086 people, but it remains a fairly traditional Australian town with a strong English and Australian heritage. A significant number of residents are now seniors, which helps explain the higher need for health services and daily assistance.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 26.4% of people aged 65 and over. There is also a notable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population at 8.3%, which is well above the national average and has risen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the community has a very low proportion of overseas-born people at 9.2%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while the number of people born overseas is far below the national figure.
English is the primary language for 92.1% of the community. Only 2.7% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average.
Nearly half of the population (49.0%) report no religion, which is far above the national figure. This trend has seen a sharp increase of 22 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 13.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has risen by 8.8 points since 2011.
Typical incomes are well below the national average, with the typical household earning $1,150 a week. High earners are rare here, as only 10.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health needs are high, with 36.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 8.0% of residents need help with daily activities.
Community spirit is evident in the 18.8% of people who volunteer, a figure well above the national average. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care compared to most areas.
Single-person households are common, with 31.0% of people living alone. This is well above the national figure, and the typical home contains just 2.3 people.
Housing is very stable, with 43.3% of homes owned outright—far above the national average. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rents are well below the national figure at $250.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 70.8% of workers driving to work. Only 0.5% of people use public transport to commute, and very few work from home compared to the rest of Australia.
The population is relatively settled, as only 33.7% of people have moved in the last five years. This is well below the national figure, though recent arrivals from overseas have risen slightly since 2011.
Fewer people here are working or looking for work (52.2%) compared to the national figure. Health care and social assistance is the most common industry for those employed.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, though only 48% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed. This is well below the state average, and there are far fewer walkable amenities per person than in other Tasmanian areas.