Urban Centre · Area profile
Smithton
9 km²
A dramatic population surge of 119% since 2011 has reshaped Smithton into a larger, younger community. It is now a place where 21.4% of residents identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, a figure far above the national average. While the town has grown rapidly, it remains a modest regional hub where most people live in detached houses and work in manufacturing or agriculture. This growth is reflected in a shifting demographic that is noticeably younger than it was a decade ago.
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The community has seen a significant shift, with the typical resident now 41, which is 12 years younger than in 2011. This change is accompanied by a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared to the rest of Tasmania.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower percentage of overseas-born residents (9.7%) than the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the main language for 87.1% of the population. While the number of people using another language at home rose to 4.8% since 2011, this is still far below the Australian average.
About 42.2% of people report having no religion, a figure that rose 16 points since 2011. This is well above the national average, though it remains well below the figure for Tasmania.
Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 9.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Far fewer residents completed Year 12 compared to the state and national averages.
Typical weekly household income is $1,127, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, incomes have risen since 2011, and more households now earn $3,000 or more per week.
About 32.8% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is well above the national average. This includes arthritis and asthma as the most common reported issues.
Local residents are more likely to volunteer than people in most other areas, with 19% participating. This is well above the national figure of 14.1%.
One in three people lives alone, which is well above the national average of 25.6%. Despite this, nearly half of all households are couples with children.
Detached houses dominate the landscape at 91.3%, and the typical weekly rent of $222 is far below the national figure. Most homes are larger than average, with 74.7% having three or more bedrooms.
The car is the primary way to get around, with 71.6% of workers driving to work. Very few people work from home (3.3%), which is far below the national average.
The area has seen a huge increase in recent arrivals from overseas, which rose 25 points since 2011 to reach 27.4%. This is far above the national figure.
Manufacturing and agriculture are the main industries, and the area has a higher rate of full-time employment (58.3%) than the state average. Unemployment is slightly higher than the national figure at 6.1%.
The town is quite walkable, with 71.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of essential services. This is far above the state average, particularly for access to health services and groceries.