Urban Centre · Area profile
St Helens
5 km²
A far older population than most similar areas defines St Helens, where the typical resident is now 59. This community has a high proportion of seniors and people living alone, which helps explain why homes are generally smaller and the need for daily care is much higher than the state average. While the population is growing slowly, the area is marked by low typical incomes and a workforce that is significantly smaller than the national figure.
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Seniors make up 38.7% of the population, a figure far above the national average, and the number of children has fallen to 11.1%. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 4.6% since 2016.
English and Australian ancestries are most common, and 15.1% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
English is the main language for 88.6% of residents. While 4.1% of people use another language at home, this is well below the Tasmania figure.
About 45.6% of people identify as Christian, while 41.0% report no religion, a figure that has risen by 9.4 points since 2016.
Qualifications are lower than the state and national figures, with only 11.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 31.0% having completed Year 12.
Incomes are among the lowest at this level; the typical household earns $779 a week, which is far below the national figure of $1,746.
Health challenges are common here, with 42.7% of people reporting a long-term condition and 13.8% needing help with daily activities, both far above the national average.
Volunteering is more common than in most areas, with 19.7% of people participating. Unpaid care for others is also high at 15.6%.
The area is dominated by small households, with 42.6% of people living alone and a typical home containing just 1.9 people.
Home ownership is strong, with 48.1% of homes owned outright. However, 30.7% of households are renting, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
Cars are the primary way to get to work, and 8.8% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is a little above the national figure.
The community is quite mobile, with 40.7% of people having moved in the last five years, though recent overseas arrivals stand at 6.7%.
Only 37.2% of adults are working or looking for work, a figure far below the national average, and unemployment is a little above the national figure at 7.3%.
The area is somewhat walkable, with most homes within a 15-minute walk of a park (93.3%) and health services (57.0%), though only 34.6% are near public transport.