Urban Centre · Area profile
Fern Tree
8 km²
Weekly family incomes in Fern Tree are well above the national figure, reflecting a highly qualified and prosperous community. This is a place where a majority of adults hold university degrees and a large proportion earn over $3,000 a week. It is primarily a residential area of detached houses where families are common and many people work in professional roles. The population has grown by 23% since 2011, becoming increasingly diverse with more residents born overseas.
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The typical resident is 45, making the area noticeably older than the state and national figures. While the proportion of seniors has fallen since 2011, there are more people in de facto relationships here than in most similar areas.
Born overseas, 21.4% of residents come from other countries, which is well above the Tasmanian average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, with a significant minority tracing their roots to Ireland and Scotland.
People using another language at home rose to 6.6% since 2011, though this remains far below the national figure. English is the dominant language for 92.3% of the population.
A striking 72% of residents have no religion, a figure far above both the state and national averages. This reflects a significant trend, as the number of people with no religion rose by 45 points since 2011.
The community is exceptionally well qualified, with 56% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the national figure and is consistent with a high number of professionals working in health, science, and education.
Prosperity is high here, with typical weekly family incomes of $2,369, which is well above the Tasmanian average. About 27% of households earn over $3,000 a week, a figure that has risen sharply since 2011.
Residents are generally healthy, with only 2.5% needing help with daily activities, which is well below the national average. Long-term health conditions are also lower than in most similar areas.
Volunteerism is very high, with 33.7% of people volunteering, far above the national figure. More people here provide unpaid care and look after children compared to most other areas.
Families with children make up 59.1% of households, and there are fewer people living alone than in most similar areas. This contributes to a higher-than-usual number of people per home.
Every single home here is a separate house, and 77.7% have three or more bedrooms. Renting is very rare at just 7.8%, which is far below the state and national figures.
Car use is essential, as only 1.4% of homes have no motor vehicle. However, 16.1% of people work from home, which is well above the Tasmanian average.
The population is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to most areas. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas have increased since 2011.
Working or looking for work is more common here than in most similar areas, with a low unemployment rate of 3.6%. Nearly half of the workforce are professionals.
The area is mostly car-dependent due to a steep average slope of 22.3% and a lack of nearby shops or schools. Residents are far more likely to be within walking distance of public transport than other local services.