Urban Centre · Area profile
Scamander
2 km²
A far older population than the national average marks Scamander, where the typical resident is now 52. This small community of 639 people has grown by 25% since 2011, becoming a place where many seniors live and a high number of people own their homes outright. It is a quiet, residential area with a strong lean toward secularism and very few overseas-born residents, creating a distinct local character that differs sharply from the rest of Australia.
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The area is significantly older than most, with 28.6% of people aged 65 and over. While children under 15 make up only 14.9% of the population, there has been a rise in de facto relationships to 19.9%.
English and Australian ancestries are most common, while only 9.1% of residents were born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the dominant language for 91.7% of residents. Very few people use another language at home, and no one reported speaking little or no English.
A majority of the community reports no religion at 55.7%, which is far above the national figure of 38.9% and has risen 26 points since 2011.
Qualifications have improved since 2011, with 12.8% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, this remains well below the Tasmanian average of 21.9%.
Incomes are much lower than in most areas, with a typical weekly household earning $870. Only 5.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, far below the national figure of 22.6%.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than elsewhere, affecting 35.5% of residents. Arthritis and mental health are the most reported conditions.
Unpaid housework is very common, with 26.9% of people doing over 15 hours a week. Volunteering has fallen since 2011 and now sits at 17.9%.
Homes are smaller than usual, with just 2.0 people per home. A high number of residents live alone, accounting for 34.9% of households.
Home ownership is very high, as 48.7% of homes are owned outright. Detached houses make up 89.8% of dwellings, though larger homes with three or more bedrooms are less common than in other areas.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as no one commutes by public transport. About 10.9% of the workforce now works from home, an increase of 7.6 points since 2011.
The community is quite mobile, with 42.1% of people moving in the last five years. In contrast, there have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state, at 45.2%. The unemployment rate is 8.1%, which is higher than the national figure of 5.1%.
Most residents live within a short walk of a park or public transport, but there are no schools within a 15-minute walk. Overall, the area remains mostly car-dependent.