Urban Centre · Area profile
Opossum Bay
5 km²
Set in a residential pocket of Greater Hobart, Opossum Bay is a predominantly older community. The typical resident is 56, which is far older than the national figure. It has seen significant growth recently, with the population rising 53% since 2011. This is a well-qualified area where many residents have high incomes and a strong tendency toward home ownership, creating a settled but aging coastal character.
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The community is far older than most areas, with 32.6% of residents aged 65 and over. This trend has accelerated, as the typical age rose by 12 years since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 fell to 11.0%.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.4% were born overseas, a figure that has risen since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 94.0% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home is 2.3%, which is well below the Tasmanian figure.
A majority of residents report having no religion (52.7%), a figure that is far above the national average and has risen by 22 points since 2011.
The area is highly qualified, with 30.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the state average and represents a 21 point increase since 2011.
Incomes are generally high, with the typical family earning $1,821 a week. This is higher than most similar areas and is consistent with the high level of professional qualifications in the community.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than elsewhere, affecting 36.0% of people. However, the proportion needing help with daily activities is actually a little below the national figure.
This is a civic-minded area where 20.2% of people volunteer, which is well above the national figure. It also has a much higher rate of former Defence Force members (5.6%) than most areas.
Homes are smaller than average with 2.1 people per dwelling. This is partly because 32.5% of people live alone, a figure that has risen significantly since 2011.
The area is dominated by separate houses (98.2%), with 42.8% owned outright. While renting is far less common than in the rest of the state, typical weekly rents have risen sharply to $418.
The community is entirely car-dependent, with every single home owning at least one motor vehicle. Working from home is much more common here than in most areas, at 15.6%.
There has been significant movement into the area, with 43.4% of residents arriving in the last five years. Despite this, there were no recent arrivals from overseas in 2021.
Working or looking for work is more common here than in most similar areas, with 56.8% of adults active. The most common industries are education, health, and construction.
While many homes are within a short walk of public transport, parks, and groceries, the area is overall mostly car-dependent. There are no schools or health services within a 15-minute walk.