Penguin

An assessment of population growth drivers in Penguin reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of Penguin as of May 2026 is around 4,239. This reflects a growth of 107 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,132. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 4,218 residents following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2025 and an additional 97 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 93 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Penguin has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%, outpacing its SA3 area. Migration from interstate contributed approximately 59.0% to recent population gains, although all factors including overseas migration and natural growth were positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to decline by 229 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 75 to 84 group are projected to grow, with an increase of 117 people anticipated in this period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Penguin recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Penguin has seen approximately 18 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 92 homes were approved, with a further 9 approved in FY26. Each dwelling built over this period attracted an average of 2.3 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average expected construction cost value for these dwellings was $422,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year has seen $20.4 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the rest of Tasmania, Penguin has slightly more development, at 13.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, balancing buyer choice while supporting current property values.

Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 257 people per dwelling approval, Penguin exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. The population is expected to remain stable or decline, potentially reducing pressure on housing and creating opportunities for buyers.

Penguin has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Dial Regional Sports Complex Infrastructure Upgrades, Ironcliffe Road Upgrade Project, Penguin Town Centre Masterplan, and Frith Street, Penguin Water Main Renewal. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment positions Penguin ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Penguin's unemployment rate was 3.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.5%. As of December 2025, 2,105 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.6% below Regional Tas.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was 60.7%, slightly higher than Regional Tas.'s 58.7%.

According to Census responses, 8.2% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Penguin showed strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 4.9% of local workers, below Regional Tas.'s 8.4%.

Employment opportunities appeared limited locally, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 5.5% alongside labour force growth of 5.6%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 3.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Penguin's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Penguin is below the national average. The median assessed income is $47,925 and the average income stands at $58,054. This contrasts with Regional Tas.'s figures of a median income of $49,689 and an average income of $59,358. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $53,173 (median) and $64,411 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Penguin all fall between the 20th and 20th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 29.5% of locals (1,250 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, similar to the metropolitan region where 28.5% fall into this category. Housing costs are modest in Penguin, with residents retaining 87.1% of their income after housing expenses. However, total disposable income ranks at just the 24th percentile nationally.

Penguin is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Penguin, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 91.0% houses and 8.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional Tasmania had 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Penguin was 41.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (37.1%) or rented (21.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, above Regional Tasmania's average of $1,274. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $260, compared to Regional Tasmania's $250. Nationally, Penguin's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Penguin has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.1% of all households, including 24.5% composed of couples with children, 32.7% consisting of couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.9%, with lone person households at 29.7% and group households comprising 1.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the Regional Tasmanian average.

Educational outcomes in Penguin fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 19.4%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 31.0%. Educational participation is high, with 26.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.8% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Penguin has 21 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by a total of 57 routes, facilitating 3,692 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average located 343 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward daily. The car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 96% of residents. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages at 527 trips per day, equating to roughly 175 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Penguin is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Penguin's health data indicates significant obstacles based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 50% (~2,127 people) of Penguin's total population has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.3 and 9.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 61.3% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than Regional Tas's figure of 62.0%. The working-age population faces significant health challenges with higher chronic condition rates. Penguin has 25.8% (1,093 people) of its residents aged 65 and over, and senior health outcomes present notable challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

The latest Census data sees Penguin placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Penguin's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.9% of its population born in Australia, 92.4% being citizens, and 97.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Penguin, comprising 42.4% of its population. However, Judaism is overrepresented, making up 0.0% of Penguin's population compared to Regional Tas.'s 0.1%.

The top three represented ancestry groups are Australian (34.5%), English (33.7%), and Scottish (6.9%). Notably, Dutch representation is higher in Penguin at 2.2% versus the regional average of 1.7%, Australian Aboriginal is also higher at 5.7% compared to 4.1%, and French representation is notably higher at 0.5% versus 0.3%.

Penguin hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Penguin's median age is 47, slightly higher than Regional Tasmania's figure of 45 and significantly above Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to the regional average, the 85+ cohort is notably higher in Penguin at 3.6%, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 10.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 10.4% to 11.9% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.6% to 12.3%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Penguin's age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 109 people (30%), increasing from 364 to 474. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 73% of population growth, indicating a trend towards demographic aging. In contrast, populations in the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are projected to decline.