Upper Burnie

Upper Burnie is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The suburb of Upper Burnie's population is estimated at around 1,974 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 1,891 people, marking a growth of 83 individuals (4.4%). The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,972 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,658 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Upper Burnie has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.6%, outperforming the SA3 area. Natural growth contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate post-2032 growth by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Considering these projections, Upper Burnie's population is expected to decline by 7 persons by 2041, while specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are projected to grow by 31 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Upper Burnie according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Upper Burnie had minimal construction activity from 2015 to 2019 with only nine new dwellings approved annually. This low development level is typical of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note that yearly growth figures can vary significantly due to the small number of approvals.

Upper Burnie had substantially lower development levels than Rest of Tas., with an average of 494 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its established nature. Population is expected to remain stable or decline, potentially reducing housing pressure and creating opportunities for buyers. All new construction during this period was detached houses, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy, and demonstrating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. This activity level was below national patterns, with 81.0% of new constructions being detached houses at the time of the Census.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Upper Burnie should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Upper Burnie has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects expected to impact this area. Notable projects include Burnie City Centre Urban Plan, Burnie Cultural Precinct Redevelopment, Marinus Link, and Port of Burnie - Shiploader Replacement, with the following list providing details on those 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.

Upper Burnie shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Upper Burnie has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented. The unemployment rate was 7.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 7.1%.

As of September 2025831 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 3.4% higher than Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was lower at 55.0%, compared to Rest of Tas.'s 58.6%. Only 4.2% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food.

Health care & social assistance had employment levels at 1.2 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 3.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. In the 12 months ending in May-25, employment increased by 7.1% and labour force grew by 5.8%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage point decrease in unemployment. Rest of Tas. recorded lower growth rates. National employment forecasts suggest an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections may differ based on Upper Burnie's industry mix.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that Upper Burnie has lower incomes compared to national averages. The median income in Upper Burnie is $43,336, while the average stands at $52,659. In contrast, Rest of Tas.'s median and average incomes are $49,689 and $59,358 respectively. Based on a 9.6% increase in wages since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $47,496 and the average around $57,714 by September 2025. Census data from 2021 shows that incomes in Upper Burnie fall within the lowest national percentiles: 1st to 8th percentile for household, family, and personal incomes. The majority of residents (34.5%, or 681 people) earn between $400 and $799 weekly, unlike metropolitan regions where earnings predominantly fall in the $1,500 to $2,999 bracket. With 44.0% earning under $800 per week, income constraints significantly impact local spending patterns. Housing affordability is severely strained, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the third percentile nationally.

Upper Burnie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Upper Burnie's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 80.9% houses and 19.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Tas. had 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Upper Burnie was at 33.4%, with the rest being mortgaged (25.9%) or rented (40.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,057, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,274. The median weekly rent figure in Upper Burnie was $230, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $250. Nationally, Upper Burnie's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,057 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Upper Burnie features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 52.9 percent of all households, including 17.5 percent couples with children, 23.0 percent couples without children, and 11.6 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 47.1 percent, with lone person households at 45.0 percent and group households comprising 2.1 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

The educational profile of Upper Burnie exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 12.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common among qualified residents at 8.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (6.9%) and certificates (30.3%). Educational participation is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.2% in primary education, 6.4% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Upper Burnie has 13 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are connected by 36 different routes, offering a total of 3217 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 200 meters to the nearest one. Most residents commute outwards from this primarily residential area. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 94% of residents. On average, there are 0.9 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

Only 4.2% of residents work from home, according to the 2021 Census, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Each route averages 459 trips daily, resulting in approximately 247 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Upper Burnie is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Upper Burnie faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~948 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 11.6 and 11.3% of residents respectively. However, 56.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.0% across the Rest of Tas.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. As of a recent assessment (date not specified), 23.6% of Upper Burnie's residents are aged 65 and over (465 people), which is lower than the 24.9% in the Rest of Tas.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Upper Burnie is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Upper Burnie's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.8% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 42.0% of Upper Burnie's population. Hinduism is slightly overrepresented compared to the rest of Tasmania, making up 1.2% versus 1.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (34.6%), English (33.7%), and Irish (7.2%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 6.1%, New Zealanders at 0.5%, and Dutch residents at 1.1%.

Upper Burnie's median age exceeds the national pattern

Upper Burnie's median age is 42 years, slightly below Rest of Tas.'s 45 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Tas., Upper Burnie has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (13.1%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (11.4%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.4% to 13.1%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 13.5% to 11.4%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 11.9% to 10.4%. By 2041, Upper Burnie's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 39% (28 people), reaching 104 from 75. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 62% of the anticipated population growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 55-64 age groups are projected to decrease in number.