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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of Upper Burnie as of May 2026 is around 1,959. This reflects an increase of 68 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,891. The growth was inferred from resident population data and validated new addresses following the June 2025 ABS ERP data release. Upper Burnie's population density is 1,646 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 3.6% growth since the 2021 Census exceeded the SA3 area's 3.2%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Projections indicate a decline of 8 persons by 2041 for Upper Burnie's overall population. However, specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are expected to grow, with projections showing an increase of 35 people in this cohort during this period.

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

Upper Burnie saw minimal construction activity between 2016 and 2020 with an average of one new dwelling approved annually. This totals nine dwellings over the five-year period. Such low development levels are typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest, and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

Notably, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably due to the low approval numbers, which may be influenced by individual projects. Upper Burnie had substantially lower development levels compared to Rest of Tas., with this activity level also below national patterns. All new constructions during this period were detached houses, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy. This preference is more pronounced than current patterns suggest (81.0% at Census), indicating ongoing demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures.

The area had approximately 493 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established population. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Upper Burnie may see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Upper Burnie has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

No factors influence a region's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, major undertakings, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially impact this area. Key projects include the Burnie City Centre Urban Plan, Burnie Cultural Precinct Redevelopment, Marinus Link, and Port of Burnie - Shiploader Replacement. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Upper Burnie lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Upper Burnie has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 7.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 5.7% in the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025834 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, higher than Regional Tas.'s 3.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 55.6% compared to Regional Tas.'s 58.7%. Only 4.2% of residents work from home (Census data). Key industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance has notably high representation at 1.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is lower at 3.5%, compared to Regional Tas.'s 8.4%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities (Census data). Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 5.7% alongside labour force growth of 5.7%, with unemployment remaining stable (AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data). By comparison, Regional Tas. had employment growth of 1.8%, labour force growth of 1.5%, and a decrease in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Upper Burnie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 shows median income in Upper Burnie is $43,336 and average income is $52,659. This compares to Regional Tas.'s figures of median income at $49,689 and average income at $59,358. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates for Upper Burnie would be approximately $48,081 (median) and $58,425 (average) as of March 2026. Census data from 2021 shows incomes in Upper Burnie fall between the 1st and 8th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 34.5% of residents earn between $400 - $799 per week, contrasting with metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates at 28.5%. With 44.0% earning under $800 per week, income constraints significantly impact local spending patterns. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 3rd 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, consisted of 80.9% houses and 19.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional Tas.'s 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Upper Burnie was at 33.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.9% and rented ones at 40.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,057, lower than Regional Tas.'s average of $1,274. The median weekly rent figure was $230, compared to Regional Tas.'s $250. Nationally, Upper Burnie's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,057 versus Australia's 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 make up 52.9% of all households, including 17.5% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 47.1%, with lone person households at 45.0% and group households making up 2.1%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional Tasmanian 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 Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common 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 them, including advanced diplomas (6.9%) and certificates (30.3%). Educational participation is high at 25.9%, with 11.2% in primary education, 6.4% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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

Public transport analysis shows 13 active transport stops operating within Upper Burnie. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totalling 36 individual routes. They collectively facilitate 3,217 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 200 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound, and car remains the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 4.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 459 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 247 weekly trips per 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 (~941 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (11.6%) and arthritis (11.3%), while 56.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% in Regional Tas. The working-age population has notably high chronic condition rates. The area has 24.2% of residents aged 65 and over (474 people). Health outcomes among seniors are challenging but generally align with national rankings.

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 Australian citizens, born in Australia (88.4%), speaking English only at home (94.7%). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 42.0% of Upper Burnie's population. Notably, Hinduism was slightly overrepresented at 1.2%, compared to Regional Tas.'s 1.1%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian was the top group at 34.6%, followed by English (33.7%) and Irish (7.2%). There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 6.1% (vs regional 4.1%), New Zealand at 0.5% (vs 0.4%), and Dutch at 1.1% (vs 1.7%).

Upper Burnie's median age exceeds the national pattern

Upper Burnie's median age is 42 years, which is slightly below Regional Tas.'s 45 but significantly above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Tas., Upper Burnie has a higher proportion of residents aged 85 and over (4.4%) but fewer individuals aged 55-64 (11.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the current period, the percentage of residents aged 85 and over has increased from 3.1% to 4.4%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 has decreased from 13.5% to 11.2%, and the age group of 5 to 14 years has dropped from 11.9% to 10.7%. By the year 2041, Upper Burnie's population is projected to experience notable changes in its age composition. The number of residents aged 85 and over is expected to grow by 35%, reaching 116 from the current figure of 86. This demographic shift will be led by an increase in the number of individuals aged 65 and older, who are projected to represent 60% of the anticipated population growth. Conversely, both the age groups of 0 to 4 years and 55 to 64 years are expected to see a decrease in numbers.