Acton - Upper Burnie

Acton - 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

According to the analysis performed by AreaSearch, the population of Acton - Upper Burnie stands at approximately 3,371 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 101 individuals (3.1%) from the 3,270 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The updated figure is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 3,371 alongside 28 validated new addresses registered since the census. This population size translates to a density of 1,567 persons per square kilometer, a rate exceeding the typical density across national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The area's 3.1% post-census growth rate is just 0.1 percentage points lower than the wider SA3 region (3.2%), indicating healthy local growth. The primary driver of this population increase was natural growth, which accounted for roughly 54.3% of the total population gains in recent times.

Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 area. For localities where this data is unavailable, or to calculate age cohort growth beyond 2032, LGA/Regional projections from the Tasmania State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied, adjusted using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking at long-term demographic paths, these projections estimate a population contraction, with the area losing 37 residents by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, expansion is predicted within particular age brackets, most notably the 85 and over cohort, which is expected to rise by 47 individuals. For further information, see the section focusing on age demographics.

The level of residential development activity in Acton - Upper Burnie is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Acton - Upper Burnie records very low levels of residential building activity, averaging just 2 dwelling approvals per year, or a total of 12 dwellings over a five-year span. This minimal construction activity reflects the rural character of the locality, where building is generally prompted by specific local housing requirements rather than broader market forces. It should be noted that because the sample size is so small, individual building projects can have a disproportionate effect on annual growth statistics and comparisons.

The volume of residential development in Acton - Upper Burnie is substantially below the average for the Rest of Tas., and also lags far behind national benchmarks. Recent construction activity has comprised entirely of standalone homes, reflecting a preference for space and privacy associated with rural living. With approximately 845 residents for every new approval, Acton - Upper Burnie displays the characteristics of a mature, settled community.

Given that population forecasts point to a stable or shrinking residency, Acton - Upper Burnie is likely to experience less pressure on housing demand, which should prove advantageous for prospective home buyers.

Acton - Upper Burnie has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

An area's long-term performance is heavily shaped by local infrastructure changes, major projects, and planning strategies. In total, AreaSearch has identified 0 projects expected to impact this locality. The key developments of most relevance include Homes Tasmania - Park Grove Subdivision, Burnie City Centre Urban Plan, Burnie Cultural Precinct Redevelopment, and Marinus Link, with detail on those of greatest significance provided below.

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

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Employment drivers in Acton - Upper Burnie are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

The employment landscape in Acton - Upper Burnie features a mix of white and blue collar roles alongside strong representation in essential services. The area recorded an unemployment rate of 7.9% and experienced an estimated employment growth of 2.4% during the previous year. By March 2026, 1,438 residents were employed, with the local unemployment rate sitting at 3.9% higher than the Regional Tas. rate of 3.9%, indicating potential for improvement. Workforce participation stood at 56.0%, which is below the Regional Tas. benchmark of 58.8%. Census data revealed that only 3.3% of residents worked from home, though the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account when interpreting this figure.

The resident workforce is largely employed within health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The locality shows a strong concentration in retail trade, where the employment share is 1.5 times the regional average. By comparison, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 3.0% of local employment, compared to 8.4% across the region. The comparison between the Census working population and resident population indicates that this largely residential area offers few local jobs.

AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM data shows that in the 12 months leading to March 2026, employment grew by 2.4% and the labor force expanded by 3.2%, which caused the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional Tas. saw a 1.8% increase in employment and a 1.7% rise in the labor force, resulting in a minor reduction in unemployment. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding future demand in Acton - Upper Burnie. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local industry mix to estimate future employment paths. Locally, applying these national trends suggests employment could grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though national growth rates vary widely by sector (note this is a basic weighted projection for illustration and does not adjust for local population forecasts).

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

Based on ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, taxpayer income levels in the Acton - Upper Burnie SA2 are below the national average. The median income for taxpayers in Acton - Upper Burnie is $47,373 and the average income is $55,421, compared to $49,689 (median) and $59,358 (average) in Regional Tas. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since the 2023 financial year, estimated current figures would be roughly $52,560 for the median and $61,490 for the average as of March 2026. According to Census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Acton - Upper Burnie are positioned between the 2nd and 10th percentiles nationally. The largest income group is the $400 - 799 weekly range, containing 32.9% of residents (1,109 people), which contrasts with the broader region where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is most common at 28.5%. With 41.7% of residents earning under $800 weekly, the community faces significant financial limitations that affect local commerce. Mortgage holders experience high financial pressure, with only 83.1% of income left after repayments, placing the area in the 4th percentile.

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

The mix of housing types in Acton - Upper Burnie at the time of the latest Census consisted of 85.1% standalone houses and 14.9% other options like semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative dwellings, compared to 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings in Regional Tas. The home ownership rate in Acton - Upper Burnie was 30.0%, trailing the regional level, with the rest of the housing stock split between mortgaged properties (29.5%) and rental homes (40.5%). Median monthly mortgage costs in the area were recorded at $989, which is considerably below the Regional Tas. median of $1,274. The median weekly rent of $238 was also lower than the Regional Tas. median of $250. Compared nationally, Acton - Upper Burnie mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national figure of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 57.7%, comprising couples with children at 19.8%, couples without children at 22.8%, and single parent households at 13.8%. The remaining 42.3% are non-family households, which consist of lone person households at 40.3% and group households at 2.3%. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional Tas. average of 2.3.

Acton - Upper Burnie faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational attainment is a key area of focus, as university qualification rates stand at 10.9%, well below the national average of 30.4%. This represents an opportunity for targeted local education initiatives. Among university qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.9%, while postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas both stand at 1.5%. Vocational and technical training is highly represented, with 37.4% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 6.3% and certificates at 31.1%.

Enrolment in education is strong, with 26.4% of the population actively participating in academic programs. This cohort includes 11.9% of residents in primary school, 7.3% in secondary school, and 2.0% in tertiary studies.

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

Analysis of public transit reveals 20 active bus stops operating in Acton - Upper Burnie. These stops are served by 60 individual routes, which run a total of 5,181 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 198 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and 95% of commuting residents travel outside the area by car. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.0 car per household, which is below the regional average. A low 3.3% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency across all transit routes averages 740 daily trips, which translates to roughly 259 weekly trips for each transport stop.

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

Health assessments indicate notable difficulties for Acton - Upper Burnie, based on AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic health conditions across both older and younger age brackets. Furthermore, private health insurance coverage is very low, held by only about 47% of the population (~1,597 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health conditions and asthma are the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 12.3% and 10.7% of residents respectively. Conversely, 56.8% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 62.0% across Regional Tas. The working-age cohort faces challenges with high chronic illness rates. Residents aged 65 and over make up 21.2% of the population (713 people), which is lower than the 24.9% regional share. Health outcomes for older residents show some difficulties, with national rankings aligning closely with the general population.

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

Acton - Upper Burnie has lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 91.6% of the population, 90.6% of residents born in Australia, and 96.1% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 36.8% of residents. The most notable religious overrepresentation relative to the region is Hinduism, which represents 0.9% of the local population compared to 1.1% in Regional Tas.

In terms of family ancestry, the top three groups identified in Acton - Upper Burnie are Australian at 37.6% of the population (significantly above the regional average of 32.6%), English at 32.7%, and Australian Aboriginal at 6.7%.

Acton - Upper Burnie's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Acton - Upper Burnie is 38 years, which is identical to the national average but notably younger than the Regional Tas. average of 45. Relative to the region, the 25 - 34 age bracket is over-represented at 14.4% locally, whereas the 55 - 64 age bracket is under-represented at 10.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 85+ cohort has risen from 2.0% to 3.4% of the population, while the 55 to 64 bracket fell from 12.5% to 10.4%, and the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 12.7% to 11.1%. Demographic projections for 2041 point to significant changes, with the 85+ cohort expected to grow by 41 people (36%) from 114 to 156. The aging trend is pronounced, with residents aged 65+ accounting for 56% of projected growth, while the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to decrease.