Burnie - Wivenhoe

Burnie - Wivenhoe 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 findings from AreaSearch, the population of Burnie - Wivenhoe stands at approximately 3,675 as of May 2026. This represents a contraction of 104 individuals (2.8%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 3,779 residents. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 3,675 combined with 22 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population size corresponds to a density of 321 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density with ample space and potential for future expansion. Recent population gains were mainly fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 66.3% of the total growth.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to calculate age-specific growth after 2032, projections from the Tasmania State Government's 2022 release (with a 2021 baseline) are applied, modified via a weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 scales. Future demographic trajectories suggest a contraction in the overall population, with a projected reduction of 61 persons by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, expansion is expected within particular age cohorts, led by the 65 to 74 group, which is forecast to grow by 54 people. See the age section for more details.

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

Property development is highly restricted in Burnie - Wivenhoe, with approvals averaging 1 per year, summing to 9 over the preceding five-year timeframe. This minimal construction activity aligns with the rural character of the locality, where building is generally prompted by localized housing requirements rather than broad market dynamics. Because the number of approvals is so low, individual construction projects can have a disproportionate effect on yearly trends and comparative statistics.

The volume of building activity in Burnie - Wivenhoe is significantly lower than in the Rest of Tas., and also lags well behind national benchmarks. Recent construction has consisted entirely of separate houses, reinforcing the rural setting where larger plots of land and space are common. Current building trends show a stronger preference for standalone homes than observed at the Census (85.0%), indicating sustained demand for family dwellings. The ratio of 2755 people per residential approval highlights this quiet, low-growth construction environment.

Given that population forecasts point to a stable or contracting trend, Burnie - Wivenhoe is likely to experience easing demand for residential space, which should benefit prospective purchasers.

Burnie - Wivenhoe has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Local performance is heavily shaped by developments in regional infrastructure, major works, and strategic planning. A total of 9 key projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential impact on the locality. Notable initiatives include the Burnie City Centre Urban Plan, the Burnie Cultural Precinct Redevelopment, the Parklands High School Redevelopment, and the Port of Burnie - Burnie Gateway Project, with the detailed list below focusing on those of highest relevance.

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

Burnie - Wivenhoe has a qualified workforce with strong representation in vital services, showing a 9.3% unemployment rate and an estimated 3.4% rise in jobs over the past year. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,612, while the unemployment rate was 5.3% higher than the Regional Tas. rate of 3.9%, highlighting room for progress, and labor force participation matched the Regional Tas. average of 58.8%. Census data indicates that a modest 5.7% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 containment measures.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. There is a notable concentration of employment in retail trade, where the job share is 1.3 times the regional average. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing is less represented at 3.5% compared to the regional figure of 8.4%. Recording 1.7 workers for every resident at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a major employment center, supporting more positions than it has working residents and drawing commuting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, employment rose by 3.4% over the 12-month period, while the labor force expanded by 3.3%, leading to a 0.1 percentage point reduction in unemployment. In comparison, Regional Tas. experienced employment expansion of 1.8% and labor force growth of 1.7%, with a marginal drop in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 offer additional perspective on future demand trends in Burnie - Wivenhoe. These five- and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories vary widely across different fields. Projecting these industry-specific rates onto the employment profile of Burnie - Wivenhoe indicates local employment could rise by 6.1% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (this represents a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate localized population forecasts).

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

According to financial year 2023 postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch, the median taxpayer income in the Burnie - Wivenhoe SA2 is $51,767, with an average of $60,604. These figures are below national averages, but exceed the Regional Tas. median of $49,689 and average of $59,358. Accounting for a 10.95% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $57,435 (median) and $67,240 (average) as of March 2026. Census data from 2021 shows that household, family, and individual incomes in Burnie - Wivenhoe all sit between the 6th and 15th percentiles nationally. Income distribution figures show that the $400 - 799 weekly bracket contains 28.7% of the population (1,054 individuals), whereas the surrounding region is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 28.5%. Residents retain 85.4% of their income after housing costs, placing the area in the 9th percentile nationally for this metric.

Burnie - Wivenhoe 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 Burnie - Wivenhoe at the time of the last Census consisted of 84.6% separate houses and 15.4% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to 89.9% separate houses and 10.1% other dwellings in Regional Tas. The level of home ownership in Burnie - Wivenhoe stood at 31.5%, trailing the regional average, with the remaining homes occupied by mortgage holders (28.9%) or tenants (39.6%). The median monthly mortgage cost in the area was $961, which was considerably lower than the Regional Tas. average of $1,274, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $240 compared to $250 in the wider region. On a national level, mortgage commitments in Burnie - Wivenhoe are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent levels are well below the national median of $375.

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

Family units constitute the majority of households at 60.2%, which includes 18.7% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 15.0% single parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 39.8%, consisting of lone person households at 36.4% and group shared housing at 3.7%. The median household size is 2.1 persons, which is slightly smaller than the Regional Tas. average of 2.3.

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

The locality experiences educational disparities, with university degree completion rates (17.6%) running far below the national average of 30.4%. This gap indicates both a challenge and an opening for focused educational strategies. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational and technical training is widely represented, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.7%) and certificate qualifications (30.5%).

Participation in study is quite strong, with 27.0% of the population enrolled in an educational institution. This proportion includes 10.6% in primary school, 7.3% in high school, and 3.1% undertaking tertiary studies.

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

Analysis of the local transit system shows 35 operational transport stops within Burnie - Wivenhoe, consisting of bus services. These stops support 86 different routes, delivering 4,939 weekly passenger connections. Access to transport is rated favorably, with residents living an average of 218 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential character of the area, most workers commute out of the locality, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 87%, followed by walking at 9%. Motor vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per household, which is below the regional benchmark. A low proportion of 5.7% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect the influence of pandemic restrictions.

Service frequency across all transit routes averages 705 daily journeys, which represents approximately 141 weekly services at each individual stop.

Health performance in Burnie - Wivenhoe is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Burnie - Wivenhoe exhibits notable health challenges based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and the occurrence of chronic conditions, which are somewhat prevalent among both younger and older cohorts. In addition, the proportion of residents with private health insurance is low at approximately 49% of the population (~1,808 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical diagnoses in the locality were mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 11.3 and 10.4% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 59.9% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 62.0% in Regional Tas. The working-age cohort experiences significant health difficulties, marked by elevated rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 20.0% of the population (733 people), which is lower than the 24.9% share in Regional Tas. Health outcomes for older residents show some negative trends, with national rankings indicating poorer outcomes than for the broader population.

Burnie - Wivenhoe ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity in Burnie - Wivenhoe is lower than average, with citizens making up 88.5% of the population, 86.7% of residents born in Australia, and 93.4% using only English at home. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 36.5% of the community. However, the most distinct variation is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.1% of the population, compared to 0.7% across Regional Tas.

Regarding ancestry (the birthplace of parents), the three most common backgrounds in Burnie - Wivenhoe are Australian at 32.4%, English at 32.3%, and Irish at 7.7%. There are also distinct variations in the presence of other cultural heritages: Australian Aboriginal residents are represented at 5.5% of the population (compared to 4.1% in the wider region), Dutch at 1.4% (compared to 1.7%), and Sri Lankan at 0.2% (compared to 0.1%).

Burnie - Wivenhoe's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age of 40 years in Burnie - Wivenhoe is lower than the Regional Tas. average of 45, but higher than the national median of 38 years. Demographic data shows a high representation of individuals aged 25 - 34 (14.2%), while the 75 - 84 age bracket is smaller (5.7%) than in Regional Tas. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 11.3% to 12.6% of the population. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.4% to 10.6% and the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 15.4% to 14.2%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest major shifts in the age structure of Burnie - Wivenhoe. The 65 to 74 cohort is expected to grow the most, rising by 10% or 41 people to reach 473. Older residents (65+) are projected to account for 100% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends, while the 25 to 34 and 15 to 24 groups are expected to contract.