Westbury

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

Westbury's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 4,844. This figure represents a growth of 493 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 4,351. The increase was inferred from an estimated resident population of 4,677 in June 2024 and the addition of 188 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 7.1 persons per square kilometer. Westbury's growth rate of 11.3% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the state average (5.3%) and its SA4 region, indicating it as a notable growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 77.4% to overall population gains during recent periods, with overseas migration and natural growth also being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 with a 2021 base year are adopted and adjusted using a weighted aggregation method. Future population trends suggest lower quartile growth for locations outside capital cities, with Westbury expected to expand by 97 persons to reach approximately 4,941 by 2041, reflecting an overall reduction of 1.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Westbury among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Westbury has seen approximately 48 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 240 homes were approved, with a further 22 approved in FY26 so far. On average, 2.1 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $268,000. This financial year has seen $7.2 million in commercial approvals, indicating Westbury's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Westbury shows moderately higher construction activity, with 46.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values, and is substantially higher than the national level, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location.

Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving Westbury's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 114 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Westbury should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Westbury has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region. Key projects are West Tamar Highway Targeted Upgrades (Exeter to Launceston), Tasmanian Irrigation Schemes: Tranche 3, Burnie To Hobart Freight Corridor Improvement, and Palmerston to George Town High Voltage Transmission Lines. The following list details 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.

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.0%, Westbury has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Westbury has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 3.0% as of September 2025. It has 2,243 residents in work, lower than Rest of Tas.'s unemployment rate of 3.8%, but with similar workforce participation at 58.6%. According to Census responses, 13.2% of residents work from home.

Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level, but has lower retail trade representation at 8.0%. The Census working population vs resident population suggests limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, Westbury's labour force decreased by 2.4% and employment by 2.6%, increasing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points.

Rest of Tas., however, saw employment growth of 0.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 12.4% over ten years for Westbury, based on its industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The Westbury SA2's income level is below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Westbury was $47,931 and the average income stood at $55,010. These figures compare to the Rest of Tas.'s median income of $49,689 and average income of $59,358 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $52,532 (median) and $60,291 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Westbury all fall between the 13th and 14th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 29.3% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,419 residents), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 28.5%. While housing costs are modest with 87.7% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Westbury, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 96.4% houses and 3.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Tas had 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Westbury was 45.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.2% and rented dwellings at 19.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,243, lower than Non-Metro Tas's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Westbury was $250, matching Non-Metro Tas's figure but significantly lower than the national average of $375.

Westbury has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.1% of all households, including 26.2% couples with children, 36.4% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.9%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.6%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (28.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 25.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.8% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Westbury has two operational public transport stops, served by three distinct bus routes that collectively facilitate 104 weekly passenger journeys. The area's transport accessibility is considered limited, with residents typically residing 2983 meters away from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, Westbury sees most residents commuting outward. Cars are the dominant mode of transportation, used by 93% of residents, while 5% walk. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 13.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, an average of 14 trips per day is maintained, translating to roughly 52 weekly trips per individual stop.

Westbury's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Westbury's health data shows positive outcomes. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are low across all ages: arthritis affects 11.5%, mental health issues impact 8.5%. 62.9% of residents report no medical ailments, close to Rest of Tas.'s 62.0%. Private health cover is low at 47% (2,296 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Working-age residents have above-average chronic health conditions prevalence. Seniors make up 25.9% of Westbury's population (1,256 people), higher than Rest of Tas.'s 24.9%. Senior health outcomes are above average, mirroring national rankings.

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

Westbury's population showed low cultural diversity, with 88.0% born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 97.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 47.9%. The 'Other' religious category had a similar percentage as the regional average, 0.7%.

For ancestry, English (37.4%) and Australian (34.0%) were the most common, followed by Irish (7.6%). Notably, Dutch (1.7%), Welsh (0.6%), and Australian Aboriginal (2.1%) groups had higher representations than regional averages.

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

Westbury's median age is 47, which exceeds the Rest of Tas. figure of 45 and is higher than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Westbury has a notably over-represented cohort aged 65-74 (14.3%) and an under-represented cohort aged 25-34 (10.0%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 75 to 84 grew from 6.9% to 9.5%, while those aged 15 to 24 increased from 9.7% to 10.8%. Conversely, the cohort aged 5 to 14 declined from 12.6% to 11.1%, and the group aged 55 to 64 dropped from 15.7% to 14.2%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Westbury's age structure. The cohort aged 45 to 54 is projected to grow by 197 people (34%), from 585 to 783. Senior residents aged 65 and above will contribute to 53% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the cohorts aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14.