Penguin
At a median age of 47, Penguin sits 7 years above the national average, a gap that shapes nearly every aspect of how the suburb functions. Population density of just 91.4 persons per km2 across 45.2 square kilometres reflects a spread-out coastal town rather than a dense service hub, yet house prices hit $700,000 as of YTD 2026, up from $600,000 in 2024, a 16.7% two-year move. Household income falls in the 31st percentile nationally, making Penguin a suburb where affordability has improved relative to many mainland markets while ownership rates remain strong: 41.1% of residents own outright, well above the national trend for similar income brackets. Identity signals point to an aging, Anglo-leaning, detached-home community with deep residential stability.
Population
4,132
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,301/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$700K
YTD 2026
The median house price reached $700,000 in YTD 2026, rising from $615,000 in 2025 and $600,000 in 2024, a sustained upward trajectory. The 30-year CAGR of 7.3% since $85,000 in 1996 suggests consistent long-run appreciation. Separate houses dominate at 91% of dwellings, so buyers are competing for a relatively uniform stock rather than navigating apartment versus house trade-offs. Three-bedroom homes account for 56.4% of the market, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 24.9%, pointing to family-scale housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability contrasts with the median house price relative to household income in the 31st percentile nationally, meaning buyers need to stretch further than the weekly income figure suggests.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $700,000 in YTD 2026, rising from $615,000 in 2025 and $600,000 in 2024, a sustained upward trajectory. The 30-year CAGR of 7.3% since $85,000 in 1996 suggests consistent long-run appreciation. Separate houses dominate at 91% of dwellings, so buyers are competing for a relatively uniform stock rather than navigating apartment versus house trade-offs. Three-bedroom homes account for 56.4% of the market, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 24.9%, pointing to family-scale housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability contrasts with the median house price relative to household income in the 31st percentile nationally, meaning buyers need to stretch further than the weekly income figure suggests.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $260 against a $700,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, low by regional TAS standards. The vacancy rate of 7.6% is elevated and signals weak rental demand relative to supply, a meaningful risk for investors entering at current prices. The renter share of 21.9% is below the national average, consistent with an owner-occupier dominated suburb where landlords compete for a thin tenant pool. Net internal migration averages 6 persons annually and overseas migration adds 10, meaning population growth is modest at 0.66% per year, roughly 37 additional residents. Rental growth of 33.3% over the measurement period shows rent catching up from a low base, but the high vacancy rate suggests that uplift may have stalled. Investors should weigh the 7.6% vacancy against the thin rental market before committing at current price levels.
Schools in Penguin iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
North West Christian School
Prep-12 · 123 students
Penguin District School
K-12 · 676 students
Demographics
Penguin's median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, the defining characteristic of its demographic profile. The aging trajectory is confirmed by a senior share that grew 5.2 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 1.6 points. Overseas-born residents make up 11.1% of the population, which is 10.5 points below the national average, giving Penguin one of the more Anglo-oriented profiles in regional TAS. English ancestry leads at 1,850 residents, followed by Scottish (378) and Irish (375). University qualifications reach 24.6%, which is 5.5 points below the national figure, consistent with the older age structure and the dominance of trades-adjacent industries. Average household size of 2.3 persons is slightly below the national figure, and couples without children account for 34.8% of families, a pattern common in aging coastal communities. Volunteering runs at 20.6%, above most comparable suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.0%
Houses
6.6%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership rates in Penguin are high relative to the income level: 41.1% own outright and 37.1% carry a mortgage, while renters account for just 21.9%, below the national average. The stock is almost entirely detached, with separate houses at 91% and apartments at only 0.2%, giving the suburb a consistent neighbourhood character. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 56.4%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.9%. The price history shows a 30-year compound annual growth rate of 7.3%, from $85,000 in 1996 to $700,000 in YTD 2026. The suburb has not experienced a price dip through COVID, reaching its current level as the peak price on record. Rent-to-income at 20.0% is below stress thresholds, and mortgage-to-income at 23.1% is also manageable, making this a suburb where housing costs are proportionate despite the elevated absolute price.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$657
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
136
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.8%
Couples, no children
3,103
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 23.1% of workers (296 people), typical of regional centres serving an older surrounding population. Education follows at 14.6% (187 workers) and Construction at 9.2% (118 workers), reflecting the ongoing role of trades in a detached-house dominated area. Retail and Public Administration each contribute around 6%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 380 workers, ahead of Community and Personal Service (268) and Managers (222), with Labourers at 196. The unemployment rate of 4.8% is moderate, and the full-time employment rate of 59.6% is reasonable given the 53.4% participation rate, which reflects the large cohort not in the labour force (1,330 residents). SEIFA deciles tell a consistent story: IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 3 place Penguin below the national median on both disadvantage and advantage-disadvantage measures, consistent with the 31st-percentile household income.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
2,910
Unemployed
98
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.6%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
53.4%
Employed
1,762
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.6%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
11.1%
Dwellings
1,646
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high even by Australian standards: 92.1% of residents drive to work, compared to national averages well below that, and public transport use is just 0.9%. Walking and cycling account for 2.5%, more feasible in the compact town centre than the density figure suggests. No specific schools are recorded in this dataset for the Penguin boundary, so families rely on schools serving the broader Penguin-Ulverstone corridor. The need-for-assistance rate of 7.9% (308 residents) is above national averages, consistent with the median age of 47 and the senior share growth of 5.2 points over the decade. SEIFA IRSAD decile 3 places Penguin below the national median on the combined advantage-disadvantage index. Housing stress is absent at both the rental (20.0% rent-to-income) and mortgage levels (23.1%), making day-to-day costs manageable for established residents despite incomes in the 31st percentile nationally.
Drive
92.1%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.66%/yr
(+37 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.66% annually, adding roughly 37 residents per year. The 10-year population change of 9.8% is moderate by national standards. Historical data shows a slight plateau, with the SA2-level population moving from 5,595 in 2023 to 5,573 in 2025, suggesting the suburb-level component of a broader SA2 remains stable. Medium forecasts project growth to 5,827 by 2031, a continuation of the slow but consistent trend. Migration is balanced, with internal flows adding 6 net residents annually and overseas migration contributing 10. The gentrification score is 0, classified as not gentrifying, which is consistent with a suburb where affordability has been improving, real incomes grew 20.5% over the decade, and the resident base turns over at only 20.5% per year, with 79.5% staying put. The aging trajectory is the dominant structural signal rather than renewal or investment-driven change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+10
Net Internal / yr
+6
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Penguin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penguin a good suburb to live in?
Penguin suits owner-occupiers seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle with affordable day-to-day housing costs. Rent-to-income is 20.0% and mortgage-to-income is 23.1%, both below stress thresholds. The suburb ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 3, below the national median on the advantage index, but 41.1% of residents own outright, reflecting strong residential stability. The median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national average, signals a settled rather than fast-changing community.
What is the median house price in Penguin?
The median house price is $700,000 as of YTD 2026, up from $600,000 in 2024 and $615,000 in 2025. The 30-year compound annual growth rate is 7.3% from $85,000 in 1996. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and weekly rent averages $260.
What schools are in Penguin?
No schools are recorded inside the Penguin boundary in this dataset. Families in the area typically rely on schools serving the broader Penguin and Ulverstone corridor. Locally, 24.6% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 5.5 points below the national figure, consistent with the older and trades-oriented community profile.
Is Penguin safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Penguin in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a volunteering rate of 20.6% and a residential stability rate of 79.5% of households staying put year-on-year. SEIFA IRSD decile 4 places it in the lower-middle range nationally on relative disadvantage, rather than among the most disadvantaged communities.
Is Penguin good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. House prices grew at a 7.3% compound annual rate over 30 years, reaching $700,000 in YTD 2026. However, weekly rent of $260 implies a gross yield near 1.9% against the current median, and the vacancy rate of 7.6% is elevated, suggesting limited rental demand. Annual population growth of 0.66% and the aging demographic profile limit near-term demand expansion.
How is Penguin's population changing?
The population grows at roughly 0.66% per year, adding about 37 residents annually. The 10-year change of 9.8% is moderate. Migration is balanced, with internal flows contributing 6 net residents a year and overseas migration adding 10. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 population reaching 5,827 by 2031. The dominant structural trend is aging, with the senior share up 5.2 points over the decade.
What industries employ people in Penguin?
Healthcare is the largest sector at 23.1% of employed residents (296 workers), followed by Education at 14.6% (187 workers) and Construction at 9.2% (118 workers). Retail and Public Administration each account for around 6%. The full-time employment rate is 59.6%, with an unemployment rate of 4.8% and a participation rate of 53.4%.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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