Upper Burnie
All four SEIFA indexes place Upper Burnie in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, yet household income has grown 16.7% in real terms over the decade, suggesting slow but genuine improvement from a low base. The suburb of 1,891 residents covers just 1.19 km2, producing a density of 1,586 people per km2. Median age is 42, two years above the national figure, and the population declined 1.1% over ten years as net internal migration runs at negative 23 per year. Healthcare employs 28.7% of local workers, making it the single dominant industry by a wide margin compared to state and national norms.
Population
1,891
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$912/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median house price data is not recorded for Upper Burnie in this dataset, limiting direct price comparisons. What the numbers do show is that 80.9% of dwellings are separate houses, well above the national average, with 52.9% having three bedrooms and a further 12.2% having four or more. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,057, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners represent 33.7% of households while 25.6% hold a mortgage, a relatively even split. With household income at the 9.1st percentile nationally, affordability is less about price levels than income constraints, meaning buyers typically come from within the local employment base.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not recorded for Upper Burnie in this dataset, limiting direct price comparisons. What the numbers do show is that 80.9% of dwellings are separate houses, well above the national average, with 52.9% having three bedrooms and a further 12.2% having four or more. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,057, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners represent 33.7% of households while 25.6% hold a mortgage, a relatively even split. With household income at the 9.1st percentile nationally, affordability is less about price levels than income constraints, meaning buyers typically come from within the local employment base.
For Investors
Renters make up 40.7% of households, above the national average, and weekly rent averages $230. Against that low rent base, gross yields depend heavily on a low purchase price. The 7.3% vacancy rate is elevated compared to most suburban markets, pointing to soft demand and a need for careful tenant screening. Development activity registered zero applications in the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pressure. Net internal migration averages negative 23 per year while overseas arrivals add 13, leaving the suburb in mild population decline. Rent grew 36% over the measurement period, outpacing real income growth of 16.7%, which compresses affordability for tenants and may cap further rent increases from this already-low base.
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits two years above the national figure, and the senior share rose 3.1 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 0.3 points, confirming an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents account for 11.6% of the population, which is 10.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. English ancestry dominates, led by English (810 residents), Irish (173) and Scottish (150). University qualifications reach 17.0%, which is 13.1 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the suburb's industrial and service-sector workforce. Average household size is 2.0, half a person below the national average, pointing to a prevalence of couples and single-person households rather than families with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.9%
Houses
19.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock skews heavily toward separate houses at 80.9%, with semi-detached dwellings making up the remaining 19.1% and no apartments recorded. The dominant dwelling type is three-bedroom at 52.9%, followed by two-bedroom at 27.7%. Tenure splits into 33.7% owning outright, 25.6% on a mortgage and 40.7% renting, a renter proportion above the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,057 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8%, below the stress threshold, and rent-to-income sits at 25.2%, both manageable ratios given income constraints. The 7.3% vacancy rate is above typical healthy market levels of 2-3%, which puts downward pressure on rents and suggests the area has more supply than current demand can absorb.
Mortgage / mo
$1,057
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$572
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
69
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.7%
Couples, no children
1,262
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is by far the largest employer at 28.7% of the local workforce (117 workers), more than double the share of any other sector and well above national norms. Education follows at 10.8%, then Retail at 8.6%, Public Administration at 6.9% and Hospitality at 6.6%. The unemployment rate is 8.2%, above state and national averages, and the participation rate of 46.7% is low, reflecting both the older age profile and the high share of residents not in the labour force (681 people). Full-time employment accounts for 61.0% of those who do work. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 1, the bottom tier nationally, confirming deep structural disadvantage. Real income growth of 16.7% over the decade shows some economic movement, but the household income base at the 9.1st percentile nationally remains very low.
Unemployment
7.6%
Labour Force
1,574
Unemployed
120
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
46.7%
Employed
670
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.0%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
11.6%
Dwellings
878
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 84.2% of residents drive to work, well above national averages, reflecting limited public transport options in this part of Burnie. Only 2.9% use public transport and 2.4% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Burnie schools. Crime statistics are not available in the dataset, but the SEIFA IRSD decile 1 rating, the most disadvantaged nationally, is associated with higher incidence of disadvantage-related challenges. Volunteering participation runs at 13.9% and 9.6% of residents (169 people) require daily assistance, a higher proportion than wealthier suburbs. The small 1.19 km2 footprint and residential density of 1,586 people per km2 give the suburb a compact character with short internal distances.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
0.0%/yr
EstablishedPopulation has declined from 3,403 in 2023 to 3,371 in 2025, a trajectory of gradual contraction. The 10-year change registers negative 1.1%, and medium forecasts hold the population near 3,354 through 2031 with zero annual growth projected. Net internal migration averages negative 23 residents per year, offset partially by overseas arrivals of 13. Affordability has actually improved, with the rent-to-income ratio easing from 42.4% in 2011 to 40.1% in 2021, though still elevated relative to national standards. The gentrification score of 20 signals early signs of change, meaning some incremental upgrading is occurring but the suburb remains far from a price uplift cycle. Rent grew 36% over the period, significantly above the real income growth of 16.7%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+13
Net Internal / yr
-23
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Upper Burnie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Upper Burnie a good suburb to live in?
Upper Burnie suits residents comfortable with a low-cost, car-dependent lifestyle in a compact area. All 4 SEIFA indexes sit at decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and household income is at the 9.1st percentile. Separate houses make up 80.9% of dwellings, rents average $230 per week, and mortgage-to-income at 26.8% stays below stress levels.
What is the median house price in Upper Burnie?
Median house price data is not available for Upper Burnie in this dataset. Contextual indicators include an average monthly mortgage of $1,057, a rent of $230 per week, and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8%, suggesting prices are well below national medians in line with the 9.1st-percentile household income.
What schools are in Upper Burnie?
No schools are recorded within the Upper Burnie boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the wider Burnie area. Locally, 17.0% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 13.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the area's blue-collar and service workforce.
Is Upper Burnie safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Upper Burnie in this dataset. As a structural indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, the lowest tier, and 9.6% of residents (169 people) require daily assistance. An unemployment rate of 8.2% is above national averages, which is relevant to community safety context.
Is Upper Burnie good for property investment?
The 40.7% renter share is above national averages, providing a tenant pool, and rent grew 36% over the measurement period. However, the 7.3% vacancy rate signals oversupply, weekly rent of $230 limits yield potential, and zero development applications in 12 months means no new capital is flowing in. Investment suits a long-hold, cash-flow strategy rather than capital growth.
How is Upper Burnie's population changing?
Population declined from 3,403 in 2023 to 3,371 in 2025, with the 10-year change at negative 1.1%. Medium forecasts project the population to hold near 3,354 through 2031 with 0.0% annual growth. Net internal migration averages negative 23 per year, with only 13 overseas arrivals annually partially offsetting the outflow.
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.
Explore Upper Burnie on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map