West Ulverstone
With a median age of 48, West Ulverstone sits 8 years above the national figure, making it one of the older resident profiles in Tasmania. Despite covering 18.16 square kilometres, the suburb holds just 4,515 people at 248.6 per square kilometre. All four SEIFA indexes place West Ulverstone in decile 1 nationally, meaning household advantage is in the lowest 10% across Australia. Household income ranks in the 15.2nd percentile nationally, well below average, yet the area carries relatively low housing stress, with rent-to-income at 22.7% and mortgage-to-income at 26.5%. That combination of low income, low debt burden, and high outright-ownership (42.6%) points to a settled, largely retired community that acquired homes at lower historic prices.
Population
4,515
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,059/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median house price data is not available for West Ulverstone in this dataset, but the housing profile gives useful context. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,213, much lower than state and national averages, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. The dwelling stock is dominated by separate houses at 89.9%, with semi-detached homes making up 8.1%. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.6% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms 21.0%, reflecting family-sized stock. The ownership structure is notable: 42.6% own outright compared with 31.2% carrying mortgages, a higher outright-owner share than national averages, consistent with a population that has held homes for many years. Weekly rent of $240 is low compared to national medians, making entry-level rental property accessible.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for West Ulverstone in this dataset, but the housing profile gives useful context. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,213, much lower than state and national averages, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. The dwelling stock is dominated by separate houses at 89.9%, with semi-detached homes making up 8.1%. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.6% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms 21.0%, reflecting family-sized stock. The ownership structure is notable: 42.6% own outright compared with 31.2% carrying mortgages, a higher outright-owner share than national averages, consistent with a population that has held homes for many years. Weekly rent of $240 is low compared to national medians, making entry-level rental property accessible.
For Investors
West Ulverstone presents a mixed investment picture. Weekly rent of $240 is below state and national benchmarks, limiting yield potential, while the 6.3% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants caution. The renter share of 26.2% provides a modest tenant base. Population growth is slow at 0.48% annually, adding around 22 persons per year, with the medium forecast projecting 4,757 residents by 2031. Net internal migration averages 47 persons per year, and overseas migration adds 9, giving a balanced but modest demand driver. Rent did rise 40.4% over the decade from the Census period, above many regional benchmarks, which signals that low starting rents have been catching up. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, suggesting low new supply competition, which may help sustain vacancy if demand holds.
Schools in West Ulverstone iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
West Ulverstone Primary School
K-6 · 117 students
Demographics
West Ulverstone's median age of 48 is 8.0 years above the national average, placing it firmly in an aging-resident demographic tier. The senior share rose 6.9 points over the decade, while the young adult share fell 4.4 points, a trajectory that will continue according to forecasts. Overseas-born residents account for 9.6%, which is 12.0 percentage points below the national figure, indicating a predominantly Australian-born population. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,993), Scottish (435) and Irish (395) the three largest groups. University qualification rates sit at 18.9%, which is 11.2 percentage points below national. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national norm, consistent with older couples-without-children households, which make up 35.8% of families. Volunteering is notable at 17.4% of residents, above many comparable regional areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.9%
Houses
8.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses make up 89.9% of the dwelling stock, a significantly higher proportion than the national average, and semi-detached homes account for 8.1%. The three-bedroom configuration dominates at 57.6%, with four-plus bedrooms at 21.0% and two-bedroom dwellings at 16.9%. Tenure is weighted toward ownership: 42.6% own outright and 31.2% hold mortgages, compared with 26.2% renting. Outright owners outnumbering renters by a wide margin reflects a long-settled, low-debt community. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,213 and mortgage-to-income holds at 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income at 22.7% is also below stress levels, and weekly rent of $240 is low relative to state benchmarks. The 6.3% vacancy rate is above typical low-risk investor thresholds, suggesting some softness in tenant demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,213
Rent / wk
$240
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$541
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
118
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.8%
Couples, no children
3,293
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment base at 21.2% of workers (227 people), well above the share seen in smaller regional suburbs nationally, reflecting the older resident profile that generates consistent care demand. Education follows at 11.9% (127) and Construction at 11.7% (125), with Manufacturing at 7.4% and Retail at 6.5%. By occupation, Labourers lead at 260 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service (254) and Professionals (242). The unemployment rate is 6.3%, above national averages, and the participation rate is 44.5%, low because 1,759 residents are not in the labour force, primarily reflecting the retired-age skew. Full-time employment accounts for 55.2% of employed residents. All four SEIFA indexes score in decile 1, the lowest advantage tier nationally, which is consistent with the household income ranking at the 15.2nd percentile.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
3,277
Unemployed
138
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.2%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
44.5%
Employed
1,595
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.9%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
9.6%
Dwellings
1,764
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high: 90.3% of residents drive to work, significantly above the national average, and only 1.0% use public transport, reflecting the regional TAS norm of limited bus frequency. Walking and cycling account for 2.7% of commuters. Need-for-assistance is elevated at 11.2% (471 people), above national averages, because the aging population generates higher care requirements. Rent stress is not triggered at 22.7% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress is not triggered at 26.5%. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring Ulverstone. Crime data is not available for West Ulverstone, but the IRSAD decile 1 score indicates high relative disadvantage nationally. Volunteering at 17.4% suggests a socially connected community despite low incomes.
Drive
90.3%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.48%/yr
(+22 people/yr)
EstablishedWest Ulverstone is growing slowly but steadily, with annual population increase of 0.48% adding around 22 persons per year. The 10-year population change was 4.2%, and the medium forecast projects growth from 4,615 in 2025 to 4,757 by 2031. Migration is balanced: net internal migration averages 47 per year and overseas migration adds 9. The turnover rate is 20.1%, meaning 79.9% of residents stayed in place, indicating a stable, low-churn community. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying, consistent with a SEIFA decile 1 suburb that lacks the income or professional-sector inflows that typically drive gentrification. Real income growth was just 5.5% over the decade, below inflation-adjusted benchmarks. Affordability worsened slightly from 41.0% to 44.4% over the Census decade, with rent growth of 40.4% outpacing income growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+9
Net Internal / yr
+47
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Ulverstone compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Ulverstone a good suburb to live in?
West Ulverstone suits retirees and families seeking affordable, detached housing. With 89.9% separate houses, mortgage-to-income at 26.5% and outright ownership at 42.6%, it is well below national housing stress levels. The main trade-offs are a SEIFA decile 1 advantage score, limited public transport (1.0% of commuters), and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in West Ulverstone?
A specific median house price is not available for West Ulverstone in this dataset. As an indicator, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,213, and weekly rent is $240, both well below state and national medians. Mortgage-to-income sits at 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting purchase prices remain relatively affordable.
What schools are in West Ulverstone?
No schools are recorded inside the West Ulverstone boundary in this dataset. The suburb has a population of 4,515, and families rely on schools in neighbouring Ulverstone (postcode 7315). The local university qualification rate is 18.9%, which is 11.2 percentage points below the national figure.
Is West Ulverstone safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for West Ulverstone in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 1, reflecting high relative disadvantage nationally, which can correlate with higher crime rates in comparable areas. The unemployment rate of 6.3% is above national averages, a factor that research links to property crime in regional areas.
Is West Ulverstone good for property investment?
Investment signals are mixed. Rent of $240 per week is below state benchmarks, limiting gross yield, and the 6.3% vacancy rate is elevated. However, rent grew 40.4% over the decade, indicating catch-up momentum. Population is forecast to reach 4,757 by 2031 at 0.48% annual growth, and zero new development applications in the past 12 months limits new supply competition.
How is West Ulverstone's population changing?
The population reached 4,615 in 2025, up 4.2% over 10 years. Annual growth is 0.48%, adding roughly 22 persons per year. The medium forecast projects 4,757 residents by 2031. The demographic trend is aging: the senior share rose 6.9 points and the young adult share fell 4.4 points over the decade, driven by 79.9% residential stability and a low overseas-born share of 9.6%.
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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