Tasmania · Suburb Profile

Penguin TAS — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Penguin, Tasmania. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Penguin TAS is 4,132 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Penguin is $657 per week ($34,164 per year). Median rent in Penguin is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Penguin has a median age of 47 years, older than the national median of 38. Penguin has a population density of 91 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Penguin is England. The most common religion is No religion (52.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Penguin is $1,300.

Penguin Map

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Penguin Population

4,132

residents (Census 2021)

Penguin Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$657/wk

$34,164 per year

#6209 of 14,663

Median Rent

$260/wk

$1,127 per month

#5884 of 14,663

Median Age

47years

9 years older than national median

Mortgage

$1,300/mo

Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Penguin Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.9% (1,978) Female 52.1% (2,150)

Population Density

people per km²

4,132 people · 45.2 km²

Households

2.3

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$1,686

Family income/wk

Penguin Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Penguin Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Penguin, 52.5% are owned outright and 47.5% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

52.5%

Owned with mortgage

47.5%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
Germany
India
France

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Penguin Religion

No religion

52.1%

Anglican

11.7%

Catholic

10.6%

Not stated

7.1%

Uniting Church

5.3%

Christian (other)

3.2%

Baptist

1.8%

Pentecostal

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Penguin Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

41.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

39.6%

Year 11 or equivalent

10.8%

Year 9 or equivalent

8.2%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

German
Arabic
Nepali

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Penguin Employment

Employed full-time

33.3% 1,058 people

Employed part-time

22.4% 711 people

Unemployed

2.7% 85 people

Not in labour force

41.7% 1,324 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Penguin Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

46.4%

Bachelor Degree

23.5%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

16.4%

Postgraduate Degree

6.1%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

4.0%

Certificate I/II

3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Penguin Occupation

Professionals

28.4%

Technicians & Trade Workers

19.2%

Community & Personal Service

15.6%

Managers

12.6%

Clerical & Administrative

9.2%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

6.0%

Labourers

5.4%

Sales Workers

3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Penguin Field of Study

Engineering

20.0%

Society & Culture

15.8%

Management & Commerce

15.7%

Health

15.4%

Education

10.0%

Architecture & Building

6.6%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

6.6%

Agriculture & Environment

3.9%

Information Technology

2.6%

Creative Arts

1.9%

Natural & Physical Sciences

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Penguin Dwelling Types

Separate house

93.2%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

6.6%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Penguin Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

0.9%

$1-$149/wk

0.7%

$150-$299/wk

1.9%

$300-$399/wk

3.1%

$400-$499/wk

9.7%

$500-$649/wk

6.1%

$650-$799/wk

9.1%

$800-$999/wk

7.7%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.9%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.7%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.7%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

10.3%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

6.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

5.0%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

2.6%

$4,000+/wk

6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Penguin Marital Status

Married

46.7% 1,617

Separated

4.1% 141

Divorced

11.6% 401

Widowed

7.6% 264

Never married

30.0% 1,037

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Penguin Ancestry

Australian

45.9%

English

44.8%

Scottish

9.1%

Irish

9.1%

Australian Aboriginal

7.6%

German

3.2%

Dutch

2.9%

Italian

1.4%

Filipino

0.8%

French

0.6%

New Zealander

0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Penguin School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

40.9%

Secondary — Government

20.7%

Vocational Education

13.5%

Secondary — Catholic

9.8%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

4.2%

Pre-school

4.0%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

3.5%

Primary — Catholic

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Penguin Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

8.0%

No need for assistance

92.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Penguin Volunteering

Volunteer

20.6% 676

Not a volunteer

79.4% 2,611

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Penguin Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

3.7%

$300-$449/mo

4.6%

$450-$599/mo

4.0%

$600-$799/mo

8.4%

$800-$999/mo

8.8%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

31.8%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

21.9%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

10.2%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

2.9%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Penguin How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

77.6%

Did not go to work

14.2%

Car (passenger)

3.8%

Walked only

2.1%

Truck

0.9%

Bus

0.8%

Other

0.4%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Penguin Car Ownership

0 vehicles

4.0%

1 vehicle

34.7%

2 vehicles

35.7%

3 vehicles

15.7%

4+ vehicles

10.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Penguin Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

4.6%

2 bedrooms

14.2%

3 bedrooms

56.4%

4 bedrooms

20.9%

5 bedrooms

3.3%

6+ bedrooms

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Penguin Population Mobility

13.0%

moved in the last year

39.1%

moved in the last 5 years

4.2%

unemployment rate (Census)

57.1%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Penguin Indigenous Population

8.3%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Penguin Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

464

Arthritis

209

Asthma

168

Diabetes

131

Lung condition

130

Heart disease

122

Stroke

Cancer

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Penguin Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

8.0%

$1-$149/wk

4.5%

$150-$299/wk

7.6%

$300-$399/wk

6.4%

$400-$499/wk

5.4%

$500-$649/wk

4.6%

$650-$799/wk

9.6%

$800-$999/wk

11.1%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

12.5%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

7.0%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.7%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

7.4%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.0%

$3,500+/wk

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Penguin Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

35.6%

Couple — no children

35.0%

Couple — no children under 15

15.5%

One parent — children under 15

7.8%

One parent — no children under 15

6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Penguin Military Service

Current ADF — Reserves

0.2% 6

Previously served

3.8% 127

Never served

96.0% 3,166

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Penguin Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

15.3% 502

Did not provide

84.7% 2,780

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Penguin Children Ever Born

No children

27.7%

1 child

11.3%

2 children

29.9%

3 children

21.2%

4 children

7.5%

5+ children

2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Penguin When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Penguin Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

19.1%

5–14 hours

28.4%

15–29 hours

15.3%

30+ hours

12.0%

Did not do domestic work

25.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Penguin Household Size

1 person

29.8%

2 persons

38.6%

3 persons

12.7%

4 persons

11.6%

5 persons

4.4%

6+ persons

2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Penguin Where Residents Moved From

Same address

3,369

Moved from TAS

268

Moved — same area (SA2)

112

Moved from VIC

Moved from QLD

Moved from NSW

Moved from WA

Moved from ACT

Moved from overseas

Moved from NT

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Penguin Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

81.0%

Step family — no other children

12.8%

Blended family — no other children

6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Penguin Schools

schools nearby

government

973

avg ICSEA score

799

total students

North West Christian School Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 123 students

985

ICSEA

Penguin District School Government

Combined · K-12 · 676 students

960

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Penguin with map →

Penguin Rent Prices & Affordability

20%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $1,301/wk

Median Rent $260/wk

Rent-to-Income 20.0%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Penguin

Your weekly income

≈ $5,638/month

Median rent $260/wk

Left after rent $1,041/wk

Rent share 20.0%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Scottsdale

Income: $543/wk Rent: $210/wk Save: $50/wk

West Ulverstone

Income: $541/wk Rent: $240/wk Save: $20/wk

Somerset (Tas.)

Income: $602/wk Rent: $240/wk Save: $20/wk

Wynyard

Income: $596/wk Rent: $221/wk Save: $39/wk

Ulverstone

Income: $599/wk Rent: $250/wk Save: $10/wk

Railton

Income: $539/wk Rent: $255/wk Save: $5/wk

Deloraine

Income: $559/wk Rent: $243/wk Save: $17/wk

Latrobe

Income: $628/wk Rent: $250/wk Save: $10/wk

Penguin vs the typical TAS suburb

The median personal income in Penguin is $657 a week, 6% below the typical TAS suburb ($698). That ranks 201st of 331 TAS suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $260 a week, $30 less than the typical TAS suburb. Rent takes 20.0% of the median household income here, against 21.5% in the typical TAS suburb. The median resident is 47, 3 years older than in the typical TAS suburb (44).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
Measure	Penguin	Typical TAS	Typical Australia
Personal income	$657/wk	$698/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,301/wk	$1,408/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$260/wk	$290/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$1,300/mo	$1,301/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	47	44	42
Rent share of household income	20.0%	21.5%	20.3%

Suburbs near Penguin

The closest suburb to Penguin is West Ulverstone, 4.2 km away.

West Ulverstone

4.2 km away · income $541/wk · rent $240/wk

Ulverstone

11.0 km away · income $599/wk · rent $250/wk

South Riana

16.1 km away · income $741/wk · rent $300/wk

Compare Penguin

Frequently Asked Questions About Penguin

What is the population of Penguin TAS?

The population of Penguin TAS is 4,132 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 91 people per km².Penguin is ranked #1,859 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Penguin?

The median personal income in Penguin TAS is $657 per week, or $34,164 per year.The median household income is $1,301 per week.Family income is $1,686 per week.Penguin is ranked #6,209 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Penguin?

Median rent in Penguin TAS is $260 per week ($1,127 per month).Rent represents 20.0% of household income, which is considered affordable.Penguin ranks #5,884 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Penguin?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Penguin TAS is $1,300. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Penguin?

The median age in Penguin TAS is 47 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Penguin a good suburb to live in?

Penguin is a suburb in Tasmania with a population of 4,132.The median income is $657/wk, which is below the typical TAS suburb ($698/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (20.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Hobart Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 60501. All dollar figures in AUD.