Shearwater, TAS: suburb profile

The population of Shearwater TAS is 2,051 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Shearwater is $581 per week ($30,212 per year). Median rent in Shearwater is $295 per week ($1,278 per month). Shearwater has a median age of 58 years, older than the national median of 38. Shearwater has a population density of 599 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Shearwater is England. The most common religion is No religion (44.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Afrikaans. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shearwater is $1,500.

Population
2,051
Census 2021
Median income
$581/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$295/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
58years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Shearwater vs the typical TAS suburb

The median personal income in Shearwater is $581 a week, 17% below the typical TAS suburb ($698). That ranks 249th of 331 TAS suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $295 a week, $5 more than the typical TAS suburb. Rent takes 26.7% of the median household income here, against 21.5% in the typical TAS suburb. The median resident is 58, 14 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.
MeasureShearwaterTypical TASDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$581/wk$698/wk −17%$766/wk
Household income$1,104/wk$1,408/wk −22%$1,637/wk
Rent$295/wk$290/wk +2%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,500/mo$1,301/mo +15%$1,733/mo
Median age5844 +14 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.7%21.5% +5.2 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Shearwater, the typical TAS suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Shearwater Population

2,051 residents at the 2021 Census.

Shearwater Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$581/wk
$30,212 per year
Ranked 7,359 of 14,663
Median Rent
$295/wk
$1,278 per month
Ranked 5,069 of 14,663
Median Age
58years
20 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,500/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Shearwater Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,104/wk
Median rent $295/wk
Rent to income 26.7%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Shearwater against your income

About $4,784 a month
Median rent $295/wk
Left after rent $809/wk
Rent share 26.7%

Shearwater Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
994
avg ICSEA score
279
total students
Port Sorell Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 279 students
994
ICSEA

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

All schools near Shearwater, with a map

Shearwater Map

Shearwater, Tasmania Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Shearwater, Tasmania: 41.1563°S, 146.5328°E

Shearwater Schools (1)

People in Shearwater

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 45.4% (929) Female 54.6% (1,116)

Population Density

599
people per km²
2,051 people · 3.4 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,407
Family income/wk

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 and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
5.9%
New Zealand
1.8%
Scotland
0.8%
Netherlands
0.6%
South Africa
0.5%
Germany
0.4%
Wales
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Afrikaans
0.5%
German
0.3%
Mandarin
0.3%
Spanish
0.3%
Sinhalese
0.1%
Russian
0.1%
Arabic
0.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
48.4%
Australian
43.4%
Scottish
10.5%
Irish
9.4%
Australian Aboriginal
4.1%
German
2.9%
Dutch
1.5%
Italian
1.0%
Welsh
0.9%
New Zealander
0.6%
Filipino
0.5%

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

Religion

No religion
44.6%
Anglican
17.9%
Catholic
14.1%
Not stated
5.8%
Uniting Church
5.0%
Christian (other)
2.7%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.0%
Baptist
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
52.3% 935
Separated
3.6% 64
Divorced
10.6% 189
Widowed
11.1% 198
Never married
22.5% 403

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
49.0%
Couple: children under 15
29.7%
Couple: no children under 15
9.1%
One parent: children under 15
8.7%
One parent: no children under 15
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
31.3%
2 persons
46.4%
3 persons
8.4%
4 persons
9.1%
5 persons
2.8%
6+ persons
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Shearwater

Housing Tenure

Of the 858 occupied private dwellings in Shearwater at the 2021 Census, 21.4% were rented, 52.2% owned outright and 24.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.7% 6 dwellings
Owned outright
52.2% 448 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
24.0% 206 dwellings
Rented
21.4% 184 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.5% 13 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
91.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.4%
2 bedrooms
20.5%
3 bedrooms
59.3%
4 bedrooms
18.1%
5 bedrooms
1.4%
6+ bedrooms
0.4%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
7.0%
$300-$449/mo
3.5%
$450-$599/mo
3.5%
$600-$799/mo
5.5%
$800-$999/mo
5.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
20.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
28.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
17.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
5.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.6%
1 vehicle
43.1%
2 vehicles
40.6%
3 vehicles
10.4%
4+ vehicles
4.4%

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

Work, income and education in Shearwater

Employment

Employed full-time
25.6% 416 people
Employed part-time
17.0% 277 people
Unemployed
1.9% 31 people
Not in labour force
55.5% 902 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
24.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.3%
Community & Personal Service
15.9%
Managers
14.1%
Clerical & Administrative
11.2%
Sales Workers
6.3%
Labourers
5.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.9%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.3%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.8%
$300-$399/wk
2.3%
$400-$499/wk
10.2%
$500-$649/wk
8.0%
$650-$799/wk
13.5%
$800-$999/wk
9.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.6%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
2.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.2%
$4,000+/wk
4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.4%
$1-$149/wk
5.5%
$150-$299/wk
8.7%
$300-$399/wk
8.4%
$400-$499/wk
4.3%
$500-$649/wk
5.5%
$650-$799/wk
10.7%
$800-$999/wk
10.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.4%
$3,500+/wk
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
78.2%
Did not go to work
14.9%
Car (passenger)
3.6%
Walked only
1.6%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Other
0.6%
Truck
0.4%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
43.2%
Year 12 or equivalent
36.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
11.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.0%

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

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
44.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
22.7%
Bachelor Degree
19.9%
Postgraduate Degree
6.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.6%
Certificate I/II
3.1%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.8%
Engineering
18.0%
Health
14.1%
Education
13.3%
Society & Culture
10.8%
Architecture & Building
9.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.9%
Agriculture & Environment
3.1%
Creative Arts
2.1%
Information Technology
1.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
0.8%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
34.4%
Secondary: Government
28.4%
Vocational Education
14.7%
Pre-school
8.4%
Secondary: Catholic
6.3%
Primary: Catholic
4.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.1%

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

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.1%
Has need for assistance
9.9%
Need for assistance not stated
4.0%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
236
Arthritis
133
Heart disease
86
Lung condition
85
Asthma
78
Diabetes
65
Stroke
53
Cancer
43
Kidney disease
39
Dementia
18

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.4% 243
Did not provide
85.6% 1,443

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
18.9% 320
Not a volunteer
81.1% 1,377

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
5.7% 97
Never served
94.3% 1,609

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.0%
1 child
12.1%
2 children
34.4%
3 children
20.3%
4 children
7.0%
5+ children
1.1%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
3
1951: 1960
32
1961: 1970
70
1971: 1980
46
1981: 1990
36
1991: 2000
23
2001: 2010
25
2011: 2015
15
2016
4
2017
11
2018
4
2019
14
2020
6

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

Population Mobility

16.1%
moved in the last year
50.6%
moved in the last 5 years
3.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
44.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,620
Moved from TAS
126
Moved: same area (SA2)
119
Moved from QLD
27
Moved from VIC
16
Moved from NSW
13
Moved from NT
5
Moved from WA
4
Moved from overseas
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
17.0%
5: 14 hours
28.6%
15: 29 hours
15.5%
30+ hours
10.9%
Did not do domestic work
28.0%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
82.6%
Step family: no other children
9.4%
Blended family: no other children
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

St Helens (Tas.)
Income: $494/wk Rent: $230/wk $65/wk less rent
Beauty Point
Income: $467/wk Rent: $260/wk $35/wk less rent
Sheffield
Income: $515/wk Rent: $200/wk $95/wk less rent
Bicheno
Income: $631/wk Rent: $250/wk $45/wk less rent
Evandale (Tas.)
Income: $645/wk Rent: $285/wk $10/wk less rent
Port Sorell
Income: $666/wk Rent: $275/wk $20/wk less rent
Campbell Town
Income: $511/wk Rent: $215/wk $80/wk less rent
Deloraine
Income: $559/wk Rent: $243/wk $52/wk less rent

Suburbs near Shearwater

The closest suburb to Shearwater is Port Sorell, 1.7 km away.

Port Sorell
1.7 km away · income $666/wk · rent $275/wk
East Devonport
12.3 km away · income $518/wk · rent $235/wk
Latrobe
13.8 km away · income $628/wk · rent $250/wk

Compare Shearwater

Frequently Asked Questions About Shearwater

What is the population of Shearwater TAS?

The population of Shearwater TAS is 2,051 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 599 people per km². Shearwater is ranked #2,981 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Shearwater?

The median personal income in Shearwater TAS is $581 per week, or $30,212 per year. The median household income is $1,104 per week. Family income is $1,407 per week. Shearwater is ranked #7,359 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Shearwater?

Median rent in Shearwater TAS is $295 per week ($1,278 per month). Rent represents 26.7% of household income, which is considered moderate. Shearwater ranks #5,069 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Shearwater?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shearwater TAS is $1,500. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Shearwater?

The median age in Shearwater TAS is 58 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Shearwater a good suburb to live in?

Shearwater is a suburb in Tasmania with a population of 2,051. The median income is $581/wk, which is below the typical TAS suburb ($698/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.7% 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: 60598. All dollar figures in AUD.