Tasmania · Suburb Profile

Shearwater TAS — Suburb Profile

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

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 598.6 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Shearwater is England. The most common religion is No Religion (47% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shearwater is $1,500.

Shearwater Map

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Shearwater Population

residents (Census 2021)

Shearwater Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$581/wk

$30,212 per year

#7359 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$295/wk

$1,278 per month

#5069 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

58years

20 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,500/mo

Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

Shearwater Demographics

Gender Split

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

Population Density

598.6

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

Shearwater 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)

Shearwater Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

68.5% 448 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

31.5% 206 dwellings

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

Shearwater Country of Birth

Australia

91.9%

England

6.6%

Germany

1.1%

Fiji

0.5%

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

Shearwater Religion

No Religion

47.4%

Anglican

19.1%

Catholic

15.0%

Not stated

6.2%

Uniting Church

5.3%

Christian (other)

2.9%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.1%

Baptist

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Shearwater 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%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Shearwater Languages Spoken at Home

Other

38.1%

German

19.0%

Afrikaans

14.3%

IAL Sinhal

14.3%

Russian

14.3%

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

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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater Ancestry

English

37.9%

Australian

34.0%

Scottish

8.2%

Irish

7.4%

Other

3.4%

Aboriginal Australianralian

3.2%

German

2.3%

Dutch

1.1%

Italian

0.8%

Welsh

0.7%

New Zealander

0.5%

Filipino

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Shearwater 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

Shearwater Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

10.5% 415

✅

No need for assistance

89.5% 3,529

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

Shearwater Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

18.9% 320

—

Not a volunteer

81.1% 1,377

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater Indigenous Population

5.2%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

206

Indigenous residents

3,743

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Shearwater Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

236

Arthritis

133

Heart disease

Lung condition

Asthma

Diabetes

Stroke

Cancer

Kidney disease

Dementia

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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater Military Service

🏅

Previously served

5.7% 97

👤

Never served

94.3% 1,609

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Shearwater Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

14.4% 243

—

Did not provide

85.6% 1,443

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Shearwater 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

Shearwater When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,620

Moved from TAS

126

Moved — same area (SA2)

119

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved from NSW

Moved from NT

Moved from WA

Moved from overseas

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

Shearwater 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

Shearwater Schools

schools nearby

government

994

avg ICSEA score

279

total students

Port Sorell Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 279 students

994

ICSEA

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

View all schools in Shearwater with map →

Shearwater Rent Prices & Affordability

27%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $1,104/wk

Median Rent $295/wk

Rent-to-Income 26.7%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Shearwater

Your weekly income

≈ $4,784/month

Median rent $295/wk

Left after rent $809/wk

Rent share 26.7%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

St Helens (Tas.)

Income: $494/wk Rent: $230/wk Save: $65/wk

Beauty Point

Income: $467/wk Rent: $260/wk Save: $35/wk

Sheffield

Income: $515/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $95/wk

Bicheno

Income: $631/wk Rent: $250/wk Save: $45/wk

Evandale (Tas.)

Income: $645/wk Rent: $285/wk Save: $10/wk

Port Sorell

Income: $666/wk Rent: $275/wk Save: $20/wk

Campbell Town

Income: $511/wk Rent: $215/wk Save: $80/wk

Deloraine

Income: $559/wk Rent: $243/wk Save: $52/wk

Shearwater vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in TAS

Rocherlea

Pop: 1,033 Income: $468/wk Rent: $220/wk

Grindelwald

Pop: 1,037 Income: $661/wk Rent: $405/wk

Bicheno

Pop: 1,049 Income: $631/wk Rent: $250/wk

Railton

Pop: 1,079 Income: $539/wk Rent: $255/wk

Hillcrest (Tas.)

Pop: 1,088 Income: $588/wk Rent: $230/wk

Forcett

Pop: 1,102 Income: $809/wk Rent: $295/wk

Compare Shearwater

Shearwater vs Rocherlea →Shearwater vs Grindelwald →Shearwater vs Bicheno →Shearwater vs Railton →

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 598.6 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 TAS average of $677/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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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 60598. All dollar figures in AUD.