Penguin, TAS: suburb profile

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 Nepali. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Penguin is $1,300.

Population
4,132
Census 2021
Median income
$657/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$260/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
47years
Census 2021

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

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.
MeasurePenguinTypical TASDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$657/wk$698/wk −6%$766/wk
Household income$1,301/wk$1,408/wk −8%$1,637/wk
Rent$260/wk$290/wk −10%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,300/mo$1,301/mo −0%$1,733/mo
Median age4744 +3 yrs42
Rent share of household income20.0%21.5% −1.6 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 Penguin, the typical TAS suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Penguin Population

4,132 residents at the 2021 Census.

Penguin Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$657/wk
$34,164 per year
Ranked 6,209 of 14,663
Median Rent
$260/wk
$1,127 per month
Ranked 5,884 of 14,663
Median Age
47years
9 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,300/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Penguin Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: 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.

Median rent in Penguin against your income

About $5,638 a month
Median rent $260/wk
Left after rent $1,041/wk
Rent share 20.0%

Penguin Schools

2
schools nearby
1
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: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Penguin, with a map

Penguin Map

Penguin, Tasmania Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Penguin, Tasmania: 41.1393°S, 146.0630°E

Penguin Schools (2)

People in Penguin

Demographics

Gender Split

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

Population Density

91
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

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
4.1%
New Zealand
1.3%
Netherlands
0.7%
Scotland
0.6%
Philippines
0.5%
Germany
0.4%
United States of America
0.3%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Nepali
0.3%
German
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%
Filipino
0.2%
French
0.1%
Southeast Asian Austronesian languages: Other
0.1%
Arabic
0.1%

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

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

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

Indigenous Population

7.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

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

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

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

Homes in Penguin

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,655 occupied private dwellings in Penguin at the 2021 Census, 21.0% were rented, 39.4% owned outright and 35.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.0% 17 dwellings
Owned outright
39.4% 652 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
35.6% 589 dwellings
Rented
21.0% 347 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
3.3% 54 dwellings

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

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

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

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

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

Work, income and education in 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
87.4%
Has need for assistance
7.5%
Need for assistance not stated
5.2%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
464
Arthritis
209
Asthma
168
Diabetes
131
Lung condition
130
Heart disease
122
Stroke
75
Cancer
65
Kidney disease
59
Dementia
22

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.3% 502
Did not provide
84.7% 2,780

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
20.6% 676
Not a volunteer
79.4% 2,611

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

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

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
14
1951: 1960
45
1961: 1970
77
1971: 1980
72
1981: 1990
64
1991: 2000
28
2001: 2010
50
2011: 2015
21
2016
15
2017
10
2018
8
2019
10

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

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

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,369
Moved from TAS
268
Moved: same area (SA2)
112
Moved from VIC
34
Moved from QLD
34
Moved from NSW
23
Moved from WA
9
Moved from ACT
7
Moved from overseas
7
Moved from NT
5

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

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

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Scottsdale
Income: $543/wk Rent: $210/wk $50/wk less rent
West Ulverstone
Income: $541/wk Rent: $240/wk $20/wk less rent
Somerset (Tas.)
Income: $602/wk Rent: $240/wk $20/wk less rent
Wynyard
Income: $596/wk Rent: $221/wk $39/wk less rent
Ulverstone
Income: $599/wk Rent: $250/wk $10/wk less rent
Railton
Income: $539/wk Rent: $255/wk $5/wk less rent
Deloraine
Income: $559/wk Rent: $243/wk $17/wk less rent
Latrobe
Income: $628/wk Rent: $250/wk $10/wk less rent

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.

Explore More

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.