Bicheno vs Douglas River

Douglas River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 54 in Bicheno. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bicheno, about half of households are people living alone. In Douglas River, most households are couple families. On these figures, Bicheno tends to suit older residents, while Douglas River suits families with children and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Douglas River

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (100% vs 40%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (105% vs 94%)
  • But Bicheno has more parks and reserves (21 vs 2)

Weighs schools, house stock, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Douglas River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (17% vs 29%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Douglas River

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($210/wk vs $250/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Bicheno

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (144 min vs 165 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (171.5 km vs 190.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bicheno

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 16%)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Douglas River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (123.3% vs 11.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bicheno and Douglas River drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bicheno Douglas River
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bicheno Douglas River
Walkability 0 / 0
Bicheno — Walkability: 0/100 Douglas River — Walkability: 0/100
Low fire risk 33 / 71
Bicheno — Low fire risk: 33/100 Douglas River — Low fire risk: 71/100

Demographics

Bicheno has more residents (1,049 vs 67); Douglas River has higher household incomes ($67,132 vs $53,560).

Bicheno Douglas River
Population 1,049
+94% vs other
 67
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.2% +123.3%
Median age 54 50
Median household income $53,560/yr $67,132/yr
+25% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk
+16% vs other
 $210/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bicheno Douglas River
0-4 4.1% / 11.9%
Bicheno — 0-4: 4.1% Douglas River — 0-4: 11.9%
5-14 7.4% / 11.9%
Bicheno — 5-14: 7.4% Douglas River — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 2.5% / —
Bicheno — 15-19: 2.5% Douglas River — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 2.3% / —
Bicheno — 20-24: 2.3% Douglas River — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 11.2% / 10.4%
Bicheno — 25-34: 11.2% Douglas River — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 10.3% / 10.4%
Bicheno — 35-44: 10.3% Douglas River — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 11.8% / 16.4%
Bicheno — 45-54: 11.8% Douglas River — 45-54: 16.4%
55-64 21.5% / 28.4%
Bicheno — 55-64: 21.5% Douglas River — 55-64: 28.4%
65-74 20.1% / 11.9%
Bicheno — 65-74: 20.1% Douglas River — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 7.2% / 4.5%
Bicheno — 75-84: 7.2% Douglas River — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 1.9% / —
Bicheno — 85+: 1.9% Douglas River — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bicheno 27.9% couple families
Bicheno — Couple Families: 27.9% Bicheno — Lone Person: 52.8% Bicheno — One Parent Families: 11.9% Bicheno — Group Household: 4.5% Bicheno — Other Families: 3.0%
Douglas River 66.7% couple families
Douglas River — Couple Families: 66.7% Douglas River — Lone Person: 0.0% Douglas River — One Parent Families: 33.3% Douglas River — Group Household: 0.0% Douglas River — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bicheno 24.4% renting
Bicheno — Owned Outright: 52.6% Bicheno — Mortgage: 23.0% Bicheno — Renting: 24.4%
Douglas River 17.6% renting
Douglas River — Owned Outright: 64.7% Douglas River — Mortgage: 17.6% Douglas River — Renting: 17.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bicheno Douglas River
England 4.0% / 16.4%
Bicheno — England: 4.0% Douglas River — England: 16.4%
New Zealand 1.6% / 7.5%
Bicheno — New Zealand: 1.6% Douglas River — New Zealand: 7.5%
Nepal 3.2% / —
Bicheno — Nepal: 3.2% Douglas River — Nepal: not among its largest
China 0.9% / —
Bicheno — China: 0.9% Douglas River — China: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.9% / —
Bicheno — Netherlands: 0.9% Douglas River — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bicheno Douglas River
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 16.4%
Bicheno — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Douglas River — Certificate III & IV: 16.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 17.9%
Bicheno — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Douglas River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 11.1% / 7.5%
Bicheno — Bachelor Degree: 11.1% Douglas River — Bachelor Degree: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / —
Bicheno — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Douglas River — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / —
Bicheno — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Douglas River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bicheno 94.4% houses
Bicheno — Houses: 94.4% Bicheno — Flats / Apartments: 4.0% Bicheno — Townhouses: 1.6%
Douglas River 105.3% houses
Douglas River — Houses: 105.3% Douglas River — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Douglas River — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bicheno Douglas River
Median house price $740,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $375,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 43 days
from 15 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Douglas River has more rural and farming land (78% vs 62%); Bicheno has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 20%).

Bicheno Douglas River
Rural and farming 62% 78%
Environmental 34% 20%
Parks and recreation 1% 0%
Residential 1% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bicheno Douglas River
New dwellings approved 49
across Glamorgan-Spring Bay
 48
across Break O'Day
Approvals change year on year -80% +0%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bicheno Douglas River
Houses 2.9%
$480/wk on $867K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within TAS

Bicheno Douglas River
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 26% of TAS Higher than 47% of TAS
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 33% of TAS Higher than 38% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 49% of TAS
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of TAS Higher than 10% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of TAS —

Liveability

Bicheno Douglas River
Grade D —
Score 37/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bicheno carries more bushfire risk (67 vs 29).

Bicheno Douglas River
Bushfire Moderate
67/100
 Low
29/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
49/100
 High
70/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bicheno Douglas River
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bicheno

  • Bicheno Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Douglas River

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Bicheno Douglas River
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 11 0
Parks & reserves 21 2
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 1
same for both
Waterways 7 5

Mobility

Douglas River sits further from the CBD (190.1 km vs 171.5 km).

Bicheno Douglas River
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Hobart 171.5 km 190.1 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 144 min 165 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 7215
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 7215
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bicheno Douglas River
Car (driver) 65.7% / 59.1%
Bicheno — Car (driver): 65.7% Douglas River — Car (driver): 59.1%
Worked from Home 13.2% / 22.7%
Bicheno — Worked from Home: 13.2% Douglas River — Worked from Home: 22.7%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 18.2%
Bicheno — Car (passenger): 3.2% Douglas River — Car (passenger): 18.2%
Walked Only 15.1% / —
Bicheno — Walked Only: 15.1% Douglas River — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 1.6% / —
Bicheno — Bicycle: 1.6% Douglas River — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.7%).

Setting

Bicheno Douglas River
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.4 km 921 m
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bicheno Douglas River
Connectivity score 67/100 15/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
917 premises
 0%
14 premises

Climate

Bicheno Douglas River
Annual rainfall 660 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 21.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.8°C
same for both

Council rates

Bicheno Douglas River
Average residential rate $1,943/yr $1,738/yr
Council Glamorgan-Spring Bay Break O'Day

Federal electorate

Bicheno Douglas River
Division Lyons
same for both
Member Rebecca White
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bicheno Douglas River
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bicheno

Easy Commute Retirees Rural

Douglas River

Coastal Family River Rural Young Families
Full data on Bicheno Full data on Douglas River
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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