Northdown vs Shearwater

Northdown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 49 against 58 in Shearwater. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Northdown, most households are couple families. In Shearwater, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Northdown tends to suit couples, while Shearwater suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Northdown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 42%)

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

First-home buyers

Northdown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 31%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Northdown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $295/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Shearwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (43/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (279.2 km vs 281.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Shearwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (43/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (40% vs 18%)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Northdown Shearwater
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.

Northdown Shearwater
Walkability 0 / 43
Northdown — Walkability: 0/100 Shearwater — Walkability: 43/100
Low fire risk 86 / 82
Northdown — Low fire risk: 86/100 Shearwater — Low fire risk: 82/100

Demographics

Shearwater has more residents (2,051 vs 265); Northdown has higher household incomes ($74,984 vs $57,408).

Northdown Shearwater
Population 265 2,051
+674% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.9% +16.3%
Median age 49 58
Median household income $74,984/yr
+23% vs other
 $57,408/yr
Median weekly rent $250/wk $295/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Northdown Shearwater
0-4 4.9% / 4.2%
Northdown — 0-4: 4.9% Shearwater — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 9.8% / 9.1%
Northdown — 5-14: 9.8% Shearwater — 5-14: 9.1%
15-19 7.5% / 3.9%
Northdown — 15-19: 7.5% Shearwater — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 4.2% / 3.1%
Northdown — 20-24: 4.2% Shearwater — 20-24: 3.1%
25-34 13.6% / 7.8%
Northdown — 25-34: 13.6% Shearwater — 25-34: 7.8%
35-44 9.4% / 7.7%
Northdown — 35-44: 9.4% Shearwater — 35-44: 7.7%
45-54 18.1% / 10.1%
Northdown — 45-54: 18.1% Shearwater — 45-54: 10.1%
55-64 17.7% / 14.2%
Northdown — 55-64: 17.7% Shearwater — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 12.1% / 21.0%
Northdown — 65-74: 12.1% Shearwater — 65-74: 21.0%
75-84 6.4% / 13.4%
Northdown — 75-84: 6.4% Shearwater — 75-84: 13.4%
85+ — / 5.1%
Northdown — 85+: not among its largest Shearwater — 85+: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Northdown 60.0% couple families
Northdown — Couple Families: 60.0% Northdown — Lone Person: 24.0% Northdown — One Parent Families: 10.0% Northdown — Group Household: 6.0% Northdown — Other Families: 0.0%
Shearwater 28.5% couple families
Shearwater — Couple Families: 28.5% Shearwater — Lone Person: 52.2% Shearwater — One Parent Families: 13.8% Shearwater — Group Household: 4.1% Shearwater — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Northdown 13.4% renting
Northdown — Owned Outright: 53.7% Northdown — Mortgage: 32.9% Northdown — Renting: 13.4%
Shearwater 22.0% renting
Shearwater — Owned Outright: 53.5% Shearwater — Mortgage: 24.6% Shearwater — Renting: 22.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Northdown Shearwater
Certificate III & IV 23.4% / 17.6%
Northdown — Certificate III & IV: 23.4% Shearwater — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 7.5% / 8.3%
Northdown — Bachelor Degree: 7.5% Shearwater — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 8.9%
Northdown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Shearwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 2.2%
Northdown — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Shearwater — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.4%
Northdown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Shearwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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.

Northdown Shearwater
England 6.0% / 5.9%
Northdown — England: 6.0% Shearwater — England: 5.9%
Scotland 1.1% / 0.8%
Northdown — Scotland: 1.1% Shearwater — Scotland: 0.8%
Nepal 1.9% / —
Northdown — Nepal: 1.9% Shearwater — Nepal: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.8%
Northdown — New Zealand: not among its largest Shearwater — New Zealand: 1.8%
Netherlands — / 0.6%
Northdown — Netherlands: not among its largest Shearwater — Netherlands: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.5%
Northdown — South Africa: not among its largest Shearwater — South Africa: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Northdown 100.0% houses
Northdown — Houses: 100.0% Northdown — Townhouses: 0.0% Northdown — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Shearwater 91.4% houses
Shearwater — Houses: 91.4% Shearwater — Townhouses: 8.2% Shearwater — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Northdown Shearwater
Median house price $725,000 $725,500
Median unit price — $512,000
Median land price — $340,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 39 days
from 13 sales

Zoning mix

Northdown has more rural and farming land (99% vs 11%); Shearwater has more land zoned for conservation (16% vs 1%).

Northdown Shearwater
Rural and farming 99% 11%
Residential 0% 41%
Environmental 1% 16%
Other and special use 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 8%
Industrial 0% 4%
Commercial 0% 3%
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

Northdown Shearwater
New dwellings approved 93
across Latrobe (Tas.)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

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.

Northdown Shearwater
Houses — 3.3%
$540/wk on $862K
Units — 4.9%
$485/wk on $519K

Ranking within TAS

Northdown Shearwater
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 64% of TAS Higher than 31% of TAS
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 18% of TAS Higher than 91% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 53% of TAS
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 54% of TAS Higher than 83% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 12% of TAS
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 63% of TAS

Liveability

Shearwater is more walkable (43 vs 0).

Northdown Shearwater
Grade — B
Score — 56/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Northdown Shearwater
Bushfire Low
14/100
 Low
18/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
33/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Northdown Shearwater
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Northdown Shearwater
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 0 1
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 11

Mobility

Northdown sits further from the CBD (281.6 km vs 279.2 km).

Northdown Shearwater
Walkability score 0/100 43/100
Distance to Hobart 281.6 km 279.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 199 min 198 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 7307
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 7307
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.

Northdown Shearwater
Car (driver) 79.3% / 85.4%
Northdown — Car (driver): 79.3% Shearwater — Car (driver): 85.4%
Worked from Home 9.5% / 8.4%
Northdown — Worked from Home: 9.5% Shearwater — Worked from Home: 8.4%
Car (passenger) 7.8% / 4.0%
Northdown — Car (passenger): 7.8% Shearwater — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 3.4% / 1.7%
Northdown — Walked Only: 3.4% Shearwater — Walked Only: 1.7%
Bus — / 0.5%
Northdown — Bus: not among its largest Shearwater — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.4%).

Setting

Northdown Shearwater
Elevation 119 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.3 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 952 m
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Northdown Shearwater
Connectivity score 30/100 66/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
118 premises
 39%
1,234 premises

Climate

Northdown Shearwater
Annual rainfall 698 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 21.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Northdown Shearwater
Average residential rate $1,123/yr
same for both
Council Latrobe (Tas.)
same for both

Federal electorate

Northdown Shearwater
Division Braddon
same for both
Member Anne Urquhart
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Northdown Shearwater
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Northdown

Coastal Quiet Rural

Shearwater

Coastal Large Blocks Quiet Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Northdown

Northdown vs Port Sorell Northdown vs Hawley Beach Northdown vs Wesley Vale Northdown vs Moriarty Northdown vs Thirlstane

Other comparisons with Shearwater

Shearwater vs Port Sorell Shearwater vs Hawley Beach
Full data on Northdown Full data on Shearwater
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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