Penguin vs Riana

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Riana, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Penguin tends to suit people living alone, while Riana suits 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

Riana

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 53%)
  • But Penguin has more parks and reserves (9 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Penguin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 5%)

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

Commuting to the city

Penguin

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (215 min vs 223 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (310.6 km vs 322 km)
  • But Riana is more walkable (20/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Penguin

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 17%)
  • But Riana is more walkable (20/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Penguin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.4% vs -4.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Penguin Riana
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.

Penguin Riana
Walkability 0 / 20
Penguin — Walkability: 0/100 Riana — Walkability: 20/100
Low fire risk 85 / 88
Penguin — Low fire risk: 85/100 Riana — Low fire risk: 88/100

Demographics

Penguin has more residents (4,132 vs 313); Riana has higher household incomes ($81,900 vs $67,652).

Penguin Riana
Population 4,132
+92% vs other
 313
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.4% -4.0%
Median age 47 45
Median household income $67,652/yr $81,900/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $260/wk
+4% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Penguin Riana
0-4 4.2% / 2.6%
Penguin — 0-4: 4.2% Riana — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 11.9% / 14.7%
Penguin — 5-14: 11.9% Riana — 5-14: 14.7%
15-19 5.8% / 3.2%
Penguin — 15-19: 5.8% Riana — 15-19: 3.2%
20-24 4.5% / 6.7%
Penguin — 20-24: 4.5% Riana — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 10.4% / 10.9%
Penguin — 25-34: 10.4% Riana — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 10.4% / 11.8%
Penguin — 35-44: 10.4% Riana — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 13.6% / 12.8%
Penguin — 45-54: 13.6% Riana — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 15.7% / 19.5%
Penguin — 55-64: 15.7% Riana — 55-64: 19.5%
65-74 12.8% / 13.1%
Penguin — 65-74: 12.8% Riana — 65-74: 13.1%
75-84 7.8% / 3.8%
Penguin — 75-84: 7.8% Riana — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 2.9% / —
Penguin — 85+: 2.9% Riana — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Penguin 36.5% couple families
Penguin — Couple Families: 36.5% Penguin — Lone Person: 43.9% Penguin — One Parent Families: 16.3% Penguin — Other Families: 0.4% Penguin — Group Household: 2.8%
Riana 51.2% couple families
Riana — Couple Families: 51.2% Riana — Lone Person: 33.3% Riana — One Parent Families: 11.9% Riana — Other Families: 3.6% Riana — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Penguin 21.9% renting
Penguin — Owned Outright: 41.1% Penguin — Mortgage: 37.1% Penguin — Renting: 21.9%
Riana 4.7% renting
Riana — Owned Outright: 50.9% Riana — Mortgage: 44.3% Riana — Renting: 4.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Penguin Riana
Certificate III & IV 19.4% / 22.0%
Penguin — Certificate III & IV: 19.4% Riana — Certificate III & IV: 22.0%
Bachelor Degree 9.7% / 5.4%
Penguin — Bachelor Degree: 9.7% Riana — Bachelor Degree: 5.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 6.4%
Penguin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Riana — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 2.2%
Penguin — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Riana — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.3%
Penguin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Riana — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

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.

Penguin Riana
England 4.1% / 2.9%
Penguin — England: 4.1% Riana — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.6%
Penguin — New Zealand: 1.3% Riana — New Zealand: 1.6%
Germany 0.4% / 1.3%
Penguin — Germany: 0.4% Riana — Germany: 1.3%
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Penguin — Netherlands: 0.7% Riana — Netherlands: not among its largest
Scotland 0.6% / —
Penguin — Scotland: 0.6% Riana — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Penguin — Philippines: 0.5% Riana — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Penguin 90.5% houses
Penguin — Houses: 90.5% Penguin — Flats / Apartments: 2.9% Penguin — Townhouses: 6.6%
Riana 95.1% houses
Riana — Houses: 95.1% Riana — Flats / Apartments: 4.9% Riana — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Penguin Riana
Median house price $632,000 —
Median unit price $537,000 —
Median land price $246,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 57 days
from 73 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Riana has more rural and farming land (84% vs 70%).

Penguin Riana
Rural and farming 70% 84%
Environmental 20% 16%
Residential 6% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 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

Penguin Riana
New dwellings approved 84
across Central Coast (Tas.)
same for both
Approvals change year on year -38%
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.

Penguin Riana
Houses 3.3%
$505/wk on $795K
 —
Units 3.7%
$350/wk on $495K
 —

Ranking within TAS

Penguin Riana
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 49% of TAS Higher than 74% of TAS
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 50% of TAS Higher than 85% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 70% of TAS Higher than 69% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of TAS Higher than 44% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of TAS —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 12% of TAS —

Liveability

Riana is more walkable (20 vs 0).

Penguin Riana
Grade C —
Score 46/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Penguin Riana
Bushfire Low
15/100
 Low
12/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Penguin Riana
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Penguin

  • North West Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Penguin District School Government · Combined at peers

Schools in Riana

  • Riana Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Penguin Riana
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 9 2
Childcare 2 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 26 2

Mobility

Riana sits further from the CBD (322 km vs 310.6 km).

Penguin Riana
Walkability score 0/100 20/100
Distance to Hobart 310.6 km 322 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 215 min 223 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 7316
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 7316
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.

Penguin Riana
Car (driver) 84.2% / 77.4%
Penguin — Car (driver): 84.2% Riana — Car (driver): 77.4%
Worked from Home 8.4% / 20.2%
Penguin — Worked from Home: 8.4% Riana — Worked from Home: 20.2%
Walked Only 2.3% / 2.4%
Penguin — Walked Only: 2.3% Riana — Walked Only: 2.4%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / —
Penguin — Car (passenger): 4.1% Riana — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 1.0% / —
Penguin — Bus: 1.0% Riana — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.2%).

Setting

Penguin Riana
Elevation 136 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 292 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.1 km
3.2 km to a named beach
 12.3 km

NBN connectivity

Penguin Riana
Connectivity score 57/100 29/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 25%
2,060 premises
 0%
132 premises

Climate

Penguin Riana
Annual rainfall 814 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Penguin Riana
Average residential rate $1,379/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (Tas.)
same for both

Federal electorate

Penguin Riana
Division Braddon
same for both
Member Anne Urquhart
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Penguin Riana
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Penguin

Acreage

Riana

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Penguin

Penguin vs West Ulverstone Penguin vs Sulphur Creek Penguin vs North Motton Penguin vs West Pine Penguin vs Preservation Bay

Other comparisons with Riana

Riana vs North Motton Riana vs Natone Riana vs South Riana Riana vs Gunns Plains Riana vs West Pine Riana vs Upper Natone
Full data on Penguin Full data on Riana
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or