West Ulverstone vs Penguin

Comparing West Ulverstone and Penguin, TAS: Penguin scores higher overall (46 vs 37); Penguin has higher household incomes ($67,652 vs $55,068); and Penguin sits further from the CBD (310.6 km vs 302.6 km).

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

West Ulverstone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

West Ulverstone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($240/wk vs $260/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Ulverstone

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (208 min vs 215 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (302.6 km vs 310.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Penguin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

West Ulverstone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

West Ulverstone Penguin
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.

West Ulverstone Penguin
Walkability 0 / 0
West Ulverstone — Walkability: 0/100 Penguin — Walkability: 0/100
Low fire risk 88 / 85
West Ulverstone — Low fire risk: 88/100 Penguin — Low fire risk: 85/100

Demographics

Penguin has higher household incomes ($67,652 vs $55,068).

West Ulverstone Penguin
Population 4,515
+8% vs other
 4,132
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.7% +7.4%
Median age 48 47
Median household income $55,068/yr $67,652/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $240/wk $260/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Ulverstone Penguin
0-4 4.0% / 4.2%
West Ulverstone — 0-4: 4.0% Penguin — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 11.1% / 11.9%
West Ulverstone — 5-14: 11.1% Penguin — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 6.3% / 5.8%
West Ulverstone — 15-19: 6.3% Penguin — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.8% / 4.5%
West Ulverstone — 20-24: 4.8% Penguin — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 9.8% / 10.4%
West Ulverstone — 25-34: 9.8% Penguin — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 9.8% / 10.4%
West Ulverstone — 35-44: 9.8% Penguin — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 11.9% / 13.6%
West Ulverstone — 45-54: 11.9% Penguin — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 14.2% / 15.7%
West Ulverstone — 55-64: 14.2% Penguin — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 14.2% / 12.8%
West Ulverstone — 65-74: 14.2% Penguin — 65-74: 12.8%
75-84 8.7% / 7.8%
West Ulverstone — 75-84: 8.7% Penguin — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 4.9% / 2.9%
West Ulverstone — 85+: 4.9% Penguin — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

West Ulverstone 43.6% lone person
West Ulverstone — Lone Person: 43.6% West Ulverstone — Couple Families: 33.0% West Ulverstone — One Parent Families: 19.8% West Ulverstone — Group Household: 2.9% West Ulverstone — Other Families: 0.8%
Penguin 43.9% lone person
Penguin — Lone Person: 43.9% Penguin — Couple Families: 36.5% Penguin — One Parent Families: 16.3% Penguin — Group Household: 2.8% Penguin — Other Families: 0.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

West Ulverstone 26.2% renting
West Ulverstone — Owned Outright: 42.6% West Ulverstone — Mortgage: 31.2% West Ulverstone — Renting: 26.2%
Penguin 21.9% renting
Penguin — Owned Outright: 41.1% Penguin — Mortgage: 37.1% Penguin — Renting: 21.9%
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.

West Ulverstone Penguin
England 2.9% / 4.1%
West Ulverstone — England: 2.9% Penguin — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.3%
West Ulverstone — New Zealand: 0.8% Penguin — New Zealand: 1.3%
Netherlands 0.9% / 0.7%
West Ulverstone — Netherlands: 0.9% Penguin — Netherlands: 0.7%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.6%
West Ulverstone — Scotland: 0.5% Penguin — Scotland: 0.6%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.5%
West Ulverstone — Philippines: 0.4% Penguin — Philippines: 0.5%

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

Qualifications

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

West Ulverstone Penguin
Certificate III & IV 17.7% / 19.4%
West Ulverstone — Certificate III & IV: 17.7% Penguin — Certificate III & IV: 19.4%
Bachelor Degree 6.3% / 9.7%
West Ulverstone — Bachelor Degree: 6.3% Penguin — Bachelor Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 6.8%
West Ulverstone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Penguin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 2.6%
West Ulverstone — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Penguin — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.7%
West Ulverstone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Penguin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

West Ulverstone 89.5% houses
West Ulverstone — Houses: 89.5% West Ulverstone — Townhouses: 8.1% West Ulverstone — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Penguin 90.5% houses
Penguin — Houses: 90.5% Penguin — Townhouses: 6.6% Penguin — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

West Ulverstone Penguin
Median house price $625,000 $632,000
Median unit price $522,500 $537,000
Median land price $225,000 $246,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 26 sales
 57 days
from 73 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

West Ulverstone Penguin
2 bed $500K / $518K
West Ulverstone — 2 bed: $500K (5 sales) Penguin — 2 bed: $518K (13 sales)

5 vs 13 sales

3 bed $612K / $592K
West Ulverstone — 3 bed: $612K (36 sales) Penguin — 3 bed: $592K (84 sales)

36 vs 84 sales

4 bed $692K / $715K
West Ulverstone — 4 bed: $692K (12 sales) Penguin — 4 bed: $715K (42 sales)

12 vs 42 sales

Zoning mix

Penguin has more rural and farming land (70% vs 56%); Penguin has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 8%).

West Ulverstone Penguin
Rural and farming 56% 70%
Environmental 8% 20%
Residential 16% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 2%
Parks and recreation 8% 2%
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

West Ulverstone Penguin
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.

West Ulverstone Penguin
Houses 3.9%
$490/wk on $649K
 3.3%
$505/wk on $795K
Units — 3.7%
$350/wk on $495K

Ranking within TAS

West Ulverstone Penguin
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 49% of TAS
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 7% of TAS Higher than 50% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 33% of TAS Higher than 70% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of TAS Higher than 79% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of TAS Higher than 14% of TAS
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 12% of TAS

Liveability

Penguin scores higher overall (46 vs 37).

West Ulverstone Penguin
Grade C
same for both
Score 37/100 46/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

West Ulverstone Penguin
Bushfire Low
12/100
 Low
15/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
13/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in West Ulverstone

  • West Ulverstone Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Penguin

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

Amenities in the suburb

West Ulverstone Penguin
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 13 9
Childcare 2
same for both
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 7 26

Mobility

Penguin sits further from the CBD (310.6 km vs 302.6 km).

West Ulverstone Penguin
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Hobart 302.6 km 310.6 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 208 min 215 min
Public transport score 41/100
Bus
 43/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 11.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 7315
 0.7%
postcode 7316
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 7315
 31
postcode 7316

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.

West Ulverstone Penguin
Car (driver) 83.4% / 84.2%
West Ulverstone — Car (driver): 83.4% Penguin — Car (driver): 84.2%
Worked from Home 7.0% / 8.4%
West Ulverstone — Worked from Home: 7.0% Penguin — Worked from Home: 8.4%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 4.1%
West Ulverstone — Car (passenger): 5.6% Penguin — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 2.0% / 2.3%
West Ulverstone — Walked Only: 2.0% Penguin — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus 1.4% / 1.0%
West Ulverstone — Bus: 1.4% Penguin — Bus: 1.0%

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

Setting

West Ulverstone Penguin
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 136 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 3.1 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

West Ulverstone Penguin
Connectivity score 67/100 57/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 41%
2,186 premises
 25%
2,060 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

West Ulverstone

Acreage Coastal Retirees River

Penguin

Acreage

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Full data on West Ulverstone Full data on Penguin
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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