Moonah

Moonah has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Moonah is around 6,022 people. This figure reflects an increase of 138 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,884 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,775 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 54 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,120 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Moonah's 2.3% growth since census positions it within 0.1 percentage points of the SA3 area (2.4%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 67.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth by age group in the years post-2032, the Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the suburb expected to increase by 399 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 2.6% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Moonah is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Moonah has seen approximately 12 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 63 homes were approved, with an additional 5 approved so far in FY-26. Despite a decline in population during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, which could be beneficial for buyers due to increased housing options at an average construction cost of $148,000, lower than regional norms.

Commercial approvals totaled $17.4 million in the current financial year, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Hobart, Moonah has significantly lower building activity, with 52.0% fewer approvals per person, which may reinforce demand and pricing for existing dwellings due to constrained new construction. This trend is also evident when compared nationally, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity in Moonah consists of approximately 57.0% detached dwellings and 43.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 85.0% houses. This change could indicate diminishing developable land availability and a response to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 1291 people per approval, Moonah is considered a mature, established area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Moonah is projected to add approximately 155 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Moonah has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones include Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor (NSTC), YMCA Glenorchy Redevelopment, Homes Tasmania Social Housing Program, and Homes Tasmania Affordable Housing Units - Glenorchy. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Moonah has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Moonah has an educated workforce with essential services well represented. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of September 2025. Employment stability was maintained over the past year, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 3,157 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.1%, 1.1% higher than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was high at 68.9%, compared to Greater Hobart's 63.8%. According to Census responses, only 7.1% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

The area had a strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, construction employed only 6.8% of local workers, below Greater Hobart's 8.7%. There was one worker for every resident as at the Census, indicating Moonah functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.1% alongside a 0.4% employment decline, resulting in a fall of 0.6 percentage points in unemployment rate. This contrasted with Greater Hobart where employment contracted by 0.7%, the labour force fell by 0.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Moonah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Moonah's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $49,167. The average income stood at $54,417 during this period. This compares to figures for Greater Hobart of $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Moonah would be approximately $53,887 (median) and $59,641 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Moonah rank modestly between the 30th and 35th percentiles. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 33.5% of residents (2,017 people), mirroring the surrounding region where 32.2% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Moonah, with only 83.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 29th percentile.

Moonah is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Moonah, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.8% houses and 15.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moonah stood at 28.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.6% and rented ones at 40.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,387, below Hobart metro's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in Moonah was $330, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Moonah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Moonah features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 61.1% of all households, including 23.4% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.9%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 5.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning with Greater Hobart's average.

Moonah shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

In Moonah, the proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications is notably higher than broader averages, standing at 36.1% compared to 23.3% in the SA3 area and 25.5% in Tasmania overall. This notable educational advantage suggests strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities within the area. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent, held by 20.0% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (19.0%).

Educational participation is notably high in Moonah, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 5.8% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Moonah has 45 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 73 different routes that collectively facilitate 4,470 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 178 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward using private vehicles at a rate of 76%. Public transportation use includes 14% by bus and 6% walking. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 638 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 99 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Moonah is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Moonah faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 49% of the total population (~2,935 people), compared to 51.7% across Greater Hobart and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues impacting 10.7% of residents and arthritis impacting 8.6%. However, 68.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% across Greater Hobart. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (963 people), lower than the 19.9% in Greater Hobart. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Moonah was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Moonah's population shows high cultural diversity with 28.7% born overseas and 25.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 35.3%. Hinduism is significantly overrepresented at 8.8%, compared to Greater Hobart's average of 2.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (27.0%), Australian (23.7%), and Other (14.3%), with 'Other' being notably higher than the regional average of 7.4%. Certain ethnic groups show notable divergences: Polish at 1.2% (vs regional 0.8%), Vietnamese at 1.0% (vs 0.3%), and Indian at 2.9% (vs 1.2%).

Moonah's population is younger than the national pattern

Moonah has a median age of 35, which is younger than the Greater Hobart figure of 39 and slightly below Australia's 38 years. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 21.7%, compared to Greater Hobart, while the 55-64 cohort is less prevalent at 8.8%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national figure of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 13.9% to 17.0%, and the 65-74 cohort increased from 8.4% to 9.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 11.0% to 8.8%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 23.7% to 21.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Moonah's age structure. The 45-54 group is expected to grow by 52% (340 people), reaching 991 from 650. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 55-64 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.