Mount Nelson

Population growth drivers in Mount Nelson are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, Mount Nelson's estimated population is around 2,878 as of Feb 2026. This shows an increase of 129 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,749. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 2,874 (June 2024 ERP data) and 21 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 539 persons per square kilometer. Mount Nelson's growth rate of 4.7% exceeded the SA3 area's 2.5%, making it a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 92.0% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area (released in 2024, base year 2022), and Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections for areas not covered (released in 2022, base year 2021) with adjustments made. Future demographic trends project above median population growth for the suburb, expecting an increase of 472 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 14.9% over 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Mount Nelson, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Mount Nelson averaged approximately 7 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 36 homes were approved, with another 5 in FY-26. This averages to about 0.9 new residents per year per dwelling.

New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice. The average construction value of new dwellings is $739,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, there have been approximately $10.9 million in commercial approvals, suggesting moderate commercial development levels. Compared to Greater Hobart, Mount Nelson has similar development levels per person, maintaining market balance.

However, this activity is below average nationally, possibly due to planning constraints. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, preserving the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking family homes. This trend favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (81.0% at Census). The estimated population per dwelling approval is 627 people. Future projections indicate Mount Nelson adding 429 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Mount Nelson has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Southern Outlet Transit Lane, Mount Nelson and Sandy Bay Neighbourhood Plan, Fragrance Group Conservatorium Development, University of Tasmania Sandy Bay Campus Redevelopment. 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.

Employment conditions in Mount Nelson rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Mount Nelson has a highly educated workforce, with professional services well-represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 0.9%. Over the past year, employment has remained relatively stable.

The area's unemployment rate is 3.1% lower than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%, while workforce participation is similar at 63.8%. According to Census responses, 12.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents are education & training, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Education & training has a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction has limited presence with 5.7% employment compared to 8.7% regionally. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.4%, with employment decreasing by 0.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Hobart saw employment contract by 0.7%, the labour force fall by 0.9%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Mount Nelson. These projections estimate local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific growth rates against the local employment mix.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Mount Nelson suburb has one of Australia's highest incomes. The median income is $54,324 and the average is $91,889. This contrasts with Greater Hobart's median income of $54,577 and average income of $65,190. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Mount Nelson would be approximately $59,539 (median) and $100,710 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Mount Nelson are around the 52nd percentile nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 31.1% earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (895 residents), similar to the broader area where 32.2% fall into this bracket. After housing costs, Mount Nelson residents retain 87.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Mount Nelson is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Mount Nelson's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 80.9% houses and 19.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Nelson stood at 40.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.2% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,586, higher than Hobart metro's $1,517. Median weekly rent was $320, lower than Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Mount Nelson's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mount Nelson features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.8 percent of all households, including 27.8 percent couples with children, 29.1 percent couples without children, and 10.2 percent single parent families. Non-family households consist of the remaining 31.2 percent, with lone person households at 27.0 percent and group households comprising 4.4 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Greater Hobart average of 2.4.

Mount Nelson shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Mount Nelson is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 54.4% of residents aged 15 years and above have university qualifications, compared to 25.5% in Tasmania (TAS) and 30.4% nationally. This educational advantage is largely due to Bachelor degrees, which are held by 28.8% of residents. Postgraduate qualifications follow at 19.4%, with graduate diplomas at 6.2%.

Vocational pathways account for 21.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 11.7%. Mount Nelson also has a high educational participation rate, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 9.1% in tertiary education, and 7.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Mount Nelson has 33 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 64 different routes that together facilitate 4563 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 177 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential zone, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the dominant mode of travel at 85%, while buses account for 7%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 651 trips daily, translating to approximately 138 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Mount Nelson is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Mount Nelson demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (1,829 people), compared to 51.7% across Greater Hobart and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.6% and 8.3% of residents respectively. 68.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% across Greater Hobart. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 19.7% of residents aged 65 and over (566 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Mount Nelson's population showed higher cultural diversity compared to most local markets, with 26.6% born overseas and 18.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mount Nelson, accounting for 33.5% of its population. Islam, however, was more prevalent in Mount Nelson at 2.5%, compared to Greater Hobart's 1.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.9%), Australian (23.9%), and Other (9.4%). Notably, Welsh (0.9%) and Russian (0.6%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Mount Nelson compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Dutch ethnicity also showed a slight overrepresentation at 1.8%, compared to the regional average of 1.5%.

Mount Nelson's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Mount Nelson's median age is 39 years, matching Greater Hobart's average of 39 and closely aligned with Australia's median of 38. The 15-24 cohort is notably over-represented in Mount Nelson at 15.0%, compared to the Greater Hobart average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 10.7%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 11.5% to 15.0%, and those aged 75-84 have risen from 5.2% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has decreased from 13.3% to 10.7%, and the 65-74 cohort has dropped from 12.5% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Mount Nelson's age profile. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 53%, adding 177 residents to reach 514. Meanwhile, both the 65-74 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in number.