Ravenswood (Tas.)

Ravenswood is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census the suburb of Ravenswood (Tas.)'s population is estimated at around 3,950 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 146 people (3.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,804 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,950, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and an additional 51 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 394 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. The suburb of Ravenswood (Tas.)'s 3.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (2.6%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 40.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration were positive factors.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024, using 2022 as a starting point, are used by AreaSearch for each SA2 district. If an SA2 zone lacks this information, or when projecting age distributions beyond 2032, calculations instead aggregate Tasmanian Government LGA forecasts from 2022 (with a 2021 baseline) by weighting population expansion from local government to statistical areas. Future trends point to a growth rate slightly below the national median for regional districts, with estimates suggesting an increase of 265 residents by 2041, translating to an overall growth of 6.7% across the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Ravenswood according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Building approvals data compiled by AreaSearch from regional statistics indicates that approximately 17 residential building permits are issued annually, translating to roughly 89 dwellings over the previous 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 8 approvals have been registered. Given that 1.7 additional residents were added per finished home annually over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand matches supply to support a balanced market, though this metric declined to -1.9 individuals per home over the previous 2 financial years, pointing to a healthier equilibrium. Newly constructed houses carry an average building cost of $250,000. Non-residential approvals reached $80,000 during this financial year, pointing to a market dominated by housing development.

Compared with the Rest of Tas., new dwelling approvals per capita remain similar, keeping the local market in line with surrounding regions despite a recent slowdown in construction. Modern building activity consists of 85.0% separate houses and 15.0% multi-unit developments or townhouses, preserving the low-density profile of the community and focusing on spacious residences suitable for families. A low-intensity construction landscape is highlighted by a ratio of 360 residents for every approved dwelling permit.

Based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, demographic projections indicate that the local population will grow by 265 citizens by 2041. Assuming construction remains at its current pace, the supply of housing is expected to satisfy demand, creating positive conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth above current projections.

Ravenswood has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure updates, planning schemes, and major projects are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 9 key projects that are expected to influence this locality, led by the Ravenswood Subdivision, the Housing Land Supply Ravenswood Order, the 38A Faulkner Road Rural Living Rezoning and Subdivision, and the UTAS Stadium Redevelopment.

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 Ravenswood face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Data compiled by AreaSearch across statistical zones shows a balanced labor pool split between professional and manual roles, alongside a jobless rate of 13.4%. By March 2026, 1,392 local citizens were employed, though the unemployment rate exceeded that of Regional Tas. (3.9%) by 9.4 percentage points, highlighting potential for improvement, while participation in the workforce stood at a low 50.8% compared to the regional figure of 58.8%. Census records show that only 2.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been affected by pandemic lockdown policies.

The primary sectors employing residents are retail trade, accommodation & food services, and health care & social assistance. Local employment is highly concentrated in administrative & support services, where the participation rate is 2.6 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 2.9% of workers compared to 8.4% across the broader region. A comparison of Census workplace figures against resident worker counts suggests that local jobs within the immediate vicinity are relatively scarce.

According to an AreaSearch review of SALM and ABS figures compiled from wider statistical regions, the workforce shrank by 1.5% and employment dropped by 0.7% in the period ending March 2026, which led to a 0.7 percentage point reduction in unemployment rates. In contrast, Regional Tas. saw employment rise by 1.8% and the labour force grow by 1.7%, while unemployment declined slightly. For context on future job demand in Ravenswood, national employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 provide useful reference points. These outlooks span five and ten year horizons and have been overlaid with local employment data to project sectoral trends. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and by 13.7% over ten years, though expansion varies widely across industries. When these sectoral forecasts are applied to Ravenswood’s current employment composition, the area is projected to see employment rise by 6.0% over five years and by 12.9% over ten years. This calculation uses a basic weighting approach for demonstration only and does not incorporate local population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

ATO records for the 2023 financial year, analyzed at the postcode level by AreaSearch, show that taxpayers in this suburb had a median income of $34,458 and an average income of $43,337. These figures are below the national average and compare to regional Tasmanian figures of $49,689 and $59,358. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.95% since the 2023 financial year, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $38,231 for the median and $48,082 for the average. Census data places household, family, and personal incomes in the bottom 0th to 3rd percentiles nationwide. The local income profile is dominated by the $400 - 799 weekly range, which accounts for 34.5% of residents (1,362 individuals), whereas the metropolitan average is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 28.5%. A high proportion of lower-income households (46.9% earning under $800 weekly) points to tight family budgets throughout the suburb. Housing costs present a major challenge, leaving residents with only 80.3% of their income, which ranks in the 3rd percentile.

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

According to the latest Census, the local housing mix consisted of 79.7% separate houses and 20.3% other home designs (such as apartments, semi-detached properties, and alternative options), compared to 89.9% separate houses and 10.1% alternative dwellings across Regional Tas. Home ownership rates lagged the regional average, standing at 22.2%, with the remaining properties divided between mortgaged homes (26.4%) and rentals (51.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $867 was considerably lower than the regional Tasmanian average of $1,274, while the median weekly rent of $225 compared to a regional figure of $250. On a national level, mortgage payments are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent prices sit well below the national mark of $375.

Ravenswood features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Families comprise 63.0% of all households, consisting of couples with children (18.7%), couples without children (18.7%), and single parents (24.0%). The remaining 37.0% are non-family households, which include single-person households (33.6%) and group housing (3.3%). The median household size of 2.3 individuals is identical to the average for Regional Tas.

Ravenswood faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Higher education rates present challenges, with university degrees held by 7.4% of residents, compared to a nationwide average of 30.4%, pointing to opportunities for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 5.3%, followed by postgraduate studies (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (0.6%). Practical and technical qualifications are common, with vocational credentials held by 35.4% of citizens aged 15+, comprising advanced diplomas (6.0%) and certificates (29.4%).

A significant proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 29.6% of residents enrolled in an educational program. This group includes 14.1% in primary school, 8.2% in high school, and 1.9% in higher education.

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

Public transit networks include 25 active bus stops in the area, which are serviced by 45 different routes that provide 2,036 passenger trips each week. Transit links are highly accessible, with residents living an average of 157 meters from a stop. Most workers travel out of the suburb for employment, and cars are the primary method of transport for 91% of commuters. Average vehicle ownership is 1.1 cars per household, below the regional Tasmanian average. A small 2.5% share of the workforce worked from home, according to 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Public transport services average 290 runs daily across all routes, which translates to roughly 81 departures weekly from each transit stop.

Health performance in Ravenswood is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality and chronic illness data highlights notable health challenges, which affect both younger and older cohorts, alongside a low rate of private health insurance coverage at roughly 44% of the population (~1,752 individuals). This is below the 49.1% coverage rate across Regional Tas. and the national benchmark of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health issues represent the most widespread medical challenges, affecting 12.6% and 13.4% of citizens respectively. Conversely, 54.2% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 62.0% in Regional Tas. The local workforce faces health obstacles with higher rates of chronic illness, while residents aged 65 and over make up 17.1% of the community (675 individuals), below the regional average of 24.9%. Senior health metrics indicate some issues, with national percentiles matching the broader local demographic.

The latest Census data sees Ravenswood placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity metrics sit below national averages, with citizenship at 89.4%, Australian-born residents at 92.8%, and households where only English is spoken at 96.3%. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 35.0% of the community. The most notable statistical variance is in the Other category, which accounts for 0.8% of the population compared to 0.7% in Regional Tas.

With respect to parent birthplaces, the primary ancestral backgrounds are English (36.6%), Australian (34.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.3%). Minor variations occur among other backgrounds: Korean background residents represent 0.1% (compared to 0.1% in the wider region), Sri Lankan background residents account for 0.1% (compared to 0.1% regionally), and Lebanese background residents comprise 0.1% (compared to a regional rate of exactly 0.0%).

Ravenswood's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The local median age of 36 sits below the Regional Tas. median of 45 and is slightly under the national average of 38. Children aged 5 - 14 are highly represented at 14.8% compared to the regional profile, whereas seniors in the 65 - 74 bracket are less common at 9.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 bracket grew from 10.8% to 12.2% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 6.0% to 7.1%. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 bracket fell from 13.5% to 11.9%, and the 0 to 4 group declined from 7.0% to 5.8%. Projections suggest the local age structure will change by 2041, led by a 16% increase in the 45 to 54 group (adding 72 people to grow from 470 to 543), while the 35 to 44 and 65 to 74 demographics are expected to contract.