Risdon Vale

Population growth drivers in Risdon Vale are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As per ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Risdon Vale's estimated population is around 3,465 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 294 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,171. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,465 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 254 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 262 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's 9.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (3.9%) and Greater Hobart, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth by age group post-2032, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas is expected, with the suburb projected to grow by 324 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 9.3% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Risdon Vale among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Risdon Vale recorded around 32 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 164 homes were approved, with a further 22 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, about 1.9 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built during these years.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, maintaining stable market dynamics. The average construction value of new properties was $411,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, $67.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Hobart, Risdon Vale has 61.0% more construction activity per person.

All new constructions were standalone homes, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 93 people per dwelling approval, Risdon Vale exhibits growth area characteristics. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain 324 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Risdon Vale has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

No factors influence a region's performance more than changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially impact this area. Key projects include Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor (NSTC), Homes Tasmania Social Housing Program, Brighton to Cambridge Freight Route Study, and Cambridge-Clarence Recycled Water Interconnector. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Risdon Vale face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Risdon Vale has a balanced workforce comprising white-collar and blue-collar jobs, with essential services sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 11.3% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In December 2025, 1,103 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 7.2%, surpassing Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Risdon Vale was significantly lower at 43.5% compared to Greater Hobart's 63.7%. Only 4.6% of residents worked from home, as per Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries employing residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Retail trade had notably high employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services employed just 3.0% of local workers, below Greater Hobart's 6.6%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.2%, while employment declined by 1.3%, leading to a 1.0 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Hobart experienced employment growth of 0.1% and a slight labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicated that national employment was projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Risdon Vale's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and not accounting for localised population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The suburb of Risdon Vale had a median taxpayer income of $49,530 and an average income of $52,004 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was lower than the national average, with Greater Hobart's median income being $54,577 and average income being $65,190. By March 2026, these figures are estimated to be approximately $54,954 (median) and $57,698 (average), based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.95%. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Risdon Vale all fall between the 12th and 13th percentiles nationally. In Risdon Vale, 32.8% of the population (1,136 individuals) earn within the $800 - $1,499 income range, differing from surrounding regions where 32.2% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Risdon Vale, with only 81.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 11th percentile.

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

Risdon Vale's dwellings were 94.1% houses and 5.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings) in the latest Census, compared to Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership was at 22.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.6% and rented ones at 34.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Hobart metro's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent was $320, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Risdon Vale's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,083 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $320 compared to the national figure of $375.

Risdon Vale has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.0% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 21.0% couples without children, and 22.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households at 26.6% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Greater Hobart average of 2.4 people.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 11.5%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 33.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (5.2%) and certificates (28.3%). Educational participation is high at 43.5%, comprising 19.2% in primary education, 11.0% in secondary education, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 43.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 19.2% in primary education, 11.0% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Risdon Vale has 26 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 67 different routes, facilitating a total of 4583 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents, on average, located 122 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily due to its residential nature. Car remains the primary mode of transportation at 93%, while bus usage stands at 5%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 654 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 176 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Risdon Vale faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, with approximately 48% of the total population (~1,655 people) having it, compared to Greater Hobart's 51.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 13.7% and 10.6% of residents respectively. However, 60.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Hobart's 65.5%. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Risdon Vale has 11.2% of residents aged 65 and over (388 people), lower than Greater Hobart's 20.0%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally in line with the general population.

Risdon Vale is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Risdon Vale's cultural diversity was found to be below average. Its population comprised 74.3% citizens, with 92.3% born in Australia and 94.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 34.4%.

The 'Other' religious category had a lower representation of 0.7%, compared to Greater Hobart's 1.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (36.4%), Australian (34.4%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.7%). Notably, Polish ethnicity was overrepresented at 0.6% in Risdon Vale, compared to the regional average of 0.8%.

Risdon Vale hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

At 34 years, Risdon Vale's median age is considerably lower than the Greater Hobart average of 39, which is also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Hobart, Risdon Vale has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (21.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (5.0%). This concentration of residents aged 25-34 is well above the national average of 14.6%. Since the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, the population aged 35 to 44 has grown from 16.7% to 18.0%, while the population aged 85 and over increased from 1.2% to 2.5%. Conversely, the population aged 15 to 24 has declined from 12.6% to 11.4%. Demographic modeling suggests that Risdon Vale's age profile will evolve significantly by the year 2041. The population aged 45 to 54 shows the strongest projected growth at 64%, adding 249 residents to reach a total of 638. In contrast, both the 65 to 74 and 35 to 44 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.