Rokeby (Tas.)

Rokeby lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Rokeby (Tas.) is around 5,274. This figure reflects an increase of 1,063 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,211. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,150 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 597 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 439 persons per square kilometer. Rokeby's growth rate of 25.2% since the 2021 census exceeded that of both its SA4 region (4.9%) and Greater Hobart. The primary driver for this growth was interstate migration, contributing approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. 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, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for the suburb, with an expected expansion to 6,431 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 13.2% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Rokeby among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Rokeby had around 121 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 605 homes. As of FY-26, 49 approvals have been recorded. The average new resident growth rate is 1.7 persons per dwelling annually between FY-21 and FY-25. Dwellings are developed at an average cost of $393,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment.

Commercial approvals in FY-26 reached $26.7 million, reflecting moderate commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Hobart, Rokeby has 362.0% higher new home approvals per capita. Recent developments have been exclusively standalone homes, maintaining the area's low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. With around 49 people per dwelling approval, Rokeby exhibits growth area characteristics. AreaSearch projects Rokeby will add 699 residents by 2041.

Current development rates should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

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

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified two projects that are expected to impact this particular area. Notable projects include the Cambridge-Clarence Recycled Water Interconnector, Lauderdale Primary School, Droughty Peninsula Structure Plan, and Tasman Highway Duplication Project. The following details those projects likely to have the most relevance:.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Rokeby faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Rokeby has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 6.7% as of September 2025, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. This rate is 2.7% higher than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Rokeby is lower at 59.1%, compared to Greater Hobart's 63.8%. According to Census responses, a low 5.4% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety. Retail trade shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 4.1%, compared to the regional average of 6.6%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.1% while labour force decreased by 0.4%, resulting in a fall in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Hobart where employment contracted by 0.7%, labour force fell by 0.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Rokeby. These projections estimate that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Rokeby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Rokeby has an income level below the national average, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. In Rokeby, the median income among taxpayers is $49,469, and the average income stands at $52,667. For Greater Hobart, these figures are $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on a 9.6% increase in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $54,218 (median) and $57,723 (average). According to the Census conducted in 2021, income levels in Rokeby rank modestly, between the 18th and 32nd percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income distribution shows that 32.4% of Rokeby's population (1,708 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the metropolitan region where 32.2% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability is severe in Rokeby, with only 80.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile.

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

The latest Census evaluation of Rokeby's dwelling structures showed 94.4% houses and 5.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Hobart metro had 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rokeby was at 20.2%, with the rest either mortgaged (41.4%) or rented (38.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Hobart metro's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Rokeby was $330, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Rokeby's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 68.2% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 21.8% couples without children, and 20.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.8%, with lone person households at 28.3% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Greater Hobart average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 19.5%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.7% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 7.1% and certificates at 27.6%. Educational participation is high, with 30.3% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.5% in primary, 7.3% in secondary, and 3.7% in tertiary education.

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

Rokeby has 45 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by a total of 103 routes, facilitating 8,179 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 168 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 87% of residents, while only 9% use buses. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, just 5.4% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 1,168 trips per day, equating to around 181 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Rokeby faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of Rokeby's total population (around 2,534 people), compared to 51.7% in Greater Hobart and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 13.1% and 9.4% of residents respectively. However, 63.5% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 65.5% in Greater Hobart. The working-age population experiences notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Rokeby has 12.6% of residents aged 65 and over (664 people), lower than Greater Hobart's 19.9%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings.

Rokeby ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Rokeby's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 85.3% of its population being citizens, born in Australia (85.8%), and speaking English only at home (87.4%). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 34.5% of Rokeby's population. The most significant overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, which made up 1.7% compared to the regional average of 1.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.9%), Australian (31.9%), and Other (6.9%). Notably, Australian Aboriginals were overrepresented at 5.1%, compared to the regional average of 3.0%. Similarly, Korean and Sri Lankan populations were also slightly higher than the regional averages at 0.2% each.

Rokeby hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Rokeby's median age is 32 years, which is lower than Greater Hobart's average of 39 and Australia's average of 38. Compared to Greater Hobart, Rokeby has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.0%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (7.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 has increased from 14.0% to 18.2%, while the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 13.3% to 11.6%. The proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 has also dropped, from 8.9% to 7.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Rokeby, with the strongest projected growth occurring among the 45-54 age group (78%), adding 381 residents to reach a total of 872. Conversely, the number of residents aged 35 to 44 is expected to decrease by 116.