Sheffield

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

Analyzing population updates from the ABS for the surrounding region alongside new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Sheffield is estimated to have a population of approximately 1,660 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 58 people (3.6%) from the 2021 Census, when the recorded population was 1,602 people. This shift is derived from an estimated resident population of 1,652 calculated by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) in combination with an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census. Such a population count results in a density ratio of 27 persons per square kilometer, indicating a setting with substantial space per inhabitant. The 3.6% growth rate of the suburb of Sheffield since the census is within 0.2 percentage points of the broader SA4 region (3.8%), showing competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this demographic expansion, accounting for roughly 96.0% of the overall population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and to calculate age group trends beyond 2032, regional and LGA projections from the Tasmania State Government published in 2022 using 2021 as the base year are used, adjusted via a weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Projecting future trends for the suburb of Sheffield, population growth is anticipated to be slightly under the median for non-metropolitan parts of Australia, with the locality projected to add 94 persons by 2041 according to aggregated SA2-level forecasts, representing an overall increase of 5.2% over the 16 years.

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

Based on statistical area data mapping building approvals from the ABS, Sheffield records roughly 10 residential approvals annually, with an estimated total of 50 approvals over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and an additional 4 approvals during the current FY-26 period. Demand and supply appear well aligned, indicated by an average of 1.1 additional residents entering the local market for every new dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, which supports stable market conditions. The focus of developers is skewed toward the higher-end market, with the average construction cost of new homes at $458,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals have reached $3.5 million this financial year, emphasizing the dominant residential profile of the locality.

Per capita construction volumes in Sheffield are comparable to the Rest of Tas., sustaining stable market conditions that mirror broader regional trends despite a recent slowdown in building activity. Furthermore, recent construction has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the low-density landscape and targeting buyers seeking open space. This low-density character is also reflected in the ratio of roughly 206 people for every single dwelling approval.

Future demographic projections suggest Sheffield will add 86 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. The current rate of home building suggests housing supply is well-positioned to satisfy this demand, which should benefit buyers and potentially support growth exceeding these projections.

Sheffield has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning initiatives, and major developments are key drivers of regional performance. In this area, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having an active impact. The primary regional projects of relevance include the Don Irrigation Scheme, the North West Hospitals Masterplan - Mersey Community Hospital Redevelopment, the Cethana Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project, and the Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation, with details provided in the list below.

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

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The labour market performance in Sheffield lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Sheffield has a diverse labor market characterized by a mix of blue and white collar workers across various sectors, an unemployment rate of 5.3%, and estimated annual jobs growth of 2.3%. As of March 2026677 local residents are employed, though the unemployment rate stands 1.4% higher than the Regional Tas. rate of 3.9%, and the participation rate of 48.6% is significantly lower than the regional average of 58.8%. Census data indicates that 14.3% of workers performed their duties from home, though this figure was likely influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The area shows a distinct concentration in accommodation & food jobs, with its employment share reaching 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is less common locally, accounting for 13.9% of the workforce compared to 16.5% across Regional Tas. Comparing the census figures for the working population against resident counts suggests a scarcity of local employment options.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated for the broader region shows that during the year leading to March 2026, employment in the area expanded by 2.3% and the labor force grew by 2.1%, which led to a 0.1 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional Tas. recorded a 1.8% rise in employment and a 1.7% increase in the labor force, accompanied by a small decrease in unemployment. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context for future labor demand. These five and ten-year forecasts have been combined with the local industry profile to estimate future trends. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary by industry. Projecting these industry-specific national trends onto the local workforce mix suggests employment in Sheffield would grow by 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, assuming a simple weighted extrapolation that excludes localized population projections.

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

According to the latest ATO postcode-level statistics for financial year 2023, local incomes in Sheffield are below national averages, with a median of $37,344 and an average of $42,914. This is lower than the median of $49,689 and average of $59,358 recorded across Regional Tas. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 10.95% since financial year 2023, updated estimates for March 2026 would stand at roughly $41,433 for the median and $47,613 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Sheffield all ranked between the 2nd and 4th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket contains 31.3% of local residents (519 people) earning between $400 - 799, whereas the regional trend peaks in the $1,500 - 2,999 range with 28.5% of the population. A high proportion of households, specifically 40.9%, earn under $800 weekly, which highlights financial strain for many. Even though housing expenses are relatively low, leaving residents with 88.9% of their income, total disposable income sits in the bottom 5th percentile nationwide.

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

At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Sheffield was comprised of 92.4% separate houses and 7.6% alternative housing types (including apartments, semi-detached, and other styles), compared to 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings in Regional Tas. Outright home ownership was high at 50.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (26.2%) or renters (23.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,000 was below the Regional Tas. average of $1,274, and the median weekly rent of $200 was below the regional figure of $250. These housing costs are also lower than the national averages, where median mortgage repayments are $1,863 and weekly rents are $375.

Sheffield features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households represent 65.8% of the local area, consisting of 19.2% couples with children, 36.4% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent households. The remaining 34.2% of the community consists of non-family households, which includes lone person households at 31.8% and group households at 2.0%. The median household size of 2.1 people is slightly lower than the average of 2.3 seen across Regional Tas.

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

Educational attainment in the area is lower than average, with university degree holders making up 14.5% of the population, which is below the national figure of 30.4%. Among those with higher education, bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 37.5% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (29.3%).

A total of 23.2% of local residents are enrolled in formal education, including 10.7% in primary school, 5.8% in secondary school, and 1.5% in tertiary studies.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Sheffield is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Local health statistics compiled by AreaSearch indicate notable challenges, specifically relating to mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic health issues across different age groups. The rate of private health insurance is low, with approximately 44% of the population (~733 people) covered, compared to 49.1% in Regional Tas. and a national average of 55.7%.

The primary medical diagnoses among local residents are arthritis and mental health conditions, which affect 13.2% and 9.4% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 55.4% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, which is lower than the 62.0% average across Regional Tas. Chronic disease rates are also elevated among the working-age cohort. Residents aged 65 and over represent 36.5% of the local population (605 people), exceeding the regional average of 24.9%, and seniors in the area record lower health outcomes relative to national benchmarks.

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

Cultural diversity metrics show the area ranks below national averages, with citizenship at 87.9%, Australian-born residents at 85.4%, and 96.6% of the population speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 44.0% of the population. A notable statistical outlier is Judaism, which records no residents in the area, compared to 0.1% in Regional Tas.

The three most common ancestral backgrounds reported in Sheffield are English at 34.7%, Australian at 32.7%, and Scottish at 8.7%. There are also distinct variations for other heritages: Welsh ancestry is recorded at 0.9% (compared to 0.4% regionally), Russian ancestry at 0.5% (compared to 0.1% regionally), and Australian Aboriginal ancestry at 3.9% (compared to 4.1% regionally).

Sheffield ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 54 years in Sheffield is higher than the Regional Tas. average of 45 years and the national median of 38 years. The 75 - 84 age bracket is highly represented at 13.1%, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is lower at 8.1%. The proportion of residents in the 75 - 84 bracket exceeds the national rate of 6.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 10.8% to 13.1%, and the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 8.1% to 9.5%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 13.5% to 11.1%, and the 55 to 64 bracket decreased from 16.7% to 15.1%. Looking forward to 2041, age structure forecasts show significant changes, with the 75 to 84 bracket projected to expand by 36% (adding 77 people to reach a total of 295). This aging trend is highlighted by the fact that residents aged 65 and older represent 68% of the projected growth, while population decreases are expected in both the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 cohorts.